Tag Archive for: enhanced safety culture

55 Things We Learned from an Expert Insurance Underwriter

55 Things We Learned from an Expert Insurance Underwriter

Insurance premiums and renewal rates continue to be one of the biggest expenses incurred by trucking companies. Rates have increased exponentially in recent years due to accident frequency, truck driver shortage, and the ever-present threat of nuclear verdicts. But, we are here to help. We set out to learn about the underwriting process including:

  • – Assessing a Trucking Company
  • – Premium Increases
  • – Technology Factors
  • – COVID-19 Impact
  • – Safety Culture Influence

Download your free eBook from Infinit-I: Avoiding Nuclear Verdicts

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We interviewed Tony Hoff of Napa River Insurance about the underwriting process for trucking company insurance assessments. He gave the most interesting and data-packed presentation I have ever seen! I could barely keep up with all the notes.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions presents: 

55 Things We Learned from an Expert Commercial Auto Insurance Underwriter.

Underwriting Process

  1. Fleet managers and front-line operations are the ones who must maintain the safety culture with the drivers. If they are not ‘singing the safety tune,’ no one is.
  2. Operations MUST believe in safety culture and live it every day. It is a continuation of the top-down culture that insurance underwriters take into consideration.
  3. Underwriters will not convince you that safety culture is important. You should already be living it.

“Safety is doing the right thing for a long time.” – Tony Hoff, Napa Valley Insurance

Industry-Wide Premium Increases

  1. 15-20% Increase in premiums across the industry without a horrendous loss. If you have incurred large losses, you can expect more.
  2. Underwriters consider 5 years of data history.
  3. Excess limits are more costly and difficult to fill. They are not priced to have a loss every single year.
  4. Results in commercial insurance carriers leaving the market because they can no longer afford to write commercial auto coverage.
  5. Capacity is on a steady decrease as insurance carriers leave the market. When you lose money from a loss standpoint, you don’t want to underwrite anymore.

COVID-19 Effects on Insurance

  1. In the beginning, COVID-19 slowed everything down in the commercial auto insurance market.
  2. Initial reduction in claims due to:
    • Less congestion on roads
    • Increased productivity
    • Fewer losses
    • Decreased accident frequency
  3. The trucking industry rebound has led to more claims due to the resurgence of traffic, congestion, and sudden backups.
  4. Speeding is OUT OF CONTROL!!! Unsafe Basic scores are rising across the board.
  5. “Accident rates are increasing at an unprecedented level. We need to slow these drivers down.”

Premium Increase Factors

  1. Everything is more expensive. (Claims frequency and amount, medical coverage, defense attorney fees.)
  2. Insurance companies are seeing losses where their vehicle never touched the insured truck but are still paying out.
  3. Plaintiffs are getting better at what they are doing. Ten years ago, they did not even know what a CSA score was. Not they could teach you about CSA.
  4. There is a lot of uncertainty in trying cases. Settling may be cheaper than going to court (fees/attorneys) even if you were clearly not liable.
  5. Loss development – the longer the claim is pending, the more it costs.

“A 300% increase in 6 years is dramatic. It is unsustainable. Something has to give. Who is it going to be?”

What You Can Control

  1. Know the process – know what steps of underwriting consist of.
  2. Underwriters who have time to thoroughly vet the submission feel more comfortable writing.
  3. Strongly suggest you shop early. Get ready at least 3 months before renewal. Have your documents ready.
  4. If you are going to shop with more than one broker/carrier, have a standard submission-ready.
  5. Know where you stand. Is my expectation to get a decrease? Or do I want to manage my increase?
  6. (Loss Ratio + Incurred Total Loss) / Your Premium. If you are over 65%, your insurance carrier is losing money.

Safety Culture

  1. Online continual training is key in proving your commitment to safety.
  2. Look at your drivers’ attitude. Do they accept responsibility? Are they willing to learn?
  3. It is absolutely crucial to have a remedial training program. Find drivers’ weaknesses and coach them.
  4. Insurers look at loss development, are you trending in the right direction. If you have a stellar loss history, a new loss may not significantly affect your premiums.
  5. Find the carrier that you enjoy doing business with and then figure out the pricing.
  6. Put some faith behind your trusted safety program. Invest in yourself.
  7. Let Underwriters know what makes you “Best in Class.”
  8. Be prepared for renewal, provide a packet with the following documents:
    • Financial documents and review
    • Loss History
    • Insurance History
    • Profile of Operations
    • CSA Roadside Results
    • Reportable Accidents not on Loss Run
    • Onsite Loss Control Survey

Be a Real Partner

  1. Solidify a business relationship with your Insurance Partner.
  2. You can get a quote from anywhere, be engaged.

Technology

  1. Track everything. You can’t know where you are trending unless you can track it:
  2. Turnover, Retention, Ops Performance, CSA Scores, Driver Safety Performance, Loss Trends, Accident Costs, Recordable Accident Rates, Total Accident Rates, Insurance Costs
  3. Benchmark yourself and maintain accountability.
  4. Find out what metrics are causing your losses and attack those.
  5. Use front end data to make back end decisions.

“Safety Professionals who make future decisions based on past results and analysis are the most effective. BE PROACTIVE.”

  1. “Every lawsuit involves being able to produce documents quickly. “Have you trained your drivers? Can you provide the documentation that you’ve trained your drivers?” Camera/online training combination can take a nuclear verdict and knock it out of the courtroom.” – Mark Rhea
  1. The greatest myth in trucking is that safety is too expensive. The advanced technologies that are now in place are a game changer in the industry. Technology is embraced by insurance companies because it gives us a claims “edge” that we otherwise would not have.
  1. Onboard cameras and collision mitigation are proven to influence courtroom decisions. BUT it only makes sense if you are willing to act on the data. You will need to have policies in place before you utilize these technologies.

