Open for Business: How FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs is Rebuilding the Passenger Division

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. At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. 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

M&A in 2026: The Real Path to a Profitable Exit

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] Did you know that only 20% of small businesses with under a million in sales ever successfully transition to a second owner? In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, Ken Lucci of Driving Transactions breaks down the hard truths and latest M&A trends for the passenger transportation industry in 2026. He dispels common myths about exiting a business and unpacks the fundamental difference between running a daily lifestyle operation versus building a truly sellable enterprise. Whether you plan to sell in two years or twenty, this episode provides a masterclass on structuring your financials, operations, and team to maximize enterprise value long before you even think about putting your business on the market. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why being the most important person in your business actually hurts your valuation * Why top line revenue means nothing without a healthy EBITDA and consistent NOI * Why owners need to draw a consistent W-2 salary and manage expenses on the books * Why 80% of DIY sales fail, the reality of unpaid EIDL loans, and myths of all-cash closings * Who you need on your M&A team — and who you should avoid If you want to ensure your life's work actually funds your retirement instead of becoming an unsold statistic, this episode is an absolute must-listen At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. 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

Open for Business: How FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs is Rebuilding the Passenger Division

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] Are you ready for a new era of accessibility and partnership with the federal government? In this episode, James Blain sits down for a highly anticipated conversation with Derek Barrs, 8th Administrator FMCSA-USDOT, to discuss his vision for the passenger transportation industry. Together, they explore the FMCSA's renewed dedication to the motorcoach sector, including active efforts to rebuild the passenger carrying division and foster collaborative relationships with operators.  This episode provides a rare, transparent look at how federal regulators are shifting their focus to work alongside businesses to elevate safety standards and eliminate bad actors.  * How the FMCSA is utilizing a new "borderless" approach to restore knowledge and resources * The agency's commitment to accessibility, education, communication and enforcement * The critical need to aggressively stop "chameleon carriers" and illegal operators  * Why Barrs believes focusing on foundational safety details builds a culture of success * The importance of treating school bus and motorcoach drivers as highly trained professionals  If you want to understand the future of federal safety enforcement and how to build a stronger, more collaborative relationship with regulators, this episode is a mandatory listen. Connect with Derek on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chiefderekbarrs/] Visit the FMCSA website [https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/] At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. 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

Stop Wasting Ad Spend: Secrets of a Winning Limo Marketing Strategy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] Are your DIY Google Ads bleeding your ground transportation business dry? In this episode, Ken Lucci sits down with Mark Petree from Limo Marketer [https://limomarketer.com/] to dissect the biggest digital marketing mistakes costing operators thousands in wasted ad spend. From the dangers of unoptimized campaigns to the critical importance of high-converting landing pages, they unpack the exact strategies needed to transform clicks into booked trips. This episode dives deep into the data-driven tactics that separate top-tier operators from those just throwing money at the internet. • How to stop paying for price shoppers and start feeding Google the right conversion data • Why Google Ads are a targeted solution while Facebook functions like digital "billboards"  • The essential elements your landing pages need to capture qualified leads  • Why sales follow-up is the real reason your digital marketing campaigns are failing • A real-world example of how asking the right questions landed a massive corporate account If you want to stop paying the "Google stupidity tax" and start treating your generated leads like money, this episode is a mandatory masterclass in maximizing your marketing ROI. At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. 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

UMA Legislative Fly-In: Fighting $5 Million Insurance Threats & Unfair Tolls

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2400189/fan_mail/new] What happens when the ground transportation industry takes its fight directly to the halls of Congress? James Blain sits down with UMA President Scott Michael and VP of Legislative Affairs Ken Presley just a week after the UMA Legislative Fly-In in Washington, D.C. Together, they unpack the critical lobbying efforts operators recently brought to Capitol Hill to defend the motorcoach industry against crippling new regulations. From navigating the political maze of committees to meeting one-on-one with lawmakers, this episode breaks down exactly how the government's decisions impact your bottom line: * Why H.R. 2526 is essential to ensure charter buses get the same toll rates as public transit * How advocates are pushing back against proposed astronomical insurance liability hikes * The ongoing battle to prevent local public transit agencies from encroaching on the charter work * Why your voice holds significantly more weight to politicians than a paid lobbyist  * Actionable steps to educate your local lawmakers, even if you can't make it to D.C. If you don't step up and educate your representatives about your business, you risk becoming collateral damage to sweeping federal legislation At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. 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