Shows
Ground Transportation PodcastCD/NLA Vegas Recap: The Conversations That Matter for OperatorsSend a textThe 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 conference, key themes from the education sessions, and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.Topics include the growing role of AI and autonomous vehicle technology, rising insurance costs and litigation concerns...
2026-03-111h 16
Ground Transportation PodcastRetail, Relationships, and Resilience: How Douglas Schwartz Built a Multi-Generational OperationSend a textIn 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 rooted client relationships helped him survive 9/11, the financial crisis, and the pandemic. He explains why competing purely on price is a losing strategy, why retail and specialty services can...
2026-03-041h 02
Ground Transportation PodcastChauffeur, Ride Share... What's the Difference?Send a textChauffeured 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 đĄKen 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 and basic execution, this conversation challenges operators to look beyond assumptions.The dynamic duo argues that luxury is no longer defined by vehicles alone â itâs defined by reliability, consistency, and executi...
2026-02-251h 02
Ground Transportation PodcastChick-fil-A, Ritz-Carlton, and the Limo Business: Borrowing World-Class HospitalitySend a textCustomer service across industries has declined â 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 chauffeur opens the door.From âinspect what you expectâ to building a self-weeding culture of excellence, this conversation challenges operators to rethink what elevated service really means â and how to execute it consistently.If youâre s...
2026-02-181h 06
Ground Transportation PodcastHow A1A Built a Scalable Transportation BusinessSend a textHustle can start a transportation companyâbut it wonât 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 hospitalityânot nonstop effortâare what truly build long-term value.Drawing on decades of experience, they discuss why price competition erodes quality, how relying too heavily on affiliate work limits business value, and why most operators hit a growth ceiling they canât break on their own...
2026-02-1155 min
Ground Transportation PodcastDash Cam Review: Motorcoach Mistakes CAUGHT ON CAMERASend a textWhat happens when professional motorcoach drivers make unprofessional decisionsâand 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 a deeper issue: training gaps, lack of accountability, and reactive safety culture.Even if you're not in front of a screen to see the videos themselves, the conversation goes beyond the fo...
2026-02-041h 07
Ground Transportation PodcastClaims & Courtrooms: Whatâs Really Behind Todayâs Insurance RatesSend a textInsurance premiums continue to rise across the ground transportation industryâbut 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. Together, they explain why many operators are being impacted regardless of their loss historyâand where responsibility truly lies.This conversation explores:How claims evolve from incidents into long-term financial liabilitiesWhy courtrooms, not collisions, are incr...
2026-01-2859 min
Ground Transportation PodcastThe 10-Part Business Planning Framework Ken Uses With Million-Dollar OperatorsSend a textIn 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 struggleânot because they lack effort, but because they lack a clear, executable plan. He walks through the core elements of a real business plan, including revenue targets, financial objectives, sales initiatives, service improvements, operational priorities, and people strategy.Youâll learn:What belongs in a serious business planâand what doesnâtHow profitable operators plan for cash...
2026-01-2138 min
Ground Transportation PodcastOne Call Can Change It All: How YOU Can Stop Human TraffickingSend a textHuman trafficking is happening in everyday placesâand often, the people best positioned to stop it donât realize the power they hold.In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, James Blain sits down with Lexi Higgins of Truckers Against Trafficking for a candid, eye-opening conversation about what human trafficking really looks like and how transportation professionals play a critical role in prevention and intervention.Together, they dismantle common misconceptionsâlike âstranger dangerâ and âchosen workââand explain how traffickers use force, fraud, and coercion to hide exploitation in plain sight. Fro...
2026-01-141h 11
Ground Transportation PodcastHow James Limousine Grew to $4M ARR (Then Sold Successfully)Send a textGrowing a ground transportation company is hard. Growing one that buyers actually want is even harder.In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, Ken Lucci speaks with Randy Allen, former CEO of James Limousine, about his journey building a respected regional transportation company and successfully selling it after nearly two decades.Randy explains how James Limousine:Grew from $1M to $4M in revenue over 17 yearsBuilt a premium brand through community involvement and trustUsed profit-sharing to retain drivers and reduce riskFocused on corporate clients without...
2026-01-071h 01
Ground Transportation PodcastWhere The Transportation Industry Is Headed in 2026Send a textThe transportation industry is at an inflection point â and operators who fail to adapt may not survive the next phase.In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, Ken Lucci offers a candid assessment of the state of the transportation industry, cutting through noise and speculation to focus on what truly matters for operators today.Ken explores the pressures reshaping the industry â from insurance and regulatory risk to operational discipline and leadership mindset â and explains why the gap between struggling operators and strong operators continues to widen...
2025-12-3146 min
Ground Transportation Podcast2025 Year in Review: The Conversations Shaping Ground TransportationSend a textIn this holiday year-in-review special, Ken Lucci and James Blain reflect on the conversations, guests, and industry moments that made this past year such a pivotal one for ground transportation.From memorable origin stories and standout interviews to hard conversations about insurance pressure, safety expectations, and industry fragmentation, this episode captures the lessons operators canât afford to ignore. The hosts revisit insights from across the podcastâs most impactful episodes, including reflections from major industry events and candid moments that reinforced why collaboration across transportation verticals is essential.This epis...
