As the owner of a livery vehicle or fleet, it is no secret that this industry is made up of two major segments: corporate and retail. However, those who are new to the industry may not be as educated on this! As your livery insurance experts and provider, we have a few pointers that are crucial to know before you go and choose a vehicle. First, it is important to figure out which market you are going to target.

Retail:

For those who are aiming for a retail market, it is important to choose a vehicle that has diverse applications. For the most part, a white-stretch limousine is the best option. They have a variety of interiors that could suit weddings, proms, bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays and more. However, until your company is established and financially secure, it is best to stay away from SUVs and expensive details. Between fuel and expensive repairs, it is best to work your way up. If you are unsure about a cool feature, ask yourself four questions

1. How difficult is it to operate this feature?

2. How easily may this part break apart?

3. Can I easily replace this piece?

4. How much will it cost to replace this?

Corporate:

If you are looking to target the corporate side of the industry, you are in luck. Corporate vehicles are generally easier to choose and much less expensive. To start, it is smart to look into sedans or even SUVs. It is also important to consider what your passengers will feel most comfortable in. Many prefer SUVs because they are higher up and have good storage space for luggage. Once your business is up and running, then you may look into stretch limousines, preferably black or dark in color for the corporate world.

Once you figure out which market to target, you can go ahead and start looking at vehicles!

Choosing reliable livery insurance is just as important as it is to choose the proper fleet vehicles. At Wolpert Insurance, we have put together unique and comprehensive limo and livery insurance solutions. We offer programs such as automobile insurance, discounted workers compensation, employment liability, umbrella insurance, and much more. We are dedicated to protecting your specific business needs, and you should be too!

When a driver goes to choose a livery vehicle, a lot of factors may
run through their mind. It is not just a question of which vehicle looks
sharp; there are a variety of factors that play into the final
decision. It is important to consider whether the driver wants a new
vehicle, old vehicle, what type of vehicle, length, style and much more.
With all these decisions to be made, it may be hard to even start
thinking about the livery insurance you will need to go with it!

So how do you go about choosing the perfect vehicle to add to your
fleet? It is important to follow a few guidelines and do the research.
Here are a few tips to get you started:

• First, do not be fooled by the price. If the price sounds too
good to be true, it most likely is. There may be issues with the
vehicle’s parts, engine or more. The last thing you need is a cheap
vehicle that will cost more to fix up every few months.

• Make sure the company that you purchase your vehicle from has manufacturers and garage keepers insurance.

• Ask questions about the materials that the vehicle is made from. They should be of high quality.

• Research the company and make sure they have a good reputation
and a strong warranty program. If they cannot stand behind their
product, that is a bad sign.

There is much more to discuss when it comes to purchasing the right livery vehicle.
This process is going to require a little research and patience, but it
is much better to have a headache now rather than having a headache
after you have purchased a faulty vehicle.

At Wolpert Insurance, we believe that having the perfect vehicles in
your fleet is a priority. If you are not aware of the many options and
factors that should be taken into consideration, you may not end up with
the best product possible. Choosing reliable coverage is just as
important; our area of expertise. Remember to come speak with us about a
livery insurance policy once you come to a final decision.

Still having trouble choosing a vehicle? Be sure to come back next
week for more information on whether your company needs a corporate or
retail vehicle!

As the owner of a livery vehicle or company, it is important to keep track of regulation changes and even legal disputes within the business. If you are not up to date and aware of changes, you may find yourself facing an issue or even lawsuit. Luckily, having livery insurance will keep your company afloat but it is still best to be informed on the latest news.

One of the most recent issues would be a lawsuit that took place in Tennessee. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Metro) placed new restrictions and regulations on motorized, non-taxi passenger vehicles for hire. This regulation was fought against by three Plaintiffs, all affordable livery vehicle owners. Their dispute? They believed that Metro “worked closely with expensive limousine services in order to eliminate the robust competition in Nashville’s transportation market.”

There were four specific provisions in particular that the Plaintiff’s felt were “threatening” enough to put the Plaintiffs and any other affordable limousine and sedan services out of business. These four provisions were:

I. The “minimum fare”; requires that limo and sedan service operators charge a minimum of $45.00 per trip. This was an issue because “minimum fares serve to artificially inflate the cost of limo and sedan service while doing nothing to increase the safety of the service or protect consumers.”

II. “Prohibition on leasing”; requires that limo and sedan service operators hold title to their vehicles, making leasing impossible. The issue with this is the fact that it does nothing to promote health, safety or consumer protection.

III. “Dispatch restriction”; requires that the operators dispatch vehicles only from their place of business. The issue with dispatch restriction is the fact that it complicates passenger pre-arrangement, increases the amount of time that customers will have to wait for service. This will ultimately destroy consumers’ goodwill.

IV. “Vehicle age requirement”; requires that operators take all sedans and sport utility vehicles out of service after being seven years old and limos out of service after ten. This was a big concern because this regulation exempted classic and vintage vehicles. The argument here is the fact that vintage vehicles actually have less safety features. The only reason why these vehicles were “exempt” is because some of the high-end limo companies have these vehicles in their fleet. These are the companies that helped Metro “craft” these restrictions.

Ultimately, Metro’s Motion to Dismiss will be denied and an appropriate Order will be entered. What do you think about this issue in Nashville? As an affordable livery company, would you feel the same as the three Plaintiff’s did?

Our advice to the Plaintiff’s: stand up for what you believe it right, but make sure you have the proper protection in place. Having reliable livery insurance is crucial if you will be battling it out through a lawsuit. Be sure to grab a free quote from us at Wolpert Insurance, today!

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As a livery operator, whether you drive a taxi or limousine, you know that safety comes first. As a result, you always have the passenger’s best interest in mind and make sure you are properly covered with livery insurance. However, there just may be cases where safety is taken too far. Are you aware of the NYC TRIP case and ruling?

As you know, the TRIP program is in place in order to help and protect livery cab drivers. With issues like robbery and even murder, it is crucial to have such a procedure in place. However, recent incidents have lead to the question of whether or not officers are taking this policy too far.

By having the TRIP decal on the window of a taxi cab, police officers claim to have the right to stop the vehicle and inspect at any time. While the plaintiffs involved in the case are okay with this regulation, they are not too keen on the passenger treatment after the stop. The two passengers involved, Mr. Battle and Mr. Pujara, have stated that the officers have taken their job too far by searching them without any reason to believe that either had committed a criminal act. The cop continued with the search and explained that any passenger in a vehicle marked with a TRIP decal can and will be searched, because it is routine.

While both men were freed to go without any charges or offenses, they were not happy about being searched. Both men have filed a complaint against the officers claiming abuse of authority.

As a livery operator, what do you think about this? Do you believe that taxi or limousine passengers should be treated this way? While the safety of all drivers is important. this is more of a question of liberty and rights.

At Wolpert Insurance, we believe in the protection of everyone involved. Both livery drivers and the passengers should always be protected from harm, accidents, and liabilities. This is exactly why we offer our specialized livery insurance policy. This specific policy can provide coverage such as: workers compensation, employment liability, general liability, occupational accident insurance, automobile insurance and much more. Be sure to grab a free quote today!

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Last week, we went over 10 different accidents in which you would be
over 50% at fault. While we wish there were only 10 ways, there is still
another round of faults to go through. At Wolpert Insurance, we believe
it is important to go through these scenarios, especially if you are
the owner of a livery vehicle or company in Massachusetts. If you can
avoid being at fault, you may be able to avoid a costly lawsuit or bill.
For those times that you are at fault, a well thought out and
strategically designed livery insurance program should kick in to cover
you.

#1: Leaving or exiting from a parked position, parking lot, alley or driveway

#2: Opened or opening vehicle doors

#3: Single vehicle collision

#4: Failure to obey the rules and regulations for driving

#5: Unattended vehicle collision: If a car rolls down a hill and causes a collision with another vehicle, the unattended driver will be more than 50% at fault.

#6: Collision while merging onto a highway or into a rotary

#7: Non-contract operator causing collision: Those who are not involved in an accident but have CAUSED an accident with other vehicles will be held liable.

#8: Failure to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles when required by law

#9: Collision at a “T” intersection

Now that you are well aware of these faulty maneuvers, it is time to spread the word to your drivers. As a livery company owner, it is your responsibility to make sure each driver is educated and careful while on the road, with or without passengers.

If you are concerned about your coverage, have no fear. Our experts at Wolpert Insurance will be sure to assess your risks and keep you properly covered from the worst case scenario.

As a livery operator, you understand the risks you face on a daily basis. The road is a dangerous place and if you or your drivers are not careful, you may find yourself facing an unexpected accident, or worse, a lawsuit. It is crucial that you look into reliable livery insurance for your company in order to protect all the vehicles in your fleet. It is just as important to understand when you may or may not be at fault if you are involved in an accident.

In Massachusetts there are a handful of possible scenarios in which your fault is presumed to be more than 50%. Let’s start with the top ten:

#1: Collision with a lawfully or unlawfully parked vehicle.

#2: Rear end collision.

#3: Out of lane collision. Whether you are passing another vehicle or changing lanes, you will be held at fault if you are partially or completely out of the proper lane.

#4: Failure to signal. It is crucial to encourage your drivers to use their signals when changing lanes or getting off an exit. Failure to do so may result in an accident and your driver will be more than 50% at fault.

#5: Failure to proceed with due caution from a traffic control signal or sign.

#6: Collision on wrong side of road.

#7: Operating in the wrong direction.

#8: Collision at an uncontrolled intersection. There are three possible scenarios for this collision. First you will be at fault if your vehicle enters a main road from a secondary road. Second, you will be at fault if you enter an intersection from the left at the same time with another vehicle but you fail to allow the vehicle on the right to proceed. Lastly, if you enter the intersection at a point in time later than the other vehicle and continue to collide, you will be at fault.

#9: Collision while in the process of backing up.

#10: Collision while making a left turn or u-turn across the travel path of a vehicle traveling in the same or opposite direction. It is important to always look around and make sure you are clear before pulling a u-turn. Turning left at a light can be dangerous especially when crossing two lanes of traffic. Be sure both oncoming lanes stop before turning left.

If you find yourself or one of your drivers in any of these situations, you will more than likely be at fault. It’s important that your livery company is ready to tackle the worst case scenario. With livery insurance, you can look into automobile insurance, general liability, property insurance and much more. Having the proper policy in place will ensure you a smooth ride, even after an accident. Be sure to visit us at Wolpert Insurance for a free quote and come back next week for Part 2!

Are you looking to start a limousine business? In such a tough economy, it may seem logical to choose a career in the passenger ground transportation industry. This industry does not only fare better than most during tough times, but is always in demand. So, where do you start? Well, let’s start with livery insurance.

Before all else, it is important to make sure you are properly covered with a specific policy. Livery insurance is designed for those who drive limousines, taxicabs, etc.

What other factors should you be concerned with? Allow us to tell you:

#1: Parking facility. It is important to keep your vehicles indoors and safe from harsh weather conditions and other factors. This way, your vehicles will be in excellent shape and condition at all times.

#2: High-quality vehicles. If you are aiming for an upscale clientele, it is important to have a quality fleet. This is your chance to impress your clients!

#3: Flexible attitude. It is important to give the client exactly what they want, even if you may not always agree. A flexible personality is best.

#4: Knowledge. Different vehicles will fall under different classifications. It is important that you are aware of local, state and federal regulations.

#5: Safety. Taking good care of yourself, your clients and your employees is an important part of this business. Make sure each vehicle has reliable safety features and take advantage of them.

Once you have a good handle on these aspects, you should be ready to get started. If you are concerned about having the proper coverage in place, look no further. At Wolpert Insurance, we offer reliable livery insurance that will keep your business safe from any accidents, faults or lawsuits. Be sure to speak with us soon to cover your new limousine business!

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Being a respected part of the livery market, you and your drivers are certainly well aware of the rules of the road. With that in mind, you are mindful that safety is a must, and should always remain a top priority.

Your livery operators are responsible for the passenger’s well being in addition to ensuring that they are operating appropriately, promoting safe driving habits, and always conscious of those on the road around them. With a great deal of responsibility and liability resting on your shoulders, it’s important that your drivers stay abreast of evolving laws and regulations – for example the affect of cell phone use behind the wheel and the commercial vehicle regulation effective January 3, 2012 banning cell phone use for hand held devices in all commercial vehicles nationwide.

As technology changes and devices progress – think Blackberrys and iPhones – personal cell phones have infiltrated much of our life. With immediate access to email, the Internet and constant, real-time text messaging, cell phones have a significant effect on job safety. Let’s consider some recent events, such as the Boston trolley driver who, while distracted and sending text messages, slammed into another car, injuring multiple passengers. Or the Los Angeles commuter train operator who, while looking down at a text conversation hit another train, resulting in a crash which took the lives of 20 people. Texting alone has been a major cause in the increase of vehicle-induced fatalities.

