About LCT Blog

Welcome to LCT Blog, LCT Magazine's blog devoted to "stretching chauffeured transportation." The LCT team appreciates you clicking in, and hopes you'll find some useful and entertaining information. Read more

Contributors

Martin Romjue

Martin Romjue joined LCT Magazine as editor on Jan. 2, 2008. He most recently worked as a business editor for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, and previously reported at newspapers in Virginia, Florida, and California. Read more

Jim Luff

Jim Luff is an operator from Bakersfield, CA who wears a few different hats. Jim began his career in the industry as a private chauffeur in 1990. In 1993 he found a permanent home at The Limousine Scene as the general manager, later becoming a partner. Read more

Michael Campos

Michael Campos joined LCT Magazine as assistant editor on January 3, 2011. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s English/Creative Writing program. Michael attended his first International LCT Show in February 2011, where he met and interacted with operators and vendors. He will be helping LCT further develop its digital media content. Read more

June 2011 Entries

JIM LUFF: Handling Car Seat Challenges

Child car seats can be a messy and aggravating nuisance to an operator, not to mention expensive. But this problem kind of solved itself.

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Chauffeur Sues Public Relations Princess

Public relations diva Lizzie Grubman lives the mantra, "any press is good press," as she's famous for bulldozing her Mercedes SUV into a crowd of partiers, and more recently, for being sued by her chauffeur, who claims Grubman stiffed him for $1 million worth of overtime.

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Ford, Lincoln Fall While Cadillac Rises In Quality Rankings

NEW AND SOPHISTICATED GADGETS are causing more hassles for drivers who have trouble understanding the technology, which can get buggy.

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Lincoln To "Buff Up" Its New Vehicles

FROM WALL STREET JOURNAL: As a follow-up to an article and LCT blog post last week, the newspaper is portraying Lincoln's latest re-branding and vehicle upgrading efforts as a last-ditch push to boost sales of its vehicles. It is in the best interests of chauffeured transportation operators that the Lincoln brand and vehicles endure and rebound, including the MKT, MKZ Hybrid, MKS, and/or future versions or models. -- Martin Romjue, LCT Magazine


Are You Safe In The Cloud?

Cloud computing is a major technological breakthrough because of its potential to save costs and reduce the hassle of having in-house computer servers. It would also allow companies to access and use back-office software from anywhere, as the cloud can host business documents, files, and accounts, among other things. But just how safe is your data in the cloud?

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JIM LUFF: Work Snafus Halt Vacation

VACATION BREAKDOWN: When systems start collapsing at the office, it is time to get back early.

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Airport Transfers For…Pets?

If you don’t mind the clientele and potential hassles (and clean-up) involved, or if you just need to work to fill in slow days during the week, it may be worth calling a couple of pet hotels in your area to see if they could use a transportation provider for their furry guests.

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2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybird: 47-48 MPG

FINE TUNING: Report shows that the debut of the 2013 Lincoln MKZ Hybird, one of the models that is part of the Ford Fleet Limousine & Livery Vehicles program, will be delayed until the second half of 2012. Ford apparently wants to spend more time improving the styling of the mid-size luxury sedan, which could get up to 48 mpg. That would make it one of the most economical luxury sedans on the market. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor


Lincoln To Refine Vehicle Models, Including MKT

Ford/Lincoln plans to upgrade to its Lincoln models, including the MKT, to boost sales and widen appeal, acccording to the latest media reports.

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JIM LUFF: Vacation Part 2: Want My Attention?

My vacation spanned plenty of marketing gimmicks, premiums, and a good chauffeured rides.

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Ford Details Engine Advances

V-6 WILL BE THE NEW V-8? Just as health and nutrition improvements can make age 60 feel like the new 40; 50 as the new 30, etc., the concept can be applied to engine power. A recent LCT test of the Lincoln MKS proved this point; we at first thought we were driving a V-8, but it was a V-6 with EcoBoost. Ford Motor Co. this month details its new engine, transmission, and powertrain advances, which point to a future of enhanced performance via efficient and smart technologies. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor   


Teenage Dream, Chauffeur Nightmare

At 26 years old, singer-songwriter Katy Perry has quite the résumé: her album Teenage Dream is one of only nine albums to ever produce four or more Billboard Hot 100 number one hits, and she is the first artist in history to spend an entire year – 52 consecutive weeks – in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, which apparently give her the right to make preposterous demands of her chauffeurs...

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JIM LUFF: Vacation Part 1: I Am The Customer

Every vacation of mine is a trip through customer service. Here is the first of my reports on customer service through the eyes of an operator, good and bad. What can we all learn?

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Liberal With The Limousines?

PARTISAN LIVERY: The Obama Administration finally demonstrates to the American taxpayer the true distinction between a "Limousine Liberal" and a "Chauffeured Conservative." Hint: The CC pays for the ride out of his own money earned in the private sector.

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Could Tesla Luxury Sedan Electrify Future Limo World?

Tesla Motors' all-electric Model S Sedan offers “luxurious space, seating for five adults and two children, and a second cargo area under the hood,” all of which come on top of the fact that the car uses zero gas and releases zero emissions.

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