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The Transportation Alliance (TTA), the nation’s oldest and largest for-hire fleet transportation association, held its 104th Convention & Expo this past Oct. 31-Nov. 2 in Las Vegas. As is tradition, the association announced that West Virginia fleet executive Jeb Corey, CEO of Charleston-based C&H Taxi, has been elected and sworn in president of TTA. His term is one year.
TTA President Jeb Corey
Corey has earned a reputation across the industry for innovation ever since his father asked him to help out with the family-owned transportation company, C&H Taxi in 2000. Corey’s leadership of C&H Taxi and its fleet of 25 vehicles has had an outsized impact on the industry. Corey implemented a number of innovative technologies, including an advanced computer dispatching system, a black box program to monitor vehicles during accidents, and a wheelchair accessible vehicle program called WAVE. One of Corey’s programs that is most well-known and admired throughout the region is the Intoxi-Taxi program, which transports intoxicated passengers at no charge.
TTA Executive Director Abena Bonso-Bruce
“After working alongside Jeb for a number of years, I know that he will do an incredible job as TTA’s next president,” said TTA CEO Alfred LaGasse. “Jeb’s unique insights and comprehensive understanding of the industry make him well-positioned to advance TTA’s goals and interests. Jeb has developed strong, personal relationships with countless TTA members, and I know that these members believe in Jeb’s vision for TTA.”
As president, Corey is focused on working through the transition of TTA’s new Executive Director Abena Bonso-Bruce (who was introduced at the show), increasing member value, and growing TTA’s reputation.
Bonso-Bruce will succeed LaGasse, the TTA’s longest serving CEO, who has worked at the organization for more than 40 years. Throughout 2023, LaGasse will continue to hold the title of CEO, while serving in a consulting role to TTA before he fully retires from the association at the end of next year.
“While I’ve only worked with Jeb for a short period of time, each interaction I’ve had has proven insightful, engaging, and thoughtful,” said Bonso-Bruce. “I have no doubt Jeb will prove a superb partner as we both undertake new roles, and lead TTA in this pivotal moment.”
“Abena’s immense association industry experience, in combination with her new perspective and innovative ideas, make her a phenomenal pick as TTA’s next executive director,” said Corey. “I am excited to work alongside Abena with new initiatives that will drive TTA forward.”
Prior to joining TTA, Bonso-Bruce served as the assistant director of program management at the International Association of Fire Chiefs, an 11,000-member organization. As assistant director, Bonso-Bruce managed more than $8.5 million in federal grants focusing on firefighter recruitment and retention, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Bonso-Bruce also coordinated advertisements, courses, and other tools to help promote the association’s DEI initiatives, as well as volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention programs.
“The Transportation Alliance has a long and storied history, and I am so proud to be a part of its next chapter,” said Bonso-Bruce. “My focus is on bringing new perspectives into the industry while always honoring and learning from TTA’s incredible 105-year history. I know I have big shoes to fill, which is why I’m so glad Alfred LaGasse will remain with TTA throughout my first year.”
“Abena’s deep experience working with associations, especially associations as large as the International Association of Fire Chiefs, make her more than equipped to lead TTA,” LaGasse said. “I look forward to seeing Abena lead TTA into its next, critical chapter with new and invigorating ideas backed by her years of management experience.”
Her goals include increasing TTA membership levels to pre-pandemic numbers as well as working closely with the lobbying team to make sure issues like the independent contractor, NEMT, and electric vehicle are the focus on Capitol Hill in 2023.
Visit www.thetransportationalliance.org for more information.
[11.7.22]
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The US Department of Labor recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to help employers and workers determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The changes were proposed to combat misclassification, which the DOL has identified as a continued problem, and is currently seeking comments from the public to be submitted no later than November 28, 2002.
DOL says it proposed a framework more consistent with longstanding judicial precedent on which employers have relied to classify workers as employees or independent contractors under the FLSA. The department believes the new rule would preserve essential worker rights and provide consistency for regulated entities.
