Summit To Host Tech Panel On New Ride Booking Options

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — In competing with transportation network companies, should operators strive to provide on-demand service, near-demand booking options, both, or stay reservation-based? Or all of the above? 

The chauffeured transportation industry is at a crossroads about how to present the most feasible, competitive booking options for a traditional chauffeured clientele as well as an app-centric younger generation not yet fully enlightened about the advantages of reservation-based luxury transportation.

That subject and many sidebars will be the focus of a Technology Mixology interactive panel scheduled for the LCT Leadership Summit, May 22-24, at the SLS South Beach Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. Hosted by LCT editors, the panel will include Mark Gentry, CEO of Limo Anywhere, Tarek Mallah, CEO of Karhoo, and Raj Grewal, CEO of Limo Alliance. This discussion will span audience questions informed by LCT’s recent industry survey on how Uber is affecting limousine operations. This “living whitepaper” will define the issues and form real, actionable solutions moving forward. The panel will be held Tuesday, May 24 at 11 a.m.

Learn more about Summit tech companies from feature articles in LCT: KARHOO, LIMO ANYWHERE, LIMO ALLIANCE

The interactive panel is one of several leading industry topics and trends to be presented at the annual Summit, a high-end executive-style think tank retreat that provides the industry’s only deep-view forum for ideas, best practices and high-touch networking. 

With its focus on bringing operators together, the Summit also features a healthy roster of social and recreational activities, providing a binge feast of networking in the most enticing, pulsating, tropical city in the world.

REGISTER HERE, NOW!

Related LCT Summit news:

• LCT To Host Business Travel Expert Roundtable
• COO Can Show You How To Treat Clients Better
• NAVY Seal To Keynote Summit
• SLS Hotel Gets New Owner Last Year

Keywords

industry education   Karhoo   LCT Leadership Summit   Limo Alliance   Limo Anywhere   Mark Gentry   Miami Beach   mobile technology   networking   Raj Grewal   

 

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New Client Amenity Can Polish Up Your Service

In Japan, there’s a saying that translates to “the customer is God.” Those who know anything about the luxury ground transportation industry understand their customers expect to be treated in such a way.

Sure, you might have bottled water at the ready or perhaps a dish of mints, but so do all the other companies. What can you do to really wow your clients? One option is investing in refreshment towels.

Jason Stark, president of White Towel Services, worked in the Japanese travel and customer service industries for 12 years and learned a lot along the way. He spent a much of his time traveling in Asia, and came across the concept of the warm/cool towel while he was in the area. After thinking about it, he decided it would be a perfect product to introduce to businesses in the U.S.

Based off of the Japanese oshibori hand towel, Stark’s basic concept stayed the same: White Towel Services offers towels made of cotton cloth that can be served either hot or cold. He tweaked the concept for American customers by adding essential oils to the mix. As steam comes off of the towel, so does a relaxing sent that engages a client’s senses. This creates aromatherapeutic value and makes for a stronger customer experience overall.

The towels are sanitized, individually wrapped, and come in a variety of sizes and scents. Customers can choose from eight, nine, 10 or 12-inch square styles, as well as lemon, lavender, peach/mango or unscented. As far as the transportation industry goes, Stark says the most popular choice is the nine-inch, lemon scented towel.

“These towels are the perfect fit for this industry because, even though the price point is relatively low, it offers an instant feeling of first-class service. If someone is traveling, no matter what they’ve been doing or what they are going to do, a nice hot towel on a cool day or cool towel on a hot day is going to make them feel instantly like they are being treated like a VIP,” Stark says.

White Towel Services works with large motorcoach operations in Canada and some American limousine companies as well. The company exhibited Feb. 29 to March 2 on the show floor of the International LCT Show in Las Vegas.

But Stark didn’t originally decide to market to the transportation industry, although he knew it would be a good fit. “We don’t have a large sales force, and we prefer to let the product grow organically. Within the last year or so, we noticed a lot of transportation and coach companies using the product. That’s why we started going to more of the trade shows —we wanted to educate ourselves more about the industry,” Stark says.

The company makes its products themselves in Fort Worth, Texas, and therefore has a lot of flexibility with the packaging of each individual towel.

