How To Break Into The Bus Business

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — If you’re headed to the LCT-NLA Show East this weekend, there are undoubtedly tons of educational sessions you are planning on attending. Those who are either flirting with the idea of breaking into the bus business or are seasoned operators looking to learn more about how to keep up with ever changing rules and safety regulations should mark these on their schedules.

Ensuring Safer Buses

The limousine industry has reached the point where it can’t get enough of buses. Whether running executive vans, minibuses, or motorcoaches, operators need to stay up to speed on a new category of fleet vehicle rules and logistics, separate from sedans and SUVs.  A presentation Nov. 14 from 10:40am to 11:50am on Bus Safety will look at Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Coach Safety Administration (FMCSA) driven regulations, guidelines, and tricks of the trade.

“We are going to give attendees ‘out of the box’ insight into the bus industry,” says panel moderator Tom Holden of Rose Chauffeured Transportation in Charlotte, N.C. “Our panel consists of experts who run large motorcoach operations, and bus safety experts from the insurance industry and our own industry.”

Takeaways And Benefits

• Weighing the pros and cons of expanding your fleet and possibly going into motorcoaches.
• Hearing from people who took the plunge and will help steer you one way or the other.
• Learning how to develop a game plan for marketing coach bus service and creating recurring revenue streams.

Operators will come away with best practices on training and safety and many resources available to help operators of all sizes run a better bus operation, Holden says. Operators continually need to be updated on DOT and FMCSA ever-changing regulations, and what’s coming down the road, he adds.

Further, the panel will offer advice and tips on how to manage all records and paperwork, and prepare for audits. “We know operators have many questions regarding bus operations, and our panelists welcome questions from the audience in this interactive session,” Holden says.

Selling & Marketing Your Bus Business

Buses are becoming an increasingly lucrative part of many luxury ground transportation operations. If this is something that’s been in the back of your mind for a while, this session on Nov. 15 from 9:30am to 10:25am should be your number one priority.

Panelist Robert Alexander, CEO of RMA Worldwide Chauffeured Transportation in Rockville, Md., says if you’re looking for the pros and cons of going into service with a bus, this is the place to be.

“The session will help operators take an intellectual look into whether they should pursue this or not. It’s a completely different deal than running a sedan, mini-bus, or limo. You need to really think it through and understand the math. There’s a heck of a lot of regulations.”

“We’ll talk about analyzing your business and your market so you can make an informed decision on whether to add coach buses to your fleet,” adds panelist Eric Devlin, owner and CEO of Premier Transportation Services in Dallas. The session will also explain how to market your new coach buses. “We’ll talk about the types of clients who generate bus business, and how to develop a marketing plan to promote your services.”

Time Is Running Out!

The Show is only a week away! Don’t miss out on incredible educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more! Click here to register.

Keywords

Atlantic city   bus market   buses   DOT issues   Eric Devlin   FMCSA   Harrah’s   LCT-NLA Show East   new jersey   Robert Alexander   safety education   Sales & Marketing   Tom Holden   vehicle safety   

 

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Trump Thump: What’s The Fallout?

What Trump’s Presidency Could Mean for Corporate Travel: “There’s just a great deal of broad uncertainty,” Hilton Worldwide CEO Christopher Nassetta said. “Companies and CEOs, when they have a little more certainty, do want to start to make decisions again to start investing and hiring and traveling and doing all the things they need to do to drive the growth in their business.” Business Travel News article here

Related: Corporate Travel Insiders Hope Trump Will Focus on Business Improvements, Tone Down Rhetoric

Trump Will Get A Fancy New Limo When He Becomes President: As one might expect, the vehicle’s exact features and specifications are kept a secret, but it’s safe to say The Beast is more of a tank than automobile. Trump’s limousine will be one of the first modeled after the Cadillac Escalade rather than a sedan from GM’s luxury brand. Car Buzz article here

A Walking Tour Of Donald Trump’s Atlantic City: The Republican nominee was once the largest employer in this beachside New Jersey town, owning three massive casinos that adorned his name. But before long, it all came slowly crashing down. Last month, years after Trump lost control of the property in messy bankruptcy proceedings, his crown jewel shut down. There is no longer a single Trump property in Atlantic City. Vocativ article here

Related: Retracing Donald Trump’s History In Atlantic City

Keywords

Atlantic city   business travel   Cadillac   Cadillac Escalade   corporate travel   Donald Trump   election   hotels   Presidential limousines   research and trends   

 

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Hot Topic East Sessions Focus on HR, Marketing

