Managing Claims for Profit… Not Loss!
Cargo claims can have a devastating effect on any motor carrier, especially an owner-operator. While it is agreed that cargo claims are a part of any business, it is what you do to avoid the possibility of claims that will preserve your hard earned revenue. Any claim has a negative effect on customer service and could ultimately mean a loss of future business along with your current earnings. The effect claims have on the P&L statement really tells the story of just how damaging claims can be for a small business owner.
The industry goal of 1% of annual revenue to be paid out in claims is still fairly accurate in today’s business climate. This goal may vary from one company to another, however, a carrier must still budget this expense. What this means is, if your company is paying out more than 1% of your total annual revenue on claims, immediate action is required to reduce this waste of earnings. If your company is paying out less than 1% of your total annual revenue, your costs in this category
may be in line, but there is always more that can be done to reduce this loss even further.
The following steps can help to reduce the payout of hard earned revenue in the form of claims:
• Sweep out the trailer and remove all nails in the floor and sidewalls before you arrive at the customer’s dock.
• Inspect your trailer for any holes in the floor, sidewalls, and roof that would allow rain or water to damage the freight.
• Inspect the bill of lading from the customer to identify the shipment and destination, and to make sure the freight is properly described, the piece count is accurate, and the weight of the shipment is acceptable for loading.
• Supervise the loading (and unloading) of the freight at all times. Plan h
ow to use blocking and bracing tools, dunnage, straps, etc., to secure the freight while in transit.
• Use plywood and load bars to support freight by creating inner walls. Shrink wrap loose cartons on pallets. Watch to insure directional markings on cartons are observed by the shipper.
• Take extra precautions when loading hazardous materials to insure compatibility with other freight and to properly block and brace for transit.
• Stop the loading (or unloading) immediately if anything appears to be other than expected.
Another wise precaution to take is to photograph the loading and unloading procedure if possible. These pictures could be a valuable tool in the event a claim suddenly arises from a shipment 8 ½ months ago!
Signing the Bill of Lading
As a contract, the bill of lading serves the same purpose as any other contract between two parties. The face of the bill of lading provides for the entry of information required for the transport of freight. The reverse side usually contains the terms and conditions of carriage. The two parties in this bill of lading contract are assumed to be familiar with these terms and conditions.
The DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations for bill of lading requirements are found in 49 CFR Section 373.101. This regulation requires that certain information be shown on the bill of lading.
Once a driver signs a bill of lading, the shipment becomes the responsibility of the
carrier, making the carrier liable for the goods in the condition as described on the bill of lading. If at the time of delivery, this same shipment is found to be damaged in any way, or the piece count is not accurate as stated on the bill of lading, the carrier must prove that the shipper is at fault in its effort to avoid a claim. This could prove to be a difficult task for the carrier if the driver does not pay close attention to these rules and regulations.
Shipper’s Load & Count
Another claim-related issue is correctly signing the bill of lading when a driver is picking up a pre-loaded or “spotted” trailer. Drivers often have to sign a bill of lading contract even though they were not able to witness the loading of the freight. In this situation, the driver assumes the trailer contains the freight exactly as shown on the bill of lading, including the condition and the amount of the freight. The driver also assumes that the freight is loaded properly and secured for transportation.
If, at this point, the driver signs the bill of lading and leaves with the load, the carrier is now responsible for any damage or missing freight upon delivery. This is the risk for the carrier since the driver has no way of knowing what was loaded on the trailer or the condition of the freight. If the shipper loaded damaged goods or fewer pieces than the bill of lading shows, it will be up to the carrier to prove the damage or loss happened during the loading of the shipment and is the fault of the shipper.
However, if the driver would have noted “shipper’s load and count” or “SL&C” on the bill of lading, and loss or damage is found to be the case at the time of delivery, the shipper would have to prove it occurred during transit and not during the loading of the shipment.
