All owners of moving and storage companies should be aware of the proper procedure when pulled over by an officer. That is exactly why our movers insurance experts have put together this three-part blog. If you have missed the first two portions, be sure to check out our blog and backtrack!

In the final installment of this series, we would like to discuss how you should be treating the police officer that has pulled you over. Acting out or overreacting could land you in some serious trouble!

To avoid more trouble, it is important to be respectful. Do this by:

•    Having your documentation ready

•    Addressing the individual as “officer” or “trooper”

•    Never attempting to offer gifts or bargain with the officer

•    Understanding that your stop may actually be recorded (there is audio and video equipment at times!)

•    Keeping in mind that these officials are simply doing their job to keep drivers safe

In the event that a driver is issued a ticket or violation report, it is important that he or she notifies the company immediately. It is important to follow all instructions on the paperwork!

We hope that you have enjoyed this three-part blog series and hope that in the event that you are pulled over and inspected, you are 100% ready.

Speaking of being ready… our agents believe that being prepared for the unexpected should always be a priority, especially when it comes to protection. For more information on our movers insurance program, contact us at Wolpert Insurance.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Pulled over? Uh-oh! Last week, we discussed conducting a thorough “pre-trip” inspection to make sure you are fully prepared to start a journey. This week, we have a few tips to offer for those times that you are pulled over, how to handle it and what documents will be necessary to show the officer. While our main priority is to provide insurance for moving companies, we still believe it is important to discuss important issues surrounding the moving and storage field.

First, let’s discuss what to do once you are pulled over:

The number one thing is to relax. It is important for you to safely pull over to the right side of the highway. If you feel nervous, keep in mind that if you are operating properly under the FMCSA guidelines, you should not have a problem.

Remember: NEVER get out of your truck unless you are asked to do so by the officer. Make sure you keep all hands in full view. The best position is to have both hands on the steering wheel. Any sudden movement may come off as a possible threat, so stay calm.

It is also important to be prepared by having all documentation in a safe place with easy access.

So what documentation will you need?

•    A current, valid driver’s license for the CMV being used

•    A current medical examiner’s certificate

•    Driver’s record of duty status (log)

•    A copy of the current vehicle annual inspection or annual inspection sticker on the vehicle

•    Automatic or electronic on-board recording device instruction sheets describing how to retrieve hours-of-service information

•    Bill of Lading documentation for common and for-hire carriers

•    Lease agreements, if applicable

•    Vehicle registration documentation

•    Permit credentials such as the following: base state of IRP cab card, IFTA license and decals, state authority credentials, insurance card, any necessary temporary trip permits or special permits such as oversize/overweight, hazardous materials paperwork (shipping papers, emergency response information, etc.)

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure you are always prepared for the unexpected, whether that is being pulled over for a check or involved in an accident. For unexpected claims, you should have coverage in place. Our agency is dedicated to providing insurance to moving companies, such as yourself. For more information, give us a call! We would be happy to speak with you and provide you with a free quote. Be sure to come back next week for the final blog of this series: respecting the officer.

Oh no! It happens to even the best of drivers: you have been pulled over by a local, state or federal police officer. As a CMV driver, it is important to know how to handle this situation without getting yourself into more trouble. The last thing you need is a ticket or issue that could affect your movers insurance premium!

In this three part blog series, we will go over everything from pre-trip inspections, what to do once you are pulled over, necessary documents, the importance of respect and what to do once you are issued a violation or citation. This week, let’s focus on the pre-trip inspections.

First and foremost, it is important to understand that commercial motor vehicles may be stopped at any time and inspected by local, state or federal enforcement authorities. It may occur at weight stations if there is any suspicion that the CMV is unsafely loaded or not in compliance with weight or measurement requirements. Another common cause of being pulled over is for seat belt checks. So how do you prepare for these inspections? It is important to conduct a thorough circle check (pre-trip) everyday prior to beginning your journey. This pre-trip inspection should include:

•    Vehicle overview

•    Check engine compartment

•    Start engine and inspect inside of cab

•    Turn off engine and check lights

•    Walk-around inspection

•    Check signal lights

•    Start engine and check brake system

If you notice any flaws or faults, it is important that you have them fixed before hitting the road. If not, you may find yourself pulled over sooner than later. If you have any other questions or concerns, you can always visit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website!

As for coverage, you can always contact our experts at Wolpert Insurance. Do not hesitate to contact us for a free movers insurance quote or any questions you may have about this unique program. Until then, be sure to come back next week for the second blog of this three part series. We will be discussing what you should do once you are pulled over and the necessary documents that you will need to have on you.

Each week, our agency offers helpful tips and advice, whether having to do with our movers insurance program or having to do with the moving and storage industry. Last week, we went over 10 questions that moving and storage company owners should go over in order to “self audit.” These 10 questions focused on Intrastate Transportation of Household Goods. This week, we have put together another list to become familiar with:

10 questions to ask when it comes to Warehousing / Storage of Household Goods

1.    Do you utilize a combination inventory and warehouse receipt?

2.    If yes, does it limit your liability to $.60 per pound / $2,000 per lot?

3.    Do you offer your storage customers the right to increase/declare excess value? If so, do you also offer excess value and commercial insurance coverage?

