- Details
- Category: Industry News
The sleek and refined Tesla S sedanLos Angeles, Calif.—Last week, Music Express took delivery of six brand-new, all-electric Tesla S sedans. The six vehicles were distributed among the four Music Express offices: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York. The company hopes that customers will embrace the car so that it can transition its primary fleet away from traditional, gas-powered vehicles. While it’s not the first California transportation company to add electric vehicles to its fleet, it is one of the largest to do so in the hopes of making a broader transition.
“If our clients accept them as a livery vehicle, then we will change much of our fleet to Tesla over time," says West Coast Affiliate Manager Perry Barin. “It’s a green car and it’s a luxury car at the same time.” Barin says that the car as it stands right now is a “driver’s car,” with the majority of the experience focused on the driver. Music Express hopes to continue to work with the automaker by providing direct client feedback about comfort and legroom. Barin hopes that the good relationship the company has with Tesla will be an open one that leads to vehicle improvements with a livery application.
The Tesla S currently gets an estimated 265 miles per charge, which is monitored by touchscreens in the driver’s compartment. Music Express selected about a dozen chauffeurs in its Los Angeles office to be trained on the safe operations of the vehicle, especially in understanding the gauges and ensuring correct monitoring of the electrical charge. Because it doesn’t operate like a gas-powered vehicle, the chauffeur has to look for different feedback and cues to ensure it is being utilized to its fullest potential. It’s a completely new type of experience, laden with high technology and quiet operating environment. The city is also working on adding charging stations for future use, so that on-the-road usage is a little less dicey.
The Los Angeles office got a chance to test them out just in time for one of the city’s largest events: The Oscars. Barin says that the Teslas were met with a good reception for its debut this past weekend. “We used them for the Oscars and clients loved them. One of our clients even wanted to drive it!”
Meanwhile on the colder East Coast, the vehicles will be introduced to clients as early as later this or early next week as the New York office awaits its TLC permits, according to Billy Placier, East Coast affiliate manager. Tesla is not only one of the only all-electric vehicles on the road, it’s also been rated one of the safest. According to independent testing done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the S has been awarded 5 stars in all safety rating categories—the highest of any car.
For more information, visit musicexpress.com.
3/14
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Carlos ValdesMiami, Fla.—Worldwide Transportation recently announced its expansion into the destination management industry with the establishment of its new DMC, Worldwide Destination Management. General Manager Carlos Valdes will lead the new company. South Florida is a top ten destination for events and conferences.
Valdes has served the destination management and event planning needs of corporations and associations visiting the Florida area since 1984. In 2008, Valdes was awarded the Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) designation, developed by the Association of Destination Management Executives International (ADMEI), for demonstrating a knowledge level and commitment to excellence in the field. Valdes brings experience and a successful track record in elevating a premier South Florida DMC to Special Events Magazine’s top 25 Destination Management Companies worldwide. Valdes continues to develop his expertise in overall management and client relations with a focus on complete customer satisfaction and program success.
“I am excited about this new venture with Worldwide Transportation; combining forces will allow us the opportunity to redefine the Destination Management Industry…and now I get to do what I do best: manage my client’s expectations,” says Valdes.
Visit worldwidedestinationmanagement.com for more information.
3/14
- Details
- Category: Industry News
L to R: Kevin Illingworth of Classique Worldwide Transportation, Chris Quinn of Corporate Transportation Solutions, Rich Azzolino of Gateway Global, and Alex Darbahani of KLS Worldwide listen intently during a meetingSacramento, Calif.—Greater California Livery Association’s recent San Francisco meeting was a general meeting to update area members on GCLA initiatives. GCLA’s board and a dozen or more operators discussed the same issues at their Day on the Hill in Sacramento this past February 26. GCLA lobbyist Greg Cook of Government Affairs Consulting was in fine form with six meetings scheduled throughout the day. The association met with assembly members, senators, staffers, and policy makers to confer about key issues.
State Bill (SB) 611 is Senator Jerry Hill’s (D, 13th district) newly reintroduced 2014 bill to replace SB 338 that was vetoed last year by Gov. Jerry Brown due to California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) pricing on inspections. GCLA’s goal is to cap the CHP inspection costs after CHP analyzes the best and most efficient way to inspect vehicles. That may mean having centralized locations which could be a hardship for some operators in more remote areas. Sen. Hill is interested in the chauffeured ground transportation industry and very supportive overall, seeking GCLA’s advice regularly. GCLA opposes the bill as it is currently written, but its board is confident that a reasonable way can be found to push it into its final stages.
State Bill (SB) 109 was next on the agenda. This is the (in)famous bill that was drafted after the horrific limousine fire in August 2013 that killed five women. SB109 became law in January 2014 but there is no known impact, as of yet, on the industry. By requiring five points of egress on stretched vehicles the speculation is that some operators may simply go out of business and will have to sell their vehicles out of state. No vehicle manufacturer, or retrofitter, has yet engineered a way to build this vehicle. If the requirement or design includes a roof exit, GCLA believes safety issues will be compounded by irresponsible passengers who, because they must be able to open the exit themselves, will act recklessly; much worse than the issue caused by a sun/moon roof. In addition, the wiring that runs in the roof could be a problem and possible source of more fires. While SB 109 is already law, GCLA’s goal was to open the ears of other house members to consider a shell, extension, or other modification(s) at an appropriate time. At the very least, a plan to “grandfather” in current vehicles would be most helpful to smaller operators throughout the state.
The topic switched then to efforts to streamline the various processes the chauffeured ground transportation industry must endure in the state of California. In California, all vehicles are permitted, inspected, and reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), DMV, DOT, CHP, and multiple airports; each organization having its own set of criteria. GCLA is working to streamline this to efficiently provide permitting and livery plate access while coordinating with solid enforcement. Several house members suggested that GCLA write up its own bill for them to present. This idea was taken under advisement.
Of course, TNCs (transportation network companies) were also a hot topic of debate and conjecture, as Uber and the other apps tend to be. TNCs are not currently able to operate at California airports, but it has been difficult for the airports to recognize the vehicles because there is no permitting and TCP process for the “rogue” vehicles. GCLA’s goal, as it is for many of the other associations, is to level the playing field, having TNC operations being held to the same safety standards and regulations that they currently have now. From insurance limits to random testing, GCLA views this as a safety issue that could reflect poorly on legitimate livery/charter companies.
At the end of day, the consensus among GCLA members was that having operators speak directly with those on the Hill helped their lobbyists be more effective. Therefore, plans are already in motion to attend this again next year.
Visit gcla.org for more information.
3/14