Great West Casualty Company Blog

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of major depression that is typically associated with the change of seasons. SAD can occur in the winter or summer months but is most common during periods of reduced daylight hours and colder temperatures. This psychological condition can seriously affect a person’s health and wellness. SAD can also act as a distraction and lead to a vehicle crash or workplace injury. Here are some warning signs of SAD and some suggestions on how to address the issue either for you or someone you know:

Are Written Job Descriptions Really Necessary? Yes, written job descriptions are essential to managing your workers’ compensation costs. Workers’ compensation is a “no-fault” system designed to compensate employees for job-related injuries without regard to fault. That makes hiring employees who are physically capable of performing the essential functions of a job so important, hence the need for written job descriptions. The job description details the essential functions and physical requirements of each job. Successful motor carriers often contract with a local occupational therapist to conduct a job analysis and define the physical requirements. The physical requirements should be attached to the application for employment. The application should ask if the applicant can meet these requirements and state that a conditional offer of employment, if extended, will be subject to the applicant's passing an expanded physical performed by a company-specified doctor.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations (FMCSR) require a motor carrier to maintain a driver qualification file for each driver it employs. Part 391.51 specifies which documents must be contained in this file. However, paragraph (d) of the regulation allows a motor carrier to purge specific documents from the file. The following regulations specify the duration each document must be maintained by employers as of September 1, 2017. We recommend that motor carriers review these requirements periodically to keep current.

FMCSA released the new CVSA inspection bulletin pertaining to Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRDs). The rules beginning December 18, 2017, are outlined below. 

Lane change crashes pose a clear and present danger to motor carriers. The trucking industry has made commendable efforts to educate the public about avoiding blind spots around large trucks, but because of federal requirements mandating only two rear-vision mirrors on every tractor, it stands to reason that motor carriers should do more to expand the driver's field of view around the truck to help reduce the risk of a critical crash.

This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best. Below is a list of several FAQs; for more FAQs and information, please visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) FAQ page at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/faqs 

This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best.

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 severity. 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.

One of the most frustrating cargo claims for any motor carrier is the rejection of an entire shipment of product because the trailer arrived without the seal or with a broken seal. Most of the time, the cargo itself is in pristine condition—still in its packaging, shrink-wrapped, and palletized. Furthermore, the trailer is loaded in such a way that no one is able to reach beyond the rear pallets. Many times, the cargo is not even touched. Still, the shipper or consignee insists that the entire load must be rejected or destroyed. They may allege a chain of custody issue, a safety issue, or their own internal policy. With the Sanitary Transportation of Human and Animal Food (STHAF) regulations drafted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), claimants may now allege it is a “food safety violation under the new regulations,” or say “we cannot accept it under the new food transportation regulations.”

Specific areas of concern for most drivers can be logging the day, on duty/off duty status, roadside inspections, what will the driver need, and what to do in case of an audit. See below for some more information on all of these concerns. This is meant to be a summary of information contained in the rule. Be sure to review the rule and seek any legal advice from counsel. This material contains suggestions, and companies should find an approach that fits their unique operations best.