If an accident is caused by an employee’s cell phone use, employers are liable for the resulting damages and may even be liable for workers’ comp.
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SAY IT ISN'T SO: The end of Lincoln Town Car production is about a month away, as final orders are delivered.
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A forward female client makes me grapple with the definition of customer service.
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Americans want higher fuel mileage, but not if it means paying more for vehicles. That's good for the chauffeured transportation industry. Driving greener shouldn't cost a penny more. Motto going forward: Practical luxury without sacrifices.
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Just when we think we've seen it all when it comes to marketing.
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A new amendment in China allows harsher punishments for drunk driving and spurs business for chauffeured vehicles. Why not in the U.S.?
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LCT is a business, too, and it always delivers results for operators and vendors. Industry promotions are a crucial part of business success.
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GROUND TRANSPORTATION DRAMA: San Francisco is one of the most desirable and scenic cities in the world, and its airport terminals stand out for their 21st Century amenities, internal design and traveler conveniences. But the San Francisco International Airport is one of the worst places to do business for ground transportation companies, as limousine operators fighting extremist green rules and illegal solicitors at SFO are well aware. Now a report shows the SFO shuttle situation is a confusing mess. Aside from underscoring the advantages of chauffeured transportation compared to the shuttle-cattle cart option, the story proves that the fog extends well beyond the runaways to SFO's transportation management. -- Martin Romjue, LCT Magazine
Picture a scene of teenage girls in make-up and fancy dresses standing in the rain waiting for their limousine. They learn the stretch won’t be showing up, and all the other services are booked. Suddenly, a black limousine used for funerals appears, and the door opens. Do they get in? Is it a trap? Do scary boyfriends lurk within?
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HELPING CLIENTS: It's always insightful to see how
personal finance experts advise consumers on renting a limousine. Seeing what consumers are being told in the financial media can help operators strategize on pricing, packaging, and promotions. Operators who clarify options and simplify rates and billing are more likely to earn loyalty. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
"LIMO, WADDYA WANT?" Late night personnel often are not known for giving good phone.
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A BLIP, A BUMP, OR AN ICEBERG AHEAD? Where business travel goes, so follows chauffeured transportation, which relies heavily on airport/hotel related corporate travel runs and convention-related business. The latest figures show
short-term slowdown but continued long term growth in business travel. Most other economic indicators are flashing red amid a deficit stalemate and possible Obama-double-dip. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
NO BIG 3 FOR LIMO: As automakers promote Lincoln Town Car alternatives in the livery market, one player that will be
missing from the future limousine vehicle action is Chrysler. Although the 300 stretch limousine as customized by select coachbuilders has been popular with younger limousine clients, the 300 sedan never did too well in the chauffeured transportation industry and never caught on with the corporate crowd. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
Since when did size, power, and luxury become such bad words in Autoland? Let's help the luxury environment by making the Escalade an official evergreen.
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Digital Drama: A birthday celebration is marred by a computer disaster.
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PRINT V. DIGITAL: The June/July 2011 issue of LCT Magazine doesn't need much of a preview since it's already in the mailboxes or in the mail. With the advent of LCT's new web site, we now have reason to post far more magazine content online, where you'll find much of this issue divided among eight primary topic channels.
Look for cover stories on getting destination management and convention business and the DaBryan debut of the Lincoln MKT stretch limousine.
You'll find two key types of content on LCTMag.com: articles and news. The articles consist of magazine features and departments and exclusive online features; news consists of all items posted and blasted via LCT E-News.
We can now post more than one photo per item, so look for a more visually stimulating website.
A complete guide to the new LCTMag.com is here.
Also in the June/July issue is a complete schedule for the LCT Leadership Summit, now just two months away in Miami Beach. Get updates at the Leadership Summit website.
Coming up on LCTMag.com later this month will be content from the August issue. LCT is finishing up the annual Black Book issue with a Who's Who of operators ranked according to the number of owned/leased vehicles.
We'll also bring you a gallery of operators throughout the industry who share some of their best fleet practices and business approaches. -- Martin Romjue, LCT editor
That’s right, meters, not miles. The musician Prince recently had a stretch limousine take him from his dressing room to the concert stage. Does that even leave time for a sip of bottled water and a mint?
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Whoops, there it goes again. President Obama's Presidential seal on the limousine keeps slipping, just like those polls.
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