No driver shall use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle. A commercial motor vehicle is defined by US DOT as a vehicle with a single or combined GVWR, or actual weight of over 10,000# utilized in interstate commerce.

Use of hand held mobile telephone means:
1. Using at least one hand to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication;
2. Dialing or answering a mobile telephone by pressing more than a single button, or
3. Reaching for a mobile telephone in a manner which requires a driver to maneuver so that he or she is no longer in a seated position.

Guidance:

• This rule does not prohibit a driver from using a mounted mobile phