December 30, 2020
As we said last year at that this time, failing to plan is planning to fail. 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 as important as they are going into 2021, where having some security in the face of continued uncertainty on several fronts is something to build on for Freight Brokers, Motor Carriers and others in the transportation sector. Being organized is the key to planning to do some new things in 2021. 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? […]
December 30, 2020
Registration for the 2021 Program Year is now open! The FEMA Tender of Service Program serves as the gateway for Transportation Service Providers (TSPs) wishing to do business with FEMA. Consider this registration window (open until 2/12/2021) as an opportunity to be part of the FEMA transportation team. You can participate as a Freight Broker and/or Motor Carrier if you have an active FMCSA registration of either type of transportation operation. FEMA’s carrier selection process has specific requirements, including qualification of drivers, which add duties that are atypical to a traditional brokered load. Please read and understand those duties in order to be compliant. It is in your best interest to do your due diligence thoroughly and follow all FEMA requirements exactly; otherwise, your future payments could be jeopardized. One of the FEMA TSP requirements is a $300,000 limit for cargo insurance. PFA’s Insurance Team has several options to help transportation […]
November 25, 2020
The sheer volume of holiday shipping this year is unprecedented due to people shopping online like never before. The truckers currently navigating America’s roadways are a sure sign that Santa Claus is coming to town. Add freezing rain and snow along with a global pandemic, and you may have yourself a headache, especially if you’re in the transportation business. Holiday and winter seasonal challenges for transportation industry leaders include: Bad weather: Snow, freezing rain, black ice. If you live north of the Mason-Dixon Line, you tend to be old pros when it comes to the ravages of winter. Most trucking companies cross into serious winter weather no matter where they are headquartered. All the safety precautions apply here – including knowing when to stay off the road. Equipping your drivers with the latest apps and weather media channels – including The Weather Channel and Weather Underground – is a smart […]
November 24, 2020
While there are many things for Freight Brokers to consider when contracting with Motor Carriers, one important part of your due diligence is to ensure the carriers with whom you contract have the proper Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) authority. It’s also important that your Motor Carriers carry the appropriate lines of insurance coverage. Without question, this is one of the most basic and fundamental of priorities you may have for your Freight Brokerage business. Your Motor Carrier should be appropriately licensed, authorized and insured to protect the loads in question. It is essential to call the Motor Carrier’s insurance provider directly to verify the coverage that is listed on the Certificate of Insurance that you are provided. There are many unfortunate instances in the industry when Freight Brokers are provided with a fake certificate from a fraudulent source. The bottom line is that it is your responsibility as a […]
August 3, 2020
Why Commercial General Liability Coverage? The answer is simple: To satisfy contracts! General Liability Coverage This isn’t just insurance speak, but it’s an opportunity to have a quick reality check. And that reality is that shipping contracts are including General Liability in the insurance requirements with greater frequency. Landlords and affiliated businesses also require this in the agreements that you’ll encounter as your brokerage expands. The PFA Insurance Team can help you address the contractual terms and all those ‘odd’ insurance requirements. Don’t stress when asked about ‘additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary non-contributory’ because we’ll help you get them added too. Cyber Coverage Requirements One more reality of today’s commerce and industry is that the thieves can’t always be seen. They are digital, electronic, and remote in their tactics. Due to this threat, some contracts now include cyber coverage requirements. The best coverage tends to be found in specialized […]
August 3, 2020
The One Stop Shop at PFA continues to expand with easier ways to obtain quotes and more insurance offerings. Freight Broker Insurance Coverage Whether you are a new Freight Broker in need of insurance coverage to protect your brokerage or a current client needing additional coverage to satisfy new requirements on your expanding operations, you can now access the PFA insurance application on our website. This application helps guide you through the information needed for the special freight broker coverage lines of Contingent Cargo, Contingent Auto Liability, General Liability, and Professional Liability (aka: Errors & Omissions). PFA Truck Insurance We are also pleased to announce that due to overwhelming demand, PFA has expanded into offering truck insurance! We have a program that is favorable to smaller and newer carrier operations and is currently available in seven states (AL, AZ, GA, IL, NC, SC, TX). While we await additional states to […]