4.    Do you always prepare an inventory on household goods going into storage?

5.    Does your warehouse receipt incorporate the inventory by reference?

6.    Do you always prepare an inventory immediately following removal from storage?

7.    Do you store business, legal, and medical records? If yes, do you utilize a “records storage receipt/contract?”

8.    Does your receipt limit liability on a “per-box” basis?

9.    Do you store “Commercial Property?”

10.    If yes, do you use a “commercial property” warehouse receipt?

If you answered no to any of these questions and are looking for answers, feel free to contact our agency. We would be happy to discuss this with you!

At Wolpert Insurance, we are dedicated to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information about the moving and storage industry. It is important for business owners in this field to stay on top of these things, and we want to help you to just that!

For those interested in learning more about our movers insurance program, contact us at any time. We would be happy to speak with you about the coverage we can provide you with, from general liability to warehouse legal liability.

As the owner of a moving and storage company, it is important that you are educated in all areas of this profession, from safety rules and regulations to movers insurance policies. Another area you should be familiar with: self auditing. This week, we have put together a self-auditing list for those transporting Household Goods (HHG).

Ask yourself these 10 questions for Intrastate Transportation of Household Goods:

1.    Does your tariff have a “rules” section as well as rates and charges?

2.    If “yes” to the above question, do your rules also include the terms and conditions of your HHG BOL?

3.    Have you made any changes to your rules since 2008?

4.    Do you provide less than 60 days for customers to file a claim?

5.    Do you offer shippers the opportunity to declare “Excess value(s)”?

6.    Is your offer to declare excess value based on “weight shipped” times $1.25 per pound? If yes, do you always weigh these shipments?

7.    Do you offer to provide “Storage-In-Transit” (SIT)?

8.    If “yes” to the above question, do you limit the maximum SIT period to less than 100 days?

9.    Do you provide “labor only” services?

10.    If “yes” to the above question, do you ask your customers to sign your HHG BOL?

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure you are constantly learning something new and always in-the-know. Besides offering industry-related news and information, we are also here to offer stellar protection. Be sure to contact our agency for more information on our movers insurance program. We offer coverage such as: workers compensation, warehouse legal liability, umbrella insurance, general liability and much more.

Be sure to come back next week when we offer a self-audit list for Warehousing / Storage of Household Goods!

As your trusty movers insurance provider, we believe it is also important to keep you up-to-date on industry-related news! This week, we have put together a Q&A session on CDL drivers and medical cards.

Q: What is the deadline for CDL drivers to submit their medical cards to the State Division of Motor Vehicles?

A: January 2014, or whenever their CDL expires. Whichever date comes first!

Q: Do non-CDL drivers have to submit medical cards to the DMV?

A: No. The new rule only applies to CDL drivers.

Q: Should drivers carry their medical cards with them at all times on the road?

A: No.

Q: What is the consequence if a driver does not submit his or her medical card to the DMV?

A: His or her CDL will be downgraded to an operator’s license. They WILL NOT be able to operate a vehicle requiring a CDL.

Q: Will officials know that a driver does not have a medical card or have an expired card?

A: Yes, this information will be on the driver’s DMV Report which can be reviewed by the officer at the time of the inspection.

For more industry-related news, always come on back! We are dedicated to providing you and your drivers with quality information.

If you are more concerned about getting a free movers insurance quote, look no further! At Wolpert Insurance, we can provide New England moving and storage companies with a comprehensive plan, including: general liability, warehouse legal liability, umbrella insurance, workers compensation and much more.

As the owner of a moving and storage company, it is important to stay on top of safety advice and requirements for your drivers. Hopefully, we do not have to tell you that having movers insurance is a requirement! However, there is one common question that we feel the need to address: Are CMV drivers required to take a Road Test? We have the answers for you here!

Allow us to break down in this information in Q&A form:

Q: As outlined in FMC SR, drivers are required to have a Road Test. Is this true for all CMV drivers?

A: Yes and no. A Road Test is mandatory for all drivers operating a commercial motor vehicle which DOES NOT require a CDL (vehicles of 10,001 -26,000 pounds). For drivers of vehicles that DO require a CDL (vehicles over 26,000 pounds), a company can accept a copy of a valid CDL in lieu of a road test unless the driver will be operating a vehicle requiring a tanker, double or triple endorsement.

Q: Who is able to administer the Road Test to drivers?

A: Any person who is competent to evaluate and determine the results of the test. This means that YES, even your own employee can conduct the Road Test.

Q: What type of vehicle should be used during the road test?

A: The type of vehicle that the driver will be operating for you. If the driver switches over to another type of vehicle, you must administer another Road Test.

Q: Where and for how long do I retain these Road Test and Certificate of Road Tests?

A: You must store away the Road Test and the Certificate of Road Test in their qualification file during the length of time the driver is working for you and three years after.