“It’s a product that can be used not only to make your customer feel as if they are being treated like a VIP, but if the company decides to have us personalize it and put their own logo on the individual wrapper, a client that’s riding with them might take a towel or two with them and use it at other times when they are traveling. That way, they will be reminded of the company’s name long after they’ve left the vehicle,” Stark says.

The feedback has been nothing but positive. However, something customers have requested is an easier way to heat and cool the towels — and like any good business man, Stark has promptly acted on this request. White Towel Services is near the end of producing small, portable, heating units that are no bigger than a lunchbox and plug into the vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Production is expected to be finished about three to four months from now.

For more information on the various products available, click here.

Keywords

customer service   industry vendors   onboard amenities   WebXclusive   

 

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Can You Build A Terrorist-Proof Car?

With 220 million Internet connected cars expected to be on the roads within five years, a national security expert visited Detroit April 12 and urged automakers to be mindful of the growing cyber-security threats posed by terrorists, information crooks and spies who could potentially try to hack into wired vehicles and cause mayhem of all sorts.

While there are no known cases of terrorists hacking a connected car, the Department of Justice official stressed automakers need to try to stay one step ahead of any potential hackers and ask:

“‘What are the bad buys thinking? We’ve seen them be creative before,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin, who met with auto executives and law enforcement personnel at Cobo Center at a presentation titled, “Emerging National Security Cyber Threats and Their Implications for the C-Suite.”

Detroit Free Press article here

Keywords

safety   safety education   technology   vehicle safety   vehicle technology   

 

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TNC Travesties Of The Week

Police Arrest Man Posing As Uber Driver Who Tried to Kidnap and Sexually Assault Woman: Los Angeles police have arrested a man they say posed as an Uber driver and lured a woman waiting for a ride into his car, where he choked her unconscious several times and sexually assaulted her as police tried to rescue her.

On April 11, Police Chief Charlie Beck said 39-year-old Dartanyun Smith was arrested over the weekend for kidnapping and rape after he was tied to the “horrific” crime through DNA evidence, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The Washington Post article here

Uber Subpoenaed For Customer and Driver Data By Law Enforcement: The TNC processed 415 data requests on its riders and drivers from US law enforcement agencies in the last six months of 2015, according to the ride-hail company’s first-ever transparency report released Tuesday. Most, if not all, of those requests pertained to criminal investigations, such as cases of fraud, theft, or assault. Uber received 309 requests for rider information and 205 for drivers. The company says it “fully complied” with almost 32 percent of those requests, “partially complied” with over 52 percent, and either came up with no information or the request was withdrawn by law enforcement with 15 percent.

The Verge article here

Keywords

California operators   law enforcement   Los Angeles   Los Angeles operators   Sexual Assault   TNC travesty   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Funeral Transportation Becomes More Nuanced

TAMPA, Fla. — Alpha Limousine owner Terry Kurmay joked that Florida is the land of “newlyweds and the nearly dead.” Fortunately for Kurmay, he’s tapped into a lucrative niche that keeps his fleet of white stretch limousines booked solid for weddings and funerals.

Ethnic Variation
Serving West Central Florida since 1983, Kurmay has honed relationships with regional funeral directors who specifically need white limousines often requested for ethnic minority funerals. In many African American communities, and among other ethnic groups, funerals are celebrated as joyous occasions with white limousines the preferred color for the service. Increasingly, funeral home operators outsource transportation services rather than incur the cost of owning and maintaining a fleet that sits idle most of the week.

Kurmay, who has established partnerships with funeral homes throughout the St. Petersburg-Tampa Bay region, maintains a modern fleet of white stretch limousines that often do double-, even triple-duty on Saturdays.

“Our white stretches go out around 8 a.m. for funerals and in the evening they are used for night outs,” he says. “Often, we may have one stretch do a funeral in the morning and another in the afternoon, then bring it in for a refresh, and send it back out again in the evening for an event or nightlife booking. They keep our chauffeurs busy working 10-12 hour days and the vehicles pay for themselves.”

In addition to white or black stretches being used for funerals, depending on the ethnic or religious connotation of the deceased and family, funeral directors also outsource for sedan, van and mini- bus services to transport funeral staff, relatives and friends to the service, cemetery and luncheon.

