Insurance and Risk Management

Cargo insurance is one of the top expenses for carriers, but what does it really do and why is it so important?

Hurricanes, cargo theft, double brokering, and accidents all can negatively impact insurance rates.

Changes are coming to prohibited classifications at the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse.

With fraud on the rise, verifying carriers has become one of the top ways shippers can fight fraud on the front lines.

Rigorous driver hiring standards are proving to be more than just a safety measure — they’re a strategic tool for managing insurance costs.

Thin margins and unpredictable risks are the norm, and trucking companies are increasingly turning to captive insurance plans to address those challenges.

Reliance Partners’ Mark Barlar shares what carriers and drivers should know before they submit their first DataQs request.

“I understand that there are times the phone can’t be answered or there are other priorities pulling dispatchers away, but try to keep communication open,” Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels said.

Like all technology, ELDs can malfunction. When that happens, drivers need to know what to do to stay compliant with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Over 57% of roadside inspections result in at least one violation. Reliance Partners’ director of DOT regulatory compliance shares regulations that drivers and carriers commonly overlook.

The VP of safety at Reliance Partners joined Dooner during Monday’s episode of WHAT THE TRUCK?!? to discuss trends that could be contributing to crash fatalities.

“Unfortunately there are still drivers on the road that give the rest a bad name. We’re as an industry looking to change that perception,” Reliance Partners’ Robert Kaferle said.

Freight brokers can “increase their capacity by managing their own dedicated pool of leased trailers,” said Graham Gonzales, vice president of strategic accounts at Reliance Partners. Reliance is America’s fastest growing and most diverse insurance brokerage with a sole focus on the transportation space, specializing in annual and usage-based solutions.

The potential for higher pay and less idle time is appealing. However, constantly sharing a confined space with another person doesn’t work for everyone.

“Some companies, not all, are willing to roll the dice on things like safety and maintenance to try to save money. But, when it comes to safety, neglecting small things can turn into big things,” Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels said.

In just a few weeks, law enforcement personnel across North America will be posted at roads, weigh stations and designated inspection areas to conduct thousands of inspections during CVSA’s 2023 International Roadcheck.

“There have been companies that have introduced [dashcams] with great success and haven’t lost any drivers at all, and then there are other companies that have lost quite a few drivers because of it,” Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels said.

“If there comes a time when you have a crash and attorneys or law enforcement start digging into your records and find falsifications, it’s all going to come to the surface,” said Brian Runnels, vice president of safety at Reliance Partners.

Does your business distinguish the difference between policy and guidance? Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels explains why it should.

Do you know what’s on your PSP record? Reliance Partners’ Mark Barlar shares insight into the story it tells about a driver, how it informs hiring decisions and what drivers can do about it.

By implementing a strong safety and compliance program — like Reliance Partners can help them build — carriers can minimize risk and pay less for insurance.

“It’s possible to be one of the driver’s best allies, and if you have that sort of relationship with your driver, it makes the hard conversations much easier,” Reliance Partners’ Brian Runnels said.

“As a driver, you make your living off your license to drive a tractor-trailer, so it’s critical to make sure it’s in a good standing,” said Robert Kaferle, vice president of safety at Reliance Partners.

“LuckyTruck would not be where it is today without Julie,” said founder and President Devin Bostick of new CEO Julie Zimmer.

Trucking compliance solutions company co-founder Hunter Yaw explains the “today costs” of compliance programs.

Parsyl closes on $25 million series B while currently monitoring vaccine shipments for 200 million people across 80 countries.

The RMX platform is designed to provide end-to-end visibility to trucking companies and insurance carriers.

Parsyl extracts and transforms data into actionable insights for a particular commodity’s transportation network.

President Chad Eichelberger details Reliance Partners’ appearance yet again on the list and why 2021 was a major year for the company.

Daimler Trucks North America’s participation in this round points to an increasing market for Truck-as-a-Service products, tools integrated during the manufacturing process to help fleets manage safety, privacy and intelligent automation tools.

Reliance Partners’ Brandon Richards offers those new to the industry advice on auto liability policies — a prerequisite for every motor carrier.