Addition Tips from the Underwriter

  1. We will look at how many times you have switched insurance carriers in the past.
  2. If you have favorable loss history that extends beyond 5 years, and then have a bad year, it will come up at renewal. You need a relationship history with your insurer.
  3. Be 100% honest about what kind of carrier you are and what makes you the best.
  4. Bring to renewal: What do we do best? What do we need to do better?
  5. Have Best Practices in place, not the easy out. (PSP, Long-form physicals, etc.)
  6. Invest money in the onboarding process. Invest in your training.
  7. 10% of drivers cause 90% of your problems. Get them in and coach them before we lose them.
  8. Reporting the issue is huge! We track day loss happened vs. when it was reported to us.
  9. 3 things that will result in plaintiff verdict:
    • Leaving the scene of an accident.
    • Failure to report an accident.
    • Positive drug test after accident.

Insurance Take-Aways

  1. 2021 will continue to be a very challenging year from an insurance standpoint.
  2. Losses are up and so is speed. Slow your drivers down.
  3. We are living in different times and we need to adjust.
  4. What makes you an exceptional risk? Can we fix those areas that are not exceptional?

“Safety Culture = Commitment. If everyone in your organization stays committed, you WILL succeed.”

Get Your Insurance Questions Answered!

MCIEF Founder Tommy Ruke is Ready to Answer Your Most Pressing Insurance Questions. 
Learn Real Solutions to Your Insurance Problems. 

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions has partnered with the Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation (MCIEF.org) to help you get your insurance questions answered. Infinit-I and MCIEF have joined together to provide access to “Ask Tommy”.

This is a service provided to MCIEF members, but it is being opened up to Infinit-I visitors to give you the opportunity to ask your most pressing insurance questions. To submit your questions, click here.
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HOS Regulatory Changes Take Effect Late September – Upcoming Expert Panel Says: “Prepare Fleets Now.”

FMCSA Hours of Service changes are taking effect on September 29, 2020. We will be speaking with the president of Scopelitis Trucking and Consulting, David Osiecki, to review what the HOS changes mean for your drivers.

If you are not familiar with the new HOS regulatory changes, a thorough explanation has been provided below. Join us for our upcoming webinar to learn how these changes will impact your fleet.

September 17, 2020 @ 10:30 am CST

Regulatory Changes

Pages 8-9 of the final ruling state the changes will include:

  • – The 30-minute Break
  • – Introducing the 7/3 Split
  • – Adverse Driving Conditions Exception
  • – The Short-haul Exception.

The 30-Minute Break

Drivers are still required to take a 30-minute break after 8 consecutive hours on duty. Previously, the break was only valid if the driver was in an off-duty status. (off-duty or sleeper berth). Now, the break is valid during on-duty functions if you are not driving.

Drivers can now legally take a 30-minute DOT break while:

  • – Watching Safety Training Videos
  • – Waiting in line at the shipper/receiver
  • – Fueling or waiting in line at the fuel pump
  • – Co-driver sitting in the passenger seat
  • – Filling out paperwork
  • – Loading/Unloading/Lumping

Just switch your status to On Duty – Not Driving.

The New 7/3 Split

The 8/2 split rule is just as complicated as it is helpful. This new HOS ruling expands a driver’s resting options. In addition to the typical 10-hour break or 8/2 split, the FMCSA is introducing the 7/3 split.

The new 7/3 split rule works the same as the 8/2 split. It takes some drivers years to master the concept.

With the new rule, the driver can go into the sleeper berth for a full 7 hours. When he wakes up, he can use all the on-duty time that was leftover from before his break.

After completing his on-duty functions, he must go back into an off-duty status for at least 3 hours to complete his 10-hour break.

CONFUSING, RIGHT?

In essence, a split will pause the 14-hour on-duty window. When he comes back on duty, he will only have the leftovers from before his 7-hour break. So, if he drove 8 out of 11 hours, after the 7-hour break he can drive the remaining 3 hours.

When he comes out of the sleeper, the 14 starts running again. Since he was on-duty for 8 hours before the 7-hour break, his 3 hours of drive time must be used before his total 14 runs out. He would have 6 hours on duty to get in 3 hours of driving.

Adverse Driving Conditions Exception

Under this exception, two extra drive hours are available to drivers who encounter irregular and unforeseen circumstances that may have slowed your travel. This exception can now be applied to passenger-carrying CMVs.

ADVERSE DRIVING CONDITIONS EXAMPLES:

– Sinkhole or downed powerline that causes a delay

– Traffic accident that shuts down traffic

– Sudden tornado, snow, fog, etc. that was not in the forecast.

If you qualify for this exception, you can now drive up to 13 hours as long as you do it within your 14-hour window. Keep in mind, it does not take away your 30-minute break or extend your 14.

This exception does not extend your 60 or 70-hour clock. If you only have 4 hours left on your DOT clock, you will only be allowed to drive out those 4 hours plus the additional 2 hours.

Drivers must follow up with a full 10-hour break. You are not allowed to split rest hours after taking advantage of this exemption.

NOT QUALIFIED EXAMPLES:

– Adverse weather you knew about or could have discovered by trip planning

– Traffic jams during normal rush hour times

– Snowstorm in the winter in North Dakota

– Loading and Unloading delays

The DOT strongly recommends you log that you were taking advantage of 395.1 Adverse Driving Conditions Exception.

Short-haul Rules

Previously, drivers using the short-haul exemption, staying within an air radius of 100 miles, could not be on duty for more than 12 hours. Short-haul drivers within a 150-mile radius cannot drive beyond the 14 or 16th on-duty hour (depending on the number of days on duty).

This revision extends the radius from 100 to 150 air-miles for all short-haul drivers. It extends the maximum duty period allowed from 12 hours to 14 hours.

Special Offer!

For future IWS clients, we want to get you started for free. Click here for your 30-day Complimentary Trial. No Obligation. No Risk. Simple Communication.

By the way, you can reach me at Lindsay.Presley@verticalag.com with any comments, questions, or hilarious jokes about life on the road.

Thanks for sticking with me. Drive safe out there!

