Just wanted to share an article from Hudson Valley Magazine, some awesome stuff going on in July throughout the Hudson Valley.
P.s. It’s my birthday on July 26th, I still can’t believe I’ll be 50!
Don’t Be Fooled
I see on Facebook in the community forums constantly people are looking for recommendations for a car service going to the airports or similar requests; as well as people advertising to be such a service. Don’t be fooled by impostors, because they are out there in full force.
What do I mean? “Anyone have a recommendation for a car service to JFK?”
Comments: Use “this person”, they are great, very affordable.” or “PM me”, etc.
There are many individuals out there trying to make a quick buck offering to drive you to the airports for a fraction of the price of a car service. Some even advertising as a car service or just letting you assume they are. This practice is not only illegal but could be dangerous for you. They are not properly insured to offer or provide “For-Hire” (a ride in exchange for payment) services. If there were, God forbid an accident with a paying customer in the vehicle their private insurance will not cover the accident. Oh, but they do Uber/Lyft, aren’t they insured through them? Nope, not unless you ordered through the rideshare application. If you call or set up the ride privately it is not covered through the rideshare insurance policy.
I get it, a car service is expensive compared to these individuals. Why are we so expensive, you ask. Because we have overhead that they don’t.
- Office rent
- For-Hire insurance ($500-1500 per vehicle/month)
- Payroll, payroll tax
- Workers Compensation/Disability Insurance
- Sales Tax
- Proper license, registration and permits, etc.
- Advertising costs
A reputable company will be vetting their drivers with background checks and drug testing as well as training them properly. Is the safety of you and your family worth the few dollars you might have saved? If you call around for prices and you get a price well below the rest, beware.
Ways to know you are dealing with a real company who is properly licensed and insured: ***New York State***
- ***Ask to see the FH-1 for the vehicle; this is a For-Hire insurance card. ***
- License plate: May be a vanity plate, meaning could be company name or similar but under the plate #/name it should say “Livery, Taxi, Westchester County T&LC, T&LC or similar; the plate should not say New York, Empire State, Excelsior-these are private vehicle registrations. Most livery plates are 5 numbers followed by LA, LV, or LY; taxi followed by TX, TA, TY.
- Driver’s license: At a minimum the driver should possess a NYS Class “E” license or a CDL equivalent with passenger endorsement.
Why do we care so much? Well, as a reputable company:
- We are paying excessive insurance rates to guarantee coverage in the event of an accident
- We are putting your safety first
- Our rates include tax, tolls and gratuities for the drivers
- Our rates need to cover all our costs while making a minimum profit (that is why we are in business to begin with)
- We are paying fees to multiple state and local agencies for permits
While we make sure we are following the law and operating safely; these individuals are undercutting our prices to make cash under the table, untaxed and taking possible clients from local, small businesses only because they can provide a cheap ride. We have absolutely no issue with our competition when we are all following the same rules and regulations.
It very well might not matter to some people that are looking for the absolute lowest price and don’t care that your driver is going outside the law, and you may not be covered by any insurance. But for those that might care or don’t understand this happens, we are just looking to help our community understand & beware of the possibilities.
Safe Travels To All!
845 Ride App’s Are Here
Where Did It All Begin?
Part 1-In the Beginning
It was back in 1994 I believe, I (Kimberly) started working as a part-time dispatcher for Frank’s Taxi above Bueti’s Deli in Bedford Hills, NY, I soon became a full-time dispatcher eventually driving occasionally. Actually, surprising since I kind of hate talking on the phone. Anyway, I moved on from Frank’s to Katonah/Bedford Livery. Dispatching with my son, Christian in his rocking seat on the desk next to me. Then, throw his car seat into the front seat of the Lincoln and run around picking up customers; couldn’t do that today. We had some fun times at Katonah/Bedford Livery.
Things were so much different back them. The taxi business has always been pretty cutthroat, fighting over fares at the train stations; running gas guzzling Lincon Towncar’s, Ford Crown Victorian, and Chevy Caprice’s all over town. My daughter tells me I need to lead off with a good “hook” story…lol So here I go.