2025-12-2447 min
Ground Transportation PodcastFleet Insurance Rates Up 17%: The REAL Reasons Operators Are Paying More...Send a textInsurance remains one of the most challenging and frustrating realities facing ground transportation operators today. Even companies with strong safety records are seeing double-digit premium increases, shrinking carrier options, and fewer levers to pull at renewal time.In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, James Blain is joined by Joseph Madiedo, a second-generation transportation insurance specialist from The Professional Insurance Center, to unpack whatâs really happening behind the scenes of the insurance market.Joseph explains why insurance rates continue to rise, how re...
2025-12-171h 08
Crain & ConeGrading 2025 College Football Coaching Hires | Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall, James Franklin, Alex GoleshThere have been a lot of head coaching changes in college football this season, so we decided to break down some of the biggest jobs, and grade the school's hire.
- - -
Today's Sponsors:
Good Ranchers - Visit https://goodranchers.com for free bacon, ground beef, bacon, seed oil-free chicken nuggets, or wild-caught salmon in every order for a year + $40 off with code BOOSTER.
Aura Frames - Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/BOOSTER. Promo...
2025-12-1643 min
Ground Transportation PodcastRobot Drivers: Safer Than Humans⌠or Total Chaos?Send a textAutonomous vehicles promised safer roads, fewer accidents, and a seamless future â but the real-world footage tells a very different story. In this episode, Ken Lucci and James Blain react to a curated set of shocking, hilarious, and sometimes disturbing AV clips, including Tesla autopilot mishaps, snowy-road confusion, near-miss lane changes, and even a tragic cruise-vehicle incident.From the âcardboard-box testâ debate to the ethics of the trolley problem, they break down what the technology actually sees, how it makes decisions, and why operators shouldnât assume AI thinks anything like a human. They als...
2025-12-101h 05
Ground Transportation PodcastSBA Secrets for Operators: Funding, Readiness, and What Lenders Really Look For, with Natalie BeaneSend a textIn this episode, Ken Lucci sits down with Natalie Beane, an SBA and business-lending expert who helps small and mid-sized companies secure the capital they need to operate, grow, and survive challenging markets.Natalie breaks down how SBA loans really work, the differences between traditional banking and government-backed financing, and what transportation operators can do today to make themselves lender-ready. She explains why clean financials matter, how banks evaluate risk, the biggest reasons loan applications get denied, and the operational habits that signal stability to underwriters.Whether you're growing, rebuilding...
2025-12-0356 min
Blain's Morning PorridgeGilts indicate Stability â what is generating the noise?Blainâs Morning Porridge â December 1st, 2025: Gilts indicate Stability â what is generating the noise? There are lies, damned lies, statistics, and the Torygraph â where even Lucifer fears to tread.â There is a lot of noise in Gilts these days. The danger is it derails national confidence â even though much of the clamour is twaddle. The reality is all Governments face challenges, but the UKâs Gilts market is much stronger and more resilient that the right-wing press would care to admit.  The most famous quote about bond markets is âI want to come back as the...
2025-12-0117 min
Ground Transportation PodcastProactive Operators Win: Safety, Business Development & Financial PlanningSend a textIn this episode, James and Ken break down one of the most criticalâand most overlookedâskills in the ground transportation industry: proactivity. Drawing from real operator examples and industry data, they explore how being proactive transforms three essential areas of your business:⢠Safety: Why consistency, telematics, training, and âthe 72-hour ruleâ matter more than experience alone.⢠Business Development: How to break out of reactive habits, increase your sales activity, and avoid the âit worked last yearâ mindset.⢠Financial Planning: The fundamentals every operator must understandâcash position, liquidity, metrics...
2025-11-261h 04
Ground Transportation PodcastUnbreakable Path: A Story of Loss, Resilience, and the Pursuit of Greatness, with Charlie HorkySend a textOrder the book today: https://www.amazon.com/Unbreakable-Path-Resilience-Pursuit-Greatness/dp/1967424373/Industry legend Charlie Horky returns to the podcast to celebrate the release of his new book, Unbreakable Path â a raw, fast-moving account of how he built one of the largest limousine companies in the world, lost it all, and rebuilt his life and career from the ground up.In this conversation, Charlie shares what pushed him to finally write the book, the pivotal moments that shaped his rise at CLS, the missteps that nearly ended everything, and how he found hi...
2025-11-191h 04
Ground Transportation PodcastThe Kayak of Rideshare: Exploring Obi's Price Aggregation with CEO Ashwini AnburajanSend a textWhat if booking a ride could be as simpleâand transparentâas booking a flight?That question inspired Obi, the worldâs first true rideshare aggregator, and the focus of this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast. Host Ken Lucci sits down with Ashwini Anburajan, CEO of Obi, to explore how the company became known as âthe Kayak of Rideshare.âAshwini shares her journey from NBC political reporter to BuzzFeed data strategist to tech CEO, and how her obsession with consumer transparency led her to Obiâa platform that compares Uber, Lyft...
