Ex-Uber Driver Charged In Hit And Run, Extortion Caper

A former Uber driver pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to extort money from a passenger in order to get her phone back, then nearly running her over when he fled the scene in West Hollywood last year, prosecutors said.

Los Angeles Times article here

LA Weekly article here

Keywords

criminal incidents   driver behavior   Los Angeles operators   passenger safety   TNCs   Uber   

 

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GM Forms Driverless Vehicle Research Team

To accelerate efforts to get self-driving vehicle technology on the road, General Motors is creating a team to focus on autonomous vehicles effective Feb. 1.

The new Autonomous and Technology Vehicle Development Team will recruit from across GM with a mandate to map out a strategy that includes engineering, as well as identifying investments and partnerships to ensure leadership in self-driving technology.

Detroit Free Press article here

Keywords

autonomous vehicles   driverless cars   General Motors   OEMs   research and trends   self-driving vehicles   vehicle technology   

 

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Last Call For Discounted LCT Show Passes And Hotel Rooms

An early deadline looms for discounted passes to the 2016 International LCT Show and discounted hotel rooms at the Show site, the Mandalay Bay Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.

Reserve both now and get it out of the way on the Friday before the Monday morning Feb. 1 deadline.

REGISTRATION HERE.

With major fleet vehicle and product unveilings planned, the show floor, sessions and social events will keep attendees engaged and thrilled throughout the Feb. 29 — March 2 global industry event.

FULL SHOW SCHEDULE HERE.

A sampling of highlights include technology user group sessions, Limo University courses, Ask The OEM panel sessions with Cadillac and Lincoln, an exhibitor-sponsored party at Mandalay Bay’s LIGHT nightclub, a B4 Business one-on-one networking session, and keynote addresses by Peter Sheahan, Founder and CEO of Changelabs, and former Disney executive, Doug Lipp.

WWW.LCTSHOW.COM.

Keywords

ILCT 2016   Las Vegas   limo tradeshows   networking   tradeshow preparation   

 

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New York Livery Drivers Get Help With Pains In The Butt

NEW YORK — Liat Forti stood before a roomful of Uber and luxury car drivers and asked them to name their biggest pain in the behind.

“The TLC!” blurted out one man, using the shorthand for the city Taxi & Limousine Commission, his comment eliciting laughter.

“The pain in your butt is?” said Forti, trying to continue her lesson.

“The TLC!” called out another jokester.

Forti, 36, a licensed massage therapist and personal trainer from the Upper West Side, was leading a class of 19 professional drivers — people who sit in cars for up to 12 hours per day — to talk about their aches and pains and teach them what to do about it.

New York Daily News article here

Keywords

chauffeur behavior   chauffeur training   driver behavior   driver training   New York operators   

 

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Miami Limo Company Filing Chapter 11 Stays In Business

MIAMI — With ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft gaining in popularity, a Miami Lakes company that provides old-school chauffeurs with luxury vehicles filed Chapter 11 reorganization.

Worldwide Transportation Services filed for protection from creditors in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Miami on Jan. 26. Its attorney, Eyal Berger, stressed that the company was operating as usual and continuing to provide service to its clients.

Berger said the main reason Worldwide Transportation Services filed Chapter 11 was litigation costs. A handful of its drivers filed wage lawsuits against the company over claims they should have been paid like employees, not independent contractors, he said. The expenses from defending those lawsuits caused a liquidity crunch at the company, Berger said. Its cash flow from operations was otherwise fine, he said.

South Florida Business Journal article here

Keywords

bankruptcy   driver pay   employee vs independent contractor   Florida operators   lawsuits   legal issues   wage lawsuits   

 

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