Trailer Skirts: A Proven Fuel Saver

In tight economic times drivers are trying anything to save a few dollars, one trend that is catching on and has been proved effective are trailer skirts. Designed to streamline the trailer and reduce drag, this system provides an average 7.4% fuel savings at highway speeds. Freight Wing, one of the industry's largest suppliers of trailer side skirts now has about 10,000 units on the road with sales up threefold over the past year.

Currently trailer side fairings available in three types of material: aluminum, plastic, or fiberglass. Each has its strengths and its fans. The skirts effectiveness depends upon ground clearance, the closer to the ground the better savings. In SAE track testing, Freight Wing found its older-style aluminum fairings with 16 inches of ground clearance yielded a 4% fuel savings while its new Aeroflex product that rides just eight inches off the ground delivers a 7% fuel savings.

When skirt shopping, there are many things to consider, including weight, ground clearance, durability and ease of installation and repair. Some systems consist of multiple panels, which make repairs easier and less costly than replacing the entire system, but may break apart and look flimsy at highway speeds. Once you've installed a system, its suggest inspecting trailer fairings as part of the normal trailer inspection process, looking for loose fasteners and damaged brackets. For the most part, trailer fairings should be worry-free.

In addition to using the trailer skirts some drivers are also switching to low rolling resistance tires and reducing top speeds to 62mph, showing a collective 8.94% improvement! With fuel prices rising each month every little bit helps the pocket. Added up the money saved by switching to more efficient methods can pay for its self in about a year.

If you are in need of great rates on truck insurance, stop by at BerrierInsurance.com and ask for a fast, free quote. We have been specializing in trucking insurance for almost 30 years and will be here to continue providing our customers with quality truck insurance and the lowest price possible.

Safest Driving Year Ever

Some great news for the trucking industry: the latest statistics show a huge leap of improvement for safe commercial driving. 2009 saw the lowest commercial truck crash rates ever recorded in the US, and the truck involved fatalities were disproportionately much lower then that of passenger vehicles for the first time in decades! Historically the trends between commercial truck and passenger car related fatalities have been falling at similar rates until 2009, when passenger vehicles only had an 8.5% improvement while commercial trucks had an amazing 20.4%! Compared to the modest drop between 2004 and 2008 of 1%-5% it’s the largest single year drop since crash data records began in 1975. There has yet to be an explanation for the drastic change, some analysis say it’s just a fluke and that we should never trust just a single factor explanation. Its possible that because of the economic hardships companies are dealing with, they are letting go of their lesser qualified drivers to cut costs, and as a result there is now a smaller more experienced work force out on the roads. The data also goes onto reinforce what truck drivers have always known, that car drivers are overwhelmingly at fault when involved in a crash with a truck. Similar to companies cutting costs, families are doing the same by taking their young drivers off the road--fewer parents are now able to buy their kids a shiny new sports car for their 16th birthday. In effect there are far fewer inexperienced drivers out on the roads which corresponds fewer crashes, compared to past years. Whatever the reason may be we are thankful for all the safe and responsible drivers out there.


An accident can happen anywhere and at any time. To make sure you are properly covered contact us at Berrier Insurance and we will review your commercial trucking insurance with you. We can offer you the best rates on commercial auto insurance and provide detailed answers to any of your questions about insurance. Call us today 888-472-4915.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads in The World

I'm sure all you truckers have some stories of dangerous roads you've driven, but here is a list of the most dangerous roads in the world. American truckers will be glad to see that none are here in the USA!

1.Old Yungas Road (Bolivia)

2.Nairobi – Nakuru – Eldoret Highway (Kenya)

3.Fairy Meadows Road (Pakistan)

4.Luxor – al – Hurghada Road (Egypt)

5.Patiopoulo – Perdikaki Road (Greece)

6.Halsema Highway (Philippines)

7.Skippers Road (New Zealand)

8.Sichuan – Tibet Highway (China)

9.San Isidro de General – Cartago (Costa Rica)

10.Grand Trunk Road (India)

We are glad that none of our drivers will have to face down these roads. Insure your truck with Berrier Insurance! We love them big rigs and we specialize in commercial trucking insurance. Call us today for a quick comparison quote 888-472-4915

Nick Names For Various Things "On The Road"

The CB radio is an integral part of a truckers efficiency and communication. Being such it is also a common source of self amusement as well. We hunted down some of the common vocabulary used by truckers while out on the road and compiled a list from various sources. These were some of our favorites:


