As you know, operating an overweight truck is very dangerous. So much so, it has caused many accidents within the past year. Due to such tragedies, families and survivors of trucks crashes joined the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) a couple weeks ago for the Sorrow to Strength conference. The event included meetings with members of Congress and U.S. Dept. of Transportation officials. These discussions worked to promote the group’s truck safety agenda.

The safety advocates established more support for the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act (SHIPA), sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Rep. James McGovern (D-MA). If the bill were to pass, it would freeze current federal truck size and weight limits. This could in turn end the operation of overweight trucks as well as enforce and ensure accountability.

A national poll conducted by Lake Research Partners revealed to conference goers the positive support for truck weight limitations:

• 68% opposed heavier trucks, with 47% strongly opposed.
• 88% of Americans did not want to pay higher taxes for the damage caused by heavier trucks with 75% strongly opposed.

In addition, TSC released a report ranking the states on truck crash fatalities for 2011. The top 10 worst states in order were: North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi, New Mexico, Kansas, Indiana, and Alabama.

Do any of your truckers drive through these states? As a transportation company, you are responsible for the safety and the outcome of each delivery made. If you are sending out trucks that are overweight, you are putting your vehicles, employees, cargo, and others in lots of danger.

At Wolpert Insurance, we hope you understand how important it is to follow weight laws and regulations. You must make sure each and every commercial vehicle meets their required weight. If they are overweight, this could cause the vehicle to take longer to brake, making it more prone to a roll over in a crash and cause damage to roads and others due to the heaviness.

Don’t leave your drivers or business exposed to risks you can control. Your trucking company requires specialized insurance and we can offer these solutions to you. There are many unique dangers, hazards, and mishaps you could face out on the road. We can help you find the appropriate plan to match your distinct needs. Get the protection you deserve with our fleet insurance by contacting us at 888.596.5344 today!

On April 26th, a safety fair was held in Marshfield. This event was open to the public, featuring law enforcement, military, and safety department boats, aircraft, and vehicles. The event has turned into a family-friendly day, with food, children’s activities, and police dog demonstrations. The Marshfield Airport was one of two venues for the event.

Marshfield Safety Day ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the airport and at the Marshfield town pier. At these spots, vessels from the State Police, Marshfield harbormaster’s office, Marshfield Fire Department dive team, and Plymouth Police Department marine unit were on display for the community to learn about.

Families also were able to tour the boats and view a variety of helicopters, airplanes, Humvees, boats, and all-terrain vehicles. In addition, different trailers from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and NStar put on safety demonstrations.

Was your trucking company able to participate in this event? Whether or not you were there to view the sights or hold a demonstration, it is important that your employees are aware of how their job affects the safety of the public. Operating a large fleet vehicle takes a lot of responsibility, which is why safety training and having fleet insurance is so necessary. Some examples of risks your drivers could face while operating their commercial trucks include:

• Dangerous intersections
• Traffic issues
• Distractions while driving
• Staying safe distances between vehicles
• Drugs and alcohol abuse on the job
• Backing up the truck
• Moving at too high or too low of a speed
• The vehicle’s operating condition
• Changing lanes
• Fatigue and sleepiness
• Entering or leaving a parking lot

At Wolpert Insurance, we hope your company abides by good safety procedures so that the risk of accidents and injuries to your drivers and the public can be eliminated. To help everyone become even more aware, you could become a public safety advocate by holding defensive driving training classes, learn to conduct a risk management assessment, and understand vehicle maintenance procedures. Having these policies communicated to all of your employees and the community along with quality protection will benefit your trucking business greatly!