In some situations, the driver is able to look inside a shipper-loaded trailer and see that the goods are not loaded properly and could be damaged while in transit. Because the defective loading was clearly visible to the driver, using the SL&C notation will not make a difference. The driver could have prevented the damage by having the shipper reload the shipment to prevent damage while in transit, or by simply refusing to sign for the load.
On the other hand, if the driver is unable to see inside the trailer due to the trailer doors being locked or sealed, the SL&C notation should be noted on the bill of lading. When improper loading is not visible, the carrier cannot be held liable for the resulting damage or shortage.
Keep in mind that just because SL&C has been noted on the bill of lading, the carrier is still liable for the goods in transit. However, the shipper now has the task of proving the carrier was at fault and should be held liable.
Clearly, taking an active part in the loading and unloading of the shipment, understanding the basics of the bill of lading, and properly signing for a shipper-loaded trailer can mean real dollar savings instead of losses for the owner-operator.
Bob Rose is an Editor — Transport Management for J.J. Keller and Associates. Contact him at transporteditors@jjkeller.com. Also, be sure to check out J.J. Keller’s website at jjkeller.com.
J. J. Keller grants Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, non-exclusive worldwide rights to the content/photos provided. The rights granted Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, may not be sold or sub-licensed to any third party. J. J. Keller retains the right to use the content/photo.
The Platinum Rule
Once upon a time, I met a beautiful, charming and witty woman and fell deeply in love. Over the months we dated I was the consummate romantic. I brought her flowers; wrote heartfelt love letters; and on occasion even sang to her. At one point she remarked that no one had ever treated her better. Then suddenly and unexpectedly she left me. I was devastated. When I asked her why, she replied, “You never listened to me.”
I had no clue what she was talking about.
Of course I listened to her. Didn’t I know her favorite foods, music and vacation spots? Absolutely! I also knew of her past struggles, her frustrations at work, and even her dreams for the future. Apparently it was not enough. In retrospect, I finally figured out the problem was that I had been too busy following the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Remarkably it wasn’t my ex-girlfriend who taught me this lesson, it was my cat. One morning while I was enjoying my coffee on the back porch, Roxy came up to my chair and meowed for attention. I picked her up, held her and started rubbing her soft fur. I knew from past experience that she didn’t like that, and she immediately began to squirm and try to jump out of my arms. Nevertheless – in the spirit of Albert Einstein’s observation that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results – I hoped that she would start liking it.
Finally, I turned her loose on my lap and petted her. She became very affectionate and gave me lots of nudges with her head and purred loudly. I used to think that my other cat, Spike, was the more loving cat because he likes to be held and cuddled, which is of course, what “I” want to do with a cat. Roxy does not like to be cuddled, and when I attempt it all she does is try to escape. I’ve learned that she still wants loving and wants to give it back, but it has to be her way. I realized it is that behavior which causes many people to see cats as aloof and unresponsive.
As Roxy worked her way around my lap, rubbing her face against my arms, legs, chest and face, I thought, “Everyone comes into our lives for a reason – usually to teach us something.” I looked at Roxy and said, “What are you here to teach me?”
Then it dawned on me that she was there to teach me the Platinum Rule: “Do unto others as they would have you do unto them.” In contrast to the Golden Rule which is all about “Me,” the Platinum Rule is all about “You.” The Golden Rule is about “Controlling.” The Platinum Rule is about “Giving.”
In other words, to motivate someone, give them what they want. I should have known this intuitively from the years I spent in the advertising business. I have taught hundreds of seminars where I advised my students, “When you create an ad, always put the prospect first; because when they see or hear it, all they are thinking is: What’s In It For Me!”
I’m reminded again of the wisdom of Dale Carnegie who noted, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” To do that he advises: “Be a good listener; encourage others to talk about themselves; talk in terms of the other person’s interests; make them feel important – and do it sincerely.”
He then adds, “When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bustling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity.”
Now wait a minute… surely, he’s talking about cats!
Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is a motivational speaker and humorist. He works with companies that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert’s programs please visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com.
Looking for Assets
New freight matching tools increase search speed, usefulness. The iGetloaded app for the Apple iPhone, developed by Getloaded.com, brings GPS-based load searching and posting to freight matching.