“We even use a white Hummer stretch that seats 18 people, and people are fine with that,” Kurmay says. “A funeral is a conservative business and you have to be respectful and work with the staff to take care of the family.”

Stiff Competition
Kurmay notes the funeral transportation business can be highly competitive. He charges an hourly rate based on a three-hour minimum. “Sometimes, if it’s a military funeral, or a policeman killed in the line of duty or even a child, the funeral can take five to six hours.”

Although Kurmay’s business is 65% corporate, the funeral business generates consistent revenue and also drives affiliate and customer referral work for other transportation services. “We have established relationships with funeral directors over the years and they’ll refer us to other funeral directors who need transportation services and family members will call us for transportation, like an airport run, because they know we provided good service at the funeral.”

[PAGEBREAK]

Because most funeral homes are family-run operations, Kurmay and his staff market their funeral services to new funeral directors, which has resulted in new business deeper into central Florida.

All In Black & White
Stephen Kemp, president of Haley Funeral Directors in Southfield, Mich., has seen the industry change over the decades, especially transportation. In the 1960s and 1970s, many minority funeral homes would have their own fleet colors — some would be gold over white, black over white, navy blue, and even one was robin egg blue. But that’s all changed. Today, funeral services are less elaborate, and there are more cremations, with exclusive use of black or white limousines. “In fact, today we serve more as event planners for the family to facilitate everything from transportation, the luncheon and special requests,” he says.

It’s also important for limousine operators seeking to get into the funeral transportation business to understand different cultures and customs, and special requests to provide personal service. For example, in the Detroit metro region, Kemp says he serves numerous ethic groups, including the Latvian, Lithuanian, Nigerian (Ibo, Yoruba, Urhoba, Hausa-Fulani and other tribes), Hmong and Vietnamese, Jamaican, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese speaking), and Filipino communities, as well as others.

Like many funeral directors nationwide, the trend is to outsource all funeral transportation. “A firm like ours that does 250 services, I rent because I don’t see the need to own limousines, sedans, or even a hearse. When I look at the books, it’s a colossal waste of money to own a fleet and see it sit in the parking lot.”

Kemp, who also sits on the board of directors of the National Funeral Directors Association, explains the general rule in the industry is when a funeral home performs about 300 services a year, that’s the point to purchase a hearse. “The big operations that perform more than 1,000 services, they have a fleet of hearses and limousines.” Another reason to outsource transportation to limousine companies is he can count on providing professional chauffeurs and new and reliable vehicles to serve his clients.

Venerable Vans
In addition to stretches and sedans, Kemp is seeing more directors use limo buses and Sprinters to transport both the casket and the family, especially if the funeral caravan has to travel out of state for the burial.

“That’s really efficient, and at our last convention there were Sprinters converted to carry the casket below the seating area, so they all ride together. They’ll have a bar, flat-screen TV and DVD, and snacks to make the journey more pleasant and comfortable.”

Operators who have cash-flow issues, take note. Kemp says he also contracts out transportation services for picking up the recently departed to transport to the funeral home for around $200, which is paid by the family upfront.

Related LCT article: How To Tap The Funeral Limo Business

Keywords

business opportunities   funeral business   funeral vehicles   special events   

 

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How To Tap The Funeral Limo Business

Funeral directors share common jokes about people dying to do business with them, or the rigors of mortician work, or earning ones “chaps” from hands dried out by embalming fluids. The truth is their jobs are probably one of the most important services offered to a person since a funeral service is the final mortal memory of the deceased. These jobs must be delivered without mistakes.

Do You Have What It Takes?
Funeral directors want the limo to match the hearse. They want limos without booze decanters, flashy LED disco light displays, or festive decor. The limo will transport family members to a funeral, not a night on the town. Put tissues in the vehicle. They want professionally dressed chauffeurs with good manners and good sense.

Unlike normal limo charters, the rule of ‘don’t speak unless spoken to’ does not apply. “I want the chauffeur to look after a grieving family as if it was his own,” says John Basham, owner of Basham’s Funeral Care in Bakersfield, Calif.

“Chauffeurs must always have a coat on, just as funeral directors do. They are an extension of my service and the family should never know the limo is sub-contracted.” Basham also requests chauffeurs to remove sunglasses when speaking to families. It is demanding work to exacting standards. You also must be financially prepared to carry a balance for four to six weeks.

