Industry News
Back to School Traffic Safety: Protecting Students and Drivers
Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
August marks the start of a new school year and an increase of traffic risks for company drivers. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports motor-vehicle fatalities often increase in the month of August. Daily driver routes can be impacted by new drivers, students on e-bikes, and school zones. It is important to prepare and train company drivers for potential hazards they will face on the road.
Fleet Maintenance: An Overlooked Pillar of Jobsite Safety for Electrical Contractors
Author, Kyle Dunlap, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Fleet maintenance is essential for electrical contractors that rely on service trucks, vans, and heavy-duty vehicles to transport employees, tools, and materials safely to job sites on a daily basis. When contractors prioritize clean, safe, and well-maintained vehicles on highways, back roads, and active construction zones, they protect their workforce, prevent costly mishaps, maximize fuel consumption and reduce insurance challenges at renewal.
Three Key Elements in A Fleet Safety Program for Plumbers and HVAC Contractors
Author, Matt Gorham, Account executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Commercial auto insurance continues to be problematic for plumbers and HVAC contractors as skyrocketing premiums are eroding profitability.
Fleet Safety Starts with Strong MVR Guidelines
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
One of the biggest liabilities that any landscape company faces occurs every day. This liability has nothing do with planting, mowing, trimming or irrigation work, in fact this exposure begins before any of the actual work takes place. Auto liability continues to be one of the most significant exposures every landscape company takes on when sending commercial vehicles out onto the road.
Training Your Landscape Fleet Drivers with Rancho Mesa
Author, Drew Garcia, Vice President, Landscape Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Landscape businesses are well aware of the risks associated with their employees operating vehicles on a daily basis. The commercial insurance market has also taken notice of the risks and responded with rate increases and a diminishing appetite to write the policies.
Best Practice Tips for Lowering Your Commercial Auto Rates
Author, Jeremy Hoolihan, Partner, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
For the last several years, the insurance industry has seen a significant increase in auto rates. In 2023, the top ten auto carriers in the US all saw double digit rate increases. This, in addition to the rate increases we’ve seen since 2018, equates to rates anywhere from 20-50% higher than we had just a few years ago. According to US auto insurers, these rate increases are still not keeping up with the skyrocketing claim frequency and severity. Therefore, we are likely to continue to see auto rates increase before things level off.
Back to the Books: Fall Months Call for Driver Preparedness
Author, Megan Lockhart, Media Communications and Client Services Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As schools begin filtering back into session, more vehicles flood the roads in the mornings and afternoons. The “rush hour” traffic is back in full swing. From construction workers on their way to the jobsite to parents rushing their kids to school, more vehicles on the road means more risk for accidents, and an uptick in insurance claims.
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Fleet Safety
Author, Greg Garcia, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
From an insurance premium standpoint, one of the largest cost for any landscape company would be the auto policy, and for good reason. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a motor vehicle crash happens every 12 minutes. Of course, not all those accidents are from landscapers, but it’s still a staggering statistic none the less.
Work-Related Automobile Accidents and Their Correlation With Workers’ Compensation Claims
Author, Kevin Howard, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
In California, motor vehicle accidents are among the leading cause of severe injuries on a daily basis. From a risk management perspective, a company’s fleet safety program has a primary goal of keeping employees safe while driving which lowers the amount of annual auto premiums paid.
Benefits of using GPS Tracking Devices for Automobile Fleets
Author, Chase Hixson, Account Executive, Human Services Group, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking devices have become a popular topic with employers who maintain vehicle fleets. The companies want to know what the advantages are of having these devices installed on their fleet vehicles and will it reduce their insurance costs.