Fast, efficient dispatch is critical for all types of transportation companies – especially for nonasset brokerage and logistics moves. With truck capacity tightening, companies that hastily select carriers to move loads can be held vicariously liable for accidents or cargo claims. To address both the need for speed and risk management, technology providers continue to develop new tools and services for finding and dispatching someone else’s assets.
Web services
To improve efficiency, some companies that host online load boards and freight matching services let users input and retrieve information without entering a website. Brokerage and logistics companies using Internet Truckstop (www.truckstop.com) can subscribe to its Truck Export Web service to download truck postings into their dispatch systems on a scheduled basis.
Since 2007, TransCore has offered a Web services interface called Connexion for its online 3sixty Freight Match service and DAT Network (www.3sixty.transcore.com). The interface establishes a real-time communications link to 3sixty Freight Match by embedding XML code into companies’ native dispatch and other software systems.
Through the Connexion interface, McLeod Software’s PowerBroker enterprise management system for brokerage and logistics providers lets users search for a particular load – by trailer type, pickup-and-delivery date, etc. – from within the dispatch screen. PowerBroker then can narrow the search results from TransCore by filtering them through a carrier qualifications file. If a truck search returns a list of 10 carriers, the only assets that show up in PowerBroker’s dispatch screen will be those that belong to trusted carriers, says Robert Brothers, manager of product development for McLeod Software.
PCS Software offers the Express and Express Online management systems to both asset and nonasset trucking providers. The Express system includes an interface to the XpressTrax Loadboard hosted by PCS. Express users can post loads and equipment and perform searches through the load board directly from their dispatch screens.
Besides offering a real-time interface to online load boards and freight matching services, TMW Systems offers a “continuous moves” feature. Brokerage and logistics companies using the TMWSuite dispatch and enterprisewide management software can flag assets currently under dispatch. These trucks will show up as available equipment in TMWSuite at the location, date and time after their load delivers.
Getloaded.com plans to take searches on its load board to the next level by incorporating predictive modeling. Instead of typing in search parameters, the system automatically will recommend loads and trucks for users based on their past search criteria. The company plans to release a portion of this next-generation platform in August.
Carrier monitoring
To execute freight matches, brokerage and logistics providers require information on carriers such as safety ratings, certificates and insurance coverage. A new safety metric will be added to the carrier selection process when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rolls out Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 later this year.
TransCore this month is releasing CarrierWatch 2010, an enhanced version of the company’s carrier monitoring service. CarrierWatch 2010 will feature safety scores and other metrics from CSA 2010, helping freight brokers, third-party logistics providers and shippers select motor carriers whose safety records comply with the most current federal standards.
Internet Truckstop offers safety metrics through its Carrier Performance Reporting service and plans to implement CSA 2010 into the service based on the information needs of its customers.
PCS Software offers an online service called Carrier Report to obtain carrier safety information. The service is $50 per month for unlimited searches and includes an interface with the Express dispatch system. Companies not using the Express platform can sign up for Carrier Report at www.xpresstrax.com.
Next-gen spot market
In April 2009, McLeod Software purchased iLens, a Web-based freight procurement, load execution and spot market software system used by shippers and freight management service providers. The revenue model for iLens is to create money-saving carrier rate guides without beating carriers up over pricing. The iLens system includes a Spot Market for shippers and freight management service providers to offer asset-based carriers visibility to freight not already under contract.
McLeod Software currently is offering clients on PowerBroker and its LoadMaster carrier platform free access to the iLens Spot Market. Customers using the PowerBroker platform can list available loads in the iLens Spot Market (www.myilens.com) electronically through the Private Notification Network (PNN) feature. The iLens Spot Market has between 100 and 400 available loads daily, says Mike Voelk, vice president of sales for McLeod iLens.
In the future, McLeod iLens will enable brokers and carriers not only to match freight through the Spot Market but also to bid, tender, track and pay for loads electronically. The Spot Market also will include two-way integration with carrier dispatch systems to exchange information such as drivers’ hours of service and satellite tracking for arrival times and electronic proof of delivery, Voelk says.
