Owner-operators are really feeling the heat of increasing costs in 2019. Many trucking companies are under pressure to hike up wages and offer competitive benefits in order to attract and retain drivers. Shipping companies are charging increasingly higher rates because of rising fuel prices. Equipment repair and…
Read MoreHere’s why this matters: fuel equals about 21% of motor carrier expenses. In 2018, a barrel of benchmark crude oil cost a whopping $72, compared to an average of $60 …
Read MoreHere’s the good news: trucking companies are reporting fewer workers’ comp claims than previous years. What’s the not-so-good news? The average cost of those claims is considerably more than in other industries. With more on-the-job injuries, higher medical expenses, and loss compensation, costs can quickly soar. Industry-specific health issues…
Read MoreA big hurdle for owner-operators (O/Os) is finding the right insurance at the best prices. You know that protection is a must, but how can you be sure you're making good choices? Your truck and trailer values, cargo, and O/O status determine which coverages you need most and how much they will cost. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety…
Read MoreRepairing and maintaining your trucks and equipment is a huge investment. In fact, the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) reported that in 2016, about 10% of a fleet’s total average costs was due to maintenance. That’s the…
Read MoreAccording to a 2017 study by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), labor has ranked as the top cost for motor carriers. It all boils down to a few key factors: driver shortage, rapidly increasing pa…
Read More“You get what you pay for”—how true that is with insurance. Sadly, though, a lot of what we see from new customers are insurance policies that are all bun and no burger. This raises the question: what elements should every insurance policy have? Remember the ingredients in a good old-fashioned burger? A juicy beef patty,…
Read MoreOwning a home was part of the original “American dream.” But fast forward to today and that dream seems more unrealistic than ever. Housing supply and demand are in decline. As a result, larger down payments required by banks and rising mortgage interest rates hold the goal of homeownership just out of reach for many Americans. If you’re struggling…
Read MoreDid you know? In 2017, only 41% of American adults were protected by a life insurance policy. Unfortunately, even those who do have coverage often don’t have enough. The average life policy is underinsured by over $300,000. What’s really scary is that many people completely opt out of lif…
Read More2016 saw over 268 million registered vehicles on U.S. roads–that's a lot of vehicles to insure! And yet in 2015, a staggering 13% of motorists–one in eight people–drove without auto insurance. Driving uninsured is treading on dangerous ground. But for many,…
Read MoreNew is synonymous with inexperience. Naturally, without the benefit of some hard (and soft) knocks, good choices aren’t easily made. So when teens eagerly take the wheel, or students head off to college with the family ride loaded, you could be bracing for the worst. Concerns over your child’s safety are paramount. But financial and insurance matters are…
Read MoreIt may not seem true, but your baby is now an adult. As your child flies away to college and all it brings, be sure a wide, strong safety net is at the ready. And as you traverse new pathways, trust that you can lean on our experience. Here are a couple of questions that will likely surface: Since my child is now an “adult” and will be away from…
Read MoreFrom social to secular, your favorite college student is headed for a learning curve. While they’re busy hitting books and hanging out, take some time and do a little learning of your own. Here’s an auto insurance question we know you’re asking: I know that the risk posed by a young driver is high and our premiums still reflect that. Are there…
Read MorePart of the college experience is for a student to experience living ‘on their own.’ But all that extra elbow room could leave serious coverage gaps. Mom and Dad, make sure you’re asking these questions: Since my child will be living on campus, how can I protect all the things taken to school or bought there? Just as sure as you have a…
Read MoreIn any discussion about insuring teens and college students, the topic isn’t complete without delving into distraction. That’s because distracted driving takes a heavy toll on both age groups—society’s youngest drivers. Ohio Mutual Insurance Group (OMIG) puts…
Read MoreExperience is the best teacher, whether it’s yours or ours. So if you’re new to the world of teen driving, lean on this accumulated knowledge. Here’s a question you’ve likely pondered: Now that my teenager is driving, do I have to list them on my auto insurance policy, or should I take out a separate policy just for them? If they will…
Read MoreNew drivers (and their parents) do well to draw on others’ experience. Embarking on this new journey can be scary—we completely understand. So check in for a reliable answer to a commonly asked question: What level of coverage should we carry, now that our son/daughter is listed on our policy? This situation can seem a bit tricky,…
Read MoreDo you have a new driver at home? That can be stressful—we totally get it. Feel free to pull from our accumulated knowledge, and see what you can learn. For instance, have you ever asked: It’s expensive to have my son/daughter on my policy; are there any discounts I can take advantage of to lighten the load? We’re happy to answer this…
Read MoreFrom a customer standpoint, it may seem like the shortest path to saving money is to switch insurance companies. Which raises the question: Is there any value in being a long-time customer of an insurance company? Or what is the return on investment in loyalty—if that even exists anymore? The answer is not always clear. As an…
Read MoreIt seems odd, the things we measure these days. Or at least the things we have to measure to ensure we’re doing what we should. A whole industry was born of counting how many steps a person takes in a day. And if you’re anything like me—far too many conversations these days revolve around “getting your steps in.” So what are we really…
Read MoreWhen many of us started out in the insurance sales business, we had a shared experience of sorts. Feedback from friends and family made it pretty clear: we were going to be outcasts, “that guy” at the party that no one wants to be around. You know, the one who cycles through careers and hopes to sell unsuspecting acquaintances on their product du jour.…
Read MoreWhen trying to solve the question of motivation, a detective may often resort to this time-tested advice: “Follow the money.” The implication? Well, if you know where the money came from, you can begin to understand why people do what they do. When trying to find the right insurance agent, we’d suggest you go the same route: investigate the…
Read MoreA common term for a nasty practice, the “gotcha” is no laughing matter. This punch line can sock it to you, with series of hidden exclusions and limits that ultimately threaten your ability to file a legitimate claim. Even if you’ve done your due diligence and read the fine print, you could miss clauses and statements that negate…
Read MorePrevalent within and without the insurance industry, misselling is a bad deal: products or services are sold without full disclosure of details and exclusions. Worse yet, information may be purposely hidden. It could also entail bad advice, stemming from lack of knowledge of the policy, the customer, or both. Either way, the coverage doe…
Read MoreThe notion of protecting our assets is nothing new—from ancient times, risks associated with safety and survival have been high priority. Merchants, mariners and diplomats alike have employed basic forms of insurance, proving that protecting what’s ours is vital to human society. Somewhere along the way though, insurance has become a must-have,…
Read MoreLurking behind those affable corporate mascots, this legal principle, cleverly employed by big-box auto insurance providers to minimize payouts, can tip the scales of liability to favor an offender and leave the victim shortchanged even when fault may be clear. The argument is that you likely did some small thing that contributed to…
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