New book by Larry Connors Click here Improve your trading - See how
For $25 an hour, a chauffeur-trained and bonded driver will get behind the wheel of your vehicle and do all the driving, leaving you and your party free to party.
"It's cheaper than any other form of transportation you could take, there's no hassle with parking and it's definitely cheaper than a DUI," said George, the chief executive of Kansas City Transportation Group, whose operations include Yellow Cab and the airport SuperShuttle.
The idea sprang from last year's traffic wreck and DUI troubles of George's partner in the venture, Bob Cutler, the owner of C3, a Johnson County marketing firm.
"Certainly it was a humiliating experience and one I never expected to find myself in," Cutler said. "I had a couple of drinks and fell asleep" at the wheel, he said.
With a suspended driver's license, Cutler turned to friends to find drivers he could hire. Then the notion dawned on him.
"Why can't I take this tragedy and turn it into a treasure so other people don't have to go through a horrible experience like a DUI?" he said.
The idea appears to be new to Kansas City, but an Internet search turned up similar services in Las Vegas, Phoenix and a few other U.S. cities.
Designated Drivers Inc., in Phoenix, advertises a one-time driver deal for $69.95, along with monthly and yearly packages.
George said the Kansas City service would go beyond party drivers. Clients can schedule drivers for almost any purpose, such as driving older family members to appointments and teenagers to the prom, as temporary help for local businesses, or to stand by if needed at company parties or other social events.
George cautioned that the online business would not be geared to spur-of-the-moment calls.
Clients must register in advance at www.designateddriver online.com to have their insurance and credit vetted.
Cutler and George formed Designated Drivers Online LLC and then signed a joint venture with Yellow Cab sister SuperShuttle, also owned by the French firm Veolia Environnement.
Some of the drivers will come from SuperShuttle's ranks, George said. Each will be bonded and trained. Clients' auto insurance will cover any accidents. In the event of an accident, however, he said Designated Drivers would cover up to $1,000 in insurance deductible expenses.
Kansas City will be the test market for the idea, which George hopes to take national under the brand name DDO2Go.
If it works, he hopes Veolia will expand into the 23 other U.S. cities where it operates SuperShuttle franchises.
To reach Rick Alm, call 816-234-4785 or send e-mail to ralm@kcstar.com.
To see more of The Kansas City Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kansascity.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Kansas City Star, Mo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
More News:
Market Updates |
Stock Alerts |
All Trading News |
Stock Index
About TradingMarkets | Contact | Advertise | Careers | Link to Us | Site Map | Help | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Return Policy | Testimonials | Feedback
The Connors Group, Inc. ("Company") is not an investment advisory service, nor a registered investment advisor or broker-dealer and does not purport to tell or suggest which securities or currencies customers should buy or sell for themselves. The analysts and employees or affiliates of Company may hold positions in the stocks, currencies or industries discussed here. You understand and acknowledge that there is a very high degree of risk involved in trading securities and/or currencies. The Company, the authors, the publisher, and all affiliates of Company assume no responsibility or liability for your trading and investment results. Factual statements on the Company's website, or in its publications, are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice.
It should not be assumed that the methods, techniques, or indicators presented in these products will be profitable or that they will not result in losses. Past results of any individual trader or trading system published by Company are not indicative of future returns by that trader or system, and are not indicative of future returns which be realized by you. In addition, the indicators, strategies, columns, articles and all other features of Company's products (collectively, the "Information") are provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Examples presented on Company's website are for educational purposes only. Such set-ups are not solicitations of any order to buy or sell. Accordingly, you should not rely solely on the Information in making any investment. Rather, you should use the Information only as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments. You should always check with your licensed financial advisor and tax advisor to determine the suitability of any investment.
HYPOTHETICAL OR SIMULATED PERFORMANCE RESULTS HAVE CERTAIN INHERENT LIMITATIONS. UNLIKE AN ACTUAL PERFORMANCE RECORD, SIMULATED RESULTS DO NOT REPRESENT ACTUAL TRADING AND MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY BROKERAGE AND OTHER SLIPPAGE FEES. ALSO, SINCE THE TRADES HAVE NOT ACTUALLY BEEN EXECUTED, THE RESULTS MAY HAVE UNDER- OR OVER-COMPENSATED FOR THE IMPACT, IF ANY, OF CERTAIN MARKET FACTORS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIQUIDITY. SIMULATED TRADING PROGRAMS IN GENERAL ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED WITH THE BENEFIT OF HINDSIGHT. NO REPRESENTATION IS BEING MADE THAT ANY ACCOUNT WILL OR IS LIKELY TO ACHIEVE PROFITS OR LOSSES SIMILAR TO THOSE SHOWN.
The Connors Group, Inc.
15260 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 2200
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
© Copyright 2009 The Connors Group, Inc.
