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.

Truck Insurance Rates Down Again according to TIPS

We've been seeing this trend for the last several years but it looks like it's getting even better for the transportation industry. According to TIPS (Transportation Insurance Pricing Survey), more competition is driving down rates on truck insurance.

“TIPS results indicate that the market has reversed direction and is softer now compared to last quarter. Nearly all signs of rates leveling off have been replaced by signs of intensifying competition,” said Richard Augustyn, CEO of NIP Group, Inc. “This change in direction is not what we were expecting based on last quarter’s results. We will continue to monitor TIPS results to see how this plays out during the key January renewal period.”

It's definitely time to shop. Contact us today to see how much you could save BerrierInsurance.com or call us at (888) 472-4915.