“While independent contractors have an important role in our economy, we have seen in many cases that employers misclassify their employees as independent contractors, particularly among our nation’s most vulnerable workers,” said Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. “Misclassification deprives workers of their federal labor protections, including their right to be paid their full, legally earned wages. The Department of Labor remains committed to addressing the issue of misclassification.”
The proposed rule would do the following:
- Align the department’s approach with courts’ FLSA interpretation and the economic reality test.
- Restore the multifactor, totality-of-the-circumstances analysis to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor under the FLSA.
- Ensure that all factors are analyzed without assigning a predetermined weight to a particular factor or set of factors.
- Revert to the longstanding interpretation of the economic reality factors. These factors include the investment, control and opportunity for profit or loss factors. The integral factor, which considers whether the work is integral to the employer’s business, is also included.
- Assist with the proper classification of employees and independent contractors under the FLSA.
- Rescind the 2021 Independent Contractor Rule.
The department is responsible for ensuring that employers do not misclassify FLSA-covered workers as independent contractors and deprive them of their legal wage and hour protections. Misclassification denies basic worker protections such as minimum wage and overtime pay and affects a wide range of workers in the home care, janitorial services, trucking, delivery, construction, personal services, and hospitality and restaurant industries, among others.
The department’s Wage and Hour Division considered feedback shared by stakeholders in forums during the summer of 2022 and will now solicit comments on the proposed rule from interested parties, which are due no later than Nov. 28, 2022. Comments should be submitted online or in writing to the Division of Regulations, Legislation and Interpretation, Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor, Room S-3502, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20210.
[11.01.22]
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As ECHO AFC, a Texas-based full-service ground transportation company, is celebrating its 30th anniversary by adding Van Hool CX45 Motorcoaches to its fleet as part of an overall 2022 order for nearly four dozen coaches. The company has been working with ABC Companies to secure their new fleet additions.
ECHO AFC purchases Van Hool CX45 Coaches
“Recognizing the value that every member brings to our team is central to the company’s culture,” said ECHO AFC President/CEO John Ferrari. “In conjunction with a continuous improvement mindset, we believe that our laser focus on elevating the customer experience has been essential to our success for the past 30 years. As we celebrate this major milestone, we are excited to expand our fleet with these current Van Hool models that enable us to offer all of the comforts, high performance, style, and safety features that customers appreciate and expect when they travel with our operation.”
The new Van Hool models include several passenger safety, comfort, and signature ECHO AFC amenities such as full leatherette seating and enclosed parcel racks that provide a sleek interior look. The coaches also include a complement of integrated safety features including ACC/collision mitigation, interior security cameras, and 360 camera systems all designed to ensure a seamless, luxurious, and memorable passenger experience. Additionally, all new models feature a custom black on black reflective paint scheme that showcases the ECHO AFC brand, creating a cohesive and elegant signature look for the fleet.
“Consistency is key to our marketing and user-experience strategy,” said Ferrari. “From the moment a passenger sees and then steps aboard any vehicle in our fleet, they will experience the same look, feel and level of luxury and comfort. This focus on uniformity and dependability also extends to the hospitality and professionalism customers can expect when interacting with every member of the ECHO AFC staff.”
ABC Bus SVP of Sales Brenda Wordelman
The new coaches will be used primarily for charter service with professional sports teams, as well as university athletics, public or private school charter field trips, sports, educational outings, youth group transportation, and more.
“John and the entire ECHO AFC Transportation team emulate a passion for unparalleled customer service”, said ABC Senior Vice President Midwest & Southwest Sales Brenda Wordelman. “Their attitude and dedication parallels ABC Companies’ own focus on providing an excellent customer experience, which may explain why this leader in ground transportation has been a loyal customer with ABC for 30+ years. We are grateful and excited to support ECHO AFC’s continued growth for decades to come.”
Visit echotransportation.com for more info on ECHO or abc-companies.com for more details on the Van Hool line of buses.
[11.01.22]