Speaking of Money
Funeral work can be lucrative based on the sheer volume of business. However, just as you feel compelled to provide a discount for a large volume corporate account, funeral work does require some discounting on the price if you want to be seriously considered.

Some funeral directors pass on the exact cost to their customers and some mark it up to increase their bottom line profits. If you don’t provide a discount, there is no incentive for the funeral home to either call upon your company or refer their clients to you. The client could simply call you directly and pay the retail rate. Whether the funeral director passes on the discounted rate or marks it up, you should establish a funeral director rate applied fairly to all. Just as we farm-out jobs to local competitors, the funeral industry is also a tight knit group and regularly loans each other hearses and other equipment as needed. You don’t want them to compare pricing and discover one has a better price than another. Most funeral homes will ask you to invoice them after the job is complete, since there is no guarantee of actual hours spent working a funeral job, although the average is three hours.

[PAGEBREAK]

Funerals frequently review the estimated time. It would be improper to be standing in the cemetery discussing overtime. Many families rely on life insurance policies or death benefits to pay for funeral expenses, and those claims take time to process. This means you have to work with the director on payment. The debt, however, always remains that of the funeral home since they are your client and any excessively past due accounts should be treated as such.

Rates & Profits
While rates may need to be adjusted to allow the funeral home to make a few dollars, the discount should be no more than the commission you might pay to a travel agency for work. Or you might want to consider a flat $10 to $15 off your normal hourly retail rate in exchange for an exclusive contract. While our profit margins are already thin, remember funeral work happens every day but Sunday. If the funeral home does not have its own limousine, you potentially have work almost daily. Never discuss or use the word gratuity in your pricing for a funeral home. They want simple hourly rates. If you normally include gratuities in your pricing structure, roll it into the price.

Details, Details, Details
The funeral director is the boss. Chauffeurs should immediately locate and check in with the director upon arrival and get all the details and expectations. Instructions will include who rides in which vehicle when multiple vehicles are assigned. The order of the vehicles is determined during the planning process and follows a hierarchy plan where the deceased’s immediate family follows the hearse, followed by surviving parents, and then any others. Chauffeurs may be asked to help with loading and unloading the casket in cases where pallbearers have not been assigned. Chauffeurs also might be expected to pick up flowers, special photos, the guest book or other items designated by the director to be placed in the family limousine.

When arriving at a location with multiple vehicles, chauffeurs should not open passenger doors until all vehicles are parked and all chauffeurs are in position to open the doors in unison. If space permits, the second limousine arriving should park to the left of the first limousine with its passenger door aligned just beyond the trunk of the first. This allows the group to exit together and quickly assemble as a group. The lead chauffeur sets the pace. In a funeral procession, limousines should stay close together, never allowing any cars to separate the procession. If the media is present, make sure the family knows about it and ask if they wish to speak to the media or be shielded from them.

Funeral Transportation Profits

Sample calculation for a three-hour funeral service with a 20% gratuity included. The mileage rate used is the standard IRS rate for business mileage and does not factor the super low fuel prices we enjoy. Workers’ comp rates and employer-based payroll tax will fluctuate based on your area, mod status, and employee:

Related LCT article: Funeral Transporation More Nuanced

Keywords

business opportunities   funeral business   funeral vehicles   special events   

 

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Even SNL Knows Uber Is Sketchy

Jen’s (Elizabeth Banks) Uber ride takes a strange turn when her driver (Mike O’Brien) refuses to follow directions.

Keywords

driver behavior   Entertainment   passenger safety   TNCs   Uber   video   

 

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Michigan Drivers Sue Uber Over Allegedly Keeping Tips

Online taxi giant Uber is battling yet another legal headache, this one triggered by two Ann Arbor drivers who are suing over wages and benefits, claiming that Uber is keeping their tips, denying them benefits and forcing them to pay for things like gas and repairs.

The claims aren’t novel. Over the last year, Uber drivers in California, New York and Washington state have filed similar class actions against Uber, claiming the company stiffed them out of tips and wages. But the Michigan lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, comes when the $50-billion company is trying to rebound from a series of costly legal setbacks and public relations fiascoes.

