What to Know About Becoming a Commercial Owner Operator
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What to Know About Becoming a Commercial Owner Operator

A lot of commercial drivers become an owner-operator in the industry. To be an owner-operator provides you with more freedom. However, to achieve this goal, there are three things that you need to consider.

Registration

To become an owner-operator, you have to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. When you register, you will obtain your USDOT number. This will be used to collect your information. You will need to send the FMCSA proof that you have insurance.

Insurance Options

When it comes to insurance, you need to ensure that you have adequate coverage. Keep in mind that your insurance needs extend behind coverage for accidents. Insurance has to cover a variety of risks, such as:

As a new owner operator, insurance agents and brokers can assist you in finding the right options.

Load Boards

As an owner operator, it’s up to you to find your own loads. In the past, owner operators had to call companies in search of loads. Nowadays, there are websites called load boards. These websites can assist you in finding loads. Some of these websites cost money for the brokers and carriers, while others are free.

If you want to become a truck owner-operator, your first step will be to register. Then, you can focus on insuring your business and finding loads.

Professional Liability Insurance for Almost Any Business
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Professional Liability Insurance for Almost Any Business

Errors and omissions policies are a backbone form of coverage for many professionals, especially those in high trust positions like doctors, lawyers, and financial professionals. They’re hardly the only ones who could benefit from professional liability insurance, though. Most of the time, if a professional is acting as a freelancer or one-person business, some form of E&O coverage for their professional liabilities will wind up being a good idea. From IT contractors to auto repair professionals, each skilled career has its own unique risks associated with professional misjudgment or accidental oversight, and miscellaneous errors and omissions insurance programs exist to provide individualized coverage for those businesses.

Assessing Professional Risks for Yourself

Most of the time, if you aren’t in practice on your own or working freelance, your employer assumes the risk for your professional decisions on behalf of a company. There are some cases where this isn’t true, but largely it is, and as a result many people have very little experience with professional liability coverage. As the workforce becomes more and more dependent with fewer and fewer industries relying on wage labor, that landscape is changing, and diverse E&O programs have become very high-demand. If your current coverage doesn’t include professional liability, now is the time for an insurance review with an eye toward adding the policy. Luckily, there are providers with over a quarter of a century of experience with miscellaneous E&O coverage, so it won’t be hard to find a provider.

A Quick Review of Commercial Vehicle Insurance
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A Quick Review of Commercial Vehicle Insurance

Commercial auto insurance comes in a variety of forms, but companies who own a fleet of vehicles may want to consider a policy that insured all the vehicles at once rather than individually. Regardless of how many employees may be driving the vehicles, fleet insurance is more comprehensive coverage that addresses the potential liability of any employee operating a vehicle.

Vehicle Ownership and Ultimate Liability

An employee driving a company car who gets into an accident may create legal chaos in the event that physical or bodily damage occurs to third parties or properties. The company, as the owner of the vehicle, bears the responsibility for the accident and subsequent claims filed against the company. A commercial plan that provides owned auto coverage can bear the brunt of the financial strain.

Coverage Areas for Company Vehicles

When a fleet of vehicles is insured, typical coverage protections include:

  • Liability coverage
  • Medical payments coverage
  • Comprehensive and collision (physical damage) coverage
  • At-fault party damage coverage

The number of employees that may be listed as drivers for the vehicles, as well as the individual driving records, will factor into the cost of this coverage. The primary geographic locations of vehicle operations and the types of vehicles being insured also impact premium rates.

Vehicle insurance is a must-have for any commercial business. Specific coverage requirements depend on the number of vehicles owned and the use that the vehicles typically see.

Know the Difference between PLI and GLI
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Know the Difference between PLI and GLI

Public liability insurance is an important form of protection for the companies who need it, but deciding whether or not to add it to your general liability insurance can be a hassle if you’ve never dealt with this kind of business insurance before. The difference between coverage types can be hard to spot since general liability protection includes public liability coverage. It also includes many other types of liability, like third party liability for damages related to the workmanship of your products or to services like repairs. For some businesses, the public liability coverage in a general policy is enough, because they only infrequently have guests on-site and their facilities are not open to the public.

