Ride-hailing app Gett confirmed April 26 it will acquire Juno, another app in the on-demand transportation industry, for $200 million, reports TechCrunch. The deal will combine Juno’s network of New York City-based drivers under Gett’s and continue to take 10% commission from rides while giving drivers 100% of tips (Uber’s commission ranges between 20% to 25%).
apps mergers & acquisitions on-demand service TNCs Uber
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2pmPSDD
Due to a new bill passed by the New York City Council on April 5 (Introduction Number 1253-A) NYC employers are no longer able to ask job applicants, the applicant’s current or former employers, or managers or employees of the applicant’s current or former employers about compensation and benefits history.
Public records are also off the table, as the bill prohibits employers from conducting searches of the applicant’s salary history through public resources.
chauffeur pay driver pay employee issues hiring hiring chauffeurs human resources New York City New York operators
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2oxJigG
They may want good work-life balance and access to a better technology experience, but more than anything else, today’s business travelers want a better sense of security when traveling on behalf of their organizations, according to a joint survey conducted by American Express Global Business Travel and the Association for Corporate Travel Executives.
Business Travel News article here
airlines aviation business travel corporate travel Safety
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2oxFr2Y
Kansas City’s licensed taxi business is about to all but disappear. But not its taxis. On Monday, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens signed a law pushed by ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft. It poses lighter regulation than Kansas City’s ordinance governing drive-for-hire businesses.
legislation Lyft Missouri operators regulatory enforcement state regulations taxis TNCs Uber
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2oxCbok
Years of fighting among local governments, the Legislature, and ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft could soon come to an end.
Lawmakers have sent to Gov. Rick Scott legislation prohibiting local government from regulating the companies. Instead, the companies would need to meet statewide insurance and background check standards only.
Florida operators legislation Lyft regulatory enforcement state regulations taxis TNCs Uber
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2oxDG69
SAN DIEGO, CA — Anyone who lives and runs a business in California knows it’s painfully difficult to stay on top of all of the regulations one must follow to operate legally. From workers comp to proper licensing and inspection fees, it seems like the list never ends and rules are constantly changing.
Selim and Umut Aslan, owners of MIB Worldwide Chauffeured Services, work tirelessly to ensure their company does things the right way — and their clients certainly notice.
Do What’s Right
The state’s notorious reputation often has fellow operators asking many questions. “When we go to other states and we tell others how we run our company, the initial reaction is often pity. They say, ‘how do you make money?’ But the answer is you just get used to it,” Selim says.
A lesson he and his brother have learned over the years is no matter how right you do things in California, you’ll get in trouble somehow. “We comply as best we can, but there’s no black and white. The only way you can be prepared for anything is by doing your due diligence in ensuring the safety of your clients to the absolute best of your ability.”
This tactic has certainly worked for them, as they now operate 15 vehicles, including Chrysler 300s, Lincoln MKTs (which they like because they can upsell for the luggage space), SUVs, a Sprinter, and a minibus. They serve many corporate clients who also use them on their own personal trips. “I can proudly say the vast majority of our clients are our own. Farm-in work is only about 10% of our gross profit,” Selim says.
Learn From Other’s Mistakes
Selim came to the U.S. in 2004 as a college student from Turkey, and started working for a transportation company that allegedly skirted regulations in 2007. According to him, they didn’t pay their staff overtime. He had an argument with the owner over this in 2009, and quit the company knowing he and his brother could start their own business doing things the right way.
“We wanted to take good care of the people who worked for us,” Selim says. They pooled their money and started MIB with one Town Car in July 2009.
The lessons the brothers have learned over the years have helped their business grow. For example, if something goes wrong, don’t deny it — own up to it. Even if you know nothing was done wrong on your part, try to make it up to the client.
“If you go to our Yelp page, we don’t distribute any coupons or pay anyone for reviews. We don’t do that and never will. They are genuine and not influenced by anything other than the level of service we provide. We don’t fight with clients; we just take care of it,” Selim says.
Keep An Open Mind
Although the company still has a long way to go, having a loyal client base is something he and his brother are proud of, Selim says. “We’ve been hurt by Uber like every other company out there, but we still survive and are busy. We also try to give back to our community as best we can.” You’ll often see them at Greater California Livery Association (GCLA) meetings supporting their fellow operators and keeping up to date on the latest legislative issues.
In the future, they plan on pushing more into the event planning business because it’s the facet of ground transportation least affected by Uber and because they are seeing an increased demand for it. They don’t want to rush into it too quickly, but hope to add more minibuses and coaches to their ever expanding fleet.
California operators GCLA Greater California Livery Association group transportation LCTFast40 Millennials online reviews regulatory enforcement San Diego operators state regulations TNCs Uber Yelp
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2oxpWZb
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The FMCSA requires licensed companies to have inspections and proper insurance. The service invovled in the shootings was not listed on in the federal free app Safer Bus, where you can now search for legal operations.
criminal incidents Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration federal regulations illegal operators law enforcement Missouri operators party buses
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2oxnm53
SAO PAULO, Brazil — It seems like almost every luxury ground transportation company is trying to “go global.” With this endeavor comes a need for quality control. Establishing strong relationships is necessary to ensure your clients will be taken care of wherever they decide to travel, and that you will do the same for your affiliate partners.
