Due to the rough economy, many livery vehicle operators are forced to find new ways to profit. Even the most successful drivers are seeing a decrease in revenue and overall business. As a result, many drivers may be teaming up with competitors to both preserve and promote business, according to limo.org. Have you considered this option?

As your dedicated livery insurance providers, our agency would like to share a few tips for those who may be considering this new way of doing business. In order for it to work, it is important that you work well and fair with your competitors. You must:

• Understand that your competitor is YOUR client, since you are transporting its client. You must represent the company that is giving you work.

• Both you and your competitor must come to an understanding in terms of credit, payment and cancellations. In order to work together, you must always be on the same page.

• Trust your competitor. This may be hard, but it must be done in order to work out. If you have a “bad feeling” about this situation, it may be best to pass. The last thing you want is to lose business because your competitor solicited your clients!

• Find a competitor who works in a similar way as you do, especially in terms of vehicle choice, equipment, training and standards.

• Go over coverage and make sure both you and your competitor are properly covered in the event of an accident, issue, mishap, etc.

• Form an agreement with the other company. It is important to not let your competition affect customers and their experience.

If both you and your competitor work well together, this plan just may end up saving both of your businesses!

Just remember: it is still important to keep up with your own livery insurance plan. In fact, this new way of working may actually call for a change in your coverage. Be sure to contact our agents at Wolpert Insurance for more information. Even the slightest changes may affect your coverage; and you wouldn’t want coverage gaps, would you?

These days, it seems that all different types of businesses are jumping on the “Go Green!” bandwagon. As a professional in the livery field, you can do the same! The first step: purchase hybrid fleet vehicles. While this may be a large investment, it will pay off in the long run. To take your green initiative a step further, you should “adopt a sustainable, carbon neutral business model” according to Pat Charla, creator of the Limousine Environmental Action Partnership (LEAP).

While we may be your go-to for all livery and limo insurance questions and needs, we are also here to help you build your business and clientele. Here are a few ways to better market your green initiatives, according to LEAP:

• Get social with your clients! Make the most of your social media presence by educating your fans and followers on the importance of going green. You can provide astonishing fast facts or share news about your green efforts.

• Register yourself as a certified green company on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. Of course, you must meet the requirements.

• Advertise while on the go! Have your chauffeurs wear green pins and attire. You can also advertise your efforts in your company logo or stick a decal on your vehicles’ windows.

Besides giving your business a competitive advantage over other livery services, going green may also result in a safer work environment for you, your employees and your clients.

Once you start to successfully market your new and improved green business, you may notice a spike in the number of clients you serve. Just remember: more clients and business may mean more coverage. For more information on how your livery and limo insurance may be affected, contact our agency. We would be happy to re-evaluate your risk and liability exposures and ensure that you are 100% protected from the worst case scenario.

Happy going green!

As the owner of a livery business, you should be no stranger to safety and training procedures. Running a safe and secure operation is important, from affecting the way a potential client will see your business to the way an insurance agent will assess your risks. By implementing an official training program, your business may be able to maintain an affordable livery insurance premium.

According to limo.org, a business owner could never train their chauffeurs enough. Here are just a few reasons why training is essential:

• Those who focus on training their chauffeurs will keep losses to a minimum.

• Fewer losses will pay off in the long run.

• Thorough training and mandatory driving courses may help lower the risk of an accident and/or educate your drivers on how to handle an accident.

• Having an active program in place may positively affect your premium.

• Your business will seem much more professional than one who does not have a training program intact.

If you are concerned about training, ask our agents. There are plenty of safety programs and seminars offered and our agency would be happy to help you find one the right one for your business.

For more information on our livery insurance program, contact our agency. We would be pleased to discuss your options and provide you with a free quote!

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As the owner of a livery vehicle or business, you should always know what your money is going towards and why, especially when it comes to coverage! According to limo.org, there are usually five primary factors that are taken into consideration when calculating a livery insurance premium:

#1: The company. There are a variety of factors to take into consideration when it comes to general information about the company, including: location, how long your company has been in business, your management system, professionalism, etc.

#2: Maintenance program. Are the company vehicles well-kept? The less risky this area seems to be, the lower the premium may be. Such questions an insurance agency will consider include: Does the company maintain its own vehicles? Are the vehicles inspected often? Are the vehicles stored in a garage or safe place?