One night while dispatching, my shift was almost over and the phone rang, it was a trip from the nearby bar (Sidelines, Bedford Hills) going to Croton Falls. My boss tells me he didn’t feel like going, to take the car and do the trip on the way home and I could just keep the fare. SURE! I’m thinking it was about 1am, I pull up to Sidelines and the man comes out and jumps in the back seat. I ask what the address was, while telling me his address I realize that….he has a HOOK for a hand. Don’t mean to sound like I’m making fun of his handicap or anything, but I had a flash of a horror movie at that moment. He takes me down this what seemed like a 10-mile-long driveway in the middle of the woods. Now, I swear that I am going to die. Well, I’m still here. I dropped him off, he gives me the fare plus $20 tip, he was really a nice guy.
Another time I went to Sidelines with the taxi, not actually to drink but for the 10ยข wings. I ended up coming out at like 11pm, go to get in car and realize that I had locked the keys in the car. Of course, I didn’t want to explain to my boss what I was doing at the bar in the taxi, so I call a friend (Patty and her mom Chris) come with a metal coat hanger and somehow, we got it open. Patty & I had some fun times, drunk Russian’s, sliding down Babbit Rd with the rear-wheel drive Lincoln’s in the snow, and can’t forget the New Years Eve party at their house.
Good times! Stay tuned for more fun stories as I tell the story of how “845” came to be, starting long before it was even a thought in any of our minds.
Fall Is Upon Us
As Fall comes upon us we realize Spring & Summer flew by even with Covid-19 and the quarantines. Here in the Hudson Valley we do have many farms that stayed open to support local families that were nervous about shopping in the large grocery stores risking infection. Fall is usually the busiest time for apple orchards, but how will this season compare to past, pre-Covid seasons?
Most schools in the area are also working on a remote learning model at least for the first month. Why not have some amazing family time, get some must needed exercise while supporting your local farm/orchard and do some apple picking? Of course inside the farm store you would need to flaunt that lovely mask but out in the orchards (social distancing) no need. Breathe the fresh air, fill your baskets with bushels of apples, so many varieties. Some sweet, some sour, crisp, softer. Yum, I can taste them already.
Now, the attached list has so many choices of local orchards but I notice they are missing one important one to our local area. Meadowbrook Farm in Wappingers Falls, NY (Dutchess County) works hard all year to make the fall season with apple picking and pumpkin picking their busiest season.
Who wants to go apple picking? 845 Transportation has sedans and mini-vans available to get the whole family to the orchards and back home at affordable rates. Drivers would love an extra little gratuity in the form of a nice crisp apple. I personal prefer a crisp Red Delicious. Give us a call at 845-600-4100, visit our website, or download our “Driven Anywhere” app (Google Play or Apple Store) to reserve your ride.
Text 845RIDE to 85100 to become an 845VIP today for specials, flash sales and much, much more.
COVID19-Safety Update
In The Midst Of “Phase 1”
COVID-19 In The Hudson Valley This Spring-Summer
No I have not done the research myself but above is a link to Hudson Valley Magazine’s article to all the fairs & festivals throughout the Hudson Valley that have been cancelled, postponed or otherwise reformatted in the wake of the whole COVID-19 pandemic we are currently facing. There are still a few holding out with the hopes that all will be good by the time they are scheduled.
As always, 845 Transportation is available for anyone needing to get a ride to any events, local, airports and medical appointments. Give us a call at 845-600-4100 for reservations.
845 Is Essential
Get To Know 845 Transportation
845 Transportation is a local, family owned ground transportation service in Hopewell Junction (East Fishkill), Dutchess County, New York. Owners; Kimberly & Aaron started 845 Transportation in September 2017 with one vehicle, a cell phone and a dream. They quickly grew out of their small office and moved into a storefront in the Heritage Square Plaza on Route 52 .
The fleet of vehicles continues to expand and improve to meet the needs of their diverse clientele. The office staff as well as drivers/chauffeurs undergo ongoing training in order to provide a superb customer service & in-vehicle experience.
We are “Driven To Provide Excellence“. We have a simple, but clear purpose of serving our clients with a personal encounter unmatched by our competitors.
Our Mission is to provide the best possible service with the friendliest, and safest drivers in the Hudson Valley, New York area. We work hard to exceed client expectations by providing professional, courteous, and punctual ground transportation.
Experience the 845 Transportation difference!