Going mobile
Another type of next-generation spot market is being developed for smartphone platforms such as the BlackBerry, iPhone and Android. These mobile tools will increase visibility of trucks for freight brokers and loads for owner-operators.
PCS Software recently designed iLoadFinder, an application for Apple’s iPhone platform, for owner-operators to search for loads on the XpressTrax Loadboard at www.xpresstrax.com.
In February, the Internet Truckstop released uDrove, a compliance management tool for drivers to use on smartphone platforms. The company plans to include a load search function for uDrove later this year.
Getloaded.com recently released iGetloaded for the iPhone. With a push of a button, the application uses the GPS in the smartphone to search for loads leaving from the driver’s vicinity. By pushing the “Go Home” button, the application searches for loads, based on trailer type, that return the driver home from his current location. By pressing another button, the driver can call a load poster directly from his search results.
Since the release of iGetloaded in late March, more than 1,500 users have downloaded the application, says Bryan Jones, president. “Drivers are so much more comfortable using cell phones than laptops.”
Installing A Driver-Operated Dump Valve
PARTS
- 12 –volt Haldex Electric Solenoid Valve
- Single-pole toggle switch
- 12-ga. Wire and connectors
- 0.25-in. 90-degree brass pipe elbow
- 0.25 in. brass straight nipple
- Liquid Teflon thread sealant.
At times a driver needs to quickly drop a working rig’s rear suspension, such as to gain more clearance under low openings or when backing under a trailer. Nothing works better for such situations than a driver-operated dump valve. Flip a switch, down go the air bags.
A manual (“pilot-operated,” as it’s often called) dump valve is simple to install, takes about two hours and costs less than $100. The Parts needed are a 12 –volt Haldex Electric Solenoid Valve, a single-pole toggle switch, 12-ga. Wire and connectors, 0.25-in. 90-degree brass pipe elbow, 0.25 in. brass straight nipple, and some Liquid Teflon thread sealant.
A dump valve, like the one 4 State Trucks’ Jeremy Staten installed on a late-model International, has two modes: Dump and Travel. In the off position, the valve is in travel mode, which allows the rear suspension’s height control valve (HCV) to operate normally. When on, the dump valve solenoid opens to deflate the air bags while keeping the rest of the truck’s air supply system under full pressure.
Toggling to dump air bags in four easy steps:
Step 1 Disconnect the feed lines to the air bags from the T fitting on the HCV. Remove the T fitting, coat the threads with Teflon sealant, and rethread into the “inlet” port on the Haldex Electric Solenoid Valve. Attach the dump valve to the HCV and reconnect the air suspension feed lines to the T fitting.
Step 2 Run ground (black) wire from solenoid valve to the frame. Use sealed butt-connector to splice run of 12-ga. wire from hot (red) lead out of the solenoid along frame rails and up into the cab behind the dash.
Step 3 Install single-pole toggle switch in dash and connect one pole to the wire from the solenoid. Wire the other switch pole to a 12-volt power source, such as a circuit breaker. Step 4 Test the system. When the toggle switch is tripped, the dump valve should instantly release suspension pressure. Push the toggle switch down when this occurs so it correlates to the suspension movement.
Rain Ruins Doe’s Doubles Train
Even though John Doe had slowed his doubles train during the windy rainstorm on the interstate, he nonetheless jackknifed. Was this a preventable accident?
It was late afternoon in early September when ominous fast-moving clouds began to unleash a heavy rain upon Interstate 12 as doubles driver John Doe zipped along at the posted speed while chewing some cold, stiff yet residually tasty celery sticks left over from the rations he’d packed the previous day. “Gee whizikers,” Doe mused. “The wind’s starting to howl like a crazed coon dog!” Dutifully cautious during severely inclement weather, he immediately reduced his speed to a relatively lethargic 55 mph.