2025-11-1257 minGround Transportation Podcast2025 Industry Events Recap: Insights, Trends and Takeaways From the RoadSend a textAfter a whirlwind season of industry events â from the Chauffeur Driven/NLA Show in Dallas, GBTA, IATR, CBA and more...Ken Lucci and James Blain circle the wagons and unpack the biggest trends shaping 2025 and beyond.In this Ground Transportation Podcast episode, they share key insights from research, analyst reports, and conversations with owners and operators across the country:The data behind a strong rebound in corporate travel, luxury hotels, and private aviationThe mounting pressure of insurance costs and what operators can do to prepareHow inflation and tariffs are reshaping vehicle ac...
2025-11-051h 07Crain & ConeWill Auburn Pursue Lane Kiffin, James Franklin, or Jon Sumrall? On3âs Justin Hokanson Weighs InAuburn has fired Hugh Freeze, and named defensive coordinator DJ Durkin as interim head coach. Justin Hokanson from On3 joins us to break down what happened behind the scenes, and who the top candidates are to be Auburnâs next coach.
- - -
Today's Sponsors:
Boll & Branch - Get 25% off sitewide plus free shipping and extended returns at https://bollandbranch.com/BOOSTER and use code BOOSTER
BAERSkin Tactical Supply Co. - Get a BĂRSkin now - while itâ...
2025-11-0336 minGround Transportation PodcastWhy Your Insurance Costs Keep Rising (And What You Can Actually Do About It)Send a textFor 14 straight years, commercial auto insurance has been unprofitable â and for operators, premiums keep climbing with no end in sight. In this hard-hitting episode, James Blain and Ken Lucci sit down with Tim Delaney, President of the Commercial Auto Division at Lancer Insurance, to unpack whatâs really driving your insurance costs â and what you can do about it.Tim explains how ânuclear verdicts,â rising medical costs, and attorney-funded lawsuits have transformed the insurance landscape, why fleet owners are paying for systemic legal abuse, and how to protect your business before a claim ever...
2025-10-291h 01Ground Transportation PodcastWatch Your Six! How To Handle Chaos On The RoadSend a textReact to the videos along with us on our YouTube pageJoin James and Ken as they explore the chaos of unpredictable driving scenarios in this lively episode. With a guest appearance from John Tyreman, the executive producer of the Ground Transportation Podcast, the team reacts to a series of dash cam videos showcasing near misses, high-speed chases, and outrageous incidents. They offer expert insights on maintaining safety, situational awareness, and emergency procedures. Learn how to handle chaotic situations on the road, keep your passengers safe, and much more. Don't m...
2025-10-221h 03Ground Transportation PodcastThereâs No 'I' In Team: How To Work On (Not In) Your Business, With Steve FirestoneSend a textAre you leading with a vision and strategy?In this episode, Ken Lucci sits down with Steve Firestone, founder of Firestone Strategies Group. They discuss essential strategies for small transportation businesses, focusing on financial acumen and strategic planning. Steve shares his extensive career experience in corporate America and the security industry, providing valuable insights into common pitfalls that entrepreneurs face. The discussion revolves around core values, organizational alignment, and the concept of working *on* the business rather than in it. CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome00:25 Introduction01:36 Background04:38 Business Owners W...
2025-10-151h 03Crain & ConeBREAKING: Penn State Fires James Franklin Instant Reaction | Who Will Be the Next Head Coach?Get a BĂRSkin now - while itâs 60% off. Text CRAIN to 36912
Penn State has fired head coach James Franklin. Check out our instant reaction and our thoughts on who might be the next head coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Crain & Cone, hosted by former college athletes Jake Crain, Blain Crain, and David Cone, is a college sports show dedicated to delivering quality analysis and passionate insight to the most die-hard fans.For partnership inquiries, please contact: crainandconesales@on3.com
2025-10-1214 minGround Transportation PodcastNone Of Us Are Smarter Than All Of Us: Building a Collaborative Culture, With Dr. Umut AslanSend a textIn this episode of the Ground Transformation Podcast, James Blain sits down with Dr. Umut Aslan from the Growth and Success Institute. They discuss Dr. Aslan's journey from working in a small family business to managing a successful transportation company, Men in Black Transportation, which grew from a single vehicle to a mixed fleet including motor coaches. Dr. Aslan shares key insights on the importance of networking, marketing, and strategic planning for business growth, as well as the evolving role of technology in the transportation industry. The episode also highlights the value o...
2025-10-0858 minGround Transportation PodcastA Thorn Between Two Roses: Recapping a Legacy of Growth and Expansion, With Mike & Tim RoseSend a textWho says you shouldn't mix family and business?In this episode of the Ground Transportation Podcast, Ken Lucci sits down with industry veterans Mike Rose from My Limo and Tim Rose from Hoffman Transportation Group. Discover their journey from rental cars to growing a transportation business 10x from $4 million to $40 million in 5 years. Learn about the importance of customer service, technology adoption, and creating a culture of safety. They discuss the current challenges in the industry, such as insurance and technology, and share insights on future opportunities.
2025-10-011h 04