  • Lindsay Presley
  • Former Fleet Manager, now Industry Marketer
  • Infinit-I Workforce Solutions

For More Information:

Top 6 Trucking Industry Updates for Safety Directors – Q4 2020

Drastically Reduce Detention Pay with New HOS Regulation – Split Duty Proposal

“It’s More than Rain.” Three Tractors Overturned, My Driver Made the Right Call

My Best Friend, the Trucker: How We Transformed the Dispatcher & Driver Relationship

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Top 6 Trucking Industry Updates for Safety Directors – Q4 2020

This week’s webinar hosted two trucking experts discussing upcoming industry updates. We are prepped and ready to share all the information you need to protect your fleet. Huge thanks to Mike McConnell of TSM trucking for sharing information directly from the 2020 Safety Management Council Policy Conference. This article explains the top 6 industry changes discussed at the conference.

FMCSA Clearinghouse Results

A clearinghouse is an information hub. It is a source that collects and stores information for a set of users. In a project that has taken years to come to fruition, the federal government has is using this structure for the convenience of trucking companies and CDL holders alike.

The FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse is a secure online database that contains records of violations of FMCSA drug and alcohol testing programs. Available information includes:

  • – Positive drug or alcohol test results
  • – Altered drug or alcohol test results
  • – Drug or alcohol test refusals
  • – Return to duty status
  • – Follow up testing plan
  • – SAP process completion date

FMCSA released a report in May of 2020 which relayed the results of DOT positive drug and alcohol tests. According to the report, marijuana usage is the most prevalent among those tested. The prevalence of positive marijuana tests is 3.25x that of the next frequent drug: cocaine.

Hair Follicle Testing

Hair follicles hold drug chemical traces much longer than bodily fluids. Testing hair follicles for drug usage gives you a more widespread picture of whether a candidate has used drugs in recent months.

In the interest of lowering CSA scores and insurance premiums, many trucking companies are making procedural changes. One of which includes switching from the traditional urine drug test to the more accurate and detailed hair follicle test.

A urine drug screen may only return accurate results if a controlled substance was used within the previous 2-3 days. This means that a driver could lay off the marijuana for a couple of days, pass a drug test, and then light up again.

Hair follicle tests, however, have a much longer range. These types of drug screens can accurately report any drug use from the previous 90 days.

A truck driver’s sobriety is not only about their own safety, but the safety of everyone on the roadways, on loading docks, and at the terminal.  Studies show that around 8 percent of truck drivers who pass a urine test would fail a hair follicle test if the specimen was given at the same time.

Federal Marijuana Decriminalization Proposal

On September 21, 2020, the House will be voting on a proposed bill to decriminalize marijuana use on a federal level. If passed, marijuana possession and usage will no longer be classified as a felony.

Trucking industry leaders are highly concerned about this bill. If marijuana is no longer a controlled substance, it will no longer be included in DOT drug panel tests.

Predictions state this bill will pass in the House, which is democrat led. The bill will then move to a Senate vote. It is doubtful that the bill will achieve final approval, as republicans typically vote in opposition to relaxing marijuana laws.

“In the midst of an increase in opioid addiction deaths during the coronavirus pandemic, it seems strange that the focus of House majority leadership would be to fully legalize marijuana, a known gateway drug to opioid addiction,” Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.

Mandatory Brake Assist and Speed Limiters

Another House bill is calling for mandatory brake assist and speed limiters (governors) on all commercial motor vehicles. The purpose of this bill is to increase safe driving through automation technology that has been on the market for years.

Brake assistance works by equipping the tractor with sensors and software that read the movements of the tractor and make corrections, even before a driver can react. The software can detect if a tractor is approaching a vehicle too quickly and slow the truck to a stop, even if the driver does not engage the brakes.

Entry-Level Driver Training Changes

Trucking schools will soon be required to register with the FMCSA. The accreditation process begins with an application and is basically a compliance review. An accreditation designation ensures that trucking school has been heavily scrutinized by the board. Accreditation includes:

  • Curriculum requirements
  • Compliance with federal, state, and local laws
  • Proper safety procedures
  • Equipment operation

Insurance Coverage Increases

Congress has proposed changes that could be terminally detrimental to some trucking companies. As you all know, we are now required to carry $1 million minimum coverage. The new proposal would require an increase to $2 million.

Industry experts argue, doubling the amount of coverage is excessive. Rising insurance costs have been an issue for years within the industry. These costs have caused some smaller companies to close their doors, solely because they couldn’t afford to keep insurance.

To avoid closure, some trucking companies have resorted to raising their deductible to control the costs of the premium. This practice puts pressure on their fleets to perform to the top of their abilities. Think about how many loads your company would have to haul to make up for a $2 million SIR deductible.

“Insurance coverage, premiums, and renewals are a top industry concern for our carriers. Increasing the minimum to $2 million only compounds the issue.” – Mark Rhea, Trucking Industry Consultant

More about Infinit-I Workforce Solutions

IWS is the trusted learning management system for over 1,300 companies across the nation. Most of our business comes from referrals. New clients typically come to us because another client or partner couldn’t stop talking about Infinit-I.

Current clients who use our mobile safety training have received tremendous benefits. Successfully reducing:

  • – Accidents by 18%
  • – Violations by 80% — WOW!
  • – Training costs by 50%

We are very proud to provide that level of benefit through our service. But our crowning achievement: We save over 1,000 lives each year. This number includes truck drivers, bus drivers, students, and passengers on the road.

We save over 1,000 lives each year.

Currently, we are offering a 30-day complimentary trial of the IWS system. You will receive full access to the entire platform:

  • – The complete training library
  • – Fleetwide communication
  • – Your Own Client Success Representative

 

Every single feature that current Infinit-I clients take advantage of is now yours for 30 days. We have content that addresses the top 10 areas that inspectors will be looking for during International Roadcheck. From Hours of service, to seatbelt usage, to ELDs. We can assign all these and more to your drivers in no time.