The rain continued to come down in waves and drum loudly on the roof of Doe’s cab, making it hard to concentrate on the weather alerts coming over the radio. Suddenly, as his rig was buffeted roughly by another gust of wind, Doe sensed that something was wrong …a feeling that was verified by the sickening sight, in his West Coast mirror, of an impending jackknife … SLAMMO!!! SCREEEEECH!!! BLAM!!!
Oh no!!! Doe’s combination had jackknifed big time, smack in the middle of I-12, and had slammed into the guardrail with tremendous force, nearly causing Doe to choke to death on his last mouthful of leftover celery. Without the lubricating quality of his low-calorie energy drink, he might’ve been a goner!
But his throat grew dry again when he received a warning letter for a preventable accident from his safety director, which Doe promptly contested due to Mother Nature, so the National Safety Council’s Accident Review Committee was asked to resolve the dispute. NSC upheld the “preventable” ruling, noting that Doe, despite his speed reduction, still was driving his doubles train too fast for gusty high-wind conditions.
Just Do It!
Owner operator Randall Corlee, pictured here outside of Pittsburgh Power, bought the first 389 Peterbilt glider kit truck.
Those of us who are doing it usually interrupt those who say it can’t be done!
Think about that statement.
This is what Pittsburgh Power Inc. has been all about for the past 32 years. At Pittsburgh Power, we are doing what most in the industry say can’t be done. “They” told us a 389 Peterbilt could never get good fuel mileage. Well…we have just proven them wrong. We have defied expectations and we did it again. The 389 Peterbilt glider kit truck we built for the Mid-America Truck Show this past March has found a home with Randall Corlee in Oklahoma. Randall delivers fuel oil within a 250-mile radius of Oklahoma City, and after his first week of driving his new C-15 Cat Powered Pete his fuel mileage is 7.5 to 8.2 – and he cruises his truck at 70 mph using only 9 psi of turbo boost on the level. That’s not bad for a truck with the aerodynamics of a brick!
All of the methodology used for this Pittsburgh Power Signature Peterbilt was developed from the Signature Series concept truck that Kevin Rutherford and I had worked on. The only feature this truck does not have implemented is the lift axle. This truck is a full twin screw, 2:64 gears, double over 18-speed and is driven in 16th gear at 1600 RPM at 70 mph. The engine is a full Signature Series 6NZ Cat built by Pittsburgh Power and produces 600 plus hp. Stock; with the Pittsburgh Power Computer is capable of 810 hp. Randall is running the power computer on power setting no.1 and produces 44 psi of turbo boost. This truck also runs the super single Michelin XDA-1 Energy tires on the drive and the XZA-3Michelins on the steer. Everything that we could possibly build into the engine for power, smoothness, longevity, and fuel mileage was incorporated into this project. Randall’s previous truck was a 379 Pete with an MXS Acert 550 hp Cat and his fuel mileage was 5.3 to 5.8. The Acert would lose 3 to 4 mph on the grades around Oklahoma City. Randall’s old truck had no response, and if he wanted to pass another truck he had to plan the pass in advance to try and do it while going downhill.
With the Pittsburgh Power C-15 6NZ Signature Series Cat engine, all he has to do is slightly push on the throttle and he is effortlessly sailing past the vehicles in the other lane. On the same grades where Randall’s old Acert would lose mph, the Signature Engine will increase speed due to the incredible torque it produces. Once you drive responsive power, you will see there is quite a difference between sluggish power and responsive power – and the net result is fuel mileage and longevity.
What does is cost to build a Signature 2WS or 6NZ Cat Engine? About $34,000, plus the engine core, which costs about $8,000. It’s not cheap to build a Signature Series Glider kit regardless if it is a Pete, Freightliner, or Western Star. However, a Signature Series truck will pay for itself in fuel savings. Randall is saving 37 gallons of fuel per day, or about $111.00 at $3.00 per gallon. Randall runs five days the first week and the next week he runs six days, so his total driving per year is 286 days – for a savings of $31,746 per year. Do you think that 31,000 will make the payments? You bet it will! Plus he gets to drive a truck that runs like a raped ape and never has to worry about an EGR, ACERT or DPF problem.
