TLPA Annual Convention Lays Groundwork for New Industry Vision

Newly elected TLPA President Mike Pinckard of Total Transit
Denver — When the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association’s (TLPA’s) 99th Annual Convention & Trade Show headed to Colorado October 8-12, it brought together decision-makers from fleets across the U.S. and around the world, all eager to learn about the industry’s latest innovations and best practices.

Under the theme “Celebrating 100 Years,” the convention featured three informative general sessions; 29 educational sessions on important topics affecting the industry; a robust trade show; the election of TLPA’s new president, officers and directors; and more. In addition to Premier Sponsor Autocab, the four-day event was made possible with the generous support of industry vendors, including Gold Sponsors Atlas Financial Holdings and Ford Motor Company; Silver Sponsors MTData, Paratransit Insurance Company, and Verifone; and Bronze Sponsors The Black Car Fund and Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group.

On the convention’s opening day, attendees braved Denver’s first snowfall of the season to participate in a tour of host operator Metro Transportation Planning & Solutions Group’s facility. The educational segment of the convention opened that afternoon with the ever-popular discussion groups covering diverse topics including independent contractor issues; marketing; contracting; responding to RFPs; hiring and retaining drivers and support staff; duty of care; becoming a TNC; and cost-cutting measures.

TLPA CEO Alfred LaGasse (left) accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from Outgoing TLPA President Bill Scalzi
The Opening General Session on Tuesday afternoon featured outgoing President Bill Scalzi’s address, which included a look at TLPA’s accomplishments over the past year. These included significantly changing the membership dues structure, reducing costs, and increasing member benefits for operator members; developing Ride Local, a new marketing program for members; identifying and working on developing strategies to enable TLPA member operators to compete more effectively with TNCs; and in a surprise announcement, Scalzi presented the association’s CEO, Alfred LaGasse, TLPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his 40 years of service to TLPA.

The convention also featured the election of officers and directors of the association in the coming year. The highlight was electing Mike Pinckard of Total Transit in Glendale, Ariz., to serve as TLPA president.

In his first remarks as president, Pinckard said, “We must begin the process of reshaping our vision for the future in a more inclusive and collaborative manner; in a manner that seizes the new and exciting opportunities before us, by blending the greatness of our past, with the innovations and excitement of the future.”

To that end, Pinckard outlined three key objectives during the coming year, including:

– Creating a new and inspirational strategic plan that provides the roadmap to the future of TLPA;

– Focusing on a new structure for TLPA that better serves its members, including improved conferences and meetings, more powerful research and analysis, and laser-focused government relations; and

– Launching a comprehensive brand review designed to re-define TLPA’s image and re-position the association to operate in a more inclusive and collaborative manner.

Pinckard concluded by stating, “I’m truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as president of the TLPA, and I look forward to working with all of you, as we work together to shape the next phase in the evolution of this great industry.”

Planning is already underway for the Spring Conference & Expo in Oklahoma City from April 10-13, 2018, as well as for the grand celebration of TLPA’s 100th Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 26-30, 2018, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.

Visit tlpa.org for more information.

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MLOA Meeting Offers Education, Opportunities

MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation
Orlando — Even after the late-night suite party it hosted, the Minority Limousine Operators of America (MLOA) welcomed more than 80 attendees to its October 24 breakfast meeting—one of the most well-attended in-person meetings of the far-flung association to date.

MLOA President Maurice Brewster of Mosaic Global Transportation began the meeting by discussing the increased educational opportunities the association has been offering its members by the way of webinars and programs, as well as other benefits of membership and a summation of the MLOA’s past year in highlights.

The MLOA’s executive board
Making good on the MLOA’s promise to deliver relevant, in-demand information, the meeting featured Keynote Speakers Daniel Selby of Daniel Selby PLLC and Randel Holmes of Delta Airlines.

Selby, an accountant, gave those in attendance an interactive session on “the business of tax.” Along with discussing mergers and acquisitions, he dispelled the double-taxation myth as it relates to profits being taxed at both the corporation and individual levels. He also helped demystify heady topics like alternative tax triggers, as well as explained how to scale one’s business for pro-activity.