Detroit Free Press article here

Keywords

chauffeur gratuities   driver pay   lawsuits   legal issues   TNCs   Uber   wage lawsuits   

 

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Uber and Lyft Decimate L.A. Taxi Industry

Uber and Lyft have dealt a swift, brutal blow to the Los Angeles taxi industry, city records show.

Since the ride-hailing services began operating in Southern California three years ago, the number of L.A. taxi trips arranged in advance has fallen by 42%, according to city data, and the total number of trips has plummeted by nearly a third.

The steepest drops were in the city’s most popular nightlife and tourist destinations: the Westside, Hollywood and downtown.

The declines point to the seismic shift wrought by the popular app-based transportation companies, which have wrested market share from taxi companies that have enjoyed decades of dominance in Los Angeles.

And the decline mirrors what’s happening across the country, as taxis regulated on everything from price to the color of their cars have struggled to compete with cheaper, more nimble start-ups.

Los Angeles Times article here

Keywords

California operators   Los Angeles   Los Angeles operators   Lyft   taxis   TNCs   Uber   

 

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How To Drive The Band On The Run

Driving for a music act on tour is an exciting gig, but you must uphold stratospheric standards. One mistake on your part could cause an account to be lost forever. And you won’t be getting any encore requests. Advance planning, proper selection of chauffeurs and excellent communication skills are essential.

Music acts and entertainers rely on the best companies to serve their celebrity clients when on tour or traveling for leisure. Companies such as AJL International, Daitz Personal Logistics (DPL) and Music Express have carved out this niche market.

How They Choose Providers
Transportation brokers rely on specific factors when selecting a local ground transportation company. The fleet vehicles are most important, as artists are picky about vehicles. Substituting a fleet vehicle type without prior consent is a good way to make sure you will never be called upon again for future work.

“If I order a 15-passenger van with the rear seat removed, that’s exactly what I want,” says Matt Johnston, CEO of AJL in Dallas. “I don’t want a Turtle Top or a Van Terra or an SUV. I want a 15-passenger van.”

When Johnston doesn’t have an affiliate in a particular city, he calls the local concert promoter first for a recommendation. He then calls the best hotels in the area to ask who they recommend. He also calls the FBO where the plane is landing to see if they have a relationship with a local provider. Make sure you have relationships with all of these people if you want to be considered for this type of work.

Who To Assign
This is probably your most critical decision. You need a chauffeur thoroughly familiar with back entrances of hotels and a deep knowledge of the city. You need a chauffeur who will not become star-struck — one who will speak only when spoken to. Many artists demand absolute silence in the car while traveling.

“Artists don’t want a fan to drive them or they would just ask a fan to drive,” Johnston says. “They want a professional chauffeur. You need a chauffeur who can be trusted to remain backstage only in designated areas. Almost always, chauffeurs are allowed to watch the show from the back of the stage. It doesn’t mean it’s okay to eat the food set out for the artist and crew unless specifically invited to do so. It doesn’t mean they can walk into the arena to get a hot dog. Asking for an autograph or a photo is an absolute no-no. However, many artists will offer it, and as long as they initiate it, it is okay to accept. Chauffeurs should never attempt to talk to any of the artist’s staff for any reason except related to travel plans.

What Is A Transportation Rider?
You may be given a copy of a contract “rider.” A rider is an addendum to the master performance contract that mandates certain things be in the vehicle or certain conditions be met. For instance, The Eagles require A/C systems to be turned completely off as the cold air can affect their vocal cords before a show. Coming off the stage, they are usually sweaty and getting into a cold vehicle could easily make them sick, Johnston says. Some artists want their bottled water chilled, some want it at room temperature, and others even specify the brand of bottled water. Clients may have other requirements for clean towels or a particular food or beverage. You should read every single line item of the contract and adhere to it. Chauffeurs are routinely asked to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) that prevents them from talking about anything seen or heard while serving the group.

Doing A Dry Run
No matter how well versed you think you might be, these types of trips require a “dry-run” either the day before or the “day of” prior to the group arriving. Bob Daitz, CEO of DPL in Naples, Fla., calls this exercise “climbing the wall and ringing the bell.” He expects subcontracted companies to do it. This includes driving out to the FBO to find out where you will enter, stage your vehicle, and load passengers. Make sure you can get out of the secured area easily and select the most logical route to the venue. The route should be free from construction zones and follow light traffic patterns with minimal signal lights.