Our experts at Wolpert Insurance are dedicated to making sure you are well educated on all rules and regulations. If you have any other questions or concerns about CMV driver requirements or even questions about our unique movers insurance policy, do not hesitate to reach out to our agency. We would be more than happy to speak with you!

As the owner of a moving and storage company, it is important to fully understand the rules, regulations and laws that may affect your business. Each week, our agency takes it upon ourselves to keep you up to date on driving laws, movers insurance policies, etc. This week, we would like to discuss Massachusetts case laws that pertain to carriers.

Massachusetts courts have recognized the right of carriers to limit their economic liability. While Massachusetts does not require household goods carriers to offer “full value protection,” the Interstate Commerce Act does. However, for a carrier to lawfully limit its economic liability, the shipper must be given a choice of rates.

Recently, the U.S. 1st Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the right of a carrier to limit its economic liability for cargo loss or damage by offering the shipper the chance to declare a higher value than that provided by the carrier’s base rate liability of 60 cents per pound per article.

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure your moving and storage company is aware of all rules and regulations in the business. It is for your own protection to understand your rights! Speaking of protection; be sure to come and speak with our agency about our comprehensive movers insurance program. We can provide your business with coverage including: general liability, warehouse legal liability, umbrella insurance, workers compensation and much more. We would be more than happy to provide you with a free quote.

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As the owner of a moving and storage company, you know that it is important to stay on top of your drivers and make sure all is running smoothly. However, there may occasionally be a time when a driver is involved in an accident that causes damage to one of your moving trucks. You may end up charging employees back for the damages but on January 25th, 2011, the MA Supreme Court made a decision that may impact the way you handle this issue.

You may look to us to be your movers insurance experts, but we also can help educate you about human resource decisions that impact the way you do business. This blog will discuss charging back an employee’s wages for anything you think they may be responsible for, whether they signed a statement agreeing to the charge back as part of their employment or not. Pay close attention to this scenario:

In this case, the employer is ABC Disposal Service Inc.  ABC’s drivers are occasionally involved in accidents that lead to the damage of ABC’s trucks. In an effort to reduce the number of accidents caused by employees, ABC adopted a policy: Drivers that are involved in an at-fault accident were given two options:

#1: Accept disciplinary accident; or

#2: Incurring a debt to the company for amount of damage and paying that debt as a charge back to their wages.

Ultimately, the ABC safety officer made the determination of fault. After reviewing reports, the officer determined whether the damage caused by the employee was a preventable accident.

When this policy was challenged in court, the court held that a debt could ONLY be established by a court process or other means. During that process the employee must be afforded due process and allowed to participate in the fact finding effort to determine fault.

Are you an employer with policies that are similar to that of ABC’s? Do you charge back your employee’s for lost cell phones, tools, hand dolly’s, carts or other employer provided items? If so, this decision may require changes in YOUR policies moving forward. At Wolpert Insurance, we are here to help! We stay on top of these decisions so you do not have to. Have us provide a free examination of your movers insurance policies today and see what we find!

If you are the owner of a moving and storage company, you know you have a unique set of responsibilities. Your job description is filled with a variety of duties, from training drivers and employees to choosing reliable movers insurance to putting together tariff rules.

Speaking of tariff rules, have you already put together a rules section? Having a set of rules accompanying your schedule of rates and charges is important; if you have no rules, you may find yourself in legal trouble down the line.

Your tariff rules and rates should comply with MDPU format rules published in Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR), title 220 CMR section 260. Your tariff SHOULD address the following (at least):

•    Application of Tariff

•    Advancing charges or fees on behalf of the customer

•    Binding estimate

•    Complete article

•    Declaration of value

•    Perishable articles

•    Waiting time

•    Inspection of articles

•    Claims for loss or damage

•    Exclusive use of vehicle

•    Depreciation

•    Articles of extraordinary value

•    Declaration of excess value

•    Transport of frozen foods

•    Required written declaration of explosive and dangerous articles

•    Hoisting or lowering

•    Movers insurance coverage

•    Dismantling and reassembly of articles

•    Pick up from or delivery to warehouse

•    Bill of lading terms and conditions

•    Dangerous articles that you will not accept for transportation

•    Computing time

•    Impractical or impossible operation, pick up, delivery of or auxiliary services

•    Furnishing of helpers

•    Minimum charges

•    Estimates, required to be written

•    Inventory rejected by shipper

•    Articles likely to damage carrier’s equipment

•    Articles likely to injure carrier’s personnel or property of other customers

•    Listing and explanation of holidays

•    Limitation of carrier’s liability

•    Special servicing of property

•    Making or tagging articles, items or boxes

•    Property subject to bill of lading

•    And much more…

Without these rules, you may find yourself in trouble if a lawsuit or issue should arise. Do you really want a judge to decide what the rules are? We didn’t think so!

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure you are protected from legal issues. Be sure to grab a free movers insurance quote from us. We can provide your company with protection such as general liability, warehouse legal liability, workers compensation, umbrella insurance and much more!