It’s no big secret that every Signature truck is packed with the most expensive and premium parts available. In addition to premium parts, every performance product we have goes into and on the engine of a signature truck. Usually this adds as much as $12,000 in performance products alone to build one of these elite machines. Also, we put as much as 280 man-hours into each truck. This is why building the most powerful and fuel efficient trucks on the road is very expensive! Expect the final cost of one of our trucks to be anywhere from $155,000 to $180,000. We know our trucks are among the most expensive trucks in the industry. We also know you can buy a new truck with a 2010 engine for less money than this, but don’t forget that all you need to do is gain 2 mpg and your truck payments are free because of the fuel savings.
Everyone asks if we can provide our own financing and can we take trades. The answer to both of these questions is no. You MUST get YOUR bank to finance the deal, and you MUST sell you old truck because we are not in the used truck sales business. It can take as long as six months from the time you order a Signature truck until the truck is ready for delivery. Each and every one of these trucks is MADE TO ORDER. The Signature truck you order from us now isn’t sitting in a yard somewhere. The Signature truck you order now doesn’t even exist yet. That is why it can take as long as six months.
We have the Aerodynamic 386 Pete available and that truck should give you an additional ½ mpg or more. Randall’s 389 has a huge front bumper, large sun visor and 7” Bull Horn stacks, so this truck is NOT aerodynamic. However, it will still hit 8.5 mpg and it’s not even broke in yet. There are only 5,000 miles on this Signature truck so far.
Hands on man
Redding California is home to Brent Noakes, an owner-operator for the past 22 years hauling logs with Cat powered Petes. Brent is very much a hands on man and does all of his own repairs to his truck and several of his friend’s trucks. Several years ago, I spoke with Brent on the phone, and after our lengthy conversation I offered him a job at Pittsburgh Power. He loves northern California and decided to stay an owner-operator hauling logs on the I-5 corridor until two months ago. He now operates Pittsburgh Power Elite Diesel of Redding Ca., as a subsidiary of our company. His shop is open on an appointment only basis because he is still trucking. He has a lot of our parts in stock and his phone number is 541-281-3630.
If you’re the I-5 corridor type of runner and you’re interested in our parts, give Brent a call. Brent is truly a high performance guy and always has plenty of power coming out of his Cat Engines and also drag races a Dodge Dart. The picture is Brent pulling a hole shot at the local drag strip.
At this time, I would like to welcome Sid Compton back to work at our shop. Two months ago, Sid fell from a 12-foot high loft in his garage onto his back and broke two ribs, a collarbone, punctured his lung and had a concussion. When you body hits the ground from 12 feet, you are traveling more than 20 mph – and the concrete doesn’t make it any softer. Many people never survive a fall from that high while landing on their back. It just wasn’t Sid’s time to go.God wants him to stick around to build high performance diesel engines for owner-operators like he has been doing for the 60 years he has been alive.
Written by:
Bruce C. Mallinson
Pittsburgh Power Inc.
3600 S. Noah Dr.
Saxonburg, Pa. 16056
724-360-4080
H.O.W Driver, Bill Bowering Awarded National Highway Angel Recognition
Bill Bowering, Fulton, NY native and professional Class A CDL truck driver for H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W) of Amherst, WI, was named a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angel for steadfast bravery and compassion in the face of a deadly rollover car accident.
On April 28, 2010, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Bowering was driving southbound on 1-57 near Mattoon, Illinois, when a vehicle with three young women in it, passed him on the left hand side. As it reentered the right lane, the driver hit a pothole, apparently overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle, which flipped over and slid into the ditch.
Bowering pulled his truck over, got out and ran over to the wrecked vehicle to assist. Many other vehicles passed by the crash but none of them stopped. When he arrived, he found two women climbing out of the wreck with another woman still trapped inside. He entered the vehicle at risk to his life and took her pulse but could not find one. He also checked for signs of breathing, but again, there were none.