Next Week’s Webinar

Next week, we have a big webinar on Hours of Service regulation changes that will take effect at the end of September. We will be speaking with the president of Scopelitis Trucking and Consulting, David Osiecki, to review what the HOS changes mean for your drivers. Click here to sign up, registration is free. See you there!

About the Author

Lindsay Presley is the copywriter at Infinit-I Workforce Solutions. Specializing in the trucking industry, Lindsay has spent her professional career studying industry best practices. From recruiter to dispatcher to fleet manager to trainer, Lindsay knows the in’s and out’s of trucking. 

She brings her experience to the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions blog through years of front-line experience. Throughout her career, she states the most rewarding experience was supporting her favorite truckers, running miles, and moving freight.

Lindsay.Presley@verticalag.com

Additional Information

Safety Managers’ Relief; The Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse

CSA Score Reduction, How to Challenge FMCSA Crash Rulings

FMCSA is Changing HOS… Again! 4 New HOS Rules.

My Best Friend, the Trucker: How We Transformed the Dispatcher & Driver Relationship

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How We Transformed the Dispatcher & Driver Relationship

HOW WE TRANSFORMED THE DISPATCHER & DRIVER RELATIONSHIP

Hello to everyone out there! Thank you so much for checking out the blog and staying up to date on industry trends with me.

In this blog post, I would like to take a moment to formally introduce myself and give you all some background on my experience in the trucking industry. And, so we can get to know each other.

By the way, you can reach me at Lindsay.Presley@verticalag.com with any comments, questions, or hilarious jokes about life on the road.

Let’s get started!

Just like all of you, I have had jobs in many different industries over the years. I have worked in restaurants, retail, real estate, etc. but nothing felt like home. Until I found trucking!

Several years ago, I made the jump into the trucking scene as a recruiter. It was my first experience with truck drivers, and “Man!” was it eye-opening. I fell in love with the industry, the people, and the sprint pace that truck drivers know all too well.

I became passionate about my work. I gained a whole new appreciation for all the hard-working truck drivers out there, realizing immediately just how difficult the job actually is.

The 14-hour days, being away from home, missing your family, frustration in the lack of communication, the list goes on…

The 14-hour days, being away from home, missing your family, frustration in the lack of communication, the list goes on. But every single truck driver I met holds so much pride in their work, it is intoxicating. So, through those relationships I garnered with big rig drivers, my career path was set. And I am so thankful to every one of those men and women who have inspired me through their work ethic and pride in the job.

After recruiting, I moved over to operations. I ran a fleet of 40 over-the-road reefer drivers, who inevitably came to be my best friends. We spent so much time together on the phone and through messages, they became my favorite colleagues.

My Team

After a time, the inspiration flowed between us. They made me want to work harder. I wanted to be the best dispatcher I could possibly be for them. In turn, we became the best fleet in the nation. We were truly a team. That experience taught me that through mutual respect, gratitude, and a little bit of elbow grease, there’s no such thing as a late load or missed home time. Those were unacceptable, and my drivers held me accountable.

Don’t get me wrong, we had some hard times. Every driver, however, was more than willing to work with me and they fought to stay on my fleet. It was something special.

Eventually, I became the Operations trainer. I administered onboarding training and continuing education to a team of 100+ dispatchers, planners, CSRs, recruiters, managers, and executives. My mission was to show respect to our 1000+ fleet and make the greatest, most efficient, and safest fleet on the road. Procedural training became just a detail. For me, it is all about the drivers.

My Best Friend, the Trucker

Over the next few weeks, I would like to give you some stories about the experiences that made me dedicate myself to trucking. I’ll start by sharing a memory about my favorite truck driver of all time.

His name was Mr. Gentry. We worked together for a long time and to this day, that man holds my deepest respect. He was an excellent driver. He knew every back road and greasy spoon all over the country.

Mr. Gentry was a career truck driver. 45 years on the road. He taught me more about trucking through friendly conversation than any of my superiors ever could. Through those little talks, we became friends.  We delivered hundreds of loads together. The dispatcher in me doubted him sometimes, but he always came through.

He lived a hard life and trucking took its toll, but he was proud of the man he had become. And I was proud of him. He was the truck driver that most strive to be. He was one of the good ones.

He taught me the most important lesson I have ever learned. One that some dispatchers work their whole career without realizing. Truckers are people. They have lives and families and feelings. As simple as it sounds, it’s the rule I lived by as a dispatcher. Always remember that there is a living, breathing person on the other end of the phone.

The Lesson I Learned

In the haze of fluorescent lights, computer screens, and KPIs, we are all still people just trying to earn a living. When the stress of operations takes its toll, it is easy to forget that your drivers are your team. A good dispatcher delivers on time. A great dispatcher makes friends for life (and delivers on time.)

I don’t get to speak with Mr. Gentry anymore, as he has moved on to a better place. But he will forever be with me. And every time I see a purple Kenworth with shiny wheels rolling down the highway, I think of him.

If your dispatchers and drivers aren’t experiencing a fulfilling relationship, the job is simply not worth it. And if you need some advice or information on creating those relationships, please reach out to me or anyone on my team. We are passionate about truck drivers, and we are here to serve.

Thanks for sticking with me. Drive safe out there!

  • Lindsay Presley
  • Former Fleet Manager, now Copywriter
  • Infinit-I Workforce Solutions

 

Lindsay Presley is the copywriter at Infinit-I Workforce Solutions. Specializing in the trucking industry, Lindsay has spent her professional career studying industry best practices. From recruiter to dispatcher to fleet manager to trainer, Lindsay knows the in’s and out’s of trucking. 

She brings her experience to the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions blog through years of front-line experience. Throughout her career, she states the most rewarding experience was supporting her favorite truckers, running miles, and moving freight.

