Industry News - Chauffeur Driven Magazine

Details: Category: Industry News; Published: 2022, January 21

Family-owned bus operator DATTCO recently shared that their driver, Clive Wallace, was recognized as Connecticut Bus Association’s (CBA’s) 2021 Motorcoach Driver of the Year.

CBA Driver of the Year Clive Wallace (left) with DATTCO VP Dennis Lyons

Each year, the association recognizes one driver in the state who demonstrates safe driving with the highest standards in every facet of the profession. Wallace began his commercial driving career at White Plains Bus Co. in New York in 1998, eventually joining DATTCO as a motorcoach operator in early 2009. He has driven well over a million miles in his career, including approximately 750,000 with DATTCO.

“Clive was nominated because of his extraordinary performance standards, including unparalleled driving skills and personal conduct,” said Dennis Lyons, vice president of DATTCO’s Coach & Tour Group. “Clive has achieved many laudable attributes during his time with DATTCO.”

Lyons also noted that Wallace is among the company’s most requested drivers especially college athletic teams, including Quinnipiac men's basketball and UConn football, men's basketball, and women's hockey.

Wallace's driving record with DATTCO includes no at-fault incidents, according to Lyons, which earned him a spot in the Safety Department as a driver instructor. Wallace is one of a select group of drivers who works with new drivers during their first 1,500 miles of on-road training, and serves on the company’s driver’s committee to help communicate needs and challenges to the management team.

Founded in 1938, the CBA is an organization of transit, intrastate and interstate motor bus companies that operate vehicles in Connecticut. Its members include the major motor bus companies in the state and several affiliated vendor companies that are interested in networking with their customers.

Visit dattco.com for more information.

[01.21.22]

Details: Category: Industry News; Published: 2022, January 21

When you think of Kentucky, horses and bourbon likely come first to mind, so it’s no wonder that the Bluegrass State would want to welcome visitors back to enjoy these activities. To ensure that all visitors to Kentucky Distillers’ Association (KDA) member distilleries are provided with safe, responsible, and high-quality experiences, the KDA has enlisted the help of Louisville-based transportation provider Pegasus and other partners to adopt best practices that all distilleries and transportation companies operating within the state of Kentucky are asked to abide by.

With more than 60 distilleries in Kentucky that attract tourists from around the world, KDA’s interest in this project is to ensure that transportation companies operating in the bourbon tourism industry do so legally. Specifically, the KDA needed to understand what the requirements are, and can then work on assisting in enforcement.

Pegasus President & CEO Carey Fieldhouse

“This is a first for this tourism industry, and I am glad that legal companies will continue to shine, and that those operating illegally will have to deal with enforcement—both from the distilleries and from law enforcement,” says Pegasus President & CEO Carey Fieldhouse.

The below criteria are required by regulation for all limousine, commercial motor vehicle and tour operators conducting business in the state of Kentucky. Distilleries reserve the right to request proof of criteria and deny services to any person/company not in compliance with state and federal requirements.

The basic criteria for ground transportation companies includes:

Limousine operators must have limo operating authority granted by the state of Kentucky (Form TC 95-633). If operating not as a Kentucky company, then DOT number must be displayed if the vehicle crosses state lines.
Commercial vehicle insurance must be held at the minimum of $650,000 coverage, not just “regular” car or rental insurance.
Vehicle inspections must be performed and documented yearly by a certified inspector.
Criminal background checks must be performed on all chauffeurs/drivers.
Limo plate must be displayed on the front of the vehicle—from Kentucky Motor Carriers.
Operators must carry a fee-receipt card in the vehicle.
If operating a vehicle rated for 8 passengers or more, a Federal Operating Authority or DOT# is required and must be displayed, even if you do not cross state lines.
If using a rented vehicle, rental authority is required from the state with Form TC 95-15.
No drinking or sampling of alcohol is permitted by commercial drivers while on duty per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Safety Planner section 6.3.2 Alcohol (392.5).
Operators must collect and remit sales tax and all other appropriate taxes.
Require proof of being added as an "additional insured' on the guest's insurance policy if hiring as a driver of that guest’s vehicle.

