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ILA President Tracy Hodge-Raimer
Carol Stream, Ill. — The Illinois Limousine Association (ILA) is looking ahead to a busy spring as it prepares for its yearly membership meeting, as well as its first-ever Day on the Hill.
The association’s inaugural legislative day will take to the state capital of Springfield on April 21 in an effort to increase elected officials’ awareness of the chauffeured transportation industry and how its operators feel in regard to unregulated TNCs. ILA President Tracy Hodge-Raimer of Your Private Limousine said that “it’s amazing how many of them don’t know of us or don’t know where we stand.”
“It’s become so apparent to us that our senators and congresspeople need to know who the ILA is and who the livery operators are,” she said. “Talking to them serves as an introduction of who we are and what we do, and it gives us a chance to explain what our position is about the TNCs, which mostly comes down to public safety and operating on a level playing field.”
Hodge-Raimer said that while ILA Vice President and Legislative Affairs Chair Greg Eggan of O’Hare-Midway Limousine Service has been spearheading the committee behind Day on the Hill, it is truly a group effort among the association’s board of directors. And while this is the first time ILA is undertaking its own event of this sort, communication with other regional associations has proven to be quite beneficial.
“We’ve definitely been following some of the other associations and what they’ve been doing,” Hodge-Raimer said. “The social media updates just within our industry have been extremely helpful. Of course, just talking to different associations about what they’ve accomplished and the angles that they went in with, that definitely helps, as well.”
Through bolstering awareness of both their organization and the industry it serves, ILA aims to foster a relationship between the association and Illinois legislatures.
“Our hope is that representatives will realize that the livery industry exists and they’ll provide us with updates so that when things are happening in Springfield, we’re not the last to find out as new issues come up,” Hodge-Raimer said.
A month later, on May 20, ILA’s annual spring meeting will kick off at Comfort Suites O’Hare Airport, which is a new location that will put the event about 10 minutes from the airport. Speakers, sponsors, and a full agenda are currently in the works.
Visit
illinoislimousineassociation.com
for more information.
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Atlanta, Ga. — Atlantic Limousine & Transportation, located in Atlanta, Ga., provides ground transportation services throughout the Atlanta area as well as worldwide travel, through a network of affiliates. Now in its 19th year of business, this family-owned and operated business offers a variety of transportation services for corporate groups, airport transportation, wedding parties, and bus charter service for out-of-town trips. Atlantic currently has a diverse fleet of over 65 well-maintained vehicles. Atlantic Limo found great value in the TEMSA brand, with new invited technology that will be easier to maintain than previous buses they’ve had in their fleet. For more information on Atlantic Limousine & transportation, please visit www.atlanticlimo-ga.com. Recently adding more coaches to the fleet, Atlantic has taken delivery of six Temsa coaches: four TS 45 full-size and two TS 35 midsize coaches.
Atlantic Limousine’s TS 35 midsize coaches seated for 40 passengers and are equipped with leather seats, hardwood floor, a REI A/V system, flat screen TVs, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, 110V+ USB power outlets, and a restroom. The company says it went for an executive look on this bus, which is going to play a big part in helping it cater to both sources of revenue (full-size coaches and midsize coaches).
Hoss Oskouie, VP of Atlantic Limousine, shared that their current operation benefits from the TS 35 coach because it “is great for those smaller groups who do travel outside of town or local transfer trips who do not require full-size motorcoaches.” The TS 45 full-size coach des are seated for 56 passengers and are equipped with some of the same favorite features such as Wi-Fi, 110V+ USB power outlets, a REI A/V system, flat screen TVs, Satellite TV, and a restroom. Hoss also commented that their “experience has been positive so far with both models; for sure the executive look on the TS 35 has surprised a lot of customers who are wowed when walking inside of the bus.”
The world class Temsa TS 45 and TS 35 are wholly integral coaches that offer a luxurious and spacious interior for passengers and driver. Constructed from stainless steel for extra durability and strength. All Temsa coaches are exclusively equipped with the Cummins/Allison drivetrain, providing raw power and optimum serviceability. CH Bus Sales is the exclusive distributor of Temsa motorcoaches in the United States and Canada. CH Bus Sales is a privately owned corporation with an industry experienced ownership and management team. Temsa is a fully owned subsidiary of Sabanci Holding, the leading financial and industrial group in Turkey.
Visit www.chbussales.com for more information.
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South Bend, Ind. — Mercedes-Benz U.S. International recently announced that it has selected AM General to manufacture the Mercedes-Benz R-Class luxury vehicle at AM General’s 675,000-square-foot commercial assembly plant. Because of increasing demand for its sport utility vehicles and the need for greater production capacity in the U.S., Mercedes-Benz is moving production of the R-Class from its Tuscaloosa, Ala., plant to AM General’s facility in Mishawaka, Ind.
Under the multi-year agreement, AM General becomes Mercedes-Benz’s first and only contract manufacturing operator in the U.S. AM General anticipates R-Class vehicles will start rolling off its production lines this summer, and will hire and train hundreds of new workers to prepare for R-Class production.
“AM General is pleased to have been selected by Mercedes-Benz to build this vehicle at our world-class commercial vehicle facility in Mishawaka. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Mercedes, and expanding our services to the U.S. and global auto industry,” says president and CEO of AM General Charlie Hall.
In this rapidly growing segment of its business, AM General has extensive experience as an automotive contract assembler and original equipment manufacturer. Commercial vehicle contract assembly initiatives include work for General Motors and other OEMs. AM General, through its wholly owned subsidiary Mobility Ventures, designs, produces and supports the new MV-1—the world’s first purpose-built, universally accessible vehicle that is expanding choice in transportation for families, livery, and paratransit fleets.
Visit amgeneral.com for more information.
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