In today’s episode we share the results of the COVID-19 survey that the ISDA conducted at the end of April, near the height of the Pandemic in the United States.
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The number of participants makes the survey statistically accurate for our association, but not for the general EP/Secure Transportation community.
The demographics of the ISDA are not similar to the profession in general; Hence we would estimate the data is not statistically accurate for the security professional.
Q1. In what slice of the profession do you provide executive protection or secure transportation services or products? (Select all that apply)
The top three selections were Corporate at 75%, High Net Worth at 64% and Private Security at 53%
Q2. Has the coronavirus pandemic had a positive or negative impact on your overall business operations?
58.34 % – Very or Somewhat Negative
13.89 % – Very or Somewhat Positive
Q3. How worried are you about the impact of the coronavirus on your business?
64% are extremely worried, very worried or somewhat worried
36% are not so worried or not worried at all
Q4. Have you applied for federal aid
75% answered no with 25% as Yes
Question 5 was specifically for subcontractors – The question was: Have you applied for unemployment benefits
96% answered no, leaving 4% answering Yes
Q6 – How are your business’s operations being impacted by COVID-19? Select all that apply
56% selected they are starting to restrict spending because of the uncertainty
34% chose they are experiencing decreases in sales for services and products
28% answered they have adjusted our hours of operations
25% selected they are experiencing significant increases in demand for certain services aor products
6% answered the market is causing us to draw on our line of credit/SBA loan
Q7 How worried are you about the impact of COVID-19 on you personally?
The answers were split down the middle 50% said they are very worried, extremely worried, or somewhat worried and conversely 50% answered they are not so worried or not at all worried
Q8 Do you think that COVID-19 will have a permanent effect on Executive Protection and Secure Transportation?
96.15% Yes
3.85 No
Q9 Do you feel training will change in the aftermath of COVID-19?
66.67% – Yes
33.33% – No
Q10 Has COVID-19 changed the products or services you offer?
58% said Yes
42% answered No
If you would like to get your copy of the COVID-19 survey results go to https://isdacenter.org/covid19survey, no sign up necessary, no strings attached.
It is ISDA’s opinion that COVID-19 has permanently changed the Secure Transportation profession. The security driver and the provider of secure transportation services will need to change how business is done.
There is a significant change with vehicles – cleaning executive vehicles has taken on a significant role in the definition of secure transportation.
A while back, Vehicle Dynamics Institute’s Joe Autera put together guidelines for disinfecting the executive’s vehicle.
These guidelines are to provide professional security drivers and other protection practitioners with best practices for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting executive vehicles in an effort to minimize the risk of exposure to contaminants for drivers and passengers.
http://vehicledynamics.com/guidelines-for-cleaning-disinfecting-and-sanitizing-executive-vehicles/
Renting Vehicles
The 2019 Executive Vehicle Survey indicated that a majority of those that supply Secure Transportation Services to the corporate community use Rent – A – Vehicles. Recently, I have been told by those working in the entertainment sector of the profession that the clients are using rideshare.
Anyone who rents a vehicle or uses a rideshare program needs caution; there are serious health implications. A recent study found that these vehicles are bacteria-laden –normal driver actions such as rolling down windows, buckling seatbelts, and grasping door handles and steering wheels in these vehicles, can become a health hazard.
If they are, you can tell then they are entering a vehicle that has more germs than a toilet seat – that’s a pleasant thought.
https://www.netquote.com/health-insurance/health-insurance-articles/driving-with-germs
Using rent-a-cars for the principal’s vehicle creates a serious issue and problem for the principal’s safety.
There needs to be proof of documentation That the vehicle has been clean and disinfected. Those responsible from the corporate side for the executive protection and safety cannot take the word of the subcontractor that the vehicle is safe for occupancy and that the driver has been vetted and is COVID-19 free.
Training
If you attended or are sending company personnel to a training program, ensure that the training provider has a COVID-19 Plan.
From VDI – The Tools for Training in the “COVID Age”
https://isdacenter.org/from-vdi-the-tools-for-training-in-the-covid-age/
If you enjoyed this post and have an interest in learning more about Security Driving, Secure Transportation, or Executive Protection we suggest you consider ISDA Membership. The International Security Driver Association (ISDA) is a small but influential group of protective services practitioners from all sectors of the Executive Protection/ Secure Transportation profession and all parts of the Globe.
As an ISDA Member, you gain access to the Encyclopedia of EP/Secure Transportation Knowledge – The ISDA Knowledge Center. The Center provides articles – Podcasts – Books – YouTube videos – Free Online Training – Business and Salary Metrics – Job Opportunities – Career Advice – Industry White Papers.