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Focused on educating small operators, two special interactive sessions, Hot Topic Roundtable for Small Operators: Operations, HR/Personnel, Sales & Marketing and Hot Topic Roundtable For Small Operators: Technology, Customer Service, And Fleet, are slated for the upcoming LCT-NLA Show East at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City on Monday, Nov. 14, 10:40 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., and Tuesday, Nov. 15,  9:30 a.m. to 10:25 a.m., respectively

“Regardless of the size of you company, having sound policies and procedures in place allows for the efficient and proper running of your business,” says Monday’s session presenter  Kyara Kahakauwila, co-owner of L.A. Limousine & Transportation Services in Victoria, Canada. “This session will arm you with information you can immediately put in place in your company,” she notes.

Greg Pruitt, owner of Kings Worldwide Transportation in Oklahoma City, Okla., adds, “We’ll be sharing with attendees best practices for managing employees, strategies to train your staff, and tips on how to set a realistic budget.”

You can read about the second small operator session here.

The Session Will Cover…

Operations
• Best practices for dealing with your employees
• Setting a budget
• What to do when the unexpected happens
Human Resources
• On boarding your employees
• Training
• Overall morale
• When it’s time to part ways
Sales & Marketing
• What are you selling – know your key values
• Identifying opportunities
• Social media marketing – what’s your online identity?
• Managing expectations
• What’s your budget? Who’s in charge?

Time Is Running Out!

The Show is only a week away! Don’t miss out on incredible educational sessions, networking opportunities, and more! Click here to register.

Keywords

Atlantic city   Harrah’s   human resources   industry education   industry events   Kyara Kahakauwila   LCT-NLA Show East   limo tradeshows   Sales & Marketing   

 

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Uber Settles For Criminal Drivers At Customers’ Expense

Uber Driver Charged With Raping Unconscious Teenage Passenger: Authorities say Alaaeldin Mahran, 23, picked up the girl at a bar in Huntington Beach, Calif. after one of her family members ordered an Uber to bring her home. When she didn’t return on time, another relative used Uber’s tracking feature to locate the car, which was parked not far from the girl’s home. The family member found Mahran assaulting the girl in the back seat and the driver then fled the scene, according to police. The Verge article here

Family Takes $362 Uber Ride Home From Dallas Cowboys Game: Uber says passengers are warned about surge pricing and given an estimated fare before they begin the ride, but the family insists they would not have accepted the ride if surge pricing had been in effect. “I could have taken a stretch limo if I wanted,” observed the family member who hailed the vehicle with her phone. Consumerist article here

Latina Woman Says Uber Driver Kicked Her Out After Conversation About Her Heritage: As Denise Soler Cox made small talk with her driver, she told him about her work as a documentary filmmaker. She explained her latest project called “Being Enye” about life for first-generation American-born Latinos. “He turned around and said, ‘I think you should just get out of my car,'” she said. Denver 7 ABC article here

Uber Settles Big Sexual Assault Cases In The US: Uber tried to argue it can’t be held liable for its drivers since they’re contractors and not employees, but a federal judge denied its request to toss the case in May this year. Now, six months later, both parties have reached an agreement, though the details weren’t released to the public. Engadget article here

Uber Driver Drags Police Officer Down The Road After Football Game: The driver, Fredrick Becker, told police in an interview that the closing of a gate caused him to panic, which led him to speed towards Orchard Road, dragging the police detective along the side of the car with him for approximately twenty feet. Becker nearly struck the auxiliary officers who were attempting to close the gate as well, according to court documents. Penn State Daily Collegian article here

Keywords

California operators   Colorado operators   Denver   discrimination   law enforcement   lawsuits   Pennsylvania operators   Sexual Assault   surge pricing   Texas operators   TNC travesty   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Limo Company Joins Forces With Uber

MIAMI — Kevin Devoto Limo Service recently joined forces with the renowned worldwide online transportation network company, Uber. Kevin Devoto, who runs the limo service firm, now allows his chauffeurs to also drive for Uber.

The move is aimed at creating more work opportunities for chauffeurs while extending the professional staff to complement Uber. The chauffeurs are allowed to join the Uber network whenever they are not busy or have trips booked at Kevin Devoto’s Limo Services website. 

Luxvelocity article here

Keywords

apps   business opportunities   business trends   California operators   mobile technology   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Addison Lee CEO Dishes On Uber, Travel Tech

LONDON — Stepping into the offices of Addison Lee in central London, you find a hive of activity – a huge screen showing thousands of Addison Lee drivers dotted around London, rolling news reports, traffic monitors and call center employees keeping the 40-year-old ground transport company on the road.