[PAGEBREAK]

Your access to the backstage area should be decided by venue security in advance and practiced during the dry-run. The chauffeur should actually access the facility as if the passengers were onboard. In many cases, this means pulling all the way into the building through a roll-up door. During the actual job, you will back out of the arena and then back the vehicle in for a quick departure. Visually inspecting the site will prepare the chauffeur for the job. Don’t plan on doing the dry-run yourself and then telling your chauffeurs about it. If there are six chauffeurs assigned, all should participate. As for the cost of all this extra work, Daitz and Johnston say clients are not looking for the cheapest price but the best service. So build it into your pricing.

Convoys And Law Enforcement
Large groups often use multiple vehicles. The booking company may ask you to contact local law enforcement officials for a police escort. The correct person to start with is called the Public Information Officer (PIO). Inform the PIO who you are, who you are driving and ask who you might speak to about a police escort. Instead of asking as a favor, state your concerns for the safety of the celebrity passengers as they travel down the road in a caravan. Having Elton John stopped at an intersection easily can become a free-for-all autograph and photo session if people recognize him. This will hinder traffic and endanger the artist. Most often, law enforcement will cooperate and assign an officer to coordinate routes and times with you. Be prepared for an exhilarating ride as you blow through traffic signals at 80 mph amid flashing lights. Vehicles travel with about one car length in between with everyone expected to stay together. Assign only the best chauffeurs to convoys.

Communications
Success depends on excellent communication among everyone. Your company must be in touch with the broker that gave you the order, the assigned police officer, the venue’s security manager, the FBO manager, and the tour manager traveling with the group. Promptly communicate any changes to original plans that might affect any of those individuals. “Never make any changes of any kind without calling the booking agent to inform them of the change and get it approved,” Daitz says. “Make sure you know who is requesting a change and don’t call my office and say, ‘Some guy said,’ since that isn’t good enough.” It should go without saying that an affiliate performing a job should never discuss rates with passengers.

Going The Extra Mile
If you really want to be conscientious in your service delivery, assign an extra vehicle such as an SUV to work the job in the background. This chauffeur will constantly run ahead of the pack checking for vehicle accidents, traffic issues, and people who might be stalking the path for photos, autographs or worse.

While some artists demand chauffeur cell phones be completely shut off, you might inform the artist of an “advancement vehicle” providing information about the route or safety issues. Once the advance vehicle has arrived at the venue, it can be used as a decoy to distract waiting fans causing them to rush the decoy vehicle while the artists enter the safe zone backstage. Remember to inform everyone who needs to know that you are using this vehicle. If an artist asks for specific food or other items, this vehicle can immediately be placed into service to fetch it.

Divas & Difficult Dudes
Celebrities are known to be demanding. Remember, they are human like everyone else. They can have bad moods, they may be spoiled, they are under pressure — whatever the reason, never take any insults, remarks, or slights personally. Always be polite and never, ever lose your cool. Accommodate, apologize, and anticipate as best you can. Sometimes celebrities may be testing you or checking you out. You never know. Remain professional during any and all tense interactions. With celebrities, the customer is either always right, or must be made to think they are right.

Keywords

California operators   celebrities   Dallas operators   Entertainment   Florida operators   how to   Los Angeles operators   Music Express   Texas operators   VIP service   wealthy clients   

 

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Lincoln Releases Livery Pricing On 2017 Continental

DEARBORN, Mich. — Lincoln Motor Company released on April 14 the long-awaited official pricing for the recently debuted 2017 Lincoln Continental. The MSRPs, with the 500A livery package, are $48,640 for the FWD model, and $50,640 for the AWD model. A livery technology package (100A) valued at $1,105 is included as standard, along with destination and delivery charges valued at $995 per vehicle.

The livery versions are based on the Continental Premiere edition, which has a 300-hp, 3.7-liter V6 engine with 280 ft.lbs. of torque coupled with a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.

A team from Lincoln Limousine & Livery Vehicles debuted a production version of the Lincoln Continental on Feb. 29 during the International LCT Show in Las Vegas. LCT will have further coverage in the May issue.