Finally, another driver stopped who was a paramedic and he took over care of the woman in the car. Bowering then was able to turn his attention to the other two women. He did his best to console them and ease their grief until authorities arrived on the scene.
Bill was still shaken when he recounted details of the accident to his H.O.W Driver Manager, Deb Senechal. According to Deb, when Bill related to her what had happened, all he could think about was, “I was too late. I couldn’t do anything about the driver.” Deb said she told him, “You did your best and tried everything you could to save her and that is all you can do. If you could have done any more, you would have.”
Deb, who nominated Bill for the Highway Angel award, describes him as an “all-around nice guy and very modest.” Deb further states, “I am very proud of Bill and it is an honor to work with him. Although Bill is very humble about his efforts, he should feel proud of his actions. His heroics, affirmed through this award are truly inspiring.”
Marc Wolding, Vice-President of Operations shared these comments, “We are very proud that one of our drivers had the foresight to react so courageously in the face of such a severe, life threatening accident. Bill Bowering is to be commended on his quick thinking and his ability to handle the situation with strength and determination.”
No stranger to fame, Bill stepped into the spotlight last year at the renowned Talent Quest singing contest, by advancing through local, state, regional and national levels to proceed to the Final Five round, where he won Third Place, 2009 Male Country/Western Singer. His performances may be viewed on YouTube, www.youtube.com, by searching on Bill Bowering.
To learn more about the Highway Angel program, the driver nomination process or to view past press releases, visit www.truckload.org/Highway-Angel.
H.O. Wolding, Inc. Introduces Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Benefits
H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W), a leading trucking company located in Amherst, Wisconsin, with 350 tractors and 1200 trailers nationwide, recently introduced premium Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance benefits.
“At H.O.W, we pride ourselves on 75 years of dependable service to our customers, and an unparalleled commitment to our employees,” said Cathy Kirsling, Vice-President, H.O. Wolding, Inc.
“By offering Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, one of the most recognizable names in the industry, we ensure that all our employees have access to quality, affordable health care,” continued Kirsling. “Our drivers are on the road 24/7 and they need access to network providers at all times. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the perfect vehicle to do this for us.”
Known for its broad network of doctors and hospitals, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides H.O.W employees with health care providers not just throughout Wisconsin, but also nationwide through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to delivering the best combination of health, care and value to our customers to help them live the best lives possible,” said Paul Nobile, regional vice president of sales and account management for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “We’re thrilled to partner with H.O. Wolding, Inc. to serve the hard working men and women in the trucking industry, who deliver the products and materials
on which America’s businesses depend.”
Beyond the administration of its health benefits plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
also provides H.O. Wolding with access to tools and information to help company employees improve their health and estimate costs associated with medical care, including (visit www.anthem.com to register for access):
• 360° Health – a program, which provides resources to help employees improve health, manage chronic health conditions and gain guidance from health professionals.
• Anthem Care Comparison – an online tool, which allows members to analyze and compare overall costs for more than 30 common medical procedures performed at local area hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and freestanding radiology facilities, prior to medical service.
H.O.W drivers receive an outstanding benefits package and earn an average of $40,000-$60,000/year. H.O.W pays Practical Miles (averaging 5% more than tariff miles) with structured pay increases based on experience and has assigned trucks and excellent home time.
H.O.W offers a sign-on bonus for Class A CDL truck drivers with recent experience and tuition reimbursement for recent grads of approved Class A CDL driving schools. To learn more about H.O.W or to join its team of dedicated drivers, visit www.howolding.com or www.facebook.com/howolding.
H.O. Wolding, Inc. Introduces Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Health Insurance Benefits
H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W), a leading trucking company located in Amherst, Wisconsin, with 350 tractors and 1200 trailers nationwide, recently introduced premium Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance benefits.
“At H.O.W, we pride ourselves on 75 years of dependable service to our customers, and an unparalleled commitment to our employees,” said Cathy Kirsling, Vice-President, H.O. Wolding, Inc.
“By offering Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, one of the most recognizable names in the industry, we ensure that all our employees have access to quality, affordable health care,” continued Kirsling. “Our drivers are on the road 24/7 and they need access to network providers at all times. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the perfect vehicle to do this for us.”
Known for its broad network of doctors and hospitals, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides H.O.W employees with health care providers not just throughout Wisconsin, but also nationwide through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield system.
“Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is committed to delivering the best combination of health, care and value to our customers to help them live the best lives possible,” said Paul Nobile, regional vice president of sales and account management for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “We’re thrilled to partner with H.O. Wolding, Inc. to serve the hard working men and women in the trucking industry, who deliver the products and materials on which America’s businesses depend.”
Beyond the administration of its health benefits plan, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield also provides H.O. Wolding with access to tools and information to help company employees improve their health and estimate costs associated with medical care, including (visit www.anthem.com to register for access):
• 360° Health – a program, which provides resources to help employees improve health, manage chronic health conditions and gain guidance from health professionals.
• Anthem Care Comparison – an online tool, which allows members to analyze and compare overall costs for more than 30 common medical procedures performed at local area hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and freestanding radiology facilities, prior to medical service.
H.O.W drivers receive an outstanding benefits package and earn an average of $40,000-$60,000/year. H.O.W pays Practical Miles (averaging 5% more than tariff miles) with structured pay increases based on experience and has assigned trucks and excellent home time.
H.O.W offers a sign-on bonus for Class A CDL truck drivers with recent experience and tuition reimbursement for recent grads of approved Class A CDL driving schools. To learn more about H.O.W or to join its team of dedicated drivers, visit www.howolding.com or www.facebook.com/howolding .
H.O.W Driver, Bill Bowering Awarded National Highway Angel Recognition
Bill Bowering, Fulton, NY native and professional Class A CDL truck driver for H.O. Wolding, Inc. (H.O.W) of Amherst, WI, was named a Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Highway Angel for steadfast bravery and compassion in the face of a deadly rollover car accident.
On April 28, 2010, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Bowering was driving southbound on 1-57 near Mattoon, Illinois, when a vehicle with three young women in it, passed him on the left hand side. As it reentered the right lane, the driver hit a pothole, apparently overcorrected and lost control of the vehicle, which flipped over and slid into the ditch.
Bowering pulled his truck over, got out and ran over to the wrecked vehicle to assist. Many other vehicles passed by the crash but none of them stopped. When he arrived, he found two women climbing out of the wreck with another woman still trapped inside. He entered the vehicle at risk to his life and took her pulse but could not find one. He also checked for signs of breathing, but again, there were none.
Finally, another driver stopped who was a paramedic and he took over care of the woman in the car. Bowering then was able to turn his attention to the other two women. He did his best to console them and ease their grief until authorities arrived on the scene.
Bill was still shaken when he recounted details of the accident to his H.O.W Driver Manager, Deb Senechal. According to Deb, when Bill related to her what had happened, all he could think about was, “I was too late. I couldn’t do anything about the driver.” Deb said she told him, “You did your best and tried everything you could to save her and that is all you can do. If you could have done any more, you would have.”
Deb, who nominated Bill for the Highway Angel award, describes him as an “all-around nice guy and very modest.” Deb further states, “I am very proud of Bill and it is an honor to work with him. Although Bill is very humble about his efforts, he should feel proud of his actions. His heroics, affirmed through this award are truly inspiring.”
Marc Wolding, Vice-President of Operations shared these comments, “We are very proud that one of our drivers had the foresight to react so courageously in the face of such a severe, life threatening accident. Bill Bowering is to be commended on his quick thinking and his ability to handle the situation with strength and determination.”
No stranger to fame, Bill stepped into the spotlight last year at the renowned Talent Quest singing contest, by advancing through local, state, regional and national levels to proceed to the Final Five round, where he won Third Place, 2009 Male Country/Western Singer. His performances may be viewed on YouTube, www.youtube.com, by searching on Bill Bowering.
To learn more about the Highway Angel program, the driver nomination process or to view past press releases, visit www.truckload.org/Highway-Angel.
