Inside Coverage Insurance Spring 2007
A publication of Great West Casualty Company
Copyright 2007, All Rights Reserved

Driver Passport, an online driver verification and identification system for the trucking industry, rolled out its new system to more than 3.2 million truck drivers and trucking companies across the United States. Driver Passport was developed by Randy Brown, CEO of Ag Depot. Ag Depot offers packaged/bulk handling, repackaging, manufacturing, and transportation services for manufacturers and retailers of agricultural crop protection products.

In June of 2002 Ag Depot was the victim of a $500,000 transportation chemical theft from its facility, spurring Brown to come up with Driver Passport, a real-time, internet-based, driver verification and identification system allowing shippers to verify and validate the driver prior to loading or unloading cargo.

“Had Driver Passport been in place, the theft would not have occurred,” said Brown. “Driver Passport relies on a centralized database that will provide immediate feedback on valid and invalid drivers. There's no more guesswork when looking at an identification card.”

According to the Department of Labor, there are currently 3.24 million truck drivers in the U.S. FBI statistics show that freight theft is thought to exceed $10 billion annually, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates that number is as high as $40 billion per year.

Brown said a proactive stance on transportation security is critical in the marketplace. A good start to transportation security is to identify drivers to the companies they say they're representing.

“No trucking or shipping company wants to discuss security, loss or theft, but all recognize it occurs,” said Brown. “It is the job of security and transportation professionals to do everything in their power to minimize loss and liability. Driver Passport was developed as a simple, efficient way for all concerned to help protect themselves and the nation. ”

Source: www.driverpassport.com

Hands-Free Kit For Drivers

Lectronix, Inc. has announced a new relationship with Bluetooth specialist Parrot to bring wireless solutions to the commercial trucking industry.

The two companies will collaborate on integrating Parrot’s CK5050 OEM Bluetooth hands free kit into the Lectronix Navion T7000 in-dash driver information system. Designed specifically for the commercial trucking industry, the T7000 will now include the Parrot Bluetooth hands-free solution for Bluetooth-enabled cellular phone integration.

The Parrot Bluetooth solution, together with the T7000, means that users can have a hands-free cell phone call by wirelessly connecting their Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone to the truck’s T7000 dash-mounted console and speaker system, without any additional wiring.

The T7000 speech recognition system features dual microphones and state-of-the-art noise cancellation technology, which provides for excellent sound quality and performance. Cell phone functionality such as menus and volume are controlled through the console buttons of the T7000, and the T7000 can utilize either its text-to-speech capability or its LCD screen to display the mobile phone's battery level and signal strength, phonebook, call records, and caller identity.

Source: www.prweb.com/releases/2007/01/prweb495908.htm

Fatigue Detection Device

Amsterdam-based Safety-Ear Europe says it has developed an affordable fatigue detection device that might prevent many serious accidents every year.

The device ensures that tired drivers hear a sharp beep or feel the device vibrating in the ear as soon as they are at risk of dozing off. Drivers get the warning from a small device worn behind the right ear with the appearance of an ergonomic Bluetooth earphone.

As soon as the driver's head bends forward in a predetermined angle, the Safety-Ear will send the signal.

Dozing off behind the wheel often is a gradual process of which the driver is unaware. The brain's activity progressively decreases, making it difficult for the driver to make the (right) decision of taking a rest period. According to official numbers, more than 60 percent of all drivers have fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once.

Don't Forget These Coverages...

Lease/Finance Value *
During the first half of a five-year lease or loan, your payoff is usually higher than the actual cash value of your unit, and insurance policies are typically only obligated to pay the actual cash value amount. Any difference is your personal obligation. Lease/finance value coverage responds after a total loss to pay off the cost of a lease or loan when it exceeds your unit’s actual cash value.

 Rental Reimbursement *
If you suffer a loss, you may need replacement equipment to continue operating. This product covers the cost of renting replacement tractors, trucks, or trailers when the loss is covered under your Great West physical damage policy.

 Miscellaneous/Electronic equipment *
Do you have binders, tarps, tie downs, chains, or other equipment used for securing cargo on trailers? You need separate coverage when you don’t own the trailer. Our miscellaneous equipment coverage provides full comprehensive and collision coverage. The electronic equipment coverage is used to extend the covered auto’s physical damage coverage to include certain electronic items not automatically covered in the policy, such as permanently installed computer systems, fax machines, video cameras, satellite tracking systems, two-way radios, etc.

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