Because the Lincoln Continental is not on sale yet, Ford/Lincoln still must devise a rebate program, to be released this fall, according to a Lincoln team panel presentation at the Show on March 1. Production Job 1 starts in July, with the first Continentals shipped to dealerships in August.

The Lincoln Continental will be built on one wheelbase only, and not be available for cutting and stretching under Ford’s high-quality QVM certification program.The MKT Town Car chassis will remain available for QVM stretch and hearse models at least through MY 2019.

The Continental will come with Ford’s extended warranty of 4 years/150,000 miles and a livery warranty similar to those of other fleet vehicles. It will include extra care covering 113 components. Premium care will be available for an additional charge, covering 1,000 components.

The special Livery Package (500A) contains equipment specific to the limousine industry. An optional livery technology package includes features such as an auto-dimming rear view mirror, BLIS (Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert), and a lane keeping aid.

LCT background article here: Lincoln Revives Legacy Brand For Limo Service

FAST FACTS: 2017 MY Lincoln Continental
(500A Livery Package) includes:
• 3.7L Ti-VCT V6 Engine
• Six-Speed SelectShift Automatic Transmission
• Advance Trac Electronic Stability Control
• Adaptive Steering
• Adaptive HID Headlamps
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Continuously Controlled Suspension Damping (CCD)
• SecuriCode Invisible Keypad
• Hands Free Foot Activated Trunk Lid
• Passenger Seat Chauffeur Front/Back Adjust
Control Switch
• Rear-Door and Rear-Window Sunshades
• Heated & Cooled Rear Seats
• Navigation System
• Smart Charging USB Ports and 110V Outlet
• Power Rear Seat Recliner
• Rear Seat Armrest with Climate and Audio controls
• Heavy Duty Alternator
• Transmission Oil Cooler
• Tri Zone Electronic Automatic Temperature Control

Keywords

dealerships   lincoln   Lincoln Limousine & Livery Vehicles   Lincoln Motor Company   Lincoln-Continental   new sedans   new vehicles   OEMs   vehicle prices   vehicle sales   

 

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Ride App Widens Reach With Legal, Licensed Chauffeurs

Blacklane has taken a more solid approach to near-demand transportation by combining a real-time independent contractor model with app-based reservations, duty-of-care standards, and professional chauffeurs.

Going Global
Blacklane (www.blacklane.com) now reaches 190 cities worldwide, and added the Las Vegas market to its metro roster in February. The service is not an instant demand ground transportation app per se, such as Uber or Lyft, but it can get a vehicle to a client in about an hour to an hour and a half depending on local availability.

The Berlin-based company has been on a growth spurt during the last two years as it widens its market footprint far beyond Europe to 50 countries. Two-thirds of its clients are business travelers while one-third are leisure travelers. Although it doesn’t disclose total number of partners, it estimates access to “tens of thousands” of chauffeurs and fleet vehicles worldwide and claims “a few thousand” U.S.-based partnering companies and chauffeurs.

“We have a program to help our partners grow their business that follows our standards,” said Carsten Kahner, Blacklane’s director of affiliate management. “Our main goal is to establish long-lasting relationships and we want them to have consistency.”

Chauffeur Checks
As part of its vetting process, Blacklane keeps a database of all federal, state and regional-level rules and regulations that apply to limousine companies. Every chauffeur partnering with Blacklane, whether independent or employed by a limousine company, must submit documents verifying driver and vehicle licenses and insurance coverages. The Blacklane team cross-checks those documents and conducts background checks on applicants. It interviews prospective chauffeurs and puts them through a multi-step training program based on its global standards for chauffeured service.

Operators and chauffeurs partnered with Blacklane may choose when, where and how often they wish to designate excess fleet inventory or downtime to Blacklane. They are in control 24/7.

Runs & Rates
Once Blacklane receives a reservation request, available affiliated Blacklane chauffeurs “bid” on the ride, with the rate rising every few minutes until a chauffeur deems it profitable and accepts it via the app. That explains why Blacklane requires at least a one-hour minimum lead time for reservations. It’s not just about finding the right vehicle and getting it to clients in time; it also allows chauffeurs to choose to accept the rides at locally flexible rates in real time.