Lindsay.Presley@verticalag.com

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Spotted Lanternfly: Operating Without a Permit Could Cost You $20,000

Spotted Lanternfly: Operating Without a Permit Could Cost You $20,000

Spotted Lanternfly

Add another quarantine to the list of 2020’s challenges to overcome. This year, the state of Pennsylvania has nearly doubled the number of counties placed under quarantine due to the spotted lanternfly. This travel quarantine applies to 26 Pennsylvania counties through which commercial vehicle operators must be permitted to travel.

The spotted lanternfly was first spotted in the United States in 2014 and have since rapidly expanded their U.S. population. Originating from China, India, and Vietnam, this invasive species has taken favor to many different types of fruit-bearing trees and plants on the east coast.

This year, they are back with a vengeance. Agricultural departments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey estimate 500% and 1000% increases, respectively, in the spotted lanternfly population. Projections by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences show the spotted lanternfly could cause a loss of $324 million to the state’s economy and eliminate close to 3,000 jobs.

The Spotted Lanternfly

While these animals aren’t dangerous to humans, they can be devastating to a wide variety of agriculture and produce. Lanternflies are attracted to grapevines, figs, hops, avocados, and many other fruit-bearing plants. After infestation, they secrete a sweet and sticky substance that adheres to the plants. This secretion is attractive to a type of black mold that can be harmful and even cause plant death.

The spotted lanternfly reproduces by laying dozens of eggs at a time. There is no population control because this species has no natural predators. Without human interference, the lanternfly population has grown exponentially.

At least 26 counties in Pennsylvania are under a strict spotted lanternfly quarantine to stop the spread of the pest. Any business that moves goods through one of the quarantined areas must be permitted to do so. Penn State Extension offers a free training course through which you can receive a permit.

Manager’s Responsibility

At least one person in your company must complete the course and pass the knowledge along to the rest of the fleet. Any company that operates out of compliance could face a civil penalty of up to $20,000. The free course is available here and teaches:

  • – The importance of stopping spotted lanternfly
  • – Lifecycle and habits of SLF
  • – How quarantine zones work
  • – Find and destroy SLF
  • – Quarantine zone best practices

Each unit of your fleet who moves through one of the quarantined zones must be properly trained and carry a permit. Through the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform, you can assign custom training to all your drivers and issue their permits. Drivers can access that permit at any time through their resource library, should they be asked to provide it to enforcement officers.

Trucker’s Responsibility

Especially when crossing state or county lines, truck drivers should take special action to ensure they are not contributing to the spread of the insect. Instruct your drivers to complete a thorough search for spotted lanternfly nests on their equipment during their pre- and post-trip inspection.

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers comprehensive training content on how to manage spotted lanternfly occurrences. Current clients already have access to these materials and it’s ready to “plug and play” with their current training system.

Lanternfly resources and topics we cover:

  • – Destroying Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
  • – Development Stages of the Spotted Lanternfly
  • – How to Comply with Spotted Lanternfly Regulations Fact Sheet
  • – How to Identify and Destroy Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses
  • – If You See A Spotted Lanternfly, Report It!
  • – Lanternfly Quarantine Zone Map
  • – Spotted Lanternfly Permit Training (Parts 1-5)
  • – Spotted Lanternfly Training Quiz

The US Department of Agriculture recommends destroying spotted lanternfly egg masses if found. Spotted lanternflies make nests on hard surfaces, your drivers should thoroughly check their wheel wells, bumpers, and in/around trailers. The nests, which can resemble tree bark, can be removed easily with any tool with a rigid surface. Scrape the egg mass into a plastic bag filled with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to eliminate the offspring.

We Can Help!

Remember, the state of Pennsylvania requires fleets to carry permits with them throughout the quarantined areas after proper training. We must do our part to suppress the expansion of the spotted lanternfly population.

For Current Infinit-I Workforce Solutions Clients:

Contact your Client Success Rep today to become spotted lanternfly certified and receive your fleet’s permits. Our content catalog has all the training you need to become a certified spotted lanternfly trained fleet.

For Future Infinit-I Workforce Solutions Clients:

Receive your spotted lanternfly training and certification today for free! We are offering a 30-day complimentary trial, no obligation. We can help you choose your designated spotted lanternfly trainer and have you certified by end of business today.

Click here for information about how to receive your fleets certification and permits absolutely free.

Additional Resources:

What Your Drivers Need to Know About CVSA’s Upcoming Brake Safety Week

Nuclear Verdicts Entice Fraudsters in New Trucking Exploitation Scheme

Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies – Know Your Risk

Chuck Norris Says “Thank You, Truckers!” In This Touching Video

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Nuclear Verdicts Entice Fraudsters in New Trucking Exploitation Scheme

Nuclear Verdicts Entice Fraudsters in New Trucking Exploitation Scheme

Why Nuclear Verdicts Are Rising

The term “Billboard Attorney” describes those aggressive and high-energy lawyers who thrive on huge lawsuits. They are pictured standing atop a tractor-trailer shouting, “Have you been injured in a Big Truck Accident? Call Me!” Their commercial ends with a “1-800” number and promises fortunes to accident victims.

Nuclear verdicts, lawsuits with a reward of $10 million or greater, are on the rise in recent years due to their tactics. Not every trucker is completely innocent; some may be neglectful in the way they operate and cause at-fault accidents. However, 90% of CMV accidents are found to be caused by four-wheeled drivers.

With these statistics in mind, other outside influences must be penalizing trucking companies with these massive payouts. The answer is not always in the actions of the one behind the wheel. Trucking companies who aren’t diligent in the training process, or who are found to “slack” on prevention, are coming under fire too. These prosecutors will look for any weakness in the trucking companies’ structure, procedure, or safety culture.

Now, it has gone a step farther than these billboard attorneys waiting for the right call. What was once an opportunistic exploitation of an accident, is now sought by money-hungry fraudsters.

How Trucks Became Targets

Mastermind and scam leader Damian Labeaud was caught red-handed defrauding trucking companies around the New Orleans area. He has entered a plea agreement in an attempt to thwart a harsher sentence. He and his group of six participants, created an intricate scheme in which they would purposefully crash into a tractor-trailer with the intent of suing the trucking company for damages.

