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Regulators, policymakers, and transportation experts from around the world convened—virtually—for 33rd annual International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR) conference in late October. The four-day event, themed Resilient Regulation! and hosted by IATR President Matt Daus of Windels Marx, had sessions dedicated to all areas of transportation and featured dozens of speakers. The conference also included several IATR committee meetings.
Regulators are facing unprecedented challenges to balance both the obstacles of safe practices during a global pandemic and setting policies and trends for the rapidly evolving state of transportation that includes everything from non-emergency medical transportation and taxis to scooters and the advent of driverless and electric vehicles. The shift in transportation is a trend happening all over the world, but in the U.S. is being driven by states like California and New York. Despite COVID commanding headlines, climate change is still a major focus of concerned regulators hoping to tamp it down with greener policies and forward-thinking technology that has less of an impact.
California’s AB5 and Prop 22—which is on the ballot and was crafted with assistance from Uber, Lyft, and Postmates—was also a major topic where several speakers, including Ira Goldstein of the N.Y. Black Car Fund, explored the merits of the proposition and how it would impact the competing factions. Prop 22 aims to carve out a special exception for said companies so that the burdens of the strengthened worker classification test does not apply to them and allows them to continue working with independent contractors. Awaiting the final results of the election.
We’ll have more information about the robust online event in the next issue of Chauffeur Driven.
Next up, Daus will be part of a panel discussion called What Does Safe Transportation for the 50+ Look Like Now?, a webcast produced by AARP Online Learning and scheduled for Thursday, 11/5 at 3:00 PM ET. Register for the event here.
Visit iatr.global for more information about IATR.
[11.03.20]
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On Wednesday, October 28, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) returned after a two-month respite for a Zoom meeting. MLOA President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine warmly welcomed back members and guests, and thanked the association’s Board for their hard work behind the scenes work. Anderson then took a few minutes to suggest that members read Chauffeur Driven’s recent piece on the Black Lives Matter movement—to which Anderson contributed—and, with the election looming (at the time of the meeting), he strongly encouraged everyone to vote.
Following the president’s updates, MLOA Member Committee Co-chair Tiffany Hinton of Motev offered assurance that Board Members are there to assist operators to keep their companies on track or pivot their business.
“A closed mouth doesn’t get fed,” said Hinton, noting that they can’t offer help to those who don’t ask.
Further, MLOA has extended its membership to include companies and representatives from logistics and all transportation industries.
With the ground transportation industry in a state of flux, MLOA welcomed two guests to discuss ways they’ve successfully pivoted their business—a follow-up to its previous meeting covering the topic. First, Dave Uziel of UrbanBCN shared his experience with partnering with Amazon as a delivery provider. The shift from delivering passengers to packages was relatively simple for Uziel, who believes that his experience as a limousine operator was seen favorably by the retail mega-giant when he had his initial meetings with their team. He also said that the relatively traditional hours that Amazon drivers keep has been helpful in attracting employees, many of whom were working all hours of the day/7 days a week as TNC drivers.
The MLOA next welcomed Dan Goff of A Goff Limousine & Bus who also recounted the ways he pivoted after the post-COVID work stop. Originally seeking a partnership with Amazon, Goff decided to move into a different industry altogether. He devoted time into researching commercial cleaning and convention services, before deciding that profit margins were too thin. After “making it a full-time job” to apply for grants and financial aid, Goff circled back to the limo industry, where things were starting to return. The industry vet found success in reaching out to drivers whose companies had closed, and found inexpensive used vehicles on Facebook and through his bank.
Before the meeting concluded, Anderson said that MLOA is exploring a virtual member conference to take place early in 2021.
Visit mlooa.org for more information.
[11.03.20]
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Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Interim Executive Dave Hilfman recently announced that the association is launching a new campaign to stimulate business travel, as the $1.45T global industry continues to be impacted severely by the pandemic. According to the association, the GBTA #ReadySafeTravel initiative will focus and mobilize advocacy efforts to support the industry, ensure passenger and worker safety in ways meant to restore traveler and corporate confidence, and grow public awareness around the economic necessity of a thriving business travel industry.
“I have always been incredibly proud to work as part of the business travel community. … In 2020, during some extremely dark days for business travel, the people who make this industry our profession have refused to quit, because quitting is not an option. Together, we can and must continue to get this industry we love ready and safe for the upcoming return to business travel,” said Hilfman in a letter to members.
According to the letter, the campaign will target specific areas:
Advocacy: The #ReadySafeTravel initiative will offer more than 9,000 GBTA member professionals worldwide the opportunity to help the association advocate for everything the industry needs to save jobs and get back on the road to travel—as soon as that can be safely accomplished.
Education: Since the onset of the pandemic, GBTA has consistently worked in North America and Europe to increase rapid testing efforts, reduce travel quarantines, and establish reciprocal open borders to stimulate a return to business travel, all of which will be accelerated with this campaign.
Data: The initiative will offer data, talking, points and storytelling opportunities meant to make the business travel tale top of mind for the public, industry peers, thought leaders, and elected officials.
Behind the scenes and on the front lines, GBTA has been fighting globally for the safe return of the corporate travel industry. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the association has been polling members worldwide to provide a snapshot of what is happening and what can be expected for the future. In its most recent poll, the association found that corporate professionals are eager to once again travel, and will likely restart in early 2021. Increased safety measures, a vaccine, and reduction of restrictions have all been cited as impediments to business travel.
Full resources for the #ReadySafeTravel initiative are available here.
Visit gbta.org for more information.
[11.02.20]