Comparing Uber/Lyft to Car Services
Have you tried to order an Uber recently? You likely found the wait time for a ride to be more than an hour and the fares have climbed to ridiculous levels that often exceed those of a professional transportation provider such as Ecko Worldwide Transportation Group.
Aside from the pricing and on-demand service, there are many things that set a professional car service apart from a Transportation Network Company (TNC) such as Uber and Lyft. The most important is the fact that Uber and Lyft use independent drivers who are driving their own personal vehicles and cannot possibly match the same level of customer service, chauffeur training, overall safety and the high standards of excellence provided by a professional car service.
Here are a few Pros & Cons about using a TNC Rideshare such as Uber or Lyft:
Pros:
- A convenient option from anyplace/anytime
- Affordable rates
- Easy to arrange on demand
Cons:
- TNC Drivers must buy special insurance as their personal auto insurance will not cover accidents while functioning as a TNC. Can you be sure that your Uber driver has such insurance?
- No drug or alcohol testing is required of Uber/Lyft drivers as mandated in the chauffeured transportation industry
- No 24/7 live dispatcher is watching the vehicle on GPS
- No live person to speak to about a problem
- No criminal background checks are completed with fingerprints
- Excessive claims of kidnapping, rape and assault of passengers by TNC drivers
- No formal safety training program for drivers
- Excessive/Unpredictable wait times
- A known history of "No Shows" and TNC initiated cancellations
- Not regulated in most states
When you hire a professional transportation provider such as Ecko Worldwide Transportation Group, you never have to worry about any of the Cons shown above.
Because California car services are highly regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Motor Vehicles, they are required to maintain standards that are much higher than those of an Uber driver.
TNC drivers are Independent Contractors who are basically self-employed, work when they want and how they want with no oversight of their performance. In other words, you are literally on your own on for every ride.
When you choose a professional car service, you are guaranteed to ride in a vehicle that is properly insured. If a professional transportation provider’s insurance policy is canceled for any reason, the insurance carrier notifies the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) the same day. The “Authority to Operate” permit is immediately suspended. Airports such as LAX, SFO and others have PUC enforcement officials onsite everyday who use automated license plate readers, commonly known as “alpers” (ALPR) to determine if a vehicle is registered to a transportation provider. It quickly verifies if the operating permit status is valid. The fines for operating illegally stop most companies from engaging in service while suspended.
Ecko Worldwide Transportation Group provides a high level of professionalism that you can count on. With a long list of satisfied customers that can attest to the fact that Ecko provides the safest, most comfortable and efficient chauffeur services on the planet in any city in the world. The next time you need ground transportation, call 877-FLY-ECKO for service in any city, anytime, anywhere in the world.
Executive, Professional Chauffeur
3yFor the most part chauffeurs are very experienced drivers, some formal training probably, at the very least a fresher course or two. The TNC drivers are not is this for safety, clients, long term for that matter as most car services, limousine companies, are in this for the long haul. Yes we need monies too, but much more professional in putting value in our service. You and I have seen what the TNC's say is "a ride"... Using TNC is digital hitchhiking, and didn't your mother say not to do that?... Folks should listen to their mothers! A couple of good things have come from all this virus stuff; most people are washing their hands more and are more aware of their own personal hygiene, and leisure travelers have discovered our business. Last Sunday was a travelers record for plane passengers and those were not business people. So, amen to them, glad to have'em!
Secure Global Ground | Executive Protection
3yWell written article Jim but you are a pro at this sort of stuff. Far be it from me to say this as I'm a relative rookie in the industry, but I still think had the livery industry been less adversarial and more collaborative with Uber/Lyft in the beginning, a lot more could have been done.
Executive, Professional Chauffeur
3yWhat about non drivers or non uber cars or no insurance, the sell.