This detailed operation involved a driver, or “slammer,” who was the soon to be victim of the accident. A “spotter” stayed behind and acted as an impartial witness but was actually a plant. Labeaud was the driver, usually with other passengers on board; his would either sideswipe the trailer or stage a “near-miss.” After the incident, Labeaud fled the scene in a getaway car to avoid being identified in multiple trucking lawsuits. The spotter flagged down the trucker, who was often unaware of an incident, and filed a fraudulent accident report when police arrived.

Court documents reveal at least two attorneys participated in the scheme; however, they remain unidentified to the public. Participants received thousands of dollars for their involvement. According to the court report, Labeaud staged at least 40 accidents with one of the attorneys.

One of the participants claims her attorney encouraged her to undergo neck surgery to receive a larger settlement.

“[In Louisiana,] We have a litigious culture, and we have a significant amount of marketing for lawsuits against trucks… Self-defense is our best approach.”

–Chace McNeely, Executive Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association

Your Best Defense

First, your drivers must be aware of the possibility of becoming a target. In the event of an accident, whether at fault or not, make sure they know the proper procedures according to your company handbook. Any variation from procedure could mean punitive damages for your company.

Communicate frequently and clearly about and updates or changes to your accident policy and obtain acknowledgment signatures. This will not only protect your drivers in the event of an accident, it will protect your company from risk.

One of the most proactive measures trucking companies practice is frequent and consistent safety training. Keeping safety practices top of mind leads to changed behaviors. Drivers who are constantly learning and being exposed to training make better decisions and create safer habits.

In addition to your on-board cameras and in-cab technology, add transportation’s #1 learning management system. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers a library of 850+ safety training videos, ready to go.

Encourage safer driving habits with Infinit-I Workforce Solutions. Request a demonstration here. In just 30 minutes, we can show you how to enhance your safety culture and reduce your litigation risk.

Additional Reading

Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies – Know Your Risk

How to Sue a Trucking Company and Win Big – The Impact of Rising Nuclear Verdicts

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Michael Shipman Donates Hundreds of Masks to Small Fleets

 

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions proudly introduces Michael Shipman. Michael is an account executive with Infinit-I. He spends his days bringing in new businesses and overseeing renewals. His favorite part of the job, he tells us, is going out to visit the fleets.

At Infinit-I, we aim not only to provide stellar service, but also to build true relationships with our clients. By getting to know our clients, we can better understand their needs. That’s how we drive you to success.

As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Michael began researching different ways to support his clients. As face masks were becoming scarcer, several smaller trucking companies were struggling to get their hands on any.

The Challenge

Michael has worked hard to build relationships with each of his clients. He sees his role not only as Account Executive, but also as a supportive player in the continuity of their business. The pandemic presented new challenges, however, in limiting the amount of face time with clients which he had become accustomed to.

Michael recognized this as a major issue. And as mass panic grew, it because increasingly difficult for truckers to perform their job duties. They were denied bathrooms and showers. They had to go hungry as fast-food restaurants closed their dining area.  Some were forced to sit on a load for weeks due to overwhelmed warehouse workers and piled up inventory.

The Motivation

Back in May, you couldn’t find masks, hand sanitizer, or gloves in any retail store. Even Amazon, the biggest retail store of all, was on backorder. America’s front-line workers were being dealt an injustice, especially if they couldn’t obtain the proper equipment, namely PPE.

That’s when Michael decided to step in and do something. He began searching for the needle in the haystack of medical supplies, face masks. The first struggle was, in fact, finding any available masks that he could get his hands on. Since they weren’t available in stores, he took a different route.

The Deal

The plan was simple, but the means were challenging. Thinking creatively, Michael contacted the American Trucking Association, with whom he had built a solid relationship throughout his five years with Infinit-I Workforce Solutions.

Michael explained intentions and desire to our ATA partners. The ATA felt compelled to get involved as well and arranged a deal. Michael was able to purchase face masks from the ATA’s inventory. Because of his dedication to overcome the improbable, he was able to purchase a shipment of face masks.

The Delivery

Since he was working from home at the time, Michael had several boxes of face masks delivered to his home. After counting, sorting, and organizing hundreds of KN95 masks, Michael was ready. Masked and prepared to social distance, Michael hit the road. He visited 8 of his 5-50 truck fleets across the state of Indiana. He took the proper precautions when visiting the terminals, as not to contribute to their exposure risk.

“We were trying to help fleets out because a lot of them weren’t able to get the supplies they needed, especially the smaller ones. We wanted to show our support, that we are by their side, and there for whatever they need” – Michael Shipman

You can watch the journey here.

Michael’s advice to those who want to help is simply to get involved. Search the internet for ways to give back to your hometown. Most state trucking associations hold events and drives to support truckers. You can also contact the American Trucking Association for further reference.

Thank you to Michael for your diligent effort in keeping your clients rolling. And thank you to America’s truck drivers. Your sacrifice and dedication to the job keeps us on our feet.

Drive safe and don’t forget to wear a mask.

Additional Resources

Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies – Know Your Risk

Chuck Norris Says “Thank You, Truckers!” In This Touching Video

Go Green: How Online Training Saves You Time, Money, and Resources

Increase Fuel Efficiency and Lower Maintenance Costs – Legislation Passed to Improve U.S. Highways

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Top 5 Surprising Ways Lawyers Attack Trucking Companies

Every trucking company knows the risk involved with hauling an 80,000 lb. machine down the highway. Don’t feel hindered, however, by the mountain of liabilities. Simply be prepared. Below are the weaknesses that prosecuting attorneys will try to take advantage of in the event of an accident.

Driver Fatigue

Every decent truck driver knows to pull it over when they are feeling tired. They know the risks of driving while fatigued. But how often do they actually pull over when they should?

Truckers juggle many pressures while on the road: Traffic congestion, highway construction, dispatcher’s expectations, etc.