“They have the freedom to accept rates, whether higher or lower,” Kahner said. “We offer them incremental rates and revenues. It’s an independent business model where our providers have their own business and already are successful with their customers. We bring them additional rides and customers.”

Blacklane’s compensation split varies by city and season, said Adam Parken, the director of communications and public relations. “For example, drivers are more willing to accept rides at lower rates in off-peak times, while they have higher rates during peak season.” 

All-in rates for clients are fixed and include taxes, fees and gratuities. The reservation-formatted app does not allow users to see how many vehicles are in the vicinity, as with the Uber app. And although a client also cannot see a vehicle headed to a pick-up location, Blacklane sends clients text updates about pending pick-ups and chauffeur information.

Fleet Vehicles
Blacklane tiers its service into three levels: Business Class, Van/SUV Class and First Class, with varying rates:

• Business Class, the most common service level, includes vehicles such as the Lincoln MKS, Lincoln MKT Town Car, and Cadillac XTS livery sedan.
• SUV Class includes the Lincoln Navigator SUV.
• First Class mostly offers BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedans. Outside of the U.S., Blacklane’s Global Service includes Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedans.

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Excess Inventory
For limousine operators, Blacklane can provide a complementary option to use idle or excess fleet vehicles that fit in with a company’s daily operations flow. Louis Avina, CEO and owner of the three-vehicle Veranda Prestige Motor Car in Lakewood, Calif., credits about 20% of his overall business to Blacklane.
“With Blacklane, I supplement my work and fill in voids during the days, weeks, and months ahead,” Avina told LCT. “I can better forecast my work. I partner with them because they are flexible. You take what you want. They are not an on-demand service like Uber.”

Veranda Prestige averages about 10-15 Blacklane runs per week, and estimates his company has provided about 1,400 to 1,500 rides via Blacklane since he signed up with them about two years ago. An ideal situation Avina described is when a chauffeur has to drive a client from LAX south to Newport Beach. Instead of dead-heading back to Los Angeles County, the chauffeur can pick up an Orange County Blacklane client on the way.

“A car in motion is making revenue,” said Avina, who started his company in late 2013. “If it’s sitting in a warehouse, it just looks pretty and there’s no money coming in. In Blacklane’s reverse auction process, jobs come up for bids on a daily basis. If I’m looking to forecast the week ahead, if I can pick up four, five, six jobs from Blacklane, and get them at a fair price, then I’d rather have a percentage of that than 0% of $1,000.”

Like many small-fleet operators, Avina runs his business out of his home and focuses on highly personalized service. “Right now, I’m am owner, COO, dispatcher, coordinator, payroll clerk — I do everything. It’s a 24/7 job. I take pride in it because it’s about delivering service to a customer, and all about attitude and morale. I don’t want to grow to 20 cars or 30 cars. You lose touch with reality after that. The customer wants personalized business.”

Blacklane Sample Rates
All-inclusive rates for Los Angeles, Dallas, New York, Chicago and Miami in the chart below:

• LA #1: 444 North Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills to LAX
• LA #2: LA Convention Center to LAX
• NY #1: Freedom Tower to LGA
• NY #2: United Nations to JFK
• Dallas #1: Hilton Anatole to DFW
• Dallas #2: Omni Dallas Hotel to DAL
• Chicago #1: Sears Tower to ORD
• Chicago #2: McCormack to MDW
• Miami #1: W South Beach to MIA
• Miami #2: Convention Center to MIA

Blacklane Moves Into Corporate Events Planning
While Uber may be going for the business travel market with its tiered service approach, Blacklane debuted a corporate meetings and event service Feb. 24 across all 50 countries it serves.

Related LCT article: Blacklane Launches Events Service

Blacklane now handles events that involve thousands of people, such as financial roadshows, sales meetings, government meetings, trade shows, conferences, holiday parties and sporting events. Event planners may reserve rides in multiple cities and countries for traveling groups. Organizers may make special requests, such as buses, shuttles and long distance rides in combination with Blacklane’s standard vehicles. A multi-lingual staff can manage the ground transportation process. Services include booking vehicles, modifying reservations, on-site coordination and real-time service control.

Keywords

apps   blacklane   business travel   corporate travel   Los Angeles operators   vehicle apps   

 

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