Ground Transportation Podcast

Ken Lucci & James Blain
  • 4.6 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Take your transportation business to the next level.  Kenneth Lucci of Driving Transactions and James Blain of PAX Training share the secrets of growing a successful and profitable ground transportation company. On this podcast, you’ll hear interviews with owners, operators, investors, and other key players in the industry. You’ll also hear plenty of banter between Ken and James. Learn how you can grow revenue, train your team, drive higher profits, and boost owner income. Subscribe today!

  1. 10h ago ·  Video

    50,000-Pound Bullets: Chameleon Operators Are a Threat to Highway Safety

    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 evade FMCSA regulations by constantly changing their names and DOT numbers after being shut down. This episode serves as an urgent wake-up call for the industry and lawmakers to crack down on these unsafe, 50,000-pound bullets before another tragedy occurs. In this episode, you'll learn: How "chameleon operators" use shell companies to evade the DOT.Why a company with a 33% out-of-compliance rate got a satisfactory rating.How these illegal bus companies are operating out of apartment complexes.Why relying on AI-generated safety manuals is a dangerous liability.How legitimate operators can use their safety records to win more business.CHAPTERS: 00:00 Deadly Crash Wake-Up Call 01:31 Meet Tom Holden 03:19 News Report Crash Details 05:13 Chameleon Operators Explained 14:51 Red Flags and Fixing Compliance 21:56 Fixing Unsatisfactory Ratings 23:06 Chameleon Operators Exposed 24:05 How DOT Numbers Slip Through 27:02 Safety Tech and Selling Safety 29:56 Policy Fixes and Final Takeaways Learn more about The Transportation Advisors Connect with Tom Holden on LinkedIn Here is the original CBS news video  At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    45 min

  2. Jun 24 ·  Video

    Association Committees That Actually Get Things Done: ABA's Women in Buses and Driving Force

    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 stepped up during the pandemic to tackle the nationwide driver shortage, ultimately evolving into a full-blown council dedicated to workforce development. This episode dives into the "dream team" behind the highly successful recruitment and retention toolkits that are actively helping operators solve their biggest hiring challenges. In this episode, you'll learn: How an introverted accountant became a leading voice in ground transportation.How Women in Buses broke through the "old boys' club" to empower the industry.How The Driving Force created a 75-page roadmap to fix the driver shortage.Why company culture and communication are the true secrets to employee retention.How to access the ABA's newest workforce development guides for your business.Connect with Erin on LinkedIn ABA Driving Force  Video: Recruiting & Training Drivers At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    1h 2m

  3. Jun 17 ·  Video

    2026 GTO Research Review: Benchmarks, Outlooks, and Perspectives from 236 Operators

    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 struggling to survive. From navigating the CDL hiring shortage to understanding the "flywheel effect" of consistent driver training, this episode provides actionable benchmarks to elevate your operations. In this episode, you'll learn: How to evaluate your fleet's revenue and when to cull assets.How to turn rideshare and delivery drivers into a career pipeline.Why relying on AI-written chauffeur manuals is a massive liability.How stacking weekly safety training creates a profitable flywheel.The secret to capturing the $24 billion corporate airport market.Download the report here. At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    1h 27m
  4. Finding the CDL Unicorn: Solving the Passenger Endorsement Shortage with Jodie Spencer-Lethgo

    Jun 10

    Finding the CDL Unicorn: Solving the Passenger Endorsement Shortage with Jodie Spencer-Lethgo

    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 transforming your hiring process from a stuffy interrogation into a powerful sales pitch. In this episode, you'll learn: Why you should conduct your next chauffeur interview inside an Escalade.How AI and Reddit forums are secretly impacting your applicant pipeline.The core differences between hiring freight truckers and passenger driversWhy your ground transportation business needs to always be recruiting.How to speed up your hiring process so you stop losing top-tier candidates. At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    54 min
  5. The 2.5% Solution: How the NY Black Car Fund Protects 100,000 Drivers, with Ira Goldstein