“With insurance costs and driver turnover skyrocketing over the past several years, our mission is to help fleets overcome these challenges and create a safety culture that is not only valued by their drivers but also their insurance providers,” said co-CEO of Idelic.

Chad Eichelberger and Emily Chiarizia discuss the best approaches for insurance requirements and vetting carriers.

As the size of jury awards has grown, trucking fleets are dealing with how to mitigate the rest. Many are turning to technology.

Ashley Hammonds of Reliance Partners cautions that buying a cheap older truck may have an inverse effect on insurance rates.

Trucking insurance continues to get more expensive. Chris Henry and Daniel Pickett provide information about captive insurance agencies.

To have an edge in the logistics market, it is critical for companies to spot the right talent and retain them in their ranks over a considerable period of time.

Digitalization of roadside assistance services can help fleets in not just getting immediate and seamless assistance but at flat-rate premiums.

Pest infestation within cold storage containers can cause major losses as companies are forced to discard entire shipments.

The winter season witnesses a lot of truck crashes and injuries, making it essential for drivers and carriers to find ways to reduce risk while hauling during inclement weather.

The transport and logistics sector witnesses thousands of cyberattacks every year, and it is essential for stakeholders to be wary of opportunistic threats and impersonation attacks to keep their operations secure.

Assembly Bill 5 limits companies from classifying workers as independent contractors rather than employees to save operational expenses.

Warehouses are under pressure to increase product picking efficiency in a time of expedited e-commerce. Automation and robotics can help.

London-based Loadsure has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance. Learn more about Loadsure, as well as about the largest commercial blockchain alliance in the world.

Every day, more than 40% of all truck drivers on the road use an hour or more of productive driving time to search for a secure parking spot before their hours of service run out.

Digitalizing roadside assistance will help customers get quicker service, while service providers and garages/repair shops can track progress in real-time to ensure high customer satisfaction.

The hard deadline for the ELD mandate hits on December 16, and a significant portion of the fleets that run AOBRDs are looking to put off ELD adoption until the last minute.

The rise of e-commerce and the evolution of customer expectations on delivery schedules have propelled the last-mile segment to be more reactive to demand and highly digitalized.

The Hispanic community has contributed immensely to the new American dream and is currently one of the fastest growing ethnic minorities within the trucking sector.

High driver turnover rates have been common in the trucking industry for several decades. Improving the quality of discussions between fleet management and drivers might help reduce the churn.

Fatigue symptoms can be gathered by measuring the brain waves of truckers, which can be used to sound early warnings before drivers show visible signs of fatigue.

Last-mile freight delivery might involve drivers to act as assemblers, helping set up products like furniture and home appliances. These driver-assemblers have specific skill sets that could never be fully automated.

The driver appreciation week is celebrated across the country to pay respect to the 3.5 million truckers who haul freight all year round, rain or shine.

Mixed reality smart glasses allow workers to become hands-free with logistics operations, helping them to focus solely on the package at hand.

The freight industry is being battered by falling volumes and loosening capacity, with tightening credit standards further exacerbating the situation.

The funding coincides with the launch of an artificial intelligence solution that detects stop sign violations.

Small fleets need to fully understand their financial situation, improve awareness of technology and have set processes in place to fluidly scale up the business.

When designing software for truckers, it is vital for companies to consult drivers at every stage of its development, as apps developed in siloes will only make the lives of truckers more complicated.

With the growth of technology in the trucking sector, drivers are now being monitored every second they are in the cab, which has led to concerns about privacy.

Truck driving is one of the most stressful jobs in the economy, and it is vital for trucking fleets to address the issues drivers face and empower them to stay healthier – both physically and mentally.

The Fourth of July weekend brings a record number of Americans on the highways, increasing accidents due to driving distractions, intoxication and even fatigue.

Acknowledging the widespread issue of distracted driving is the first step to change. Technology can be used to monitor real-time driving behavior, with those insights leveraged to improve driver behavior.

Accidents due to distracted driving is on the rise, and it critical to utilize technology to curb the numbers.

Fleets must look to leverage technology to improve the quality of life and driving experience of truckers, which eventually leads to driver retention.