The full guidance, including a comprehensive list of Best Practices and Policies, can be downloaded here.

Visit takepegasus.com or kybourbon.com for more information.

[01.21.22]

Details: Category: Industry News; Published: 2022, January 20

New variant developments, government restrictions, and international policy inconsistencies are currently hindering a more accelerated return for global business travel. However, the industry continues to reflect progress and optimism in its long-view expectations for 2022, according to the latest poll from the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), which has been tracking the impact of COVID on the business community since 2020.

“Here at the start of a new year, the business travel industry and business travelers continue to face a dynamically changing landscape due to Omicron. One comment received from a poll respondent readily sums it up: ‘Uncertainty is a huge wet blanket on [business] travel,” said GBTA CEO Suzanne Neufang.

Despite these new challenges, the poll found positive signs as industry professionals continue to be optimistic for the long-term outlook of global business travel. The poll was conducted during the month of January 2022.

OPTIMISM FOR THE LONG HAUL. Three in four travel managers expect business travel volume at their company will be much (17 percent) or somewhat (58 percent) higher in 2022 than it was in 2021. Another one in ten (12 percent) expect business travel to remain about the same as 2021, but few (5 percent) expect it to be lower.

Among travel suppliers and travel management companies (TMCs), three in four expect their company’s revenue in 2022 from business travel to be much (25 percent) or somewhat (51 percent) higher compared to 2021. An additional one in ten (13 percent) suppliers and TMCs expect their company’s revenue to remain about the same as 2021.  

COMPANY TRAVEL CANCELLATION DECREASES. Poll results show a decline in the percentage of companies that continue to suspend or cancel business travel. Sixty-eight percent of GBTA member companies have not yet opened international travel, compared to 79 percent in the October 2021 GBTA poll, and 29 percent have not opened domestic business travel versus 38 percent in October. Fewer than four in ten (38 percent versus 48 percent in October) of respondents report their company has suspended or canceled all or most business travel regardless of location.

CURRENT BUSINESS IMPACTS. Six in ten (60 percent) suppliers/TMCs report their bookings from corporate clients decreased from the month prior. One in five (21 percent) characterize their bookings from corporate customers as having increased, but another one in five (19 percent) report their bookings remained the same.

Most suppliers and TMCs surveyed are concerned about the impact of Omicron on their company’s revenue derived from business travel, with seven in ten reporting it will likely have a very negative (32 percent) or moderately negative (38 percent) impact. An additional one in four say it will have either a slightly negative (20 percent) or no impact (3 percent) on revenue. 

COMPARING VARIANTS. When asked to compare Omicron and Delta variant concerns, respondents were more positive but still divided. Two in five report they are either less worried (43 percent) about Omicron or are equally concerned (45 percent). Only one in ten (13 percent) say they are more worried about Omicron.

COMPANY GUIDANCE LARGELY UNCHANGED. Relatively few companies have introduced new travel restrictions due to the Omicron variant. Only one in four (27 percent) travel managers/procurement officers report their company has introduced new travel restrictions or requirements, whereas two-thirds (67 percent) report their company has not. More than half (52 percent) reported their company is unlikely to do so.

Some travel barriers named included company policies restricting employees from traveling (24 percent), employee unwillingness/reluctance to travel (9 percent), offices not being fully open (9 percent), and travel budget freeze or cost savings (6 percent).

HURDLES CONTINUE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL. When asked to name barriers specifically to international business travel, respondents said policy uncertainty (72 percent), strict requirements on international visitors (69 percent), policy inconsistencies across different countries (64 percent), and required documentation and paperwork (45 percent).

GETTING BACK OUT THERE. Despite Omicron, most travel managers feel employees are willing to travel, with two in three (64 percent) noting that their employees are willing or very willing to travel for business. This was down, however, from 78 percent in the October GBTA poll.

The full poll results, including previous polls, can be viewed here.

Visit gbta.org for more information.

[01.20.22]