Members of Chosen Payments presented Brewster with the MLOA’s rebate check
MLOA 1st Vice President Darrell Anderson of A-National Limousine was credited for introducing Holmes to the association—and sidestepping an offer for his company to handle a global contract for Delta by opening it up to all MLOA members in good standing instead.

Holmes discussed that business opportunity, as well as how to make the most of corporate philosophies for companies aiming “to make their suppliers and employees as diverse as their customers.” He also examined the mechanics of RFP submissions by using examples of the newly launched Delta A320 plane and what those 11-13 crew members expect from their dedicated ground transportation providers.

The October 24 meeting was one of the MLOA’s best-attended events in association history
At the end of the meeting, Brewster acknowledged the many meeting sponsors and the MLOA advisory board of vendors, reiterating that the latter’s knowledge and former’s support make providing the education that members demand possible.

Chosen Payments ended the meeting on a high note by presenting Brewster with a rebate check for $1,656.47.

The next MLOA meeting will be its November 29 conference call.

Visit mlooa.org for more information.

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FLA Chapters Come Together at CD Show

Orlando —With the 2017 CD Show happening right on their collective home turf, members of the Florida Limousine Association (FLA) and its many chapters and affiliated organizations—particularly the Central Florida Livery, Greater Orlando Limousine, and West Florida Limousine associations—held a standing-room-only morning meeting October 23.

With FLA President Rick Versace of A1A Limousine & Airport Service presiding over the meeting, he kicked off the breakfast gathering by sharing some of the wisdom that he and other association leaders gained—and even dispensed himself—during the previous day’s Association Summit.

“Associations elevate the industry,” he said. “They help you be successful because you’re sharing what you know with others, and they’re helping you learn from what they know. You learn how to present yourself and how to keep it classy while working together.”

Indeed, unity is an inevitable topic when discussing the notoriously fractured state comprising 67 counties that are all ruled by their own unique sets of laws and regulations, and Versace stressed that a continued concerted effort is the only way to survive.

“It’s all about unity,” Versace advised. “Associations help you be successful, but you have to help them be successful with your participation and support.”

He then launched into a review of what the FLA and the state’s transportation operators have been facing lately, starting with regulations that have come to fruition in the past year—which have betrayed just how uneven the regulatory landscape has become in a post-TNC world.

“The playing field has gotten so lopsided, it’s ridiculous,” said Versace. As TNCs are all but exempt from coughing up the same local fees that chauffeured ground transportation operators are, one particular pain point stemmed from how the state imposes a $1,000 citation for both a chauffeur and their company if a car enters a county in which it has not been licensed to operate.

This has led to the FLA considering a return to state legislators to appeal for the same regulations that TNCs are afforded: a one-time statewide operational license that puts an end to constantly worrying about crossing county lines. Versace emphasized that this is not to say they’re courting deregulation but rather seeking eased operations.

Versace described the country-by-county regulations as being holdovers from when smaller companies were worried about Florida’s bigger businesses eating up their client base—a concern, he says, that has already come to pass with TNCs. 

One silver lining in the constant storm of TNCs is the improved technology they’ve brought to the ground transportation sector, which GroundWidgets’ Stephen Power discussed during his presentation about global distribution systems.

David Thompson and Paul Zizzo of RRL Insurance were also among the meeting’s guest speakers, and discussed how an uptick in major claims losses are why insurance rates are on the rise. They also explained what it means when the industry is in a hard market and how safety measurements influence insurance payments.

Versace added that the FLA is currently working with some providers to develop app-on insurance to help operators save costs in that regard. He also reminded those in attendance that the association always benefits from active board members and encouraged interested parties to help make the FLA an active force for positive change in Florida’s transportation landscape.

Before the meeting concluded, members of the Chosen Payments team presented Versace with the FLA’s rebate check, which came to $4,997.13.

Visit floridalimousine.com for more information.

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Prevost Names New Vice President and General Manager For Services, Teams With Nova Bus at the APTA Expo

Guy French, Prevost vice president & general manager for services
Sainte Claire, Q.C.—Prevost is very proud to announce Guy French as the new vice president and general manager (VPGM) for services for Prevost and Nova Bus. This appointment follows the retirement of long-time leader Clay Flynt, who left at the end of September after 33 years with the Volvo Group, including 10 as Prevost Aftermarket VPGM.