The Harvard Center of Risk Analysis, estimates that cell phone activity contributes to 636,000 motor vehicle crashes, 333,000 injuries and 2,6000 fatalities, each year. Although it is difficult to determine exactly how many of these incidents are work-related, such as truck drivers, delivery drivers, salespeople, etc. it’s safe to say that you need to be aware of your employees and their potential cell phone use while on the job. And it’s not just cell phones that cause problems – iPods and other personal tech devices can cause the same level of distraction, if not more.

As a livery operator and business owner, it’s crucial that you recognize that you are putting yourself at risk, should one of your drivers be involved in an accident. Additionally, adding insult to injury is the fact that it is very likely there may be a worker’s comp claim involved. As the owner and operator of a livery business, it’s necessary that you consider all of your coverage options – beginning with a comprehensive livery insurance program.

As specialists in the limo insurance sector, we can configure an inclusive, competitive insurance program, tailored to your business’ unique needs. Interested in learning more about the inclusive commercial insurance options we can provide your operation? Contact Wolpert Insurance today to learn more about our specialized livery insurance program.

Being part of the livery market, you are well aware of the fact that safety is a must. Your livery operators are responsible for the client’s wellbeing in addition to ensuring the safety of the vehicle in which they are operating. With a great deal of responsibility and liability on your plate, it’s important to establish safety rules and regulations.

The following are a few precautionary tips your livery operators can employ, that will ensure both your drivers and clientele enjoy a safe, efficient ride:

Driver Safety

Each livery operator should be responsible for inspecting their vehicle prior to driving, in addition to keeping service logs.
Seatbelts should be worn at all times; the steering wheel, mirrors and seats should be adjusted before driving.
All livery vehicles in your fleet should be equipped with fire extinguishers, flares and first aid kits.
Cell phones must not be used while operating the vehicle.
A clear and visible dispatch system should be installed to allow for immediate communication between the driver and the operation base in the event of an emergency.
By following this livery operator’s checklist, you can rest assured that your operators are prepared for their next service call. It’s important to keep in mind that no matter how cautious one may be, accidents can happen at any moment – making it necessary for livery operations to secure comprehensive livery insurance.

As specialists in the limo insurance sector, we can configure an exceptionally competitive insurance program. Interested in learning more about the inclusive commercial insurance options we can provide your operation? Contact Wolpert Insurance today to learn more about our specialized livery insurance program.

There are many aspects of the livery industry that are completely unique and unlike other businesses which incorporate commercial vehicles. One factor in particular is your workforce.

Many livery businesses operate by using “independent contractors”. Although you can secure commercial auto or workers compensation coverage through a number of agencies, are you confident in their ability to determine what coverages you and your independent contractors require and need from your insurance program?

Because of their “independence”, most for-hire chauffeurs and drivers find themselves without the proper insurance coverage. In Massachusetts, the attorney general has alerted businesses to the law which establishes when the business is responsible for obtaining workers comp coverage for any independent contractor or “sole proprietors” in which they use.

Without the proper coverage in place for those ‘independent contractors ‘ that meet the rules for coverage, you could find yourself paying, from your own pocket, their lost wages from their regular daytime job and their limo nighttime and weekend work as well as their medical and rehabilitation costs.

In a recent blog post, which highlighted some of the country’s high-risk jobs, livery drivers were found to be among the riskiest, in regards to accident and injury while on the job. According to the article, public taxi and limousine drivers have a higher risk of injury than any other commercial drivers—this can be the result of automobile collision, lifting luggage or other objects in and out of the trunk or vehicle malfunctions.

By securing a Massachusetts workers compensation policy, you can help safeguard your assets and protect your livery business by providing protection from:

Medical expenses
Lost income/wages
Rehabilitation costs
Death benefits
And more…
Interested in learning more about the livery insurance coverages designed to protect your business? At Wolpert Insurance, we are experts when it comes to limo insurance. We are ready to work with you to secure you the specialized protection you need, at the most competitive rate. From workers compensation to liability insurance, rest easy that your vehicle, the driver and its passengers will be safe and secure.

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