Great West Casualty Company Blog

Feb 10, 2021 2:00:00 PM

Create a Workplace That Learns from Mistakes

By Great West Casualty Company

Mistakes happen. As frustrating as that may sound, mistakes are inevitable because humans are imperfect beings. In fact, most crashes and injuries are the result of human error rather than factors outside of a worker’s control. Depending on the severity of the error, an employee making a mistake can be understandable. It is important for managers and supervisors to separate acceptable mistakes from unacceptable mistakes and to be mindful of how they respond to each.

Jan 13, 2021 10:00:00 AM

What if Culture is Not Your Problem?

By Great West Casualty Company

When a motor carrier starts seeing a trend in vehicle crashes, employee injuries, or even turnover, it is easy to look at the company’s culture as the cause and the cure. All too often, senior leaders look to create the right environment in the hope that it will bring the results they seek. In truth, one cannot directly fix a culture. Culture change comes as the result of making operational changes, sometimes involving painful decisions that affect processes, procedures, personnel, and even the company’s leadership team.

Dec 1, 2020 1:45:00 PM

Ask the Safety Rep: Starting an Incentive Program

By Great West Casualty Company

HOW CAN I CREATE AN EMPLOYEE SAFETY INCENTIVE PROGRAM? An employee safety incentive program, if part of a larger risk management strategy, can enhance your safety culture. On the other hand, if not designed, implemented, and managed properly, incentive programs can be a source of contention or irritation, and can lapse into oblivion very quickly. If your organization is considering implementing a safety incentive program, here are some points of discussion that you should consider:

Nov 10, 2020 2:00:00 PM

Rules of the Road Include Professionalism & Safety

By Great West Casualty Company

‘Knights of the Road’ refers to a period when truck drivers had a knightly reputation for always being helpful and courteous professionals to fellow motorists. While the term may be lost on this generation, the expectation has not changed. A knightly image is a personal choice requiring a daily commitment to safety and professionalism. A collection of unwritten rules of the road that exemplify this code is below. Read the information below and ask yourself if there are ways you can improve your knightly image.

Mar 5, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Instilling a Culture That Embraces Fuel Economy

By Great West Casualty Company

Fuel costs have traditionally been the largest line-item expense for motor carriers. According to the American Transportation Research Institute (2017), “[Fuel costs] generally account for approximately 30 to 40 percent of a motor carrier’s cost per mile.”1 If fleet managers want to optimize their operations and reduce costs, they should focus on instilling a culture that embraces fuel economy.

Feb 26, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Promoting a Culture of Professionalism

By Great West Casualty Company

Professionalism in the workplace benefits you, your peers, and your employer. Exhibiting professionalism can bring you an inward sense of pride, self-respect, competence, and job satisfaction. Your peers will mirror your behavior in the way you treat others and approach your job, while your employer will view you as a reliable team player. Read the information below, and ask yourself if there are actions you can take to present yourself in a more professional manner.

Jan 8, 2019 3:00:00 PM

Buying Into Safety: Six Reasons It Makes $ense

By Great West Casualty Company

Remember in Oliver Twist when the hungry boy quietly approached his unforgiving master and asked him to fill the boy’s bowl with more gruel? Safety directors might relate to this feeling when requesting funds for new safety initiatives. Regardless of the company’s culture, selling safety to the keepers of the company coffers can be met with frustration and resistance, especially if the financial return on investment (ROI) has not been calculated beforehand to justify the expenditure.

Aug 28, 2018 3:00:00 PM

Build a Positive Culture that Inspires Employees to Thrive

By Great West Casualty Company

Every motor carrier has a company culture that reflects the organization’s values. This culture can be positive and beneficial to the organization’s success or negative and cause it to stagnate or even fail. In either case, positive or negative, a company’s culture is contagious. People tend to adopt the values of those around them, especially at work, and infect others with the good or bad. That is why positive values are so important to motor carriers.

Mar 6, 2018 4:02:54 PM

Ask the Liability Adjuster

By Great West Casualty Company

Why is on-time reporting of liability claims important?

Jun 13, 2017 1:59:23 PM

Ask the Underwriter: How Does Driver Quality Affect Underwriting Decisions

By Great West Casualty Company

Great West Casualty Company’s underwriting guidelines are developed using data from industry studies and evaluating the MVRs of drivers involved in claims. American Transportation Research Institute, for example, conducted a study that found a reckless driving violation increases a driver’s crash risk by 325%. An improper turn increases crash risk by 105% and excessive speeding increases crash risk by 56%. Factors such as these, as well as years of experience and crash history, can all impact an Underwriter’s decision to insure a particular driver.

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