TNCs Bring Increased Risk to Meeting Ground Transportation Bookings
If you are a meeting planner and need to arrange transportation for your meetings, you may be tempted by looking at Transportation Network Companies (commonly called TNCs, who are app-based services). While these companies do bring a new level of convenience, they also bring a new level of risk. They may sound like a good choice, but only on the surface.
First, these companies do a really subpar job of screening their drivers. All KEE Limousine drivers must pass a fingerprinting check. TNC companies only do a name check.
You’ve probably heard of Kalamazoo, Michigan shooting. On February 20th, 2016, Uber driver Jason Dalton was driving on Uber platform for five hours with a semi-automatic handgun in his pocket. Over the course of his shift with Uber he killed six innocent people and injured two more. The killings, unbeknownst to his passengers, have happened in between the fares.
Not so long ago a few TV stations were looking to create interesting TV segments. They hired convicted felons to try and become Uber and Lyft drivers. In the majority of cases the felons had no problems registering to drive with Uber and Lyft.
Not so long ago Uber itself has created instructions to help people whose felonies have been reduced to misdemeanors pass a TNC name background check.
Would you be comfortable hailing a random car on a highway and get into it with your family and kids? This is exactly what you are doing when you get a car from a TNC.
The second problem with ridesharing companies is that they use a surge-pricing model. It is impossible to book a car with a TNC for a pre-agreed fare. They work to satisfy demand in the moment with supply in the moment.
Their estimated quotes mean nothing. Did your meeting attendees just get off a plane, are really tired and want to go to a hotel? If there are a lot of people like them, which is a virtual certainty in any major airport during the rush hour, and only a few TNC cars, the prices for their rides may go up significantly.
There have been instances in which people paid 5x or 9x simply because a TNC did not have enough cars on the road to satisfy demand at the moment. What if you don’t want to pay a premium? Then your clients will have to wait until the demand goes down. This is hardly a reliable way of getting a ride. With KEE Limousine you can call in advance, get a fixed quote and have a piece of mind that a car will show up at a certain place and time and will cost you a pre-agreed amount of money.
The third problem is insurance. KEE Limousine has commercial insurance and its drivers, passengers and cars are covered 24/7.
The TNC companies consider themselves technology companies. Their drivers are independent contractors who drive their own cars with their own personal insurance. Uber and Lyft do not own any vehicles, so they are not liable for anything that happens during a trip. Theoretically, Uber promises a $1 million liability insurance guarantee. Practically, this insurance works as an add-on to personal insurance of Uber drivers. If there’s a problem with personal insurance, there may be a problem with Uber’s insurance, too.
Let’s say you recommend Uber to your clients and someone gets into an accident. It is quite possible that you will be sued for negligence because it was you who recommended the company without choosing the best and safest option.
Uber has recently been sued in California, lost and had to pay hefty fees for claiming that it was “the safest ride available.”
There’s a video called Felons behind the wheel of uberX NBC4 ITeam here:
http://www.whosdrivingyou.org/videos
When booking transportation for your clients, going with KEE Limousine is a no brainer. You don’t have to worry about insurance, driver backgrounds or price. Call us today, get a quote and have reliable transportation waiting for your clients when they need it!