Salt shaker - slating truck
Zipper Middle -broken white lines on highway
Gator - tire remnants
Alarm clock - rumble strip
Smoky - state trooper
Evel Keneval - Motorcycle Cop
Care bear - state trooper sitting in a const. zone, lights flashing
Disco lights - flashing lights on a cop car
Bear Den - state trooper station
Band-aid buggy - ambulance
Bear in the air - airborne speed trap
Bear in the air, with a razor in his hair - airborne speed trap using a helicopter
Country Bear Jamboree - numerous bears working one area
Big bear - state police
Bear bait - speeding car
City Kitty/Town clown - local police
County mountie - county sheriff
Bird dog barking - radar detector going off
Polar bear - A white cop car
Plain White wrapper - unmarked cop car
Diesel bear - DOT cop
Chicken Coop/Chicken House - Scales
Hammer Lane - Left (passing) lane
Ditch Bait - truck or 4-wheeler going too fast in poor conditions.
Dingleberry – tailgater
Skinny Chicken – roadrunner
Ratchet jaw - someone who won't shut up on the cb
Liquid gold - fuel
Seat cover - good looking gal in a car or truck
Choke n Puke - Bad Restaurant
Mechanical Indian - electronic flashing arrow sign
Big word's out - scale closed
Rollin' ya across - not having to actually STOP on scale
Weighing your wagon - having to stop on scale to weigh
Doin' that deal - officers at scale checking logs or doing alot of inspections
Locked up nobody home - scale closed nobody there
Yard sticker - mile marker
Rolling Ranch - livestock hauler
Beaver biscuits- wood chips
Big radio - long range, high power c.b.
Throw Iron - Chain Up
Runnin' barefoot - No chains
Oops - Wreck
Draw some lines - do your logbook
Jibber Jabber - non english chatter
Rabbit -Speeding truck
Cash box - toll booth
Back seat window licker - tard
Yard dog - spotter truck or any tractor not legal 2b driven on the road
OTR driver - old, tired and rundown
West Virginia chrome - duct tape
Busterbrown - UPS driver
Wallyworld - either a Wal-mart store or a Wal-mart driver
Antler Ally - marked deer crossing area


Feel free to help add to our growing vocab list!

Make sure you and your truck are properly insured. Berrier insurance offers the best rates on commercial truck insurance! Contact us and we will give you a free truck insurance quote over the phone at 888-472-4915.

Welcome to the Worlds Largest Truck Stop

IOWA 80

Founded in 1964, it was originally a small facility that housed a small truckers store, one lube bay, and a restaurant. Since its purchase by the Moon family in 1984 it has undergone numerous expansions, the largest in 1994 of $4 million which closed the gap as the largest truck stop in the world. Now almost 50 years later the place has become a tribute to the trucking industry with antique trucks, pumps, toys and hundreds of photos displayed throughout. The truck stop currently serves 5,000 customers per day and spans 220 acres, 2.5 times the size of Disneyland, with a 67,000 sq ft main building. It boasts the Iowa 80 Kitchen, it’s new 300-seat restaurant with a 50-ft. salad bar, one-of-a-kind Truckers Warehouse Store, 24 private showers, Dolby Surround Sound® movie theater, Driver’s Den, Game Room, Embroidery Center , Barber, Dentist, TA Service Center, Truckomat, CAT Scale, Fuel Center with 15 fuel pumps, Wendy’s Restaurant and Dairy Queen in the Food Court and a Blimpie located in the Fuel Center.


Wow! talk about a truckers paradise, it has just about everything one could ever want from a truck stop and more. Except they forgot about one thing, truck insurance made easy! Maybe we should set up shop there! The Berrier Insurance Divas would have a blast in a place like this while helping out our trucker friends, making sure that they are covered at the best rates for their commercial trucking insurance. Is this place really as amazing as it seems?

Truck Drivers With Diabetes - What are the CDL rules?

There appears to be a lot of confusion on whether or not truck drivers with diabetes can obtain a CDL license. For years, there was a ban that prevented truck drivers with diabetes who used insulin from driving commercial vehicles within interstate operation. In 2003, the FMCSA introduced the Diabetes Exemption Program which allowed individuals with insulin treated diabetes the ability to operate a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce. But there was a lot of confusion as to who could drive. You had to have three years of previous commercial driving experience. In late 2005, everything changed.


