Hello to all! I hope everyone has been enjoying the start of the fall season. The changing leaves are always a reminder that the holiday season is almost upon us and that we’re getting close to wrapping up another year. This month we have a few topics to discuss, so let’s jump into it.
To begin, we need to discuss a serious issue that has come to our attention. Some of you may be aware that there exists a network of chat groups, on mobile applications such as WhatsApp, where many drivers are illicitly sharing and farming out work. It is clear that this practice is widespread, with some groups having over a thousand members. Its rapid growth needs to be addressed because the work that is being illegally shared in these chat groups directly violates TLC regulations, as well as Port Authority rules when it involves an airport. Even more seriously, it violates federal, state and city tax laws and procedures and it endangers the safety of drivers and passengers as a whole.
It’s also important for you to know that these illegal rides are not protected by The Black Car Fund. Please understand that if you are performing an illicit job that was not dispatched by a Member Base, you will not be covered by The Black Car Fund for the purposes of workers’ compensation. It doesn’t matter whether a driver works for a BCF Member Base at other times, illicit rides are never covered.
If you are performing an illicit trip and are involved in an accident, are injured, and can’t work, you will not be eligible to receive payments for lost wages or coverage for medical expenses. Not to mention the legal ramifications you will likely face. Also, performing this type of illicit work may endanger your eligibility for our Drivers Benefits program. This illicit work hurts everyone, especially those that follow the rules, and we felt it was important for you to know all this information.
Moving onto other news, as I’m sure you’re all aware, the changes to passenger pick-up procedures at JFK Airport’s Terminal 4 have been frustrating to say the least. It is a major inconvenience for passengers, and a serious obstacle for drivers. In late August, the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), who oversees the area’s airports, gave an industry briefing and said that these changes, which were initially set to expire in September, were being extended to mid-October due to concerns that ongoing construction would lead to increased traffic congestion. However, in late September, another briefing was held to inform the industry about upcoming road shifts and changes that will affect terminals 4, 5, 7 and 8. At this briefing, the PANYNJ refused to commit to sticking with the mid-October date, nor did they provide a timeline for when any further extensions would be announced.
This sounds like bad news. We know that these changes are necessary during peak traffic seasons to control congestion in the central terminal area, but what’s inexcusable is the disparity with how the different ground transportation sectors are treated. Whenever someone needs to be moved from the curb, it’s always the black cars first. Taxis, who pay less in airport access fees than black cars, and private vehicles who pay nothing, are allowed to continue picking up at the curb, while black cars are relegated to remote lots and parking garages. This is a prime example of the government picking winners and losers.
An extension of these pick-up changes beyond mid-October practically brings us to the holiday season. Will black cars be barred from picking up passengers at the curb for the rest of 2024? It seems like a very real possibility. We will continue to monitor this situation closely.
There are other issues that we’re closely monitoring. For one, I’m sure many of you have heard about the financial situation that American Transit Insurance Company is going through. Bottom line is that it is financially insolvent, and it remains to be seen if anyone comes to its rescue. Nearly 60% of drivers are insured by American Transit, so if it were to fail, it would be catastrophic to the industry.
There are also a pair of bills in the City Council that should be on your radar. One is a bill by Council Member Shekar Krishnan that aims to prohibit companies from deactivating drivers without just cause. What it does is create a formal petition process for drivers who are deactivated to request reactivation. There are real concerns however that in practice, this new process will complicate things and may end up causing further delays for drivers who are seeking reactivation. We will be closely monitoring this bill as it progresses through the legislative process.
The second is a bill by Council Member De La Rosa, which would essentially prohibit the Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) from requiring drivers to have personal injury protection (also known as no-fault) liability coverage in an amount greater than the amount required by state law. This is another bill that we will be monitoring closely for updates.
Now that we’ve gotten through the tough parts, let’s lighten the mood with some good news. You’ll recall that in July, we celebrated a major milestone of having over 50,000 drivers enrolled in our Drivers Benefits program. Well, this September, The Black Car Fund also celebrated its 25th anniversary!
It’s been quite the journey. I have been with The Black Car Fund for almost 15 years, and in my time here, there’s been so much change. In just the last few years, we created the Drivers Benefits program and have continued to expand it with new and improved benefits.
Beginning October 1, our telemedicine benefit is being improved and expanded with our new partner, Cirrus MD. This benefit now goes beyond traditional telemedicine and provides a service they refer to as Virtual Primary Care. With Cirrus MD, drivers enrolled in our Drivers Benefits program will be able to speak with a doctor in less than 60 seconds, anywhere in the United States, at any time.
Cirrus MD provides virtual primary care where you can speak with doctors about chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, check in with doctors about your general health, urgent care needs, and mental health concerns, and get needed prescriptions. Now that this benefit is live, the first drivers who sign up to use it will receive a $10 gift card for Starbucks. Head on over to our Drivers Benefits page to make sure you’re enrolled in the program, and sign up for the new telemedicine benefit now!
Finally, on October 28th, we are holding the next event in our Steering Towards Success: BCF Resource Fair series. As always, it will take place at our Driver Education Center, located at 3710 Skillman Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101. We have recently completed a rebranding of the space, and this Fall’s resource fair will be the grand unveiling!
Our resource fairs have been very popular, so this time, we are also creating a morning and afternoon session so that drivers can attend at whatever time is more convenient for them, without worrying about missing out on any giveaways, raffles, or information.
Click here to RSVP now for the resource fair, or visit our LinkTree page at https://linktr.ee/nybcf to find the RSVP link and stay connected with us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Until next time!
