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Recently elected PRLA President Johnny Donohoe of Sterling Chauffeured Transportation began the meeting by welcoming everyone and expressing his pleasure with the sizeable number in attendance. He then thanked past PRLA presents Steve Rhodes from Rhoads Limousine and Jim Salinger of Unique Limousine, who were both in attendance, for their years of service to both the association and industry. Donohoe then asked new PRLA Treasurer Bob Euler Jr. of King Limousine and Transportation to provide a brief overview of the organization’s financial status.
Next, meeting sponsor and vendor member Ken Ingram of Brightbill Body Works addressed the group with an overview of his dealership’s products and services. He also encouraged the operators in the room to tour the three buses he brought to the venue. Ingram then welcomed surprise guest Phil Tom of Turtle Tom who came in from Indiana for the meeting. Tom gave an update on Turtle Top’s recent “hard reset” that saw company return to its family-owned roots after a brief period under a new umbrella.
Donohoe and Euler then provided an update on developments at the Philadelphia Airport (PHL) and with the association’s oft-tenuous relationship with the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA). A construction project at PHL is scheduled to begin in May, which will send hordes of pedestrians to the commercial lots that were previously off-limits to “civilians.” Donohoe advised operators to be prepared for the inevitable delays that will occur due to the travelers unfamiliar with these parking zones. The PRLA board members then discussed the controversial per-vehicle assessments that the PPA levies on chauffeured ground transportation vehicles. While Donohoe confirmed that the $550 per year rate is still in effect, the PPA is considering a per-ride fee of $2.00 for trips in the city limits. This is similar fees levied to TNCs, which generated a whopping $115,000 a day for Philadelphia. This new plan would require luxury car operators to self-report their rides and no stickers would be required.
Before welcoming guest speakers from Black Cipher Security, PRLA Director Mike Barretto of Eagle Chauffeured Services kept the membership up to date on what’s happening at Philadelphia’s always-busy sports stadium area. Barretto recent met with representatives from the stadiums who said that they are actively working on improving the parking situation for for-hire vehicles. The Black Cipher team then engaged attendees with an informative, and often terrifying, discussion about improving cybersecurity measures in the workplace. Their presentation included a live hacking demonstration, an overview about how the “dark web” works, and quick tips operators can use to bolster their cybersecurity.
The meeting concluded with raffles, including a drawing for a free show pass to the Chauffeur Driven Executive Retreat in Austin from May 5-8. The winner was Mark Barnett of Best of Times Transportation in Hatfield, Pa.
The PRLA’s next meeting is scheduled for May 1 at Fred Beans Ford of Doylestown.
Visit prlainc.com for more information.
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preliminary agenda for the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s (TLPA’s) Spring Conference & Expo has been published, offering attendees a first look at the event that’s heading to New Orleans this April.
The action starts April 24 with an exciting keynote speaker, an important discussion on a threat to nonemergency medical transportation (NEMT) funding, the exploration of new opportunities in mobility options, and the unveiling of a major rebranding effort for the association itself, among other topics.
Among the hottest of sessions will be a presentation on federal efforts to allow states to waive Medicaid-funded transportation. This funding threat is part of cost-cutting measures by the federal government that could potentially affect millions of passengers in need of transportation, including people with dialysis appointments, the elderly with doctors’ appointments and children with disabilities.
“Transportation companies across the United States are a lifeline for these passengers who otherwise could not afford these trips,” said TLPA President Terry O’Toole. “Cutting service in any way will result in increased healthcare costs due to untreated conditions and missed appointments with doctors. Our members need to be united, educated and involved in ensuring these services remain in place.”
Meanwhile, buzz is building about the conference’s much-anticipated keynote speaker, Kayvan Baroumand, a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and incubator founder, who will speak on Total Quality Management. A recent training session on delivering top-quality service he conducted for drivers in one TLPA fleet elicited a standing ovation.
Members will also have the historic opportunity to cast their vote to change the name of TLPA. An overall strategic repositioning and rebranding effort has been underway for more than a year.
The Expo portion of the event will showcase services and products of familiar faces and new vendors alike, from across North America and from as far away as India and the Philippines. From dispatching software to insurance, and from call centers to wheelchair equipment, the Expo always offers something for fleets of all sizes. Attendees will have the chance to mingle in a relaxed and casual atmosphere with exhibitors throughout the evening, enjoying an open bar sponsored by MTI Dispatch.
Some 200 transportation executives and top industry vendors are expected to attend the Conference & Expo from April 24 to 25. Exhibit space is filling up quickly, so vendors are encouraged to reserve a spot today. Attendees can also make hotel reservations through TLPA’s portal.
Visit tlpa.org for more information.
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After LANJ President Jason Sharenow of Broadway Elite kicked off the afternoon meeting, Bill Fellbaum and T.J. Ely thanked everyone for making the trip to the North Jersey dealership—the impeccability of which Fellbaum is so confident in that he joked “you can all eat off the floors here”—before answering a few questions about how Cadillac and its dealerships plan on handling the end of the XTS.
Sharenow then discussed the ongoing statewide issue of legalized marijuana and the industry’s wariness regarding that potential legislature, based on safety reports from states where legalization has already been implemented. He also warned of the Congestion Tax that companies performing work between New Jersey and New York are vulnerable to.
The association also has a few initiatives and events in the works, with its annual fundraising Auction and Dinner at the Grand Wilshire in West Orange scheduled for May 22—which is always looking for item donations—and LANJ’s third annual golf outing and cocktail reception happening September 15 at Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman.
With LANJ Director Howard Gogel of My Limousine Service spearheading Be Safe Rides, an activist endeavor with a growing social media presence that aims to both educate and connect with “C-suite executives” in the hopes of directly influencing their transportation decisions. Instead of directing its message at corporate transportation departments, Be Safe Rides goes directly to those executives who rely on TNCs during business hours and trips to arm them with the knowledge that they’re placing their lives in strangers’ hands every time they ride with drivers whose backgrounds remain unchecked and were never put through the rigorous safety training programs that regulated chauffeured ground transportation operations swear by. LANJ invites all who wish to support Be Safe Rides and its message to like and follow the outreach initiative on Facebook.
The meeting’s keynote speaker was Dawson Rutter of Commonwealth Worldwide, who Sharenow described as a “patriarch of this industry.” Rutter’s decades in the industry provided a wealth of personal anecdotes to illustrate his experiences both within the luxury side of the ground transportation industry and beginnings as a taxi driver, demonstrating how “the lessons you learn at 25 can still resonate at 67.”
Rutter explained how he learned by trial and error, grew cautiously and with the help of smart, trustworthy employees and advisers, survived The Great Recession of 2009 with quick action and foresight, benefited from mentors’ and peers’ insights, as well as outlined how to craft an exit strategy and detailed why TNCs will never match the safety and consistency that this industry delivers. But most of all, he lauded the value in “not being a victim of karma” and working hard.
“The harder I work, the luckier I get—because hard work is the foundation of Commonwealth Worldwide’s success and it’s the only way to run a successful business that I know of,” Rutter said.
After Rutter held a Q&A session, Maccar and Druss auctioned off a pass to the Chauffeur Driven 2019 Executive Retreat in Austin this May 5-8, which was won by Elvis Guillermo of Kingz Transportation.
The next LANJ event will be its annual Dinner and Auction May 22.
Visit lanj.org for more information.
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