Lime Taxi Provides Reliable, Safe Transportation With Hybrid Fleet

The ambition for a greener future has persuaded owner and president Justin Sasso of at 1605 John St. in Fort Lee to create an eco-friendly fleet of all hybrid taxis to serve his customers.

Sasso, now of Leonia, is a 2000 graduate. He worked at Stanley Capital in Englewood Cliffs and went into the mortgage business at Washington Mutual on Park Avenue in Manhattan, where he was an account executive for two years. It was after the mortgage business had collapsed that Sasso went back to school for additional credits.

For a little bit of money, Sasso went online to start a medical transportation business. The idea blossomed into something bigger. Sasso opened an ambulance and medical transportation service, contracted through the county, that transported medicaid patients.

The business didn’t succeed because state budget cuts increased the costs of doing business and decreased the rate paid per mile for medicaid. It was just the wrong time in the economy to enter into that type of business. The Bergen County fund switched to Logistic Care, a new medicaid broker that changed rates. Changing them increased the cost of business, saving money for the state. Being a small business owner simply didn’t work out for Sasso.

When the business collapsed, Sasso had to sleep in the office for months.

“It started out as a 24-hour business, being alone was difficult,” said Sasso.

He had to sell his ambulances, ambulettes, wheelchair accessible vans and basic life support vehicles to start a new business venture.

“Bankruptcy was out of the question,” said Sasso.

It affected his personal life as well because he needed more money to move on and get his new business venture off the ground. It was through a mentor that Sasso became involved in the medical business, but it was his motivation and desire that kept him going.

Organic by nature, Sasso believes the taxi service provided in the borough didn’t meet maintenance levels, nor did he feel the customer service was adequate. Being involved in ambulatory senior service work informed his work in the taxi business. 

Now, having been in business for nearly two years, Sasso is hoping to go with cleaner cars, enhanced customer service and to continue being dependable.

“The community seems excited about these changes and upgrade in taxi service in the area, regardless of the economy,” said Sasso.

The service is available for the public, and Lime Taxi hopes to pick up a large share of taxi trips in the area.

Sasso employs nine reliable drivers who drive one of five hybrids, all Toyotas. 

“The public is more likely to call us because we have an edge considering we don’t charge a fuel surcharge due to inflated gas charges," Sasso said. "It’s good when the price of gas is down; however, when prices are up, we save money.”

Moe Harb, a Lime driver who stopped in to see Sasso, said, "Once you go Lime, there’s no turning back."

"We drive to please," Harb added.

Sasso said hybrids are quiet and produce 90 percent less pollutants than comparable non-hybrids. He explained that using hybrid cars and "going green" is a reflection of his being energy conscious, which results in cleaner air for kids and decreasing pollution. He feels all businesses in the borough should go green. 

There are also cameras in the cars to keep safety in check, especially when transporting kids.

“Financially, it’s been tight, and going to the greener side of things presents additional expense because vehicles are just more expensive,” said Sasso, who acts as the main dispatcher, saying there are peak hours and low hours.

Mike, a previous driver and current manager said that when the business started, "the idea of moving forward and to progress with future technologies that are moving at a high rate around the United States every day, sounded exciting."

"Not feeling like in several years when various other transportation companies finally decide to wake up and realize there is an actual way to use less oil and gas and foreign fuels and still be able to provide a 5-star clean, eco-friendly transportation experience," Mike said. "I think those other transportation companies should also start thinking the way we do and start caring about the planet we live on and go green."

Sasso described keeping the cars running smoothly as an "endless task."

"It’s expensive to keep customers comfortable and happy," he said. "It is the one vantage point we have - keeping our cars safe and reliable. We have a high quality maintenance program."

Sasso exudes a bright and positive outlook for his business, saying, “I feel like we’re the new .”

"Other business owners need to find their niche," he said. "I find comfort in knowing that I can be the leader in providing a cleaner, better, more affordable business."

Sasso added, "My dreams are to create jobs for other people, to make money and to be the best. I believe people should be innovative and progressive to succeed."

Be it to Newark Airport, LaGuardia, JFK, Teterboro Airport, for corporate services, student services, medical transportation, a ride to shopping malls, for city tour services, casino services or party needs, call Lime Taxi at 201-461-9999.

Account holders are offered access to Lime’s online reservation system, along with special rates. Visit Lime Taxi's website for more information.