TLPA

THE TAXICAB, LIMOUSINE & PARATRANSIT ASSOCIATION’S YEAR IN REVIEW - 2008

On October 10, 2007, Brian Hunt was elected President of the Taxicab, Limousine & Paratransit Association. In his acceptance speech he spoke about his life and how he entered into the transportation business. His work plan for 2008 included:

• Continued implementation of the TLPA strategic plan,
  
  
  
• Development of a Web-based TLPA Driver Enhancement/ Training Program,
  
  
  
• Implementation of a Free TLPA Technical Assistance Program for Transit Planning,
  
  
  
• Establishment of a TLPA Library of Favorable Administrative and Court Cases,
  
  
  
• Development of TLPA Positions on Accessible Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Issues,
  
  
  
• Production of the three TLPA 2008 conferences in Kansas City, Paris, and Tampa,
  
  
  
• Carrying out legislative initiatives to ready TLPA for the new presidential administration in 2009.

Brian announced that he would like to have an emphasis in 2008 on educating TLPA members about Customer Service. He stated,

“ I believe best practices coupled with proper employee training in Customer Service can add to our previously developed Driver and Company standards. I believe specific education on this topic by speakers, in articles, and sessions will continue our branding strategy by developing our member companies into being absolutely the best in the industry at what we do and gain additional respect and loyalty from customers and regulators.

I think you will agree with me that service is what we sell. Let the strength of the TLPA membership be put to that task this year so that we may continue to set ourselves apart from the competition. Let’s vow to learn together all there is to know about this subject of customer service and lets document it for the benefit of future members.

TLPA president Brian Hunt addressing the Convention—
TLPA Annual Convention & Trade Show, Tampa, FL, October 2008

What makes up good customer service? Simply put, after an experience with your company the customer says “WOW!” That word sums up the results of the industry's best practices, knowledge of customer service techniques, motivated employees who have bought into the experience, and diligent training and inspection by management. Imagine the new sales and customer loyalty you gain by getting a “WOW” for each and every transaction!”

Following are the major accomplishments of President Hunt’s year in office which will be detailed on the following pages.

The Winter Planning Meetings

Many TLPA members are unaware of the amount of member committee work that occurs between the times the Annual Convention & Trade Show ends and the Spring Conference begins.

Taxicab & Paratransit Steering Committee Meetings

On Thursday, January 10 2008, the TLPA Taxicab and Paratransit & Contracting Steering Committees held their annual winter planning meetings in New Orleans, Louisiana. The committees chose topics to be presented at the Spring Conference educational sessions in Kansas City and suggested topics to be presented at Roundtable and Breakout sessions at the annual convention in Tampa. The Committees decided to update the TLPA Medicaid Broker paper and each appointed a subcommittee to oversee this effort.

Limousine & Sedan Steering Committee

The Limousine & Sedan Steering Committee held their winter meeting in Las Vegas on March 18. President Hunt and CEO LaGasse attended the meeting. Topics and issues covered included:

• Drafting of a model independent contractor agreement designed to meet federal requirements for limousine chauffeurs,
  
  
  
• Overtime wages issues confronting the limousine industry in Florida,
  
  
  
• RIDE Act issues,
  
  
  
• Colorado PUC limousine issues.

From the left: Anthony Palmeri – Yellow Cab of San Diego, Rick Hewatt – Checker Cab Company, Atlanta, GA, Geoffrey Riesel – Radio Taxis, London, England, Victor Dizengoff, Black Car Assistance Corporation, New York, NY

Meetings of the TLPA Executive Committee

The TLPA Executive Committee met in February 2008 and took action on many important issues. Present for the meeting were President Brian Hunt, President-Elect Rick Hewatt, Treasurer Anthony Palmeri, CEO Al LaGasse, Vice President Victor Dizengoff, Vice President Robert McBride, Vice President Mary Smarelli, International Vice President Blair Davies, International Vice President Jim Donnelly, Immediate Past President Brian Wier, Past President Ellis Houston, Director Craig Hughes, Director Jo-Anne Thompson, and Director Margie Wilcox.

President Hunt opened the meeting by commenting on customer service being the theme for his year as President. He expects customer service to be the major focus for meeting sessions and for a customer service focus to be a part of all the association’s activities in 2008. He then asked committee members to share a few of their customer service practices that he could include in an article that he is drafting to publish for the membership.