Take a look at these messages between a truck driver (grey) and their dispatcher (blue):

A good dispatcher would see the warning signs. The driver didn’t sleep well last night. This dispatcher should have asked about the driver’s ability to safely perform that day. Instead, the dispatcher was concerned with their own performance. Perhaps, feeling the pressure from their own manager. The conversation continues below.

 

The driver has now admitted to being fatigued, asked to pull over, and coerced into rolling anyway. The driver could nod off again, injuring or even killing themself or other innocent bystanders.

This conversation is now recorded and creates the kind of paper trail that prosecuting attorneys love. They would use this conversation to prove to a jury that your company chose to further the load over the safety of the public.

A delicate balance must exist between management, dispatchers, and truck drivers. Each must be aware of and truly understand mounting pressure and weighing the risks. While is it is a fine goal to want every load delivered on time, it should not be achieved at the expense of safe driving.

 

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving can take many forms. According to the CDC, distractions are categorized as visual, manual, and cognitive.

Driving an 18-wheeler takes intense focus and coordination. Any of the things listed above could bring about a life or death situation for your driver or the people around them.

Train your fleet not only the signs of distracted driving, but they should also be aware of the potential outcome severity. Visual demonstrations can be assigned fleetwide to prove the importance of maintaining proper attention to the road.

Let’s say your driver is eating a big, greasy cheeseburger while driving down the highway. After driving over a small pothole, the driver drops a pickle on the tractor seat. The driver leans over to place the burger onto the passenger seat and begins the pickle search.

At the same time, traffic up ahead has abruptly slowed, causing some cars to swerve or pull on the shoulder. When your driver finally finds the pickle and returns their eyes to the road, it is too late. The driver locks up the breaks, jackknifes the trailer, and bumps into 4 cars that were leading the way.

In a scenario where your driver has an accident due to distracted driving, an attorney will look for any reason that it was the company’s fault. In the event of a lawsuit, the prosecuting attorney will consider:

  • – What policies do you have in place?
  • – Cell phone usage while driving
  • – Eating meals/snacks behind the wheel
  • – Volume restrictions on the radio
  • – Have the drivers been properly trained on these policies?
  • – When was the last time a driver was trained/re-trained on this topic?

 

Driving Under The Influence

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a crime whether a truck driver or civilian, 18-wheeler or 4-wheeler. Truck drivers, however, hold much more responsibility. The more you communicate with your employees about your drug and alcohol policy, the more likely you are to be protected in court.

Pre/Post-Trip Inspections

A proper pre-trip inspection is the ultimate proactive measure a driver can take. If your drivers aren’t properly trained, it might be difficult to spot a faulty brake line, damaged mud flap, or a loose lug nut.

A proper post-trip involves over 50 points of inspection. Expert drivers might be able to recite all the inspection points from memory, but that skill should not be expected. Provide all your drivers with DVIR checklists. Since these are required to be on file for 90 days, you should require your drivers to fill one out every day, for every load, even if it passes inspection.

Inexperience or Improperly Trained

Perhaps the most important base to have covered. Do you drivers know how to avoid accidents? Do you drivers know what to do in the event of an accident?

You probably have policies in place that explicitly instruct drivers what to do if they get into an accident. Our recommendation is to send this policy out to your fleet at least once a quarter. Test them on the material. Require their signature. Your attorney will easily establish your credibility if you have these documents available.

 

Review the Webinar

Infinit-I Workforce Solutions presented an exclusive webinar in late July featuring Attorney Peyton Inge. Peyton specializes in defending trucking companies after an accident occurs. You can review the webinar here, as well as the rest of the FastForward series.

Click here for your free demo. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions will protect you in a courtroom. Give us 30 minutes to show you how.

 

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How to Sue a Trucking Company and Win Big – The Impact of Rising Nuclear Verdicts

The American Transportation Research Institute, verdict awards between 2010 to 2018  rose 51.7% annually. This number is astronomical when compared to standard inflation which grew 1.7% during the same time period. The highest awarded verdict in this time period was $91 million. Albeit an outlier, its existence proves the possibility for your company.

 

We searched the phrase, “How to Sue a Trucking Company.” Google returned almost 3 million results in less than half a second. Accident victims have virtually unlimited access to resources that explain a step-by-step guide to penalizing your company.

Legal websites lend advice stating employers are accountable for truck accidents, not the actual driver.

How could an attorney advise that the truck driver is not responsible? Even when the truck driver was at fault. Even if the driver, the one with his hands on the wheel, was drinking and driving. How is that driver not responsible?

The answer is simple: There’s not enough money in pursuing legal action toward an individual truck driver.

It is the employer who holds the checkbook.  Changes in the litigation procedure allow nuclear verdicts to become commonplace.

Thousands of attorneys employ this practice often. Accidents happen. Unfortunately, there’s nothing a trucking company can do to completely avoid litigation. The best thing you can do is prepare.

“…Truck companies will knowingly continue unsafe practices unless they know they will be held responsible with large verdicts when they are at fault.”

–Michael Leizerman, Co-Founder of Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys

During discovery, prosecutors will attempt to discredit your company in any way possible. Attorneys will look for any of the following weaknesses:

  • – Negligence in hiring procedure
  • – Failure to maintain equipment
  • – Driver was not properly trained

Any of these scenarios are not difficult to prove and could cement the jury’s decision. Of course, the company would be at fault if the driver wasn’t properly vetted or was presented with defective equipment.

How to Prepare

You don’t have to wait until you are faced with litigation to prepare your defense strategy. For every effort you make in training your drivers and changing behaviors, you are a step closer to avoiding litigation altogether. A highly trained and skilled workforce is much more likely to avoid preventable accidents.

If you do end up needing a defense attorney after an accident, the first thing they will request is documented proof of your proactivity. They may ask questions like:

  • – How often do your drivers participate in training classes?
  • – Have you trained your fleet on specific matters?
  • – Do you drivers know what to do in the event of an accident?
  • – Have you provided all the reasonable accommodations?
  • – Can you prove your company has done everything to establish a solid safety culture?