 Flynt oversaw the expansion of the Prevost Parts & Service Network to its current position as a leading service network in the industry.  “We would like to thank Clay for his dedication and passion.  He instilled a lot of trust and team spirit throughout the entire organization and it has been an immense privilege working with him,” said Ralph Acs, president of Nova Bus and Prevost and senior vice president of Volvo Bus for the Americas.

“Guy has been part of the team for the past 26 years and has been instrumental in helping to shape and develop the Services business.  We worked together over the last 10 years and helped to build a culture of customer care, customer uptime, parts availability, and growing the service network; including introducing service vans to bring our customer care to the customer’s doorstep,” said Flynt.

 “I am very pleased with the announcement of Guy. His extensive experience, knowledge of the business, and care for our customers make [him] the natural choice. Our motto is, ‘We go above and beyond’ for our customers. This is engrained into our team of over 600 employees in services taking care of our customers day in and day out,” said Acs.

“I am honored and excited to be leading our efforts to better serve and support our customers for our three brands, Prevost, Nova Bus, and Volvo.  We will continue to strive to keep our industry leading position by offering a larger array of services to help those customers be even more successful,” said French.

Prevost Commuter at the APTA Expo
In other news, Prevost and Nova Bus joined together in an impressive and interactive exhibit at the recent American Public Transit Association (APTA) Expo held October 9-11 in Atlanta.

Prevost displayed an X3-45 Commuter coach equipped with the new Electric Fan Drive introduced earlier this year. Prevost’s Electric Fan Drive is a fully integrated system that eliminates the need for a belt-driven fan, thereby reducing the engine horsepower required to operate the coach. The end result is an up-to-four percent improvement in fuel economy.  A detached fan drive was also available for a closer, more in-depth look.

On display from Nova Bus were the 100 percent electric LFSe model and the LFS CNG. The city of Montreal is currently running LFSe vehicles, which offer rapid and fully automatic charging to keep the fully electric buses on schedule. The CNG vehicle, which features the latest in clean natural gas technology, was on loan from San Antonio’s VIA public transit.

Customers had access to additional product information such as features, benefits and specifications through touchscreen kiosk next to the coaches. In addition, a cutting edge virtual reality exhibit gave attendees the chance to see and experience the new Nova Bus driver’s cockpit area with greatly improved driver visibility, which will be available on some vehicles in 2018.

Furthermore, Prevost and Nova Bus were official sponsors of EXPO Eats, an area where themed food, drinks, and entertainment were offered daily during lunch hours. Themes included BBQ, Taste of Atlanta, and a Beer Garden.

A desk dedicated to Prevost Parts & Service, which also fully supports the needs of Nova Bus customers, was staffed by Prevost Training and Service personnel. Show attendees were able to discuss parts needs and learn about the availability of service training online, in a classroom setting at Prevost facilities and on site at customer locations.

A press conference was held on Tuesday, October 10, to announce the opening of four new service centers, further extending Prevost’s already widespread service network. In recognition of the direction in which the industry is headed, the progress both Prevost and Nova Bus have made in vehicle electrification was also highlighted.

Visit prevostcar.com for more information.

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Limotours Hellas SA of Athens Wins Prestigious Seven Star Luxury Hospitality Award

Limotours Hellas SA General Manager Anastasios Korovesis with the Signum Virtuitis award
Athens, Greece — Luxury chauffeur and private tour service, Limotours Hellas SA was awarded the prestigious Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Award on September 23 at the Ecali Club in Athens. This was the fifth anniversary of the awards, but the first time the event was held in Greece.

The Signum Virtutis Award (seal of excellence) recipients are companies and brands that represent the pinnacle of luxury, hospitality, and lifestyle. CEOs, presidents, managing directors, owners, and general managers of the most exclusive property brands from around the world attend this annual event.

“We are honored to be chosen to be along with the top luxury hotels and services in the world,” explained Anastasios Korovesis, general manager at Limotours Hellas SA. “We are excited to know that our attention to detail and our bespoke service has been noticed through this incredible award.”

