For truckers and fleet owners, being involved in an accident is stressful enough. And, sometimes a claim can turn into a lawsuit. A lawsuit can occur when someone claims serious injury, there is significant property damage, liability is disputed, and/or medical costs or lost wages are substantial. Unfortunately, trucking companies are often targets of lawsuits … Continue reading “Claims Series Part V: How to Handle Trucking Accident Lawsuits”
When a trucking accident occurs, the first thing you should be concerned about is safety and medical care if there are injuries. Reporting the incident to your insurance company and following up on claims are also critical. Proper claims follow-up can affect how quickly a claim is resolved, how much it costs, and how it … Continue reading “Claims Series Part IV: After a Trucking Accident, Claims Follow-Up”
Commercial Auto insurance has seen consistent rate increases over the past several years. The average renewal rate increase in Q4 2025, according to IVANS, is 6.97% (depending on the region and individual account’s risk profile). Small fleets and those with favorable loss experience are performing better, whereas large fleets, heavy-truck fleets, and those with losses … Continue reading “Claims Series Part III: How Claims Impact Trucking Insurance”
Even the safest drivers can be involved in a collision. In fact, more than 160,000 truck accidents occur in the U.S. each year, including more than 13,000 in California, according to FMCSA data. What’s critical are the steps you and your drivers take immediately following a collision to protect everyone’s safety involved in the accident, … Continue reading “Claims Series Part II: Steps to Take Following a Trucking Collision”
In June 2025, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) updated the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC) to include the English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule under Part I – Driver. The rule stipulates that a driver can be placed out of service if they cannot read and speak English sufficiently to communicate with an enforcement … Continue reading “CHP Begins Enforcing FMCSA English Proficiency Rules for Truck Drivers”
According to the most recent statistics available from the National Safety Council, in 2023, 5,375 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash. This is an 8.4% decrease from 2022 but a 43% increase in the last 10 years. Also in 2023, 114,552 large trucks were involved in crashes resulting in an injury. Large trucks … Continue reading “Claims Series Part I: Why You Should Report Trucking Accidents Immediately”
While automobiles are more frequently involved in accidents, trucks, particularly larger trucks, are associated with more severe outcomes. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in 2023, 5,375 large trucks were involved in fatal crashes, resulting in 5,472 deaths. Of these fatalities, 70% were passenger vehicle occupants, 18% were truck occupants, and 12% … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part IX: Accident Trends”
Defensive driving is a critical safety tool for truck drivers. It combines awareness, anticipation, and careful habits to help drivers avoid accidents before they happen. It allows drivers to be proactive on the road, predicting and averting potential issues. What is Skill Testing for Truckers Skill testing or training for truckers goes beyond the standard … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part VIII: Skill Testing for Truck Drivers”
The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires supervisors of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) drivers to complete 60 minutes of training on alcohol misuse and 60 minutes on controlled substance use to recognize reasonable suspicion of impairment. The objective of the training is to equip supervisors with the information and resources to identify physical, behavioral, speech, and … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part VII: Drug & Alcohol Supervisor and Driver Training”
It’s that time of year when weather conditions change, and truckers need to be aware of how adverse road conditions, like rain, snow, sleet, fog, and gusting winds, can impact visibility, braking distance, and overall vehicle control. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, approximately 12% of vehicular crashes are weather-related. Specifically, … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Part VI: Managing Adverse Road Conditions”