Flavia Coppa, hotels and international service manager for Shift Corporate Mobility, says the company has a special department to take care of their affiliates in Brazil, including visits, so they can provide service anywhere in the country with the same high standards as they do in Sao Paulo.
“With international affiliates, we don’t have the chance to meet them in person very often outside the shows. Therefore, we use tools like the LCT and NLA websites for referrals and keep in touch with them by e-mail, phone, or Skype to forge strong bonds,” she says. Of the company’s affiliate work, 20% is farm-in and 50% is farm-out.
Coppa’s advice for being a good affiliate includes always being on time, honest, and realizing it’s a two-sided relationship built on trust. “We all need to ask and provide as much information as we can to get to know each other better to ensure we deliver the best possible service,” she says. Feedback is also important to make sure you are on the right path.
Making sure they fulfill their end of the affiliate bargain, the company has an office open 24/7 to provide service to clients and other businesses. Shift is a logistics company, and offers service for any kind of event ranging from airport transfers for a honeymoon couple to shuttle buses for medical conventions. This includes providing someone for a meet-and-greet, onsite coordinators, and tour guides if needed.
“We have 70 vehicles, and take pristine care of them,” she says. “We are always improving our service with training and performance evaluations.”
One change Coppa has observed in the practice of affiliating is chauffeured transportation companies making more demands, but that’s a good thing. “We want to offer high service standards for our own and our affiliate’s clients. We are always working to improve, and it’s clear businesses around the world are doing the same,” she says. She’s noticed more companies are offering 24 hour operations, purchasing new vehicles, and providing helpful information on sites like LCT Connect.
“LCT Connect not only helps us find potential affiliates by not wasting time requesting basic information by email, but also allows us to promote ourselves, showing detailed information and pictures,” she says. “It’s a great tool for networking. The Internet is full of information, but we need to work with reliable sources.”
affiliate networks Affiliate Report Brazil Operators customer service farm-in farm-out Global operators How To international LCTconnect.com
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2q2s3RE
An updated version of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan debuts this week at Auto Shanghai (April 21 through 28), one of the most influential auto shows in Asia and across the globe. We got a sneak peek at the new S-Class in New York.
Mercedes-Benz Mercedes-Benz S-Class new vehicles premium luxury sedans
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2pbuaSZ
PONTIAC, Mich. — Nothing keeps a vehicle running smooth like keeping it indoors. According to the seller of this 2011 Ford E-450 mini bus limo built by Tiffany Coachworks, it has been hand washed and gotten its oil changed every 3,000 miles since it was purchased in June of 2013.
SELLER INFO, SPECS & PHOTOS HERE
Now available on Limoforsale.com for $65,895 at 40,000 miles, it’s a good buy for someone looking for a well-kept mini bus. It holds up to 22 passengers in wrap around leather seating, and includes tinted windows, wet bar, fiber optic lighting with strobe lights, premium sound, touch screen entertainment, mirrored disco ceiling, dance pole, iPod Aux integration, A/C power outlets, and TV/DVD.
The driver will also have control over the intercom and power divider to help control any rowdy clients.
Ford Limoforsale.com mini-buses online vehicle sales Tiffany Coachworks used vehicles vehicle sales
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2pZxzqX
Israeli officials say the blockade is necessary to prevent the importation of weapons and materials that could be used to make them, but UN officials have called for it to be lifted, citing deteriorating conditions in the enclave of two million people.
With poverty widespread and unemployment at nearly 45%, Gazans have had to show creativity — and Odi has responded to the challenge.
custom limousines Israel Middle Eastern Operators stretch limousine unique vehicles weddings
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2pbrsgD
Read the specs for the gargantuan 2017 Cadillac Escalade ESV, and you may confuse it with a 1966 Cadillac Eldorado. Both measure a smidge over 224 inches long, feature body-on-frame construction, and feed (lots of) fuel to a pushrod V-8 engine.
Compared to the Eldo’s 340-hp (SAE gross rating) 7.0-liter iron-block lump, however, the ’Slade’s aluminum-block 6.2-liter V-8 makes an additional 80 horsepower and boasts now ubiquitous engine technologies such as direct injection, cylinder deactivation, and variable valve timing.
Cadillac Cadillac Escalade new vehicles SUV Vehicle Reviews
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2pZieqo
The Lincoln Continental that WardsAuto was given to evaluate was a top-spec Black Label model with 30-way-adjustable “Perfect Position” seats and a 19-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, so it represents rather the best of what the luxury sedan’s interior can be.
Wards praised its “soft ambient lighting… reconfigurable gauges, supple Alpine Venetian leather seats and [its] cavernous second row.”
Lincoln Lincoln-Continental new sedans new vehicles premium luxury sedans sedans Vehicle Reviews
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2pZb3OU
Uber Technologies said it has extended its internal investigation into sexual harassment claims in its own organization, and a report is expected by the end of May.
employee management Harassment human resources Uber
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2ovDRL9
Add to the list of problems at Uber: Driver retention. Only 4% of people who sign up to drive for the ride-hailing service are still driving a year later, according to a report in The Information.
The company’s accelerating driver drop off rate is partially due to increased competition from companies like Lyft. But the number one complaint among Uber drivers is the pay.
driver pay employee retention recruiting chauffeurs TNCs Uber
Follow @lctmag on Twitter
via Limo News http://ift.tt/2ovDccv
