The Limos.com Forum Has Moved!!!

also, we pay all gas, tolls, parking and cleaning

we use an outside payroll company. all drivers are considered employees. rate is $5.15 an hour plus 20% gratuity based on the hourly/flat rate of the job. cash gratuity is taken at time of reservation. credit card or check gratuity is reported to the payroll company. they handle all tax reporting.

This recent ruling in PA really changes some things for those of us that use employee relationships doesn't it ?

If the Gov. does not care if we treat them as IC's why are we paying so much more ?

The DOT knows of illegal operators and does nothing about them , it seems to me that those of us that are 100% legal and compliant are fools.

I have never seen an article on here about a compny getting fined or busted for crossing state lines without DOT auth. , nor have I seen any articles about taxes , etc.

There are 5 new limo companies listed in the phone book locally this year. None of which have any filings done , nothing on record with the sec. of state , no legal operational anything.

I called the DOT in Columbus , and the basic response I got was " well , we have 18 months to look into any complaints , and maybe someday we will look into these companies that have no insurance , non cdl drivers in their buses , etc.

I do not beleive the DOT or anyone for that matter will ever do anything to stop the gypsies and work with the legetimate operators as they are supposed to.

I for one am tired of paying much more , just so the gypsies can get a free ride.

Maybe we should get together and take this to the US Attorney's office and go after the DOT as well for failure to do it's job.

Something is going to happen , and someone is going to have to be killed by an illegal before anyhting gets done. Of course this will hurt all of us in this industry.

There's my rant.....do with it what you will.

I am currently working with the IRS SS 8 Determination Unit on a determination involving myself and a Detroit area Limo company I worked part time for. This should give us all a lot of insite on just what needs to be done to establish a acceptable Independent Contractor operation. I expect a determination within 6 mos. or less. I will post results here when I receive them.

It would probably be best to check with your state Dept. of Labor to determine how you should pay your employees. In the state of Mich., the law is you pay garage to garage plus pre and post trip. Many operators just pay by the contract hour (hours of charter)to avoid paying overtime and deadhead. I bill my clients garage to garage and the employee gets paid likewise plus pre and post trip.

Another good source to find out how to pay is your local charter Bus operator. Baiscly our business and theirs are the same. Bus operators pay garage to garage plus pre and post trip.

It is best to get the blessing of your Labor Dept. before you jump in rather than finding out a couple of years later and than have to pay back wages and fines.

What are you asking? How to figure out what hours they work, or are you asking how much to pay them?