There are a lot of regulations out there that truckers need to adhere to. Recently, the FMCSA’s Clearinghouse took effect, which means that there are new requirements truck drivers – owner-operators included – need to know about. Things get a little complicated for owner-operators because they’re both employer and driver. That’s why we’ve put together some need-to-know information about Clearinghouse for owner-operators.
Transportation
If your business is a part of the transportation industry, you know how hard it can be to get the right insurance to protect you. There are plenty of risks that you face every day on the road. When you send out your trucks you need to know that they’re protected with the right insurance coverage. Here at InsuranceHub, we specialize in transportation insurance. We’ll help you manage your risks and customize an insurance plan that fulfills all of your company’s needs.
We’ve dedicated a section of our blog to transportation-related articles to help you protect everything you’ve worked so hard to build. Feel free to click through and read at your leisure. We enjoy passing along insurance information and safety tips that will help transportation companies just like yours be prepared. Armed with knowledge and a great insurance plan, you’ll be able to hit the road with confidence.
What new ventures should know about their insurance rates
Trucking is not the easiest industry to get into. It’s not just starting up the business itself. It’s the insurance. Truck insurance can be a challenge. There are a lot of coverages you have to think about, of course, but it’s also the cost. Truck insurance is expensive, especially for new ventures. This is why it’s important for business owners of new ventures to understand some of the things that affect their truck insurance rates. It’s all part of navigating a cost-effective way to start a business.
What are the three safety ratings a motor carrier can get?
Motor carriers are subject to a lot of regulations, something that anyone who’s spent in the trucking world knows all too well. The FMCSA regulates commercial motor vehicles, and motor carriers have to comply with relevant laws and regulations. A lot of questions can come out of these regulations, and one question motor carriers might be is what safety ratings from on-site investigations are and what they mean. We’ll explain.
What’s the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC?
The FMCSA’s goal is to make the roads safer – they regulate the trucking industry with safety as a top priority. Trucks are subject to many different laws, regulations, and requirements. Inspections can be stressful, but they are inevitable. Trucking safety is important, and that includes the proper handling of hazardous materials. That’s why there’s an entire BASIC (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Category) about it, and it’s called, unsurprisingly, the Hazardous Materials Compliance BASIC. We’ll go over what you need to know about this particular BASIC.
Working with owner-operators as a motor carrier
If you’re a motor carrier, you probably work with owner-operators. They’re an essential part of the trucking world. (You could even say that they’re a cog in the machine that keeps the transportation industry running smoothly.) But though they make the world go round, owner-operators can be an issue for you as a motor carrier if they start affecting your insurance rates. The questions are why they can negatively impact your rates and what you should consider when you partner with owner-operators.
What is the Unsafe Driving BASIC?
When it comes to driving a commercial motor vehicle, it’s important to operate the vehicle in the safest manner possible. Drivers need to be very careful as they drive, as the FMCSA takes safety seriously. There are seven categories called the BASICs (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category). One of those BASICs is called the Unsafe Driving BASIC, and it’s definitely a very important one. We’ll explain what this BASIC covers and how you can improve.
How to improve in the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC
The trucking world comes with a lot of regulations, especially when it comes to maintaining the truck itself. You and your drivers need to make sure you’re taking care of your vehicles and following all relevant federal regulations. There is even an FMCSA BASIC Category (Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category) called Vehicle Maintenance. We’re going to go over what the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC is and how you can improve in this category.
Your DOT Number matters
Truck businesses with clean loss records might wonder why their insurance costs so much. Maybe there aren’t any speeding tickets accidents on your record, but you’re still seeing rates that are higher than what they could be. Your DOT Number might be the reason why. Your business’s DOT Number keeps track of violations you have received, which can hurt your insurance situation. Your DOT Number has a big effect on your insurance rates.
Attending the Slow Down, Move Over rally in Alabama
At the invitation of Wes Passmore, operator of Classic Towing and Recovery, I attended the Slow Down, Move Over rally in Hueytown, Alabama. The rally was held to bring awareness to the dangers of being a tow operator on the side of the road in traffic. Though there are state laws requiring drivers to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles, plenty of drivers don’t. That results in tow operators getting injured and even killed while they’re working on the side of the road.
Women in trucking: How can you hire more women truck drivers?
The trucking industry has been facing a truck driver shortage, and some have proposed that hiring more women could be part of the solution to the problem. But despite the fact that there’s definitely room for more women in trucking, it can be difficult to persuade more women to become truck drivers. We’ll go over some of the obstacles that prevent women from entering the industry, and we’ll also go over some tips for truck companies to keep in mind if they want to hire more women.