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L to R: Richard Tessier and Karrine Tessier from Great Bay Limousine, CD Publisher Chris Weiss, and Tami Saccoccio and Dawson Rutter from Commonwealth Worldwide
Boston — The New England Livery Association (NELA) hosted its most recent meeting September 10, where it was joined by more than 60 members and supporters. CD Publisher Chris Weiss was among those who attended the fall quarterly meeting.
After members made use of the networking opportunities prior to the beginning of meeting and dinner, NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagi got down to business. With the annual George Colarullo Memorial Golf Tournament seeing another successful installment this past August, Szilagyi announced the total allocation of the event’s fundraising efforts. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation received $1,000, $1,000 went to the Pan-Mass Challenge bike ride (in which NELA member Tom Arrighi of A&A Metro participated), and $500 was donated to Chips House, a group home for those living with severe head injuries and where a son of event namesake Colarullo resides.
It was also noted that MassPort will begin moving Uber and Lyft to Central Parking at Logan International Airport for both drop-offs and pickups. MassPort, or the Massachusetts Port Authority, owns and operates three airports (Logan International, Hanscom Field, and Worcester Regional) and public terminals in the Port of Boston. This move will be phased in starting October 28th. Since MassPort serves the public, TNC drivers will continue to be allowed to perform drop-offs at the terminals between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.
L to R: Speakers Arthur Bernard and Bob Travaglini of Travaglini, Eisenberg, & Kiley with NELA Executive Director Rick Szilagyi
NELA President Jason Dornhoffer of United Private Car spoke about NELA’s the recent meeting with MassPort, as there was confusion regarding the PSID badges required for all chauffeured-car operators and DPU background checks that TNC drivers must pass. While TNC drivers do not need to wear a badge, they are required to have a background check done by the Massachusetts Department of Utilities; an average of 15 percent fail their background check, which doesn’t even involve Homeland Security like the background check to acquire a PSID badge does. Our industry’s operators can boast about the extra level of security we offer due to additional scrutiny chauffeurs are subject to.
Still, many operators are opposed to PSID badges, and at least one attendee suggested a drive to challenge MassPort’s authority to enforce the program; however, NELA prefers to take a less confrontational stance when dealing with MassPort. Over the years, the association has worked well with MassPort and hopes to keep cordial relations. This is especially important in facing new challenges, such as the series of construction projects aiming to move more passengers with fewer vehicles, an initiative referred to as Logan Forward.
NLA Secretary Brett Barenholtz of Boston Car Service
NLA Secretary Brett Barenholtz of Boston Car Service spoke on behalf of the NLA. He explained what was happening in California regarding Assembly Bill 5, as it was poised to be passed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The focus of the bill is the reclassification of many gig workers as employees, which NELA anticipates will influence its legislative effort for the rest of the year. Barenholtz noted that bills such as AB5 can succeed because statewide, regional, and national associations alike have put the effort into advocating for the issues that affect ground transportation operators; the bill has since been signed into law on September 18.
Speakers Bob Travaglini and Arthur Bernard of Travaglini, Eisenberg, & Kiley then gave a few brief introductory remarks before their Q&A session. One key takeaway is that legislators are swayed by what their constituents say—which means that attending and testifying at hearings, as well as introducing yourself to, calling, and emailing your legislator, all make a difference.
The evening’s giveaways capped off the evening. The CD/NLA Show Pass to the Boston Show went to Alexander Lisek of Boston 5 Star Limo. And Weiss, who had been on hand to speak about how the show will benefit attendees and highlighted a few especially noteworthy offerings to be found at this year’s show, won the 50/50 raffle prize, which he immediately donated back to NELA as a sponsorship toward the upcoming breakfast meeting that the association will be holding at the show on October 14.
After the meeting at the CD/NLA Show, NELA’s next event will be its December 10 holiday party.
Visit nelivery.org for more information.
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RMA-branded MCI J4500 motorcoach at the Washington Monument
Des Moines — Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has delivered two new MCI J4500 Livery Edition coaches to expand RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation’s busy fleet of 375-vehicles. These are the first MCI motorcoaches purchased by the comppany.
“We have clients who love different models, and the MCI J4500 has a lot of things we were looking for,” explains RMA Vice President of Operations Gigi Bridgers.
The two 2019 J4500s are fully featured for the luxury livery market. Starting with the roomy 56-seat J4500 configuration, RMA’s new MCIs include Amaya 220 seating with leather diamond stitching and cup holders on the back of each seat. Additionally, each coach features an enhanced sound system, and the RGB lighting package that allows for customize interior color lighting options, and exterior custom paint and decaling.
RMA’s motor coach fleet goes to work for large events, corporate charters, and university clients. The company recently provided transportation for the Horatio Alger awards and the Boy Scouts of America’s annual convention through RMA’s offices in Washington, D.C., and Rockville. RMA’s business expansion includes a new location in Richmond, VA and a new transit bus and coach maintenance facility in Baltimore, MD.
The company trains its drivers to handle versatile assignments. RMA also operates transit buses on Baltimore’s and Bethesda’s circulators, so driver training includes behind-the-wheel hours and instruction on all types of bus models.
“We’re lucky because some of our transit drivers also serve as coach drivers and we’ll let them drive within the DOT regulation of hours,” said Bridgers.
RMA also offers customers worldwide service through its affiliate network in 600 cities around the globe. Much-admired, RMA has won serval prestigious industry awards throughout its history and are members of ABA and UMA.
Visit rmalimo.com for more information.
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Statesville, N.C. — Coachbuilder L.A. West is the latest exhibitor to announce exclusivity to Chauffeur Driven and NLA coproduced trade shows and events. President Vern Kauffman says that the company has committed to floor space at the Boston CD show this October 13-16 at the Westin Boston Waterfront as well as the upcoming CD/NLA Show at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in February 2020.
A long-time bus industry fixture, Kauffman relaunched the L.A. West brand name in April 2018 after acquiring the inventory, equipment, engineering rights, and warranties from McSweeney Designs, and then moving to a 30,000-square-foot facility in N.C. Since then, the builder has been rolling Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and Ford Transit buses off their assembly line and into dealerships across the country.
The positive experience he had at the 2018 CD Show was influential in Kauffman’s decision to become an exclusive exhibitor.
“We had great results attending and exhibiting at the Chauffeur Driven Show in National Harbor, not only in terms of immediate sales activity but also in follow-up inquiries coming in six months to a year after the show‚” he says.
On the show floor in Boston, attendees will get the opportunity to experience L.A. West’s Sprinter and Transit product as well as meet representatives of the builder’s dealer network. Unlike many builders in the luxury ground transportation marketplace‚ L.A. West utilizes a dealer network that extends across all major markets in the United States.
“With the dealer network, we feel we have a better presence throughout the country than if we were selling direct‚” says Director of Operations Michelle Keck. “In Boston‚ we’re expecting to have six or eight authorized and approved L.A. West dealers present in our exhibit space to meet with operators.”
Kauffman is pleased to have the chance to expose the L.A. West brand to end-users at the coming CD/NLA events.
“The shows are a great platform to support our dealer network and create brand awareness by letting the operators see‚ touch‚ and experience our products while letting our dealers build relationships with clients and generate lead,” he says.
With new things in development at L.A. West in the coming year, Kauffman looks forward to sharing new products with the market at Vegas and beyond.
Visit lawestcoaches.com for more information.
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