    Jun 3

    The 2.5% Solution: How the NY Black Car Fund Protects 100,000 Drivers, with Ira Goldstein

    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 NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission, Ira shares the history of the fund and how it successfully evolved to include everyone from traditional black car chauffeurs to Uber and Lyft drivers.  The trio also tackles the industry's most pressing modern challenges, including the fight against illegal operators, the crackdown on airport hustlers, and the looming threat of autonomous vehicles hitting the streets of New York. At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    1h 4m
  6. M&A in 2026: The Real Path to a Profitable Exit

    May 27

    M&A in 2026: The Real Path to a Profitable Exit

    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 fundamental difference between running a daily lifestyle operation versus building a truly sellable enterprise. Whether you plan to sell in two years or twenty, this episode provides a masterclass on structuring your financials, operations, and team to maximize enterprise value long before you even think about putting your business on the market. In this episode, you'll learn: Why being the most important person in your business actually hurts your valuationWhy top line revenue means nothing without a healthy EBITDA and consistent NOIWhy owners need to draw a consistent W-2 salary and manage expenses on the booksWhy 80% of DIY sales fail, the reality of unpaid EIDL loans, and myths of all-cash closingsWho you need on your M&A team — and who you should avoid If you want to ensure your life's work actually funds your retirement instead of becoming an unsold statistic, this episode is an absolute must-listen At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    57 min
  7. Open for Business: How FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs is Rebuilding the Passenger Division

    May 20

    Open for Business: How FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs is Rebuilding the Passenger Division

    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 efforts to rebuild the passenger carrying division and foster collaborative relationships with operators.  This episode provides a rare, transparent look at how federal regulators are shifting their focus to work alongside businesses to elevate safety standards and eliminate bad actors.  How the FMCSA is utilizing a new "borderless" approach to restore knowledge and resourcesThe agency's commitment to accessibility, education, communication and enforcementThe critical need to aggressively stop "chameleon carriers" and illegal operators Why Barrs believes focusing on foundational safety details builds a culture of successThe importance of treating school bus and motorcoach drivers as highly trained professionals  If you want to understand the future of federal safety enforcement and how to build a stronger, more collaborative relationship with regulators, this episode is a mandatory listen. Connect with Derek on LinkedIn Visit the FMCSA website At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    49 min
  8. Stop Wasting Ad Spend: Secrets of a Winning Limo Marketing Strategy

    May 13

    Stop Wasting Ad Spend: Secrets of a Winning Limo Marketing Strategy

    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 needed to transform clicks into booked trips. This episode dives deep into the data-driven tactics that separate top-tier operators from those just throwing money at the internet. • How to stop paying for price shoppers and start feeding Google the right conversion data • Why Google Ads are a targeted solution while Facebook functions like digital "billboards"  • The essential elements your landing pages need to capture qualified leads  • Why sales follow-up is the real reason your digital marketing campaigns are failing • A real-world example of how asking the right questions landed a massive corporate account If you want to stop paying the "Google stupidity tax" and start treating your generated leads like money, this episode is a mandatory masterclass in maximizing your marketing ROI. At Driving Transactions, Ken Lucci and his team offer financial analysis, KPI reviews, for specific purposes like improving profitability, enhancing the value of the enterprise business planning and buying and selling companies. So if you have any of those needs, please give us a call or check us out at www.drivingtransactions.com. Pax Training is your  all in one solution designed to elevate your team's skills, boost passenger satisfaction, and keep your business ahead of the curve. Learn more at www.paxtraining.com/gtp

    1h 1m
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4.6
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Take your transportation business to the next level.  Kenneth Lucci of Driving Transactions and James Blain of PAX Training share the secrets of growing a successful and profitable ground transportation company. On this podcast, you’ll hear interviews with owners, operators, investors, and other key players in the industry. You’ll also hear plenty of banter between Ken and James. Learn how you can grow revenue, train your team, drive higher profits, and boost owner income. Subscribe today!

Information

  • Creator
    Ken Lucci & James Blain
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    94
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Ground Transportation Podcast
  • Show Website
    Ground Transportation Podcast

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