When Businesses Need PLI

Adding PLI means taking out extended coverage for that portion of your general liability insurance. It’s designed to make sure your general policy doesn’t hit an annual cap due to claims in this area, so you are not left unprotected in the other areas it covers if you’ve got a large claim or several claims that take you to the general liability coverage cap. This helps you avoid overbuying the general policy. PLI policies almost universally require an existing general liability policy to be valid, because this insurance is meant to extend your protection. It’s not a replacement for general liability insurance.

The Liability Risks to Your Gun Range
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The Liability Risks to Your Gun Range

Every business requires some form of liability protection. Some industries, such as the firearm industry may require more liability protection than other businesses. If you own a gun range, then you need to consider a multitude of risks. With the right gun range liability management, however, your business should remain in functioning for years to come.

Here are some liability risks that you need to mitigate.

Slips and Falls

One of the most common accidents at a firing range is a slip and fall accident. This is common in most businesses. When someone falls on your property, it is your responsibility. As a business owner, whether it is a guest to your club or a staff member, you are liable for the injuries suffered. Without liability coverage, it may be difficult to handle these costs.

Ear Damage

Firing ranges are loud. It is up to you to ensure that all your clients are protected. If you have defective ear coverings or if someone files a claim against your company for ear damage, then you could have to pay legal fees and medical costs.

Every firearm establishment or gun range requires customized insurance options. Your company has unique needs and it is up to you to ensure that you have adequate coverage.

3 Qualities of Top-Notch Professionals
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3 Qualities of Top-Notch Professionals

When you are looking for an insurance policy, it can sometimes feel like car shopping. The salesmen are pushy and trying to get you to buy something you don’t need. However, a quality agent, like those who work for Republic Insurance, can make the biggest difference when trying to narrow down your liabilities and coverage needs. According to programbusiness.com/, a top-notch professional has three important qualities.

  1. Knowledgeability. Your insurance search needs to start with an agent who knows what you need. Don’t go to a company specializing in homeownership if you need commercial business coverage. Use referrals to find an agent with knowledge of your area of coverage and move to the next qualification.
  2. Accessibility. If an agent is too busy to meet with you or answer your questions on the phone, it might not be a good fit. Insurance is a complex business, and you won’t know what you are doing or what you need without an attentive agent helping you navigate the policies.
  3. Boundaries. Your agent should respect your needs and set boundaries on the salesmanship. You shouldn’t be pressured into purchasing excess coverage where liability does not exist. You are to be treated like a valued client and not just a commission check.

Start your search with confidence through these three qualities. You will locate the relationship you need with the insurance provider and its agents.

Secure Your Business With Strong Liability Coverage
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Secure Your Business With Strong Liability Coverage

When running a business, it is crucial to protect every component from the risks of every day and the litigation of unhappy third-parties. One of these business aspects is your management. It is not uncommon these days for a lawsuit to the board of directors, executives and the company itself. This is why it vital to invest in the right kinds of management liability. Working with a management liability insurance specialist can get you the types of coverage you need to build a strong defense.

What Exactly is Management Liability?

Management liability is the title for the types of insurance that protect those at higher levels of the company. This usually includes directors, managers and officers. This coverage helps you handle the financial burden involved with lawsuits made against these members of management and there are few individual kinds.

Directors and Officers Liability

D&O handles the litigation claiming directors and officers made a negligent decision or acted in a wrongful way. This can include decisions that resulted in the financial loss of a third-party.

Employment Practices Liability

This type of liability protects companies from lawsuits brought forth by employees. Litigation can include alleged sexual harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, failure to employ and emotional distress.

If you want to learn more about this important coverage, consult a management liability insurance specialist today to get started.