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The Illinois Limousine & Bus Association (ILLBA) held their first Coffee With ILLBA webinar of the year on Tuesday, February 18. This month the online program focused on Using AI to Boost Recruiting, courtesy of special guest presenter Jodie Lethgo of Career Driver.
Lethgo’s presentation walked operators through ways that AI can be used to optimize or automate recruiting. To familiarize the participants on AI practices, Lethgo offered examples of day-to-day use of the technology, including providing “Cliff’s Notes” of white papers and reports, changing the tone of emails, and even cooking and recipes. However, the crux of the session was the application of ChatGPT and similar platforms and how it can be applied to a recruitment funnel model. For example, when seeking driver leads AI can be used for market research, targeting candidates, and creating a job description. Creating a job advertisement is another useful way to use AI, according to Lethgo, as is summarizing and ranking submitted resumes through the fabrication of ranking metrics. Furthermore, ChatGPT has proven to be a valuable tool for crafting interview questions, as well as scheduling interviews. When it comes to converting candidates, Lethgo demonstrated how the tech is useful for emailing potential employees and providing surveys for existing staff. Lethgo also fielded questions from AI newbies and from experienced users. ILLBA President Art Rento of Pontarelli Companies detailed how his company has begun to adopt AI.
Before concluding the webinar, ILLBA Executive Director Paula DeBiasi updated the attendees on upcoming city ordinance rules and regulations, which have been updated for the first time in 9 years. She stated that the city is looking for input from operators via a questionnaire, so members were advised to contribute their impressions.
The Coffee With ILLBA webinar series has been providing free education to operators around the world since 2021. To date, there are more than 30 recordings available on the association’s YouTube channel. To access the most recent edition, please click here.
In other ILLBA news, the association announced the recent resignation of Board Member Beth Cox of Cox Livery Service. In her place, Chris Smith of The Transportation Consultants, who will serve out remainder of the term through the summer of 2026.
Visit illba.org for more information.
[03.10.25]
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Chauffeur Driven and the National Limousine Association were pleased to welcome members of the KLAS Channel 8 news team to the annual CD/NLA Show on Sunday, February 23. The CBS Las Vegas affiliate was invited by CD’s West Coast Editor David Hartson to attend the Association Summit, which spotlighted the problem of unlicensed rideshare drivers around the country.
Prior to the Summit, several representatives of the NLA were interviewed on-air by reporter Madison Kimbro about the importance of riding with licensed and insured operators.
“What’s happening now with these illegal operators is that they are gaining traction because of Facebook groups and Instagram. They are running underground operations. No insurance, no licensing, no background checks, no drug testing,” said NLA Director Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite Worldwide.
“You don’t want to put your family in a vehicle that isn’t properly insured and if you don’t have ‘commercial’ or ‘for hire’ insurance, the driver and passenger won’t get any coverage, and the insurance company can legally deny the claim,” said NLA 2nd Vice President Douglas Schwartz of Executive Ground Transportation.
At each CD/NLA Show, the Association Summit welcomes state and local association leaders together to discuss important issues facing the industry. This year, Long Island Limousine Association (LILA) President Tom Gouldsbury of Azure Limousines delineated his organization’s efforts to make legislators and officials aware of the issue of illegal operators. He was joined by Anthony Manetta, founder & president of the Standard Advisory Group, LILA’s public relations firm.
To view the full news segment, click here.
[03.04.25]
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L to R: Chauffeur of the Year winners Jochen Mayer of SOKA-BAU, Ralf Zoberbier, and Sebastian Betz of globalmobility and FraPort
On January 31, the Federal Association of Chauffeur and Rental Car Operators in Germany (BCMD) held their eighth annual summit at Rodizio Flughafen Egelsbach near Frankfurt. The BCMD serves as a powerful voice for the chauffeur and rental car industry in Germany. With more than 100 members, the organization is dedicated to improving the legal and economic framework for businesses in this sector.
The BCMD Summit welcomed members and guests to Rodizio Flughafen Egelsbach near Frankfurt
A highlight of BCMD’s work is the annual BCMD Forum, where industry leaders, policymakers, and experts come together to discuss current challenges and future developments. Topics discussed at the summit included a small technical knowledge test for drivers in commercial passenger transport followed by a panel discussion, a panel discussion with a specialist lawyer in administrative law, a presentation and discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of alternative fuel (hydrogen, electric, hybrid) with representatives from Toyota and Volkswagen, and award for the 2024 Chauffeur of the Year.
The winners of the prestigious award are:
- 1st place: Ralf Zoberbier, a self-employed entrepreneur for 13 years
- 2nd place: Jochen Mayer of SOKA-BAU
- 3rd place: Sebastian Betz of globalmobility and FraPort
The BCMD summit organizers would like to thank all exhibitors and sponsors, including EUROPCAR, 2S LimouSolution, MPC, ALLIANZ Insurance, Toyota, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Rodizio Flughafen Egelsbach
The next BCMD Forum will take place on January 30, 2026, in Hamburg.
The BCMD was founded as an interest group for limousine and transport services. Key objectives of the organization include:
- Political advocacy: Active participation in legislative initiatives at both state and federal levels through official statements and direct engagement with policymakers.
- Member Support: Assistance with applications, hearings, and approval procedures, as well as representation in matters involving health insurance providers, trade associations, and other institutions.
- Public Relations: Strong presence in the press, radio, television, and digital media to effectively communicate the industry's concerns
- Information & Education: Providing up-to-date insights on industry-relevant policies and organizing training programs, professional certification courses, and safety workshops.
Through these initiatives, the BCMD is committed to establishing clear legal frameworks and fair competition conditions within the industry, ensuring a sustainable and thriving future for its members.
Visit bcmd.de for more information.
[02.28.25]