#3: Your chauffeurs. Trusty and professional chauffeurs will positively affect your premium. Insurance agencies may ask if you perform background checks, implement disciplinary rules and regulations and if you have put together an employee manual. They will probably ask if your drivers are considered employees covered by your workers compensation policy.

#4: Vehicles and clientele. Of course, the types of vehicles that your company is operating will play a huge role during this process. Also, do not be surprised if you are asked about the types of clients you are dealing with and the type of traveling they do.

#5: Overall reputation. The better your reputation is, the better your premium will ultimately be. Do you have a good loss record? Is your company considered a “good account?”

As you can see, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration.

Our experts at Wolpert Insurance would be happy to look at your business and be sure that you are getting the most for your hard earned money. For a free livery insurance quote, contact us today!

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As a livery vehicle operator, it is important that you are able to tackle a variety of possible situations, from handling a breakdown on the highway to filing a livery insurance claim in the event of an accident. As your insurance experts, we are always here to help you file a claim, but we want to help you in other areas, too! That being said, today we want to focus on the steps you should take in the event of a breakdown on the highway.

First and foremost, it is important for all passengers to exit the vehicle. All passengers should get out of the vehicle and stand BEHIND the car. If you have passengers standing in FRONT of the vehicle, they may be at risk if another car hits the back of the vehicle by accident. The last thing you need is an injured person during this time.

Next, it is important that you use markers to alert traffic. You are required to have at least three markers in your vehicle for situations like this. Each marker must be properly spaced, especially if the breakdown has occurred near a hill. You must make your breakdown visible enough for other drivers!

At this point, you will need to call for a tow-truck. If you have a specific tow truck company you deal with, even better. If you will be waiting on the side of the road for quite some time, it may be best to contact another driver to pick up your passengers. Having back-up will look professional; your passengers are sure to appreciate this, especially if they are on a schedule!

Knowing what to do and having the necessities in your vehicle will make this entire process much easier. As for those necessities, you should be equipped with: three markers, shovel (for the winter), gloves, a spare tire, coats, blankets, etc. Having these on hand is sure to make breaking down a little less painful for both you and your passengers.

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure you are ready to handle the worst case scenario. This is exactly why we are here to offer tips, advice and coverage. If you are interested in receiving a free livery insurance quote from us, do not hesitate to call! We would be more than happy to provide you with one or answer any questions you may have about the options we offer (from general liability to automobile coverage).

Have you heard of internet scammers? As a livery vehicle operator, it is important for you to be aware of them. Believe it or not, but these scammers will represent themselves as “your company” by choosing a similar name and tarnish your reputation. This is a sure way to lose clients or even face a lawsuit (livery insurance anyone?)

However, according to limo.org, there are always ways to protect your business from this type of situation. Here are a few tips that may help protect your company from internet scammers:

• Scan major search engines to make sure nobody is poaching your company name. This should be done on a regular basis, or even daily!

• Check to see if there are any variations of your company name on the internet.

• For only $10 a year, you can register Web domains that are similar to your company’s name. This may help prevent a scam (and it is inexpensive!)

• Review your company listings to make sure you are being presented accurately (Yellow Pages ads, specialty websites, 411 operators, etc.)

It is also important to collect documentation that will help you prove that you are a legitimate and recognized business in your local community. This will come in handy if worst comes to worst and you must initiate legal action and defend your company’s name!

While you are checking the internet and search engines, now would also be a good time to read reviews of your company as well. There may be some bad mixed with the good, but it is important to be aware of what people are saying and how you can improve your business to satisfy your clients. If you are looking to add to the good reviews online, ask a satisfied client to write a review! This is a great way to build a name and good reputation for your business.

At Wolpert Insurance, we do not want to see your company fail or suffer due to a scam on the internet, or any unexpected issue for that matter! That is exactly why we are dedicated to providing your business with our unique livery insurance program. For more information, contact our experts today!

Are you looking to move up in the livery business? You should be! Livery drivers should always be looking for ways to improve their status and reputation. A great way to start building your reputation is to snag corporate work. Just remember, as your business grows, so will your livery insurance policies.

