The 2.5% Solution: How the NY Black Car Fund Protects 100,000 Drivers, with Ira Goldstein

50,000-Pound Bullets: Chameleon Operators Are a Threat to Highway Safety

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] How does a motorcoach company with a 33% driver out-of-compliance rate stay on the road?  In this wake-up call to motorcoach operators, Ken Lucci sits down with safety expert Tom Holden from The Transportation Advisors to dissect the tragic reality behind a recent fatal bus crash on I-95.  They expose the dark underbelly of "chameleon operators"—illegal companies that evade FMCSA regulations by constantly changing their names and DOT numbers after being shut down. This episode serves as an urgent wake-up call for the industry and lawmakers to crack down on these unsafe, 50,000-pound bullets before another tragedy occurs. In this episode, you'll learn: * How "chameleon operators" use shell companies to evade the DOT. * Why a company with a 33% out-of-compliance rate got a satisfactory rating. * How these illegal bus companies are operating out of apartment complexes. * Why relying on AI-generated safety manuals is a dangerous liability. * How legitimate operators can use their safety records to win more business. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Deadly Crash Wake-Up Call 01:31 Meet Tom Holden 03:19 News Report Crash Details 05:13 Chameleon Operators Explained 14:51 Red Flags and Fixing Compliance 21:56 Fixing Unsatisfactory Ratings 23:06 Chameleon Operators Exposed 24:05 How DOT Numbers Slip Through 27:02 Safety Tech and Selling Safety 29:56 Policy Fixes and Final Takeaways Learn more about The Transportation Advisors [https://www.theadvisors.org/] Connect with Tom Holden on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-holden-418bb37/] Here is the original CBS news video  [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bus-driver-virginia-crash-involuntary-manslaughter-5-deaths/] The Limo CEO Academy is designed specifically for smaller operators who want to get out of the driver seat and take their business to the next level. Get access to an exclusive digital community complete with monthly workshops, live Q&A sessions, and a library of content, including original research and benchmarks. Learn more about the Limo CEO Academy. [https://drivingfinancialsuccess.mykajabi.com/limoceoacademy] Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

Association Committees That Actually Get Things Done: ABA's Women in Buses and Driving Force

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] Are you tired of industry committees that do a lot of talking but never actually produce real results? In this episodem, James Blain sits down with Erin Sullivan, CFO of Bloom Tour & Charter Service [https://www.bloombus.com/], to explore her journey from an introverted accountant to the fearless leader of The Driving Force. They discuss how the American Bus Association's Women in Buses [https://www.buses.org/about/councils/women-in-buses-council/] group stepped up during the pandemic to tackle the nationwide driver shortage, ultimately evolving into a full-blown council dedicated to workforce development. This episode dives into the "dream team" behind the highly successful recruitment and retention toolkits that are actively helping operators solve their biggest hiring challenges. In this episode, you'll learn: * How an introverted accountant became a leading voice in ground transportation. * How Women in Buses broke through the "old boys' club" to empower the industry. * How The Driving Force created a 75-page roadmap to fix the driver shortage. * Why company culture and communication are the true secrets to employee retention. * How to access the ABA's newest workforce development guides for your business. Connect with Erin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-sullivan-a96365135/] ABA Driving Force  [https://www.buses.org/about/councils/driving-force-council/] Video: Recruiting & Training Drivers [https://vimeo.com/520007660/f8cefcfca4] The Limo CEO Academy is designed specifically for smaller operators who want to get out of the driver seat and take their business to the next level. Get access to an exclusive digital community complete with monthly workshops, live Q&A sessions, and a library of content, including original research and benchmarks. Learn more about the Limo CEO Academy. [https://drivingfinancialsuccess.mykajabi.com/limoceoacademy] Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

2026 GTO Research Review: Benchmarks, Outlooks, and Perspectives from 236 Operators

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] Are you leaving millions of dollars on the table at the airport, or risking your entire company on an AI-written manual?  Hosts James Blain and Ken Lucci break down the highly anticipated GTO Research Report, which compiled perspectives from 236 operators across the United States.  The duo reviews the PDF report, separating the most profitable, fast-growing fleets from those struggling to survive. From navigating the CDL hiring shortage to understanding the "flywheel effect" of consistent driver training, this episode provides actionable benchmarks to elevate your operations. In this episode, you'll learn: * How to evaluate your fleet's revenue and when to cull assets. * How to turn rideshare and delivery drivers into a career pipeline. * Why relying on AI-written chauffeur manuals is a massive liability. * How stacking weekly safety training creates a profitable flywheel. * The secret to capturing the $24 billion corporate airport market. Download the report here. [https://drivingfinancialsuccess.mykajabi.com/gtoresearch] The Limo CEO Academy is designed specifically for smaller operators who want to get out of the driver seat and take their business to the next level. Get access to an exclusive digital community complete with monthly workshops, live Q&A sessions, and a library of content, including original research and benchmarks. Learn more about the Limo CEO Academy. [https://drivingfinancialsuccess.mykajabi.com/limoceoacademy] Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

Finding the CDL Unicorn: Solving the Passenger Endorsement Shortage with Jodie Spencer-Lethgo

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] Are you struggling to find qualified CDL drivers with a passenger endorsement?  On this episode, Ken Lucci sits down with Jodie Spencer-Lethgo from Career Driver [https://careerdriver.com/] to tackle the industry's biggest hiring challenges. They explore why finding a Class B driver with a passenger endorsement is like hunting for a unicorn in today's market. Jodie shares her expert strategies for transforming your hiring process from a stuffy interrogation into a powerful sales pitch. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why you should conduct your next chauffeur interview inside an Escalade. * How AI and Reddit forums are secretly impacting your applicant pipeline. * The core differences between hiring freight truckers and passenger drivers * Why your ground transportation business needs to always be recruiting. * How to speed up your hiring process so you stop losing top-tier candidates. The Limo CEO Academy is designed specifically for smaller operators who want to get out of the driver seat and take their business to the next level. Get access to an exclusive digital community complete with monthly workshops, live Q&A sessions, and a library of content, including original research and benchmarks. Learn more about the Limo CEO Academy. [https://drivingfinancialsuccess.mykajabi.com/limoceoacademy] Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

The 2.5% Solution: How the NY Black Car Fund Protects 100,000 Drivers, with Ira Goldstein

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] How does a single organization provide workers' compensation and vital benefits to over 100,000 independent drivers without charging them a dime? On this episode, James and Ken sit down with Ira Goldstein, Executive Director of the New York Black Car Fund, to unpack the magic behind this unique statewide program. Drawing from his years of experience as Chief of Staff at the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, Ira shares the history of the fund and how it successfully evolved to include everyone from traditional black car chauffeurs to Uber and Lyft drivers.  The trio also tackles the industry's most pressing modern challenges, including the fight against illegal operators, the crackdown on airport hustlers, and the looming threat of autonomous vehicles hitting the streets of New York. The Limo CEO Academy is designed specifically for smaller operators who want to get out of the driver seat and take their business to the next level. Get access to an exclusive digital community complete with monthly workshops, live Q&A sessions, and a library of content, including original research and benchmarks. Learn more about the Limo CEO Academy. [https://drivingfinancialsuccess.mykajabi.com/limoceoacademy] Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp