December 13, 2022
Going into 2023, dispatchers will have more guidance from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration about whether they could or should refer to themselves as brokers or bona fide agents. This topic and these definitions have been murky over the last few years, which is why the agency has tried to clarify matters as well as seek public comment from members of the industry about what they think. Interim Guidance Published in the Federal Register In late November, the FMCSA published interim guidance in the Federal Register which fills in some, but not all, of the current gray areas related to broker-bonding and similar regulations in the industry. Additional guidance is expected next year, based on feedback from the November updates. The agency has been collecting comments throughout 2022 and will continue to accept them until Jan. 17th. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts The involvement from the agency on this […]
December 13, 2022
Are you looking to broker freight for Amazon? Consider learning more about Amazon Relay, enabling carriers to tap into its network and technology to grow transportation businesses. Being part of Amazon Relay side of operations allow some carriers some degree. Participants are required to access the Amazon Relay mobile app, which gives details about the status of their current loads, any delays on the road, plus general navigation focused on tractor-trailers. Amazon Relay Program Because the Amazon brand is all about quality and speed, the Amazon Relay program makes sure that all carriers hauling Amazon-owned trailers have high levels of safety and performance, starting with compliance with various safety, Department of Transportation, and other insurance requirements. Drivers also must focus on being on time and being consistent about it. They can also monitor their progress over time in order to hopefully increase their performance. Amazon Relay Requirements The following conditions […]
December 9, 2022
It’s that crazy time of year again: Tax season. With the tax deadline getting closer and closer, it’s both the busiest time of the year for most accountants, CPAs, and other tax practitioners and the time of year when your clients rely most heavily on your professionalism, knowledge, and due diligence. Yet it’s also the time of year when mistakes can happen. When they do, it can be costly for you and your business. That’s why we’re here to help you protect your business and ensure your success. The team at PFA now offers special Errors and Omissions Insurance for Tax Preparers. It’s a coverage that we strongly recommend that you purchase for your business, to give you the peace of mind that you won’t be putting your hard-earned fees and profits at risk. Having this insurance is also a stress-buster for your practice since claims and lawsuits against tax […]
May 2, 2022
ATTENTION: TRANSPORTATION SERVICE PROVIDERS! You have an important opportunity to support the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), a wing of the United States military and the Department of Defense (DoD). All that you need to do to be eligible is comply with DoD requirements and the new business could be yours. In order to transport military freight, all motor carriers, freight brokers and freight forwarders are required to have DoD performance bonds. DOD Performance Bonds It could be a tremendous new revenue opportunity and the team here at PFA Transportation Insurance & Surety Services can help set you up for success. The DoD performance bond amount is set at a flat rate of $100,000 for freight brokers and freight forwarders. Bonds for motor carriers are based on the size of your company and how many states you serve. For most freight carriers, a bond in the amount of $25,000 […]
January 3, 2022
Very few businesses can grow – let alone sustain themselves – without being well-organized and well-structured to achieve your priorities in any given year. Strategic and tactical planning have never been more important as they are going into 2022. Being organized is the key to planning to do some new things in 2022. And now’s the time to consider those new twists for the new year. Sometimes, even a small shift can mean new business. You’ve probably been thinking about a few new opportunities over the last few months; now is the time to get serious and make them happen. A prominent question on the minds of many freight brokers is a simple one: What can increase business? PFA Transportation Insurance & Surety Services is always exploring this key question for many freight brokers: “How can I make my company more desirable to Shippers?” One of the primary protections for […]
January 3, 2022
It’s a common refrain at PFA, as it is among many leading businesses both within and outside the transportation sector: The end of one year and the start of the next is always a good time to take stock of where you’re at in business. It’s particularly important coming out of the wild year that we’ve just been through and in preparing for economic uncertainty that lies ahead. The old axiom that failing to plan is planning to fail is embraced by so many simply because they see what happens when organizations don’t spend enough time planning for the mid and long terms. Planning has only become more important in recent years because so many industries are changing rapidly and not enough of the companies within those sectors are keeping their eyes on the early adopters and change agents. Given what’s going on in the U.S. and around the world, […]