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Several industry associations are cheering the recent postponement of New York City’s congestion pricing, which was scheduled to go into effect June 30. Drivers would have been assessed a toll of $15 for driving in Manhattan below 60th Street. As of press time, New York Governor Kathy Hochul halted the program indefinitely, citing a burden to working- and middle-class families.
Congestion pricing had been talked about for years and was fought hard against by everyone from everyday commuters to special interest groups to neighboring states—but the program also had its supporters. The program was designed to reduce vehicular traffic in Manhattan’s busiest areas with an anticipated revenue of $1 billion, which would have gone to NYC’s transit authority, MTA, for upgrades and improvements of the city’s transportation system.
Congestion pricing was a top agenda item at the National Limousine Association’s (NLA’s) advocacy event in Washington, D.C., last month, which included meetings with 68 legislators total (10 from New York and New Jersey). The NLA asked Congress to co-sponsor the Economic Impact of Tolling Act (H.R. 1759), which would prevent the Department of Transportation (DOT) from authorizing or implementing congestion pricing plans without first completing and publishing an economic impact analysis.
NLA President and New England Livery Association (NELA) President Brett Barenholtz:
“The NLA applauds Governor Hochul for taking action against congestion pricing. As we discussed with legislators on Capitol Hill last month, the public overwhelmingly opposes congestion taxes. They divert funds away from roads, failing to reduce congestion and instead merely moving it to areas less equipped to handle it. We continue to keep a watchful eye on what is happening in New York for potential impact to operators and passengers around the country in the future. Congestion pricing should not move forward unchecked.”
Limousine Association of New Jersey President Mike Rose:
“Our membership is very happy to hear the news of the congestion pricing program being postponed and thank Governor Hochul for her stance on this matter. As we have previously made clear with the MTA and other organizations, we are sympathetic to their budget issues but do not feel that this program is being implemented properly and puts many of our members in the chauffeured transportation at a disadvantage as opposed to those who have a New York TLC License as well as the rideshare companies. The clients who travel in a chauffeured car from upstate New York, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania should not be penalized by because of their geographic location and the fact that they do not have a New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Base License. Additionally, this program penalizes those travelling on buses charging them a premium when they are trying to be conscious of congestion and emissions and choose a greener form of transportation. I am hopeful that when and if this program is implemented, it is done so in a more thoughtful and pragmatic approach taking into consideration for hire vehicles from adjoining states and those travelling as groups in motorcoaches and buses.”
Limo Association of New York (LANY) President and NLA Legislative Committee Co-Chair Jeff Rose:
“As the president of the Limo Association of New York (LANY) and a board member of the NLA, I am thrilled that Governor Hochul has prioritized the best interests of New Yorkers regarding the congestion pricing rollout. While it may be a worthy tool down the road, its implementation was a bit rushed, and it showed in some of the procedures proposed. If nothing else, this will give the powers that be the time to reconsider some aspects of implementation while allowing the city’s economy to recover. Better to get it right than to push for right away.
The NLA wishes to express its profound gratitude to Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.-5), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.-17) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.-11). Their Herculean efforts in D.C. on behalf of the working class are to be lauded. We thank them for their hard work.”
[06.07.24]
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You asked for it and we listened. In this column, we ask operators of all sizes and from all walks of the industry a question about their business and report their answers so you can assess how your own company compares to your peers. If you would like to participate, please email Rob Smentek at rob@chauffeurdriven.com for next issue’s question.
TOPIC: What are the most important pieces of technology you use in your business?
Additionally, we leverage ChatGPT to rewrite policy procedures, automate website inquiries, and respond to Google reviews. This not only saves time but also ensures consistency and accuracy in our communications. ChatGPT helps us maintain a high standard of customer service by providing timely and well-crafted responses to inquiries and feedback.
Kirk Bagger, Corporate Travel Manager & CEO
Captains Car Service in Cleveland, Ohio
Nick Boccio, General Manager
Buffalo Limousine in Buffalo, N.Y.
Technology continues to be a driving force behind our success, enabling us to deliver exceptional service while staying ahead of industry trends.
Alex Darbahani, Founder/CEO
KLS Worldwide in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Harry Dhillon, President
Ecko Worldwide Transportation in Santa Clara, Calif.
Michael Dozier, President/CEO
Signature Transportation Services in Nashville, Tenn.
Weilun Feng, CSO
Dav El/BostonCoach in Everett, Mass.
In a close second place is CheckInCaller.com, also developed in-house, which calls and checks on staff before trips start around the clock, automatically, and alerts us of any potential delay in ample time to recover. It is completely automated.
These technologies have allowed us to eliminate two office positions and increase remote work-from-home options. They have had an incredibly positive effect on the lifestyles of our remaining staff.