The gala was a must-attend event with Greek star Nina Lotsari performing for those in attendance. New York Times and Athens’ Tornos News dubbed the event as the “Oscars of Luxury.” The luxury panel of judges consist of top internationally recognized leaders in tourism, lifestyle, and hospitality who are high profiled individuals and well-traveled.

Visit limotours.gr for more information.

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Driving Dynamics Launches Mobile-Ready DrivActiv eLearning

Newark, Del. — Driving Dynamics, a provider of advanced performance driver safety training for fleet-based organizations throughout North America, has announced the launch of a new learning management system (LMS) and the availability of its online driver safety lessons in U.S. English and Spanish as well as Canadian French.

Under its new DrivActiv digital services brand, Driving Dynamics’ elearning service is now optimized for mobile devices and all training content meets SCORM standards. Adding to the flexible delivery, the company offers several fee plans to suit all buyers, including pay-as-you-go, prepaid discounted plans and a new unlimited subscription-access pricing plan.

In business for 30 years and well known for its behind-the-wheel training programs, the company has already delivered its online courseware to more than one million learners. According to Art Liggio, Driving Dynamics, president and CEO, DrivActiv elearning represents an integration of its vast expertise as a driver safety training provider with the convenience and technologies offered by a robust LMS and online delivery system.

Developed in conjunction with leading safety, risk management and instructional design consultants, the DrivActiv elearning catalog comprises 70 topics across four libraries organized by light-duty, heavy-duty, and micro learning. Topics are based on twenty-first century risk exposures, such as distracted driving, overburdened infrastructure, risk compensation, increased work demands, and a review of more than 200,000 fleet-related crash incident reports, where the most prevalent loss types were identified. DrivActiv elessons have been designed to provide practical solutions which address the contributing factors of those risk exposures and incidents.

“Driving Dynamics has been solely dedicated to the driver safety space for three decades, in that time we’ve been acknowledged as a premier provider of both online and behind-the-wheel training,” said Liggio. “The DrivActiv elearning system is an evolution of our commitment to offer comprehensive, high quality and highly adaptable training solutions that respond to the specific needs safety administrators.”

Visit http://ift.tt/1E9SEzT for more information.

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DATTCO Adds Seven New Van Hool Motor Coaches to Fleet

New Britain, Conn. — DATTCO recently added seven new 2018 Van Hool CX series motor coaches from ABC Companies, Van Hool’s exclusive U.S. distributor, to its fleet.

The coaches—six of which are configured to seat 52 passengers (CX45) and one that carries 36 passengers (CX35)—have arrived just in time for New England’s popular Fall Foliage touring season. These well-appointed coaches include increased leg room; luxurious reclining seats with leather-trimmed fabric and three-point seatbelts; entertainment systems with large monitors, DVD player, and iPod docks; 110-volt and USB outlets at every seat; and wireless internet. They also include safety features such as a fire suppression system, stability control, and lane departure warning.

“We are committed to providing our customers with safe, reliable transportation; the driving factor behind keeping our fleet current,” said Donald DeVivo, president and second-generation owner of DATTCO. “The average age of the equipment in our fleet is less than four years. We have tremendous repeat business because our clients know they are getting a dependable, quality coach when they enter into a contract with us.”

Visit DATTCO.com for more information.

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Premiere Wins Business of the Year Award

Premiere #1 Sr. Member & Owner Douglas Rydbom with his CPBJ Business of the Year award
Middletown, Pa. — Premiere #1 Limousine has been named a 2017 Central Penn Business Journal (CPBJ) Business of the Year. The Central Pennsylvania based transportation company took home the award in the “51 to 100 employees” category.

The Business of the Year Awards was created by CPBJ to honor top companies and individual leaders for their outstanding contributions to Central Pennsylvania’s business community.

“I am proud to have a team of dedicated employees and loyal customers, making it possible to receive such an award,” says Douglas Rydbom, senior member and owner of Premiere #1 Limousine Service. “As we continue to grow, our roots will always be here in Central Pa., and we are thankful to the community that has worked with us over the years.”

All finalists were honored and winners were revealed at a black-tie event held on November 6 at the Hilton Harrisburg.

Visit premiere1Limousine.com for more information.

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