The committee gave a final review of the 2005-2007 Strategic Plan. Everyone was pleased with the outcome. The committee then reviewed the 2008-2010 strategic plan. In its review, the committee received an update on the status of all objectives to be completed in 2008. As the “Preferred Future” was being reviewed, several committee members commented that the plan does not currently promote an outreach to the media and the general public. It was noted that all TLPA members should print the TLPA logo in their advertising, letterhead, business cards and place the TLPA member decal on each of their vehicles.

The Committee discussed possible public relation activities. Items mentioned included:

• holding educational sessions on how to write a press release and on dealing with the media;
  
  
  
• a TLPA sponsored national program to get drunk drivers off the streets; and
  
  
  
• retaining a public relations firm to assist TLPA in developing and promoting a TLPA international brand.

President Hunt appointed himself, Victor Dizengoff, Rick Hewatt, Robert McBride, Tony Palmeri, Jo-Anne Thompson and Al LaGasse to a Public Relations Subcommittee. The subcommittee developed a recommendation to be presented to the entire TLPA Board of Directors at their meeting in Kansas City in May concerning how TLPA could proceed with a public relations program.

The committee endorsed the idea of having the Taxicab and the Paratransit & Contracting Steering Committees form a subcommittee to update the association’s current paper on brokerages and Medicaid funded transportation service into a more generic paper on all types of ground transportation service brokerages.

The TLPA Executive Committee met again in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2008 to review and update the strategic plan. During its half day meeting the committee added six new objectives, and received an update on the status of every objective.

Each objective under Goal 1 – To create a Favorable Operating Environment in the For-Hire Ground Transportation Industry for TLPA Members - was reviewed. After the status report for each objective was reviewed the committee took the following actions:

TLPA has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for TLPA to provide education and technical assistance to private operators. A toll-free telephone number has been set up and TLPA has begun to assist operators in meeting with FTA and planning officials. The toll-free number is 866-928-6550. The following five new objectives were added under Goal 1 of the strategic plan:

• File testimony opposing the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would enable states to stop funding non emergency medical transportation.
  
  
  
• Seek passage of an amendment to the RIDE Act to improve the law and to expand protection from excessive airport fees.
  
  
  
• Oppose expansion of interstate transportation status to passengers arriving to or departing from transportation terminals via for-hire ground transportation carriers.
  
  
  
• Work with the U.S. DOT and Congress to assure that SAFETEA-LU is implemented properly and that the gains achieved are maintained.
  
  
  
• Work to have the U.S. DOT re-institute the Private Sector Guidance at the FTA.

The objectives under Goal 2 – Expand Business and Market Knowledge for TLPA Members - were reviewed. Regarding the objective to educate members on how to influence transportation policy, it was noted that seminars are being developed to be presented this year in Washington, DC, Denver, Las Vegas, Chicago and Tampa.

The objectives under Goal 3 – Identify New Market Opportunities for TLPA Members - were reviewed. A committee has been formed to develop a national credit card clearing program for TLPA members.

The review concluded with a progress report on the objectives under Goal 4 – Elevate the Industry Image of TLPA Members. The taxicab driver education project has four courses in progress with two of the courses going to the story board phase of development. A new objective was added to investigate retaining the services of a public relations firm to assist TLPA in developing its brand and to bring favorable recognition to TLPA.

TLPA Open House at Its New Office

Everyone seemed to enjoy himself or herself at the TLPA Open House held on April 1, 2008 at the new TLPA International Headquarters located in Rockville, MD, 18 miles from the White House in Washington, DC.

The Open House was scheduled to encourage members to see the new home of TLPA and was announced in our bimonthly newsletters, Dispatch and TLPA NewsBriefs. Members who attended commented that the office space is well lit with natural light. Some walls painted sage green here and they were said to add a warm and inviting feeling to the 2,400 square feet office space.

President Brian Hunt commented that as the premier ground transportation association representing over 1,000 transportation companies that transport nearly1 billion passengers per year, TLPA now has office space that matches the critical function it serves in effectively representing the for-hire vehicle industry.

TLPA Publications

TLPA supplies its dues paying members with lots of key information that they need to know. Some of the key information that TLPA routinely issues is included in its bi-monthly newsletter Dispatch. With Dispatch, members also receive the newsletters for the TLPA divisions which they joined: Taxicab, Limousine and/or Paratransit.

