- Details
- Category: Industry News
Miami Show pass winner Chad Casey (left) of Casey Corporate Transportation and CD’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela
Atlanta — More than 30 members of the Greater Atlanta Limousine Association (GALA) met at Mary Mac’s Tea Room August 18. Chauffeur Driven’s Industry & Brand Ambassador Philip Jagiela was present for the bimonthly membership meeting, which was overseen by Vice President Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation, as President Dennis DeLoatch of Carey Atlanta was unable to attend.
After member introductions and vendors’ brief “elevator speech” overviews, the meeting launched into discussing two bills that have been introduced to the House. One of the bills, HB 225, would establish the parity that members want in order to bring TNC operations to a level playing field. In their pursuit of fair competition, GALA members are especially focused on limited operating permits, fingerprint-based background checks, vehicle inspections, and special livery license plates for TNC cars and drivers.
Greene, who is also on the NLA board of directors, discussed some of the NLA’s current initiatives, such as Ride Responsibly (rideresponsibly.org), the upcoming emergency meeting in Washington, D.C., where all interested board members are encouraged to appeal to the Department of Labor in regard to TNCs’ business models and independently operating drivers, as well as the nascent Deem partnership that aims to provide not only the industry but also the riding public with a national app.
With the NLA/Deem app in its infancy and its many moving parts in various stages of completion, both the timeline to and final cost of a successfully launched live application are still unclear. But the national association is hoping to defray some of its costs by seeking volunteers from within its membership base to help assess the app as it grows ever closer to becoming launch-ready.
GALA Vice President Jeff Greene of Greene Worldwide Transportation
Among GALA’s more regionalized business include the new holding area at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which will be designated once the planned fourth-quarter revitalization construction begins, and a few items pertaining to city council. Greene warned that the council’s regulations may affect TNC operations, as the ride-sharing services cannot legally perform airport pickups at this time. The council is currently rewriting its regulatory requirements, and has both included GALA members in its work sessions and encouraged operators to voice their concerns by communicating with their legislators.
Jagiela then took the floor, discussing trends he’s seen by visiting associations all over the country and providing an overview of what Chauffeur Driven is doing to support the industry, including the benefits of CD’s quickly approaching Miami Show. He highlighted how operators nationwide are dealing with their own TNC troubles, especially the ways they have maximized their meetings with regulating authorities by being both positive and proactive when discussing TNCs with them.
GALA Treasurer and Golf Outing Chairman Fred Rich of Olympus Worldwide provided the treasury report and updated all in attendance about the annual golf outing’s registrants, sponsors, and benefits. The fundraising charity tournament is the association’s next event, scheduled for September 22.
Visit galalimo.org for more information.
[CD0815]
- Details
- Category: Industry News
Advantage Funding’s Lew Robbins (foreground), who sponsored WFLA’s summer outing, and Greater Orlando Limousine Association President Cliff Wright of Royal Coach & Limousine
St. Petersburg, Fla. — In keeping with a nearly decade-long tradition, the West Florida Livery Association (WFLA) held its annual summertime social outing August 9. Nearly 50 members, supporters, and family members gathered at a local sports bar before cheering on the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, where the home team emerged victorious over the New York Mets with a 4-3 win. The day’s events were sponsored by Lew Robbins of Advantage Funding.
WFLA President Dave Shaw of Network Limousines said that past summer events have included “a little bit of everything,” ranging from the ever-popular baseball games to cruises, and replace the association’s monthly meeting “with a nice break for everyone”—even when the conversation inevitably turns to business.
“It’s always more of a family event, which is great, but there is always some shop talk going on—it never really goes away,” Shaw said.
Florida—including the association’s own Hillsborough County—has seen its share of TNC troubles recently. On July 15, the WFLA held its monthly meeting at Oldsmar’s Flamestone Grill, where the disruptive companies dominated the gathering’s discussion.
“At any of these meetings, all everyone is talking about is the transportation network companies—that’s our headache right now,” Shaw said. “We talked about how we’re going to proceed in the following year. We have an early session in Tallahassee, so we’re going to band together with the rest of the associations in the state. A lot of people are getting pretty frustrated with government.”
That frustration showed when the discussion turned to the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission (HCPTC), as its Executive Director Kyle Cockream spoke at the meeting to provide an update about what the commission is doing for the legally operating, fee-paying transportation companies whose funds support the regulatory commission.
Members of the WFLA enjoyed a day at Tropicana Field to take in a Tampa Bay Rays game
“Our transportation commission doesn’t get any county money, doesn’t get any state money—it’s funded by the fees that we pay,” said Shaw. “So when people see that TNCs are coming in and operating illegally and not paying the commission, our operators are thinking, ‘Why should we pay if they’re not paying?’ I understand why they’re upset, but Kyle’s got to follow guidelines. He’s pretty tough and we’ve been very closely with him.”
Shaw added that Cockream, a 35-year veteran of Hillsborough County’s sheriff department, has been diligently working to restore the HCPTC’s reputation while seeking regulation for the TNCs operating in the area. The HCPTC executive director has also “put a recommendation into the commission to deduct 50 percent of our permit fees this year until the TNC issue gets solved,” according the Shaw.
Unfortunately, Senator Jeff Brandes has indicated that he wants to shut down the HCPTC in the wake of its crackdown on fining and ticketing TNC drivers who are not complying with county regulations. Even with WFLA members’ current frustrations, Shaw says that the association opposes a dissolution of HCPTC.
“There is the possibility that the HCPTC could disband but we’re totally against it,” he says. “I think there are enough votes in the delegation to back that down.”
The next WFLA membership meeting is scheduled for September 16. Members of the WFLA also are planning to voice their opinions about TNCs at the next Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Board Meeting on September 3 in the authority’s board room at the Tampa International Airport.
Visit wflatampa.com for more information.
- Details
- Category: Industry News
NELA President Mike Callahan (center) of Able Limousine stands with the tournament’s winning foursome, which comprises members from the Able team
Marlborough, Mass. — On August 18, The New England Livery Association (NELA) once again took to the Marlborough Country Club for its 16th Annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament. Nearly 80 golfers turned out for some friendly competition on a blisteringly hot day—though the soaring temperatures and stifling humidity couldn’t put a damper on the generous spirit that the event fosters.
The yearly golf outing may have seen a decline in attendance from last year’s, but industry participation came from as far west as California and as south as Virginia, with members from the Chosen Payments team and Glenn Stafford of Love Limousine among those who traveled to New England to be a part of the fundraising tradition. Along with a committee of volunteers, a number of sponsors also contributed to the tournament, including Chosen Payments, Lancer Insurance, and Mercedes-Benz of Shrewsbury.
Bearing the name of a NELA founding member, the annual event also honors one of Colorarullo’s sons by donating a portion of the day’s funds to CHIPS House, the facility where he has been residing since a motorcycle accident left him with a brain injury. While proceeds from the tournament also benefit NELA itself, the association decided that One Mission, a foundation that assists families of pediatric cancer patients, would be among the day’s beneficiaries, too.
While not all of the big-ticket prizes were snapped up this year, Ricky Bates of Dav El/BostonCoach boasted the day’s longest drive and one of Able Limousine’s three foursomes emerged from this year’s tournament with the best score.
Next up for NELA is its fall quarterly meeting, which will be held September 9.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
[CD0815]