QUALIFY
THE RISK & RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONTRACTING GROUND TRANSPORTATION SERVICE
Donβt base your ground transportation service bookings on cost alone.
Be proactive and qualify the company you intend to hire. Every trip establishes a contract between the hiring party and the transportation company, obligating the latter to provide safe and specific services as required.
To ensure you’re contracting with a reputable provider, ask these important questions:
- Is the company legally registered to operate a business?
- Is transportation their full-time business or a part-time endeavor?
- What is the company’s experience and how long have they been in business?
- Can they provide references and demonstrate experience in fulfilling your specific transportation needs?
- Can they furnish a certificate of insurance, and what are their liability limits?
- Are all drivers appropriately licensed (including CDL certification, if required for the vehicle type)?
- Does the company conduct pre-employment screening of drivers through local police and the Department of Motor Vehicles?
- Does the company provide workers’ compensation for its employees?
- Are drivers trained in handling traffic and weather conditions, emergency procedures, and basic defensive driving techniques?
- Are the vehicles properly licensed as “livery” and registered as “for hire”?
- Are the vehicles regularly inspected by the DMV or State DOT as mandated?
Does the company have a routine vehicle maintenance program? - What is the company’s policy for managing emergency and vehicle breakdown situations?
If any company you are currently using or considering using answers “no” or negatively to any of these questions, they are likely NOT qualified to provide safe and responsible ground transportation services. Qualified transportation services offer the safest and most reliable means of travel, providing customized solutions for any occasion or event. It is crucial to ask, investigate, and require that your chosen ground transportation provider is indeed “qualified.”