TLPA NewsBriefs electronic newsletter features the top press clippings regarding taxicab, limousine, and paratransit news as well as general transportation industry ideas/trends. The Business Owner (TBO) is sent to all TLPA members based in the United States. This newsletter is designed to keep small business owners informed of strategies that can be used given the current state of U.S. federal laws and regulations.

The members of each division are sent a survey requesting company operating and performance data. This information is used to develop a Fact Book for each division. The information in each Fact Book provides a general benchmark by which operators can compare their operating statistics with the national average. Members who complete Fact Book questionnaires receive a Fact Book at no cost. If you are not receiving these TLPA publications you are missing out on vast amounts of information on an annual basis.

Trade show floor—TLPA Annual Convention & Trade Show, Tampa, FL, October 2008

TLPA Spring Conference & Exposition

The 12th largest TLPA Spring Conference & Exposition in its 31 year history was held at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center, in Kansas City, Missouri on May 7–10. The exciting event had a huge turnout of over 200 participants. This Spring Conference & Expo featured a new format where most TLPA committees and the Board of Directors met during the conference.

All of the meetings were open except for the organizing meeting of the new TLPA Vehicle Committee and the Foundation’s Board luncheon which were held the morning before the conference began. The exhibition was busy with the 26 vendors interacting with the operators during the breakfast, lunch and cocktail reception held in the exhibit hall. The entire conference received high ratings.

TLPA Mid-Year International Leadership Conference

The first annual Mid-Year International Leadership Conference was held in Paris, France on July 9-12. The conference was a big hit with operational and regulatory discussions spanning the globe. The world perspective showed just how much in common our industry has just about everywhere in the world. If it weren’t for the accents of the various speakers and the nuances of different federal laws one could have thought they were attending TLPA’s Spring Conference in Kansas City.

TLPA 90th Annual Convention & Trade Show

TLPA held our 90th Annual Convention & Trade Show, October 26–29th, at the Marriott Waterside Hotel and Tampa Convention Center. The meeting was very well attended making this the 8th largest in TLPA history.

In coming TLPA President Rick Hewatt on the left presenting plaque to 2008 President Brian Hunt thanking him for his service to the association.

2009 TLPA Meetings

Speaking of Las Vegas, it is not too early to plan to attend our TLPA meetings in 2009. President Rick Hewatt’s theme for TLPA in 2009 is “Work Hard – Play Hard.” The TLPA’s 2009 meetings will provide many opportunities about how to guide your business through these tough economic times in addition to meeting with the top industry suppliers and vendors and having numerous occasions to network with your fellow TLPA members.

Our major meetings in 2009 will be:

Spring Conference & Expo, Grand Hyatt, New York, New York, March 26-29, 2009. TLPA’s 2009 Spring Conference & Expo is being held at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, March 26-29, 2009. The Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade, the Black Car Assistance Corporation and Ronart Leasing are co hosting the conference. This will surely be the biggest and best TLPA Spring Conference ever beginning with a private event for all attendees at Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum followed by the opportunity to purchase tickets to see a great Broadway show, Jersey Boys, concluding with tours of one or two of the finest black car companies in the city. A visit to Ground Zero is also in the plans.

Come and meet 2009 TLPA President Rick Hewatt, learn about TLPA, learn about how to guide your business through these tough economic times, meet with the top industry vendors and play hard in New York City, March 26-29.

Mid-Year International Leadership Conference, Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Dublin, Ireland, July 15-18, 2009. A very exciting educational program is being planned with multiple opportunities to interact with colleagues from all across Europe.

91st Annual Convention & Trade Show, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 4-7, 2009. TLPA’s new convention format with General Sessions, Breakout Panel Sessions and Roundtable Discussions interspersed with hours of time to spend with exhibitors has been met with rousing praise at our last two meetings in Denver and Tampa. If you can only attend one meeting in 2009, let the TLPA convention in Las Vegas be the one. And golfers should plan to participate in the Gateway Insurance TLPF Golf Tournament on Saturday afternoon, October 3.

If you are not a member of TLPA you are missing out on an exciting opportunity to grow your business and your company. Membership applications for all five TLPA membership categories can be found on TLPA’s web site at: www.tlpa.org

Every company involved in the passenger ground transportation business will benefit from membership in TLPA.

Photos by Leah New, TLPA Director of Communications.

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