At the back, in a glass-fronted office, is chief executive Andy Boland, who is quick to point out the difference between Addison Lee and other start-up providers that compete with traditional suppliers such as his.

Buying Business Travel article here

Keywords

Addison Lee   apps   business travel   corporate travel   London operators   Lyft   mobile technology   TNCs   Uber   United Kingdom   

 

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Presidents Q&A: Wes Hart, Houston’s Limo Trade Group

A life-long advocate for a good cause, Wes Hart, president of the Houston Area Livery & Charter Association, has a passion for the industry and strives to educate and uplift operators. He is also director of operations at American Corporate Transportation in Houston.

LCT: When and why did you get started in the business?
Hart: I purchased my first company in 2005. It was a small operation that had been in business since 1990 with some great customers, but the owner wanted to retire. At the time, I managed software training centers traveling weekly to New York City, Chicago, and Dallas using that company’s limousine service. I found out the company was for sale — and the timing couldn’t have been any better — because I was tired of being gone from home every week and it seemed owning my business would be a lot of fun. Logistically, it didn’t appear to be such a complex operation — I later found out how complicated it really can be!

LCT: How did you first get involved in advocacy for the industry and your association?
Hart: I have always been an advocate for a cause. In my 20s, I worked for a non-profit company. I am very involved, politically, with legislators on the local and national levels. I know my representatives and have a great working relationship with many City Council members. I have attended NLA Day on the Hill and met several of our Texas legislators in D.C. and continue to work with one person to this day still interested in supporting our industry. I have a great personal relationship with my state representative and have begun to form relationships with her colleagues from other areas. These are relationships I never considered until I owned my business. I believe without them, I would be throwing darts at a board in the dark and hoping something hits.

LCT: How do you see the industry from your local point of view and overall nationally?
Hart: My view is in our area we have been hit with poor economic conditions due to the oil and gas industry. In 2009, my business grew 40%, mostly due to the bad economic conditions because most of the smaller operators went out of business. What’s so different in 2016 is the oil and gas crunch has lasted much longer than the 2009 crisis, so our customer base is rapidly changing and could be slow to recover.
Nationally, it’s hard to say how much TNCs have affected local markets. In our market, I have heard from many C-level executives who said they either had tried TNCs and it wasn’t for them, or they would never been caught dead in one of those vehicles.

LCT: And your take on the future of the industry?
Hart: Our industry was very slow to adapt to technological changes. In 2005, I was adamant we start working on an online reservation system. Remember, just 10 years ago few companies could offer a ‘true’ online reservation system. I believe we will have some great technological advances coming soon. Our customers want this and we have spoken to a few vendors that can integrate with our system.

LCT: What are some of the things you want to accomplish as president of the association?
Hart: I have a huge wish list. I have always seen a need to bring workshops to Houston. Being a small operator, I have noticed how many don’t show up for the big shows in Vegas, Atlantic City, D.C., Miami, etc. I want to see more educational workshops in Houston for the smaller operators. HALCA is a great organization to be involved with and will grow. We have some excellent board members who are passionate about our industry. I’m so grateful to have their support and service for our organization.

LCT: What keeps you competitive and motivated?
Hart: Kristen Carroll of The LMC Group, an industry consulting group, and [the late] Tom Mazza, who was not only a friend of mine, but was first an amazing force as a mentor. I went through a few years kind of waffling around trying to decide if A or B was better, etc. I had the privilege of being introduced to Kristen through a friend, and she and her group have been great mentors to me. They are also available through their vast array of services. I love numbers and statistics and the LMC Groups’ benchmarking is really a great tool and motivator.

LCT: You attend many industry trade shows and events. What inspires you to give back to the industry?
Hart: I am a very practical individual. I enjoy helping others, serving my community, and I give selflessly. I don’t deal with huge egos. That’s just not my thing. If you help build people up instead of knocking them down, I believe it gets you much further in life. I believe in a holistic, positive approach to most situations.

LCT: So what do you like to do in your downtime?
Hart: I love to travel. Friends and colleagues know I rarely sit still. Whether I visit New York City for three days or Europe for 28 days, I would much rather have experiences in life than accumulate things. Those experiences stay with me forever while the ‘things’ just weigh me down.

Tom Halligan is LCT East Coast editor, based in Marlton, N.J. He travels regularly to industry association meetings in the eastern U.S. Tom can be reached at tom@lctmag.com.

Keywords

Houston Area Livery & Charter Association   Houston operators   industry leaders   limo associations   Texas operators   Wes Hart   

 

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