Great West Casualty Company Blog

Trusting an expensive piece of company equipment and the valuable cargo inside is an act that should not be taken lightly. Motor carriers that do not give driver screening and selection due diligence are at an increased risk of having a newly hired driver abandon the truck and cargo or aid in their theft. For this reason, motor carriers should consider conducting background checks to verify an applicant’s history and identify red flags. Below is a list of background checks that give employers much-needed information to make an informed hiring decision. Read each description and consider how it can aid your loss prevention efforts. You should also consult with your attorney prior to conducting any of the following checks. State law may require you to obtain express permission from the prospective employee in addition to meeting other requirements.

People often look at the price of truck insurance in one of two ways: It’s a lot of money for a product you hope you never need, or it’s an investment in the protection of your assets and your livelihood. When it comes time to sit down with your trucking insurance agent to determine what coverage you need for your operation, it’s important to understand exactly what your policy covers, what it does not cover, and what questions you should ask about your insurer’s value-added services. Here are four questions to start the conversation with your agent.

Safety Management: Motor Carriers Should Aim For Zero Preventable Incidents

Driving in the fall creates a new set of seasonal risks for drivers. From shorter days to increased road obstacles, drivers need to be on guard for fall-related hazards and know how to prevent a crash. Read the information below about various fall driving hazards and decide how you can improve your driving techniques.

Improper lifting is a common cause of serious back injuries and could potentially lead to a lifetime of discomfort. 

When an equipment failure occurs or another emergency forces you to pull off the roadway, commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators are required under Part 392.22 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) to follow specific rules to alert other motorists of your situation. Below is a simple graphic and additional safety tips to keep in mind should you need to make an emergency stop. Read the information below and refer to the regulations to ensure you meet compliance requirements and protect yourself from harm.

HAS THE DEFINITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY CHANGED? Yes: On November 24, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a notice in the Federal Register clarifying the meaning of three terms used in the definition of “agricultural commodity” for the purposes of the agency’s Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. The three terms that were revised include “any agricultural commodity,” “livestock,” and “non-processed food.” The revised meanings of these terms went into effect on December 9, 2020; the revisions ensure that the HOS exemptions are utilized as Congress intended.

Screening driver applicants is one of the most crucial functions for any motor carrier. Selecting the right person requires due diligence because the consequences of making a bad hire could scar the organization for years to come. Taking the time to thoroughly vet applicants by investigating their backgrounds, evaluating their skills, and interviewing them to ensure they are a good fit for the company culture are necessary steps on the front end to save the company time and money on the back end. For this reason, Great West created the Safety Road Map, a simple tool to help motor carriers develop their own driver screening and selection processes.

Properly managing the truck’s speed requires skill and good judgment. Failure to do so could have tragic consequences. To help avoid this, drivers must recognize the hazards that can lead to a crash, know the defense, and react properly. Read the information below and ask yourself how you can improve your driving style in any of the hazard categories.

WHY IS ON-TIME REPORTING OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE CLAIMS IMPORTANT? On-time reporting of physical damage claims allows Great West Casualty Company to begin the investigative process while all of the details are still fresh in the minds of those involved. Prompt claim reporting is important for several reasons, including downtime and claim processing. If the Property Damage Cargo (PDC) Adjuster can respond in the first 24 hours, he or she can take steps immediately to minimize the insured’s downtime, assist with towing, control costs, and get the equipment back on the road more quickly. Additionally, on-time reporting can affect the severity of a claim. Great West’s PDC Adjusters work with wrecker services and body shops every day. They specialize in resolving claims promptly to minimize losses and reach a fair and accurate settlement. Experience shows, however, that the longer it takes to report a claim, the higher the claim’s cost.