Category: Truck Safety

Defensive Driving Training Part IV: Vehicle Inspections

Western Truck Insurance

In this article of our defensive driving series, we cover the importance of implementing regular vehicle inspections. Vehicle inspections are a preventive safety strategy and a cornerstone of defensive driving, with each inspection an opportunity to reduce risk, improve driver confidence, and control insurance costs. Why Vehicle Inspections Are Critical Prevent Failures Before They Happen: … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Training Part IV: Vehicle Inspections”

Defensive Driving Training Part III: Cargo Handling & Security

Western Truck Insurance

A safe transport trip doesn’t end with good driving. It also depends on how the cargo is handled before, during, and after transportation. Defensive driving training should involve teaching truckers the skills to load, secure, and protect cargo in a way that prevents damage, loss, and theft. Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can compromise vehicle … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Training Part III: Cargo Handling & Security”

Defensive Driving Training Part II: Regulatory Compliance for Truckers

Western Truck Insurance

In addition to mastering safe driving skills, professional truck drivers must navigate a complex web of regulations designed to protect drivers, the public, and the integrity of the transportation industry. Defensive driving training should go beyond behind-the-wheel skills to include a strong foundation in regulatory compliance. In the following article of our “Defensive Driving” series, … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Training Part II: Regulatory Compliance for Truckers”

Defensive Driving Training in the Trucking Industry

Western Truck Insurance

Part of an ongoing series on improving road safety through driver education Safety is a top priority in the trucking industry. With large vehicles operating for extended periods and covering thousands of miles, defensive driving training plays a crucial role in reducing accidents, protecting lives, and safeguarding company assets. This is the first article in … Continue reading “Defensive Driving Training in the Trucking Industry”

Ensure You Have a Dash Cam Policy in Place

Western Truck Insurance

Dash cams in fleets offer motor carriers several advantages. They can be used as a tool to improve driver safety, reduce accident liability, enhance training opportunities, and protect against fraudulent claims, which can provide cost savings and greater operational efficiencies. Conveying these benefits is critical to getting driver buy-in. You want drivers not to view … Continue reading “Ensure You Have a Dash Cam Policy in Place”

CSA Scores Impact Trucking Insurance

Western Truck Insurance

Safety and compliance in the trucking industry are not just regulatory requirements; they directly impact a motor carrier’s insurance premiums. One of the key factors affecting trucking insurance rates is the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses the CSA to measure a trucking firm’s safety record. These scores … Continue reading “CSA Scores Impact Trucking Insurance”

The Road Ahead with AI and Telematics in Trucking Insurance

Western Truck Insurance

The trucking industry is increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) and telematics to help manage risk and reduce Liability insurance costs. AI-driven telematics tracks trucks and other assets using GPS technology and onboard diagnostics (OBD) to plot their movements on a digital map. The data can reveal key insights, including speeding incidents, hard braking and sudden … Continue reading “The Road Ahead with AI and Telematics in Trucking Insurance”

Overview: FMCSA’s Crash Preventability Determination Program Expansion

Western Truck Insurance

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has expanded its Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) to provide motor carriers and drivers with an enhanced mechanism for disputing non-preventable crashes. The program is designed to improve the fairness of safety records and ensure that preventable and non-preventable crashes are better delineated. The program’s expansion allows the … Continue reading “Overview: FMCSA’s Crash Preventability Determination Program Expansion”

On-the-Road Safety Saves Life, Protects Your CSA Score

Western Truck Insurance

Winter driving can be challenging, even for the most seasoned commercial truck drivers. Icy roads with reduced traction coupled with poor visibility make it hard to handle loads and for big rig drivers to stop. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 70% of roads in the United States are in snowy areas, increasing the … Continue reading “On-the-Road Safety Saves Life, Protects Your CSA Score”

Late or Unreported Reporting Trucking Accident Claims Drive Up Insurance Costs

Western Truck Insurance

Increased claims costs and litigation, coupled with high verdicts and settlements, are driving up Commercial Automobile insurance costs. Another factor behind rising insurance costs is late or unreported accident claims.  There are various reasons why waiting to file the first notice of claim with an insurance company or not filing at all increases costs. The … Continue reading “Late or Unreported Reporting Trucking Accident Claims Drive Up Insurance Costs”