Due to the effort by the American Diabetes Association, President Bush signed into law, doing away with the three year requirement. There is no longer any need to show previous commercial driving experience, even if you are on insulin. However, there still are 57 other screenings, guidelines and provisions that one must pass in order to be granted the exemption for truck drivers with diabetes. Also, one must abide by any particular state requirements in regards to the commercial driver license.


Individuals with insulin treated diabetes will have to demonstrate that they have control of the diabetes while on insulin. For those with Type 1 diabetes, they are required to have been on insulin for two months before they can apply for the exemption. Individuals with Type 2 diabetes are required to have been on insulin for at least one month.


As you can see, one or two months is much better than the three year driving rule! If you have type 2 diabetes and do not use insulin, you do not need to apply for a diabetes exemption. You must still meet all other licensing and safety requirements as dictated by the state agency that issues your CDL. Read more at [link]


Insure your truck with Berrier Insurance! We love them big rigs and we specialize in commercial trucking insurance. Call us today for a quick comparison quote 888-472-4915.

TCA Names Shawn Hubbard 2010 Highway Angel for Saving Man in Burning Car

Shawn Hubbard, a professional Ruan Trans Corp driver who saved the life of a young man trapped inside a burning car, will be named 2010 Highway Angel by the Truckload Carriers Association on Dec 18th at Boise State University in Idaho.

On November 13 2009, Hubbard had just made a delivery and was heading east on Interstate 60 in California when he came across a car on fire. The car appeared to have smashed into several steel posts and had come to a stop in a ditch against a 40-foot high embankment. Two people were still inside, the driver who appeared to be dead, and a passenger who was still alive but pinned by the crushed car. Using two fire extinguishers, Hubbard slowed the flames but could not fully extinguish them. He then pulled the debris and collapsed roof off the car so the passenger could escape and pushed him up the hill to safety, seconds before the flames fully engulfed the car.

The California Highway Patrol presented him with a Certificate of Commendation for his deed, and also received an award from Los Angeles County supervisor, and a Gold “R” certificate from Ruan. The decision to name Hubbard as the 2010 Highway Angel of the year was made by the TCA Communications & Image Policy Committee, which oversees the Highway Angel program.

As the Highway Angel of the Year, Hubbard will be flown to the uDrove Humanitarian Bowl, accompanied by Ralph Arthur, president of Dedicated Contract Carriage for Ruan Transport, where he will receive a trophy in front of an audience anticipated to be 34,000 people.

A truly heroic act by an everyday driver we salute you Shawn Hubbard. An accident can happen anywhere and at any time. To make sure you are properly covered contact us at Berrier Insurance and we will review your commercial trucking insurance with you. We can offer you the best rates on commercial auto insurance and provide detailed answers to any of your questions about insurance. Highway Angels nominations are accepted year-round. To nominate a driver or read stories about previous Highway Angels visit http://www.blogger.com/www.truckload.org/highway-angel.

10 Commandments for Truckers

Thank you diesel weasel for sharing your worldly advice on truck stop etiquette. This was posted on TruckersReport.com and we thought it was just too funny not to share it with all of our trucker friends! Don't forget to contact us at Berrier Insurance for free quotes and to answer questions about commercial truck insurance.


1. Thou shalt not block the fuel pump longer than necessary. This means fuel your truck, go in, grab your bag of chips or coffee and your receipt QUICKLY, and get out of the way. If you want to shop for other things, like ELECTRONICS or FAST FOOD (which is never fast at a truck stop), go park it. Also pull ahead after fueling if there's enough room (usually there is)


2. Thou shalt not leave a urinal or bathroom stall filthy. If you pee on a toilet seat, wipe it up, it takes 5 seconds. If you stand at a urinal, at least make an attempt to aim.


3. Thou shalt wash thy hands after touching thy junk in the bathroom.


4. Thou shalt wash thy hands before dining.


5. Thou shalt not attempt land speed records in any truck stop parking lot.


6. Thou Shalt Park thy truck as squarely and centered as possible in parking space.


7. Thou shalt not flirt extensively and excessively with the cute cashier and shalt refrain from "hitting on" another driver's wife.


8. Thou shalt attempt to help a newbie who has trouble backing into a parking spot, rather than heckle him/her on channel 19.


9. Thou shalt not throw trash or bodily excrement of any kind into a parking lot.


10. Thou shalt cleanse the exterior shell of thy body often enough to keep thy funk from offending others.

We hope you enjoyed this light hearted post.

