ATTENTION: There are new DOT hours of service! These rules went into effect on February 27th, 2012. If your moving and storage company was not aware of these changes, allow us to inform you. Our experts at Wolpert Insurance are able to provide you with much more than just a free movers insurance quote; we strive to provide you with updates and news in the industry, too!

First, new rules started on February 27th:

•    Drivers may now log time spent “resting” in a parked commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as “off duty”. The driver cannot be working during this time.

•    Drivers may log up to 2 hours in the passenger seat of a moving CMV as “off duty” (provided that time is immediately preceded or followed by at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth).

For more information on changes going on in the industry, be sure to head over to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website. Also, be sure to come back next week when we will be discussing new mandatory rules that will be in effect starting July 1, 2013.

As for coverage, you can head over to Wolpert Insurance! We would be happy to provide your moving and storage company with a free movers insurance quote. Our specialties include: automobile liability, automobile physical damage, warehouse liability, motor truck cargo and more.

See you next week!

As a moving and storage company, many of your employees spend the majority of their time out on the road. Consequently, the chance of an automobile accident increases significantly. Those who have been involved in an accident before will understand how chaotic this situation can be, especially if the opposing driver is difficult. Luckily, having the proper movers insurance in place will make this issue much easier to deal with.

While coverage is sure to help your business through this, it is important that you remember a few other key responsibilities. Here are seven duties to remember:

#1: Take a picture of the crash site. It is important to take a picture of the intersection and entire site before the vehicles are moved.

#2: Find witnesses. If there are people around, find your witnesses. If people do not step up to the plate as a witness, take a picture of their license plate.

#3: Take a picture of the people in the opposing vehicle. Take a quick snapshot of all the passengers in the other vehicle. Believe it or not, some people will claim that there were more passengers in the vehicle. Not without proof!

#4: Take a picture of the opposing vehicle. You can take a picture and see your own car at any time; take a picture of the other vehicle!

#5: Find out the owner of the opposing vehicle. The driver of the vehicle may not always be the owner. It is important to find out who OWNS the vehicle and get the proper information.

#6: Report where the opposing vehicle can be found. Where is the other car being towed to? It is important to find out!

#7: Do not forget to report the crash. Filling out a crash report should be the number one priority!

The bottom line: it is best to cover your company as best as you can. Doing this through witnesses, reports and photos will benefit the company and the outcome, especially if you were not the one at fault.

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure you are protected in the event of an accident, which is why we offer a unique variety of coverage options for your business. Our specialties include: automobile liability, automobile physical damage, general liability, commercial umbrella and much more. Stop by and grab a free quote today!

Attention moving and storage companies: are you aware of the recent MA
Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report revisions? If your company has any
copies of the previous version in your office or vehicles, be sure to
replace them with the new revised copy.

Sure, we may be your go-to agency for questions and concerns about movers insurance, but we are also here to help keep you updated on important changes going on in the industry! For those who are not familiar with the Crash Report process, we have pointed out below some key information.

•    If an operator of a motor vehicle is involved in a crash in which a person is killed or injured or a situation where there is damage in excess of $1,000 to a vehicle or property, he or she is required to fill out a Crash Operator Report.

•    A Crash Report must be filed with the Registry, the local police department where the crash occurred and your insurance company within five days after a crash.

•    Drivers are not required to file a Crash Report with the Registry and the local police if the crash occurred on a private road, private parking lot, a driveway or other private ways. However, the driver may still be required to report any injuries of a person, animal, or any property damage to the local police, property owners and insurer.

What happens if the operator of the motor vehicle is incapacitated and unable to complete the report? Then it’s up to you as the vehicle owner to complete the report within the allotted time frame and file it with  the appropriate parties.

We encourage that all companies conduct periodic employee training programs to educate their drivers on what to do, the information to gather and the images to capture in the event of an accident.  Come back next week and we will give you our top seven things you may forget to do in the event of accident.

For more information about being covered in the event of an accident, turn to Wolpert Insurance! We provide insurance for moving and storage companies with policies tailored to fit their needs and their industry. While many insurance programs fail to acknowledge the difference between trucking insurance and movers insurance, we do not. Allow us to differentiate your business from the rest and provide you with a competitive premium quotation for comprehensive coverage. For general liability, cargo, workers compensation or automobile coverage, look to Wolpert Insurance for all your needs.

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According to the U.S. Department of Transportation FMCSA, a new ban on hand held cellular phones has been in effect since January 3, 2012. If you are the owner of a moving and storage company, we believe that it is important to be aware of this new ban! As a result, we have put together a few FAQ’s that may be helpful for you to look over. Besides offering reliable insurance for moving and storage companies, we also feel the need to provide both you and your employees with the latest news in order to keep you safe out on the road.

The U.S. Department of Transportation FMCSA offers a variety of FAQ’s and answers. We picked out some of the most important ones for your business to know:

Q: Are CMV drivers allowed to use push-to-talk mobile communications equipment while driving?

A: CMV drivers are allowed to do so, but only if the driver does not reach for, dial, or hold the actual mobile telephone in his or her hand while driving. The driver MUST be able to reach and touch the button needed to operate this feature from their normal seated position, with their seatbelt on.

Q: Are holders of a CDL license subject to this regulation only while driving a CMV or any vehicle?

A: CDL holders are subject to the Federal rule while driving a CMV only.

Q: What drivers are covered by the Federal rule?

A: According to the FMCSA website, “Drivers of CMVs in interstate commerce and drivers who operate a vehicle that is transportation an abundance of hazardous material requiring placarding under 49 CFR Part 172 or any quantity of material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 CFR part 73 are covered by the Federal rule.”

Q: Can you dial a phone number under this rule?

A: No; dialing a hand held mobile phone while driving a CMV in interstate commerce is strictly prohibited by this rule.

For the full list of questions and answers, feel free to check out the list on the U.S. Department of Transportation FMCSA website.

All of us at Wolpert Insurance hope that you have found these FAQ’s helpful! We are dedicated to making sure both you and your drivers are safe and protected while out on the road. Allow us to further protect your business with our insurance for moving and storage companies. Such a specific business deserves special coverage, which is what we have to offer. New England movers insurance coverage can include: general liability, motor truck cargo, warehouse legal liability, workers compensation and much more. Contact us for a free quote today!