Ground Transportation Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Are you relying on a local retail car dealer who views your luxury fleet as just another transaction?   In this episode, Ken Lucci and James Blain sit down with Barry Trabb, founder of Complete Fleet , to explore nearly four decades of experience navigating the ground transportation industry. From the glory days of the Lincoln Town Car to the rise of crossovers, Transits, and hybr...

Send us Fan Mail 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 ev...

Send us Fan Mail 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 , 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 group stepp...

Send us Fan Mail 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 stru...

Send us Fan Mail 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 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 N...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail Are your DIY Google Ads bleeding your ground transportation business dry? In this episode, Ken Lucci sits down with Mark Petree from Limo Marketer 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 ne...

Send us Fan Mail 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 motorcoa...

Send us Fan Mail Do reviews really matter? The answer could determine the future value of your business. In Episode 84 of the Ground Transportation Podcast , Ken Lucci and James Blain explore how online reviews shape brand equity, customer perception, and ultimately, your bottom line. Drawing from real operator examples, they reveal how a single negative review—especially one left unanswered—can s...

Send us Fan Mail Stop trying to be everything to everyone. In this episode, Ken Lucci sits down with Scott Woodruff to unpack a hard truth in the transportation industry: the operators who try to do it all often struggle the most. From fleet decisions to client targeting, Scott shares how focusing on the right niche—and saying no to the wrong opportunities—can transform your business. They also di...

Send us Fan Mail Autonomous vehicles are no longer a future concept—they’re actively being deployed today. So where does that leave the chauffeur and ground transportation industry? In this episode, Ken Lucci delivers a deep dive into the evolving AV landscape, breaking down what operators need to know about technology, market trends, and the strategic decisions that will define the next decade. F...

Send us Fan Mail Inconsistency isn’t just a problem—it’s costing you business. 🎙️ In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast , Ken Lucci and James Blaine explore a critical issue facing the industry: service inconsistency . Through “A Tale of Two Chauffeurs,” they share two contrasting real-world experiences—one that delivers exceptional, five-star service ⭐, and another that highlights...

Send us Fan Mail Autonomous vehicles are advancing fast—but they’re not perfect. In this episode, Ken Lucci and James Blain break down real-world examples of Waymo vehicles “behaving badly,” using viral footage and firsthand analysis to explore the challenges facing self-driving technology.  From navigation errors like driving onto light rail tracks to unexpected system failures that cause vehicle...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast , host Ken Lucci is bringing a little tough love. If your business isn’t growing, it’s not the market—it’s who you’re targeting. Too many operators are out there fighting over $25 airport runs, hoping the phone rings, or waiting for affiliate work to save them. That’s not a business plan. Ken breaks down exactly how to go after...

Send us Fan Mail The motorcoach industry may be smaller than trucking or tech—but it generates $158 billion in economic activity and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs. So why hasn’t it always had a unified voice? In this episode, James Blain sits down with Fred Ferguson, President of the American Bus Association (ABA) , to discuss how the industry is becoming more coordinated, more connected,...

Send us Fan Mail The CD/NLA Show in Las Vegas brought together operators, technology providers, and industry leaders for several days of networking, education, and discussion about the future of chauffeured transportation. In this episode, Ken Lucci and James Blain recap the event and highlight the conversations that mattered most for operators. They discuss the overall optimism coming out of the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ken Lucci and James Blain sit down with Douglas Schwartz of Executive Limousine , a self-made industry veteran who went from running small Penny Saver ads in the mid-90s to building a top 10% industry operation with nearly 30 vehicles and 75 employees. Doug shares how small classified ads led to explosive growth, why he chose margin over fleet size, and how deeply...

Send us Fan Mail Chauffeured transportation scored a 3.8 in the latest Business Travel News survey. Ride share scored a 3.6. That's too low. And Ken is PISSED 😡 Ken and James analyze the BTN ratings report and explore why the service gap between chauffeured transportation and ride share is narrower than it should be. From affiliate inconsistency and booking friction to pricing transparency a...

Send us Fan Mail Customer service across industries has declined — and that creates opportunity for operators willing to raise the bar. In this episode, Ken Lucci and James Blain discuss what the chauffeured transportation industry can learn from hospitality leaders like Chick-fil-A and The Ritz-Carlton. They explore culture, leadership accountability, and why true service begins long before the c...

Send us Fan Mail Hustle can start a transportation company—but it won’t scale one. In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, Ken Lucci is joined by Rick Versace Sr. and Rick Versace Jr. of A1A Global Ground to explore how systems, structure, and hospitality—not nonstop effort—are what truly build long-term value. Drawing on decades of experience, they discuss why price competition erod...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when professional motorcoach drivers make unprofessional decisions—and it all ends up on camera? In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast , James Blain and Ken Lucci analyze real dash cam footage showing unsafe motorcoach behavior, including early turns near pedestrians, rolling stops, aggressive lane changes, and road rage incidents. Each clip highlights...

Send us Fan Mail Insurance premiums continue to rise across the ground transportation industry—but the reasons go far beyond individual accidents or safety scores. In this episode, James speaks with insurance specialist Michael Gaddis about the systemic forces driving higher rates, including claims behavior, litigation trends, nuclear verdicts, and the growing influence of reinsurance markets. Tog...

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode, Ken Lucci outlines the 10-part business planning framework he uses with million-dollar transportation operators to drive predictable profits and long-term financial stability. Ken explains why most operators struggle—not because they lack effort, but because they lack a clear, executable plan. He walks through the core elements of a real business plan, includ...