If you are in need of great rates on truck insurance, stop by at BerrierInsurance.com and ask for a fast, free quote. We have been specializing in trucking insurance for almost 30 years and will be here to continue providing our customers with quality truck insurance and the lowest price possible.

National Texting Ban in Commercial Vehicles Now in Place

A new law recently passed has now placed a nation wide ban on texting while driving commercial vehicles. Made official Oct. 21 it includes penalties up to $2,750 and an $11,000 maximum for carriers, as well as sanctions including, for repeat offenders, disqualification from operating vehicles in interstate commerce. A texting conviction is now considered a serious traffic violation. Driver violators can be disqualified for 60 days if convicted of two separate violations in three years and 120 days if convicted of three or more violations in three years.

Under the new law texting includes a short message service, emailing, instant messaging, a request to access the Internet or any other form of electronic text retrieval or entry.

However, it does not include:

• Reading, selecting or entering a telephone or extension number, or voicemail retrieval codes and commands into an electronic device to make or receive a phone call or using voice commands to initiate or receive a phone call.

• Inputting, selecting, or reading a global positioning system or navigation system.

• Using fleet management systems, dispatching devices, smart phones, CBs or music players.

We are concerned about the safety of our drivers and ask that no one drive distracted. Accidents do happen and driving while texting increases those chances. We offer the best rates on commercial auto insurance to protect you in case of an accident. To make sure you are properly covered contact us at Berrier Insurance and we will review your commercial trucking insurance with you, providing detailed answers to any of your questions. Keep yourself safe, if you see a distracted driver stay clear of them! To read more of this article visit Truckers News.

Lisa Sherer, President

Berrier Insurance Agency, Inc.

Pink Convoy- Truckers Help with Breast Cancer Awareness

We would just like to make a shout out to all of the participants of this years pink convoy for breast cancer! It was their third annual event bringing awareness to the rally against cancer and the support of families affected by it. Though the convoy event started in Cornwall three years ago, it has since spread to Alberta, New Brunswick and Texas. The Convoy for a Cure has raised around $250,000 over the last few years, and this years Cornwall event is expected to bring in another $50,000! Drivers paid $75 to join in and most collected additional donations for the cancer foundation. Our hearts go out to those affected and we applaud those who are willing to give what they can.

We know money is tight for everyone and at Berrier Insurance we encourage you to take advantage of our free quotes that could save you up to 37% on your commercial trucking insurance. The more you can save on your truck insurance, the more you can give in the fight against cancer, because every dollar helps.

Check Out What's New in Hybrid Trucks

Berrier Insurance supports forward thinking and going green! With all of the driving that we do, and how many cars and trucks are out on the roads these days some of us worry about our environmental foot prints. Everyday there are new technologies being created and made more readily available to us. We just discovered the new hybrid electric commercial trucks that are being developed by Daimler Truck North America LLC and Wal-Mart. This new truck features a parallel hybrid system based on an electrically driven second drive axle, and uses a lithium-ion-based energy storage and electronic control algorithms that were developed in collaboration with the Daimler Trucks Global Hybrid Center in Japan. While these new trucks were specifically designed to Wal-Mart’s spec’d truck, the 72-inch raised roof Detroit Diesel DD15, DTNA also offers other products powered by alternative technologies, including the Freightliner Business Class M2 106 Hybrid and the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 natural gas lineup.

We are excited to hear that there are more options out there for truckers, we support each of you and want to make sure you are all updated on what is available to you. Make sure that if you decide to buy a new greener truck that you insure it with Berrier Insurance, we specialize in commercial truck insurance and can provide you with the information and services you need. We are dedicated to doing our part to make our world a happier, healthier, and cleaner place.

Lisa Sherer, President

Berrier Insurance Agency, Inc.

1 in 3 Trucks Too Dangerous for Roads - Is Yours?

We continually work with our trucker clients to find ways to make them safe on the road, so when we found this article it surprised us. According to the California Highway Patrol 1 in 3 trucks are too dangerous for the road, based on 2010 inspection records. In fact, in the first nine months of this year, the Banning facility -- considered the main hub for commercial trucks heading into or out of California -- have recorded 38,879 equipment violations, 13, 724 traffic citations, 2,734 driver violations and 582 driver license problem that included revoked or suspended licenses!

