April 12, 2020
With today's pandemic-fueled uncertainty about the economy and health of loved ones, we can easily fall in to reactive mode - dousing fires as they come up. If you're able to mitigate the fires and have time to step back, there are resources available and actions you can take to help manage business challenges and position well for the future. Insurance exists to protect you, so it's a great time to review the details of your coverage and take actions to make sure you're protected.
It's common for companies to rely on industry norms, third-party coverage requirements, and advice of their brokers to define coverage limits and inclusions. It's not surprising given the complexity of most insurance policies, that we become familiar with the details only when an incident occurs. This has reigned true recently as many businesses sought to file claims for business interruption, only to find out that most policies have a virus exclusion. Their businesses were shuttered by government mandate and their safety net unavailable. Understanding your coverage can help to guide your decisions in uncertain times.
Knowing the ins and outs of your policies is also important if you plan on taking advantage of federal assistance. Some of the programs require spend on specific expense categories in order to qualify or be forgiven in the future. Spend of such funding may also be audited to ensure you're not double dipping with insurance and government programs.
Generally, during these times "knowledge is power" meaning that you can more quickly and easily take advantage of assistance whether it's your insurance or government programs if you have clarity about your current status.
Entire sectors of the economy are suspending operations while others are struggling to keep up with demand. As your business adapts to the new environment, work with your agent or broker to ensure you're properly covered. Some topics you might want to consider discussing:
Like many service providers today, insurance companies are doing their best to roll with the changes. Keeping them in the loop about your situation is the best means to staying protected.
While your broker likely hasn't experienced a pandemic, they are most familiar with policies, procedures and processes within their own lines as well as the insurance ecosystem. They can keep you apprised of updates and advise on how to deal with your specific situation. They'll also know if there are any programs or considerations for premium payment deferrals or reductions.
It's also a good idea to stay connected so you're top of mind as changes occur that may impact your business. In times like these your broker can serve as an educator, adviser and advocate as they likely are dealing with multiple clients in similar situations like yours. They can be your best resource for helping to interpret the details and nuances of your policy and provide options for managing business challenges.
If this pandemic follows the same path as other disasters, there may also be changes to insurance regulations that affect your coverage, if not your business as a whole, so staying informed and having an advocate in the industry can be beneficial as the situation evolves. So, sign up for newsletters, webinars, and keep in touch with your broker.
Though the FMCSA has relaxed Hours of Service and licensing regulations, insurance companies are not likely to change the way they rate based on current frequency - severity models and nuclear verdicts continue to be a reality. And as always, the government regulations do not protect you from lawsuits and litigation. Most carriers have invested years developing safety programs and practices based on the principle of live and learn" as well as integrating industry best practices. It's important to maintain and continuously improve these practices.
Under normal circumstances, drivers spend a lot of time on their own while on the road. Now, with less passenger vehicles on the roads, closed and deserted retail establishments and overwhelmed authorities/first responders, they are more alone than ever. While consumers are hoarding toilet paper, drivers are struggling with gaining access to restrooms, food, and a safe place to rest. As drivers need to be more self-reliant, it's important to acknowledge that they are distant but not alone.
Taking time to engage with drivers can understandably fall by the wayside as management and dispatchers are trying to get drivers in seats, dealing with delays, and tracking the supply chain.
Technology can help to provide insight and a heads up to management about the state of a driver. For example, a safety solution like Driveri analyzes 100% of driving time and provides real-time feedback and information about driving performance. Throughout the day, information from the system can be used to:
Managing fleet risk can be difficult during during "normal" times. Where it seems that so much is beyond control during these extraordinary times, with some focus and support, you can continue to protect your drivers and position your fleet for future success.