Ontario Trucking News, Issue 114, January 2013

Business insuranCe MaTTers
Driver Experience & the Application Process
By linDa COlGan
When canvassing
the markets for
insurance the
needs of transportation
carriers vary from non
fleet to fleet. Many factors
are brought into the
underwriting process, but
for this article we will focus
on drivers and their experience.
For fleet insurance safety,
representatives are sent by
the Insurers to meet with
the owners and the safety
managers. During these
meetings drivers’ files,
maintenance, and logs are
examined to determine
how the carrier is conducting
hiring, controlling
maintenance and providing
continuing education
for all owner-operators
and drivers. Future directions
will focus on regulation
changes in the area of
health and wellness, and
the hiring and educating
of employees. These are
areas in which smaller
companies have been
known to “fly under the
radar” with their Insurers,
though not necessarily the
governing bodies which
enforce these issues.
Typically, a company’s
unit count must reach a
specific number before
the loss prevention repre-
sentatives are sent out to
assess a risk. Being able to
“fly under the radar” is not
always positive. Growth
brings change and with
it comes greater accountability
for owner-operators
and drivers hired at management
level. This applies
whether one truck or 100
trucks are on the road for
one company.
For non fleet carriers
the traditional markets
require that all carriers
provide reference checks
before approval is granted
for a driver to be insured
on the carrier’s insurance
programme. Some Insurers
may apply a surcharge
if a driver has less than
the minimum required
experience. Although difficult,
the process is one of
education and necessity.
The initial stages of
securing a full record
of past experience can
be grueling if the driver
has had several employers
within a short time
frame. It is common practice
among fleet and non
fleet carriers that potential
new drivers provide their
past employment history.
Having on hand dates of
employment, previous employer
contacts and phone
numbers, reference letters,
educational certificates,
current abstract and CVDR,
certainly expedite the application
process.
If any advice can be
given, being prepared certainly
conveys a favourable
impression to an employer
if the applicant is organized
and professional. By
doing things right from the
start it is not only important,
it may be critical.
Linda Colgan is currently
a Transportation Insurance
Advisor with JDIMI.
Please contact Linda by Tel:
416.809.3103 or email lindac@jdimi.com.
V
shell rOTella
Truck Industry Related Scholarship
Applications Now Open
Burlington, Ontario
- Applications are
now being accepted
for scholarships
to support students enrolled
in trucking-related
technical accreditation
programs throughout Canada.
Shell Rotella and the
Heavy Duty Distributor
Council of Canada (HDDC)
are continuing their partnership
in making these
scholarships available and
encouraging the next generation
of skilled workers.
Shell Canada Products,
maker of Shell Rotella ®
heavy duty motor oils, and
the HDDC, a non-profit
corporation serving the
heavy-duty aftermarket,
will provide six scholarships
to students enrolled
full-time in a program or
an apprenticeship relating
to the field of heavy
duty equipment, focusing
on road transport.
Recipients of each of the
$2,500 scholarships will
be chosen based on academic
merit, financial
need and commitment to
contributing to the future
success of the trucking
industry.
“Shell avidly supports
the trucking industry and
those who have devoted
their professional lives to
its advancement. We’re
thrilled to bring these
scholarship opportunities
to Canadian campuses
again this year,” said Chris
Guerrero, Shell Rotella ®
Global Brand Manager.
“HDDC and Shell Rotella
® are strongly aligned
in their commitment to
industry advancement;
communication and promoting
careers in trucking.”
said Ian Johnston,
HDDC President.
Full application details
are available online at
www.shell.ca/rotella, application
deadline: February
28, 2013.
Students looking for
additional scholarship
information are encouraged
to connect with their
guidance advisor for more
application submission
details. V
January 2013 11