For several years you have heard and read about the problems related to commercial auto insurance and risk management. This is an issue that not only affects PLM and you, our customers, but the insurance industry as a whole. Some of the factors affecting the commercial auto loss results are inexperienced drivers, distracted driving, overcrowded roads, increase in road construction, as well as rising medical and repair costs.
PLM has taken significant actions to improve our commercial auto results, enhancing our loss control assistance for our customers. We also have raised rates and tightened our underwriting standards as necessary.
So, what else can be done? There are several additional practices businesses can adopt to control auto insurance costs and improve driver safety.
Driver selection & Training: More than 75 percent of the new losses we have seen have been caused by “driver error.” PLM has partnered with companies to help aid our customers with driver monitoring and training. Samba Safety, an industry leader in driver risk management, offers continuous MVR monitoring. Continuous MVR monitoring goes a step ahead of simply pulling MVRs at one point in time by monitoring behavior in real time, so it can be addressed as soon as possible. This service identifies at-risk drivers, assesses driver performance, and enforces driver policies.
PLM has also partnered with Driver’s Alert, a safety solution that helps improve driver behavior and mitigate financial losses. Driver’s Alert is one of the pioneers of the “How’s My Driving” program, a decal-based driver observation program. Their meticulous validation process ensures that you receive accurate driver behavior data and identify unsafe drivers before an accident occurs. Driver’s Alert also offers corrective action training courses designed to raise employee awareness and address specific unsafe driving behaviors.
Preventative Maintenance: It is important to maintain your fleet and keep your equipment up-to-date and running through scheduled servicing, inspections and vehicle repairs. Through preventative maintenance you can proactively avoid and reduce vehicle breakdowns and reduce the number of unscheduled repairs and downtime. Some items to consider as preventative maintenance include:
- Oil changes
- Tire rotations
- Worn parts replacement
- Overall vehicle inspections such as fluid levels and air pressure in tires.
An effective program should include a checklist of service tasks with scheduled maintenance times.
Take Advantage of PLM Loss Control Resources: In addition to our partnerships with companies like Samba Safety and Driver’s Alert, PLM also provides valuable resources to our customers. The resources below are available on our website, or you can request a supply be mailed out to your business.
- Business Auto Standard Checklist: A quick reference on best practices of a safe fleet operation.
- Sample Fleet Management Policy: A comprehensive template of a written safety program that you can use and modify for your business.
- Loss Control Guides: Guides on different topics such as Distracted Driving, Vehicle Loading & Unloading, and Load Securement.
- Safety Stickers: PLM provides stickers and window clings for your fleet such as Wide Right Turn stickers, Vehicle Height window clings, and No Texting while Driving window clings.
Plus, our Loss Control Representatives are available to work with you to enhance your risk management capabilities and provide useful guidance on fleet safety within your business.
Ultimately, it is up to you to be proactive in building a fleet safety program in your organization, but we are here to assist in making your business safer, minimizing losses and preventing any costly interruptions in your daily operations.
Loss control materials can be found on our website at https://www.plmins.com/loss-control/loss-control-guides/. To request any specific materials, please contact Customer Service at 800-752-1895 or by email at custserv@plmins.com.