Before we discuss coverage, we would like to go over a few tips that may help you build relationships with the big guys. The most important thing to remember: make a good first impression. Putting together proposal package is important and may make all the difference. In order to make a good impression, you should:

• Provide a package that includes details as to why you should get the job, regardless of what your pricing is! Make yourself stand apart from the rest.

• Include details about the history of your company, how you hire and your training procedures. You must market yourself as a true professional. You must be able to deliver what the client needs.

• Use the appropriate font on your proposal, such as bolded letters and headlines. You want the important titles and information to stand out.

• Find a way to use a creative layout to draw attention to specific types of clients.

Hopefully, these tips will have you snagging corporate work in no time! Once you do, your clientele is sure to grow.

Just remember, as you continue to grow as a livery operator, so will your coverage. Be sure to speak with our experts at Wolpert Insurance for more information on industry-specific policies, such as automobile insurance, workers compensation, occupational accident insurance, EPLI, group automobile programs and much more. We would be happy to provide you with a free livery insurance quote, too!

Last week, our blog focused on the term subrogation. To quickly recap, subrogation means that “a livery insurance company can pursue a claim with the responsible or adverse parties for deductibles, additional damages, or most importantly, the loss of revenues from the time needed to repair or replace a livery vehicle” (limo.org). This week, we want to discuss the three primary types of negligence that will affect subrogation.

Negligence may be an issue before you can collect, depending on who is deemed at fault (and by how much). This will determine how much you will end up collecting. Each state has a different set of laws concerning negligence, but there are three primary types to be aware of:

#1: Modified comparative negligence: Those who are involved in an accident and more than 51% negligent are NOT entitled to recovery.

#2: Pure comparative negligence: Even if you are 70% negligent, you can still receive 30% of the damage amount from the offending party.

#3: Contributory negligence: Even if you are 1% at fault, you CANNOT recover for damages. This is the most extreme form of negligence!

Remember: negligence can be decided informally unless the case goes to trial. If this happens, the jury would decide.

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to make sure that whatever the case is, you are properly covered with livery insurance. We are ready to serve New Englanders and offer comprehensive limo and livery solutions. Feel free to contact us for a free quote today!

As your livery insurance experts, we believe that it is important for our clients to know the ins and outs of insurance. This week, we would like to focus on a specific insurance term: subrogation.

What is subrogation?

To put it in simple terms, according to limo.org, subrogation means “an insurance company can pursue a claim with the responsible or adverse parties for deductibles, additional damages, or most importantly, the loss of revenues from the time needed to repair or replace a livery vehicle.”

It is also important to know that before you can collect on a subrogation claim, there is an issue of negligence. The amount you end up collecting depends on who is at fault and by how much. Be sure to come back next week to learn about the three primary types of negligence.

At Wolpert Insurance, we are devoted to providing you with relevant industry information and news. We are also dedicated to providing you with the best protection policy! Our unique livery insurance program is specifically designed to cover the risks that you face as a livery operator.

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As a livery vehicle operator, it is important to make a name for yourself. Last week, we discussed affiliate networks and how you can expand your business through them. This week, we would like to discuss a few effective ways you can advertise your special services. By doing so, you may find your business raking in new clients.

New clients equal business growth! Of course, a growth in your services and clientele will most likely mean a change in your livery insurance policy, but we can discuss that later. First, we have a few tips for when you go to put together a professional package to showcase to interested clients or other livery professionals.

The contents of this package should include:

• A one-page document providing a brief overview of your company and services. You can discuss how long you have been in business and any other information that you feel may be relevant or helpful.

• A breakdown of pricing and services. The costs are always the most important to potential clients. This is your chance to show how your company’s pricing and services set you apart from the rest of your competition!

• A description of your hiring, training and maintenance techniques. This breakdown will help you showcase your professionalism and ensure clients that they will be in good hands.

• Any specialized services that may set you apart from the rest. Thoroughly describe them in detail!

• Airport service information (if you offer it.)

If you put this package together carefully and properly, your livery business is sure to come off as professional, thus making an impression on new clients!

At Wolpert Insurance, we want to see you succeed and grow, even in hard economic times. If you find your company growing at a consistent speed, do not forget to visit our agency. Any changes in growth may mean it is time for a change in your livery insurance policy. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or are looking for a free quote!