You can read more of this article on NBC's website. We hope that all you truck drivers will be safe out on the road! If you have any questions about commercial truck insurance, or want to see if you are covered properly, call us toll free at Berrier Insurance 888-472-4915.

2011 Mid American Truck Show!!

Being a company that specializes in truck insurance, we know just how much you guys and gals love your trucks! Well, have you heard about the largest heavy-duty truck event in the world? Where you can check out the latest products in the industry, mingle with other truck lovers, and drool over some of the most beautiful tricked-out trucks anywhere! Its the 2011 Mid-American Truck Show in Louisville Kentucky. They are celebrating their 40th anniversery in March and plan to make it their greatest event ever!

The divas here at Berrier Insurance won't be able to make it out to the event this time so we hope all of you will share your experience with us! Post pics, videos, and tell us your stories about the Mid American Truck Show. We love your trucks just as much as you do, and we love being here for you!

Can you imagine getting insurance on this big rig?! With Berrier Insurance it would be easy! This is last years winner of the Big-Rig Build Off, by Outlaw Customs.

Roadside Assistance for Truckers

Have you ever broken down far from home while driving your truck and had to pay an exhorbitant tow bill? Many of our trucker friends have shared their frustrating experiences of getting a flat tire or having a mechanical failure while hauling a load only to be hit with an outrageous bill from the towing company. They ask us: Why isn't there roadside assistance for commercial trucks like AAA offers? Well now there is and we're proud to be offering it to our trucking friends at a significant discount!

It provides unlimited towing assistance up to 50 miles, vehicle jump start, out-of-gas fuel delivery, flat change tire coverage and much more! Being a member also entitles you to hotel and travel discounts.

So now the Truck Insurance Divas at Berrier Insurance can ensure that you're covered when you have an accident and when your truck breaks down. Now that's security! We are dedicated to providing you, the independent trucker, with commercial truck insurance with the best service and coverage available anywhere. Call us today for more information 888-472-4915 or visit us online at BerrierInsurance.com.

Enter Your Funny Road Trip Photo and Win!

Whether you're cruising down the freeway, highway or gravel roads, we know that truckers are bound to run across the bizarre, hilarious, and downright mystifying signs that America has to offer.

We're looking for the "funniest" sign you come across. So get your cell phone ready to click that photo and email it to Lisa@BerrierInsurance.com and you'll be entered into our funny photo contest. The winner gets prime real estate right on our website. That's in addition to knowing you're the downright best!

So what are you waiting for? The road awaits!

At Berrier Insurance, we love having fun with our trucking friends and providing the best truck insurance at the best rates available. Call us today for a fast, no obligation truck insurance quote.
888-472-4915

Dump Truck Thief Goes on Rampage

If ever there was an example of a dump truck owner needing top quality commercial trucking insurance, it comes in a recent sentencing of a Wisconsin man named Michael Frambs. Frambs, a resident of the small Northern Wisconsin town of Eau Claire, stole a dump truck in June of last year and took it on a parade of destruction in the front yards of the residential suburb Lake Hallie, slamming it into two houses and three parked cars at 11:00pm while the families were occupying their homes. Not only that, but an Eau Claire police officer had to physically jump into the dump truck passenger door to stop Frambs from causing any more damage. Initially, Frambs tried to push the officer out of the truck, but he was eventually overpowered and cruised to a stop.

All of this racked up 18 different charges to the Wisconsin man, but after cooperation with the law, plea bargaining and given the fact he had no prior record, a judge sentenced him to a mere 360 days of jail time, some of which was served awaiting his trial, and seven years probation. Frambs, a young man at the age of 24, was also required by law to pay back $90,000 in damages for his dump truck rampage. It is speculated that he will be released from jail before his sentence is served because of good behavior and cooperation.

A good commercial truck insurance policy would likely pay for all of the damages that Frambs or any other delinquent might have caused with the truck. Luckily, the damages in this case amounted to a truck insurance payout of less than $100,000, which is more than the average damage amount associated with a truck insurance claim. The damages could have been infinitely worse, as a dump truck has the power to crush through entire houses, and certainly could have injured or killed anyone in its path.

Lucky for Frambs that Wisconsin residents are so forgiving and understanding, as many neighbors who were affected by the dump truck rampage told Wisconsin’s WEAU news that they were okay with the compassionate sentence since no one was injured in this particular instance. “I think it’s probably fair,” said neighbor Becky Van Nortrick to the WEAU news team. “I mean, hopefully he’s learned a valuable lesson on this.”