Dan Goff, General Manager
A Goff Limousine & Bus in Ruckersville, Va.
Len Joseph, President
On The Town Limousines in Frederick, Md.
Samsara is key for vehicle tracking, hours of service, speeding and idle alerts, and vehicle diagnostic issues.
Mark Kini, President
Boston Chauffeur in Peabody, Mass.
Our software from Volcano Soluciones is equally crucial. It allows me to manage sales, operations, billing, and email marketing seamlessly. It’s a comprehensive platform that covers all aspects of my business operations. Together, these tools enable me to run my business efficiently and effectively. I can’t imagine managing my work without them.
Rodrigo Medina Marsan, CEO
Ibiza VIP Bus in Ibiza, Spain
For our company, the backend dispatch software is the most valuable piece of tech, for sure.
Adilson Pereira, CEO
AP Luxury Limousines in Garden City, N.Y.
Robert Rodríguez, President/CEO
First Class Destination Solutions in Carolina, Puerto Rico
Jason Santiago, General Manager
Exclusive Sedan in Newhall, Calif.
Jason Sharenow, COO
Broadway Elite Chauffeured Services Worldwide in East Hanover, N.J.
We use Samsara not only to view our vehicles but also utilize the safety features to ensure our safety trainer is on top of chauffeur driver safety performance. For instance, we receive alerts on hard stops, speeding, and more.
For communication, Slack is a great tool to communicate internally with the team and WhatsApp is a great tool to communicate with affiliates and chauffeurs. Furthermore, we find Zoom to be an efficient tool for team and business meetings. Of course, Google Drive is effective for communication as well as for working on documents in real time with the team.
Personally, I also enjoy Calendly, which helps me streamline my business meetings while I’m networking. I got introduced to Calendly in 2020 during the pandemic and haven’t looked back!
Nancy Vargas, CEO
DH2 Limousine in Jamaica, N.Y.
Scott Woodruff, President
Majestic Limousine & Coach in Des Moines, Iowa
For collecting payments from customers, we rely on Stripe as our payment gateway as it provides a seamless and secure way for us to accept credit/debit card payments, as well as support for alternative payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Its robust fraud detection and compliance features are crucial for our business.
When it comes to making payments to our global network of vendors and suppliers, we utilize AirWallex. This platform enables us to make fast, low-cost international payments in multiple currencies, which is essential for our operations spanning different regions.
These three technologies form the core of our technology stack and allow us to effectively manage our dispatching, payments, and vendor relationships across our business. They have been instrumental in driving efficiency, reducing operational costs, and providing a seamless experience for both our customers and partners.
Amy Yan, Co-Founder and Managing Partner
AmyExpress in Kowloon, Hong Kong
We’ve loved hearing your answers to our benchmarking questions—but we always welcome suggestions for future topics, too!
Send an email to rob@chauffeurdriven.com you just might see your query answered in our next e-News.
[05.29.24]
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The National Limousine Association (NLA) is collaborating with the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC) at the CUNY–City College of New York to develop a report on best practices for chauffeured transportation service at airports to ensure safety, sustainability, and a high standard of service. The project is being led by Attorney Matt Daus of Windels Marx, who is the former longest-serving Chair of the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission and Transportation Technology Chair at UTRC.
According to the press release from the organizations, the goal of the report is to identify the challenges that both transportation providers and passengers experience while using these services at airports, and to propose any changes that will benefit all.
This updated report will expand upon UTRC’s previous “The Airport of the Future: A Sustainable & Equitable Ground Transportation Management Paradigm” and examine best practices to manage chauffeured transportation services at the airport.
The report will include:
- Business and first-class travelers help sustain and subsidize airports: These customers generate significant revenue for airlines and airports. They pay a premium for airfare and specialized ground transportation service and assistance inside the airport.
- Limos need dedicated pickup space at a preferential location: To best accommodate customers, the space should be adjacent or integral to the terminal, on an inner curb near exit(s) serving major airlines.
- Chauffeured vehicles need longer curbside dwell times: Drivers need to be able to leave their vehicles to meet passengers inside the terminal to assist with baggage.
- Airport fees should be proportionate to each mode’s actual use of airport curb space and facilities: Fees should be no more than necessary to cover the cost of the mode’s impact on the airport. Limousines should not hold up the rates of other ground transportation operators or the airport’s operations. Airports may need to decrease these fees and increase fees for private vehicles and other modes.
- Go green: To encourage and facilitate greener transportation, airports should offer reduced fees for zero-emissions vehicles and provide EV chargers at staging lots.
The final report will include a comprehensive literature review as well as a survey of NLA members who are directly impacted by such policies and procedures to ensure a balanced perspective between established research and current industry practices.
Visit surveymonkey.com/r/H2S6BBZ to take the survey.
[05.28.24]