Your frequency, consistency, and focus on safety training will prove your commitment to safety. Enhance your safety culture now and positively change driver behaviors before you are faced with legal trouble. Not only will you proactively protect your company from nuclear verdicts, you will be protecting your drivers from injury or death.

The consequences of an accident can be dire for your drivers and for your company. Infinit-I Workforce Solutions offers a learning management system specifically designed to mitigate your risk regarding driver behavior.

We Want To Earn Your Business

We would like to offer you a sneak peek at what our system can do. The only thing it will cost is 30 minutes of your time. Our experts will demonstrate how easy it is to

protect your company, your drivers, and everyone else on the road.

We want the opportunity to prove our value to you. For 30 minutes of your time, we will repay you with complimentary 30-day access to our system. Immediately begin protecting your company from billboard attorneys who specialize in suing trucking companies.

Click here for your free demo!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

WEBINAR – Thursday, July 30, 2020 10:30 am – Trial Lawyer Peyton Inge joins trucking consultant Mark Rhea to discuss the prevalence of nuclear verdicts and how to avoid such situations. 

One crash, with the right attorney, can put your company up in smoke. Your preparation to avoid nuclear verdicts is key. Be proactive now or risk turning the lights off, for good.  

Click here for free sign up 

 

Additional Resources:

Chuck Norris Says “Thank You, Truckers!” In This Touching Video

Go Green: How Online Training Saves You Time, Money, and Resources

Increase Fuel Efficiency and Lower Maintenance Costs – Legislation Passed to Improve U.S. Highways

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How Online Training Saves You Time, Money, and Resources

Save Time

The most precious commodity. Online training offers numerous ways to increase your efficiency; the most effective being through online orientation.

Traditional in-person orientation for a trucker is about 3 days on average. Every day that one of your drivers is sitting in a classroom and not on the road is potentially 500 miles per new hire. That’s money lost for your bottom line.

You might be thinking, “It’s not always about mileage, safety is a big part of orientation.”

Absolutely, we couldn’t agree more. Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the entire business structure has shifted. Companies are now realizing the need for remote capabilities.

Our learning management system allows your new hires to start orientation as soon as the job offer is accepted. Instead of dozing off during orientation presentations, your drivers can

participate in online orientation from the comfort of their homes.

If you eliminate just 2 days of in-person orientation, you are looking at an additional 1,000 miles per new driver! Increased your efficiency, capacity, and revenue instantly.

Bonus: Since your drivers can work at their own pace while online, they get to spend more time with their family. This means, when your drivers do show up for their truck assignment, they aren’t worn out by several days of repetitive workshops or classes. They are fresh; ready to hit the road and make some money.

“Infinit-I is the pioneer and the leader for online truck driver training. For instance, we were able to cut our new driver orientation from two days into 2.5 hours with Infinit-I.”

-Bobur Hasan, HR and Recruiting

Save Money

The industry average cost of onboarding a new truck driver is around $10,000 each. How many new drivers do you take on each year? Most trucking companies have a turnover between 85-105%.

If you run a fleet of 100 drivers, your onboarding cost for one year could be up to $1 million dollars. That’s cost to hire, before rolling. How many miles would your new driver have to run before your company breaks even? And since the majority of turnover happens in the first 90 days of employment, how many of your drivers stay on that long?

Our safety program has proven to decrease our client turnover by up to 53%. That means is possible for Infinit-I Workforce Solutions to take you from 100% turnover to just 47%. A reduction in turnover like that would save you over half a million dollars per year in onboarding costs. Incredible!

Let’s say, however, that the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform reduces your turnover by a modest (very modest) 5%. Here is a simple formula to show your annual savings:

With a fleet of 100 trucks, a 5% reduction in turnover would save your company $50,000 annually.

 

Save Resources – Drivers, Equipment, Fuel

Our #1 goal is to support you in your effort to create safer drivers. Hopefully, you aren’t willing to put a price on a driver’s life. If our frequent and consistent safety training saves even one life, driver or civilian, our platform proves invaluable to your company.

We can, however, put a price on accidents. The average cost of an accidents/incidents in the trucking industry is around $5,000. Our learning management system has shown some clients up to an 18% reduction in accidents.

“The Infinit-I platform has streamlined our orientation process…resulting in lower CSA scores, reduced worker’s compensation claims, and decreased vehicle incidents and accidents.”

-Shepard Dunn, President & CEO

What could a just a 5% reduction in accidents return to your bottom line? If we figure one accident/incident per week for an entire year, your potential savings could be around $13,000 annually. Plug in your numbers below to figure how much your company could be saving.

Remote training can save you resources in so many other ways too. In-person training sessions, no matter how frequent, will always increase wear & tear on your equipment and unnecessary fuel consumption.

Not to mention the loss of revenue while your drivers are traveling to and from the terminal, not making money for your company. These are opportunity costs that aren’t typically considered when planning for safety training sessions.

And since social distancing is here to stay, in-person training presents even more challenges:

  • – What are your legal responsibilities to your employees?
  • – Can you accommodate a 6-foot distance between attendees?
  • – Will you require your drivers to wear masks?
  • – Will you provide masks?
  • – What types of masks are acceptable?

Too good to be true? Nope!

See for yourself with a complimentary, one-on-one, 30-minute demonstration with our experts. In just half an hour, you’ll experience the power of the Infinit-I Workforce Solutions platform.

Our learning management system will not only create safer drivers, but will save you time, money, and resources. We can prove it.

Click here to enhance your safety culture in just 30 minutes.

 

Want to know more…

More New Content Coming Soon! Check out these new additions to our library.

Out-perform, Out-shine, and Out-grow your Current Safety Culture

Why A Positive Dispatcher & Driver Relationship is Key

Why You Should Be Focused on Your Employee’s Cultural Relationships Now More Than Ever

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