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Nashville pass winner Tony Previte of Dynasty Limousine and Chauffeur Driven Show Manager Lauren D’Ambra
King of Prussia, Pa. — About 40 members of the Philadelphia Regional Limousine Association (PRLA) attended the association’s February 11 meeting at Maggiano’s Little Italy, which kicked off with dinner and a chance for all in attendance to mingle and network.
After a report from PRLA Treasurer Chris Haines of Michaels Classic Limousine, President Steve Rhoads of Rhoads Limousine reported on the Limousine Association of New Jersey (LANJ) meeting he attended January 21, citing the experience as an impressive one that presented “a great opportunity” to convey crucial information between the two neighboring organizations. LANJ had appointed Rhoads as an honorary member of its board of directors in recognition of the mutually beneficial relationship LANJ and PRLA have enjoyed over the years.
With nothing new to report regarding the Philadelphia International Airport, PRLA members discussed how they intend to move forward in addressing TNCs. The board had decided to contact Jimmy Schantz at Senator Lisa Boscola’s office to voice their concerns about unregulated transportation companies, as well as meeting with state representatives.
PRLA Director Anthony Onorata of Anthony Limousine won the pass to Chauffeur Driven’s Miami Beach showMembers had a number of suggestions for ways the association should proceed. Rhoads urged everyone to contact their local legislators, while Mike Barreto of Flyte Time Worldwide emphasized the importance of how walking the halls and giving a face to the industry in its grassroots campaign can offset the deep pockets of TNCs. Vendor Member Steve Edelmann of Royale Limousine Manufacturers also stressed that it’s crucial for everyone to present a unified message and front so the association is “speaking with the same voice.”
PRLA welcomed its newest vendor member, Harrisburg-based Rohrer Bus Sales. Rohrer’s Executive Vice President Ken Ellenberger spoke to the group and provided an overview of the company’s products, which include school buses, Krystal and Federal buses, and MV-1 vehicles.
Chauffeur Driven’s Show Manager Lauren D’Ambra and Editor Madeleine Maccar both attended the evening meeting. D’Ambra spoke about the events CD has planned for 2015, focusing on the inaugural Executive Retreat in Nashville this June. She also raffled off two passes: Tony Previte of Dynasty Limousine won the pass to Nashville, while Anthony Onorata of Anthony Limousine won the Miami show pass.
The next PRLA meeting will be March 11.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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Bill Battisti (middle) of Battisti Customs shows one of his Sprinters to Renzo Ormsbee (left) of Elite Worldwide Transportation Solutions and Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation
Clearwater, Fla. — The West Florida Livery Association (WFLA) met up at Bascom’s Chop House on February 10 to discuss association and industry matters.
After the treasurer’s report from Sheri Boesch of Network Limousines, Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission Executive Director Kyle Cockream discussed changes in local permits and provided an update on how the commission has been policing TNCs in the county.
“They’re trying to get TNCs to abide by the rules and regulations, and they’re issuing citations,” said WFLA President Dave Shaw of Olympus Limousine. He added that an injunction has been issued against Lyft and Uber “because they were sent cease-and-desist letters about operating in Hillsborough County, which they basically ignored.”
Shaw then spoke about Florida Limousine Association’s (FLA’s) fundraising and lobbying efforts for 2015. Shaw said that FLA has hired a lobbying firm from Tallahassee and another in southern Florida to help the state associations in their battle against TNCs, and has also contracted with a Tallahassee PR firm “to spread the word about our issues.” But that outside help does amount to a considerable cost.
“It all comes to about $145,000 in commitments, so we’re doing a fundraising campaign; hopefully, we’ll be able to get that amount of money,” said Shaw. “We got about $100,000 last year and we’re shooting for that again.”
The WFLA meeting hosted industry members from all over the countryThe monthly meeting hosted a number of out-of-state guests. Driving Results’ ownership/leadership group Spinning Wheels had its first meeting of the year in nearby Tampa and stopped by to show support for fellow member Boesch’s regional association. Having an array of industry members representing regions all across the country allowed for an overview of what other states are doing to combat TNCs locally.
“A lot of the Spinning Wheels members are involved in their associations, so we let them get up and speak,” Shaw said. “We had a lot of input about what other associations are doing and how they’re going about it.”
Chauffeur Driven Publisher Chris Weiss was also on hand to talk about CD’s 2015 events, as well as donate thousands of dollars to the association’s ongoing battle against TNCs, as Chauffeur Driven has recently become a member of WFLA. Weiss also raffled off a pass to June’s Executive Retreat in Nashville and the Miami Beach show in October.
“It was a fantastic meeting, and we enjoyed everyone being there,” said Shaw.
Shaw added that in the week following the meeting, two House bills were introduced that affect insurance and TNCs, as well as another House bill that was filed in Tallahassee and also pertains to unregulated transportation operations.
“It’s a bill to regulate TNCs but it was written by, we believe, Uber lobbyists,” he said. “We haven’t really discussed any of it yet because they were just introduced, but we are on top of it.”
The next WFLA meeting will be March 24.
Visit wflatampa.com for more information.
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Chauffeur Driven Editor Madeleine Maccar sat in on Wisconsin Limousine Association’s (WLA) monthly conference call on February 18, where several members discussed DOT activity, TNC updates, and association-specific news.
After everyone in attendance had a chance to chat and catch up, the meeting kicked off with Secretary and Treasurer Karen Lotts of A Knight Rider Limousine presenting the treasurer’s report.
While WLA President Mike Hartmann of Stardust Limousine reported that the association has been discussing TNCs for a while and that they haven’t “really haven’t affected anybody that I know of” from the chauffeured transportation side of regulated livery services, other members said that TNCs are beginning to have an impact on the taxicab industry. They cited a news report the week before, which addressed how taxi operators in the Green Bay area are starting to complain about the slow encroachment of Uber.
“It’s on everybody’s mind,” Hartmann said. “They started out in Milwaukee, and maybe four or five months ago, started up in Green Bay. We just want them all operating with insurance so everyone’s safe.”
Hartmann also said that Wisconsin’s DOT has become more active in the past year or two, having approached WLA members to help identify problems that the state’s operators have been noticing or dealing with.
An ongoing issue is the 5 percent state fee that the operators have to pay on certain trips, which is a fee that the WLA has attempted to get rid of in the past and is thinking about resurrecting that fight again. Hartmann explained that Wisconsin companies will frequently upgrade a client’s requested Town Car if inclement weather necessitates an SUV, which has them “playing in a gray area:” SUVs and vehicles accommodating up to 10 passengers require payment of the state fee while something like a Town Car does not—which are variables that Hartmann calls “kind of a bookworking nightmare.”
“I’d just prefer to see that fee gone because we’re at a disadvantage if taxicab companies don’t have to report that fee but we do—and more than likely, Uber isn’t reporting that 5 percent fee, so, again, we’re at a 5 percent disadvantage,” he said.
The WLA’s next monthly conference call will be March 18.
Visit wisconsinlimo.org for more information.
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