Make sure you have the right truck insurance coverage at the right price. Call Berrier Insurance today 800-750-1812.

Don't Let Endorsements "Subtract" Coverage You Need

Most people don’t think about endorsements in their truck insurance policy. If they do, they’re not certain what that word means. People know that lawyers write them, which makes the words hard to understand. Do you feel this way? Let’s discover the loophole that will help us avoid this "sin".

Endorsements remind me of yellow post it notes. You know, the little notes you stick on top of stuff. Endorsements are like that. They get stuck (attached) to the policy. They are legal contracts. They either add or subtract coverage from the policy.

All policies have endorsements. They are listed by form number on the declarations page. The declarations page is in the first part of the policy. Read it carefully. Does anything there look like it could cause you a problem? Call your broker if you are worried. Don’t wait until there is a claim.

How do you know if your policy is complete? That’s easy! Each form has a number. Match up the form numbers on the front page with the attached forms. If you are missing one, your policy is not complete. You need to call your broker. Let them know someone made a mistake. People make mistakes, but you need a complete policy. Plus, you will impress your broker!

Insurance policies are not all equal! The basic policy is standard. However, endorsements change your protection. When you shop for the best deal, be careful. Sometimes lower prices subtract protection. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Listen to what the broker says. Does the broker give you a clear and direct answer? Or is the answer vague and rambling? Your broker should make you feel confident.

Here are some insider tips. Understanding these forms will help you avoid problems:

- Non-Reported Driver – What may happen? The company might deny a collision claim. The collision deductible might be doubled, and the policy might be cancelled or non-renewed.
- Radius Restriction – What may happen? The company may deny a physical damage loss if it occurs out of radius.
- Cargo Commodity – What may happen? There is a cargo loss. The type of cargo lost is not listed on the policy. Your claim is denied. For example. Your policy states you haul groceries. You have a loss and your load is steel. The load of steel may not covered.
- Bodily Injury & Property Damage Deductible – What may happen? You have an accident. The other party is hurt and so is their property. You pay this deductible to the other party. This payment is on top of your own collision deductible.
- Property Damage Only Deductible – What may happen? You damage another’s property. You pay this deductible to the other party. Again, this is on top of your own collision deductible.
- Newly-Acquired Vehicle Limitation – What may happen? You buy a new vehicle and drive it home. You do not add it to your policy. The next day it is in an accident. Your claim is denied. Many dealers think you have 30 days of automatic coverage.
- Cargo Theft Limitation – Limited coverage on cargo target commodities. Target commodities consist of liquor (except beer and wine). Tobacco products including cigars and cigarettes. Seafood unless it’s canned. Cameras or film; wearing apparel; computer equipment or components and software. Other items include fax machines, photocopiers, DVD players, stereos, and televisions.
- Unattended Covered Vehicle – What may happen? This form excludes cargo loss by theft, unless at the time of loss the covered vehicle is garaged in a building or parked in a fully enclosed or fenced yard.

Before you hit the panic button, read your policy. If you have a problem with it, perhaps, one of three things happened.

• You didn’t tell your broker enough about your business.
• You did tell your broker and he/she wasn’t listening.
• Your broker doesn’t have enough knowledge about truck insurance.
  

In any case, call your broker and explain the problem. Get it solved before a claim occurs. If your broker can’t help, find another broker. By the way, we’re available TOLL FREE (888) 472-4915 or online anytime.

Are Your Trucks and Trailers Over Insured?

We all know that this economy has negatively affected the values of our homes, trucks, trailers & commercial equipment. But have you adjusted the values on your commercial truck insurance policy? We are seeing too many of our clients keeping outdated stated values on their truck insurance policies. Then when there is a big loss, they are shocked to find out that their truck or trailer is not worth what it used to be worth.

Recently one of our sand & gravel truckers had an accident involving a dump trailer. It was damaged but not totalled. They had the trailer insured for $20,000, which was accurate in 2006 but not today. He had declined a suggestion to re-evaluate his values for depreciation at renewal. It turned out that the current market value of the trailer was only about $7,500 due to a glut of dump trailers on the market today. What a shock! But that's the economy we're in, especially in areas like California that were booming earlier in the decade but are now seeing little or no new construction.

So when your insurance agent asks you to review the truck and trailer values on your policy, do it! And make sure to get another opinion on the values if you're not sure. Local dealers are often a good resource as they know what is selling and for what prices.

If your truck insurance agent is not asking to review your values, then you should be with one who is. At Berrier Insurance, we do an annual review of your policy and we can change your values anytime during the year. We've been writing truck insurance since 1981, are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau and we're well trained in the special needs of truckers. If you're in California, Oregon, Arizona or Nevada, give us a call today 888-472-4915 or visit us online BerrierInsurance.com.

2010 Referral Reward Prize Announced - 32" LCD HDTV

We value your partnership & your referrals! To reward you, we will be giving away this 32" LCD HDTV. You will be entered to win this great prize each time you refer a trucker in CA, OR, NV or AZ to our agency. Click the link above to take you directly to the entry form.

Good luck and thanks again for all the referrals!

Being the "No B.S." Truck Insurance Broker means:

• “A+” rated by the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/)
• The price we quote is the price you get
• Real people answer your phone call
• 59 Minute Certificates during business hours
• Renewal shopped every year
• Designated Service Rep who knows you by name (not policy number)
• Triple Satisfaction Guarantee
  
  
  “Our technology is GREAT but our people are even BETTER!”
  
  

Protect Your Business in 3 Steps

A business is only as safe as the tools it uses. One of the best tools a business can use to protect its assets is commercial auto insurance.
Understanding insurance can be tricky. One of the first steps toward making an informed decision is to understand coverage and service options. Here are three easy steps to help figure out your commercial auto insurance needs:

1. Choose an insurer with the right combination of price and service. Insurance isn’t just about price. It’s about service, too. How are claims handled? How long will it take to get your vehicle back on the road? Can you get questions answered outside of business hours or online? Know the answers to these questions. Your time is money.


2. Research your policy options. Having the right coverage is important. A standard commercial auto policy generally includes coverage for:
   •injuries or damage that you cause;
   •your driver’s injuries;
   •injuries and damages caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers; and
   •damage to or theft of your vehicle(s).
   When it comes to damage that you cause, you may be required to purchase certain limits based on who you work for. For instance, if you work for certain home builders, you may be required to carry $1 million in liability limits. Consider how much you are willing to pay out of pocket if your liability in an accident is more than your policy limits.


3. Know how the policy is priced. You can control your insurance costs. To get the best rates, run motor vehicle reports on potential drivers. If you let your insurance lapse, you’ll probably pay more for your next policy. Ask about discounts, including paid-in-full and renewal discounts.
   


4. Just like your customers rely on your professional skills, call a professional independent insurance agent who will be in your corner, researching and recommending the best options.
   "Commercial auto insurance is complicated, but it is vital to protecting your livelihood," says Bill Kampf with The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, one of the largest commercial auto insurers in the country.

Berrier Insurance is an experienced broker who offers many choices in commercial auto insurance. Reach us online at BerrierInsurance.com or call us at 888-472-4915.

How can I really save money on my truck insurance?

"How can I save money on my truck insurance?" This is the $64,000 question most truckers ask me. Much of this is under your control.

Some things are out of your control (to some extent) such as:

- Age of driver & driving experience
- Age of equipment
- Location of your business
- Type of commodities you haul

But did you know that by making a few changes over time you can significantly reduce the cost of your truck insurance? Here are a few examples:

• Safety Program - It's not as hard as you think, even for an owner-operator. Ask your insurance agent for a sample or to help you put together one for your business. This can mean a 5-10% discount on your liability premium
• Written Maintenance Program - We know you have a plan for your truck maintenance, but is it in writing? Having a written maintenance program can typically save you 5% on the liability premium because they consider you a more safe, conscientious business owner.
• SAFER rating - Most insurance companies will look at SAFER to determine whether you are better or worse than the average trucker. By keeping your "out of service" incidents low, you get the best rates & the best insurance carriers will want your business.
• Clean Driving Record - This is the insurance company's biggest predicter of future accidents. Keeping your driving record clean means major discounts (or lack of surcharges) up to 25% in some cases.
• Claim Free Discounts - This is where you can really save money! If you remain claim free, insurance company's can discount your policy up to 30%! We know you have insurance for the unforeseen claim but staying loss free is the ticket to paying the lowest premium.

So are you getting all the discounts you deserve? Give me a call at 888-472-4915 or stop by our website BerrierInsurance.com to see if we can save you money on truck insurance and get you the best possible coverage.