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Jonathan Meersman | Owner & Lead Chauffeur | Luxury SUV Rides
Tell us a little bit about Luxury SUV Rides:
Based in Milwaukee, Luxury SUV Rides provides door-to-door chauffeured black car transportation services in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. We exclusively run SUV’s, and specialize in providing professional service with a personal touch for every customer. As a private owner, I work as the lead chauffeur and point of contact, and currently operate with 5 employees and 10 or so IO’s.
Luxury SUV Rides operates at a very high level of professionalism. I have always been committed to the idea of quality over quantity, and I think that shows in the services we are providing. All our chauffeurs work in the classic black suit and tie (unless the client requests something different, of course) and we offer elevated experiences across the board with absolute discretion and a nod to luxury. For example, I own two newer Escalades — which is pretty rare in Milwaukee — and I’ve upgraded them with integrated screens enabled with live programming, ESPN, etc. I’ve just ordered two new 2025 Escalades as well. I want the people traveling with us to have every option they might ever consider wanting.
How did you, personally, end up in the transportation industry?
I founded Luxury SUV Rides in 2017 as a sole proprietor, switched to a single member LLC in 2020, and then in 2023 became an S-Corp. My first vehicle was an SUV, a Suburban, which I felt was the most versatile option. If someone requests a sedan, you can always put them in an SUV, but not really the other way around. And defining that early niche for myself has served me well as we’ve continued to grow. I find the more specific vehicles are in less demand — special occasions, weekends only, etc. — and what we’re really aiming for is consistency and quality of experience.
What has been your experience as an ILLBA member?
We’ve been a member for just about a year — I joined at the 2023 Great Lakes Transportation Show after serving on the New Operator Bootcamp panel. I attended several sessions while I was there, and was impressed by how many new ideas were presented. The experience allowed me to connect with operators I only knew by reputation at that point, and now we have active working relationships. We all need each other.
Any predictions, hopes, or ambitions for the future of our industry?
Companies that grow too large that they lose the personal touch are missing the point. Staying close to the business, continuing to answer the phone — there are opportunities there for a level of service people can trust, and which they will continue to come back for again and again.
You can reach Jonathan at jonathan@luxsuv.com, +1 414 436 4100 ext. 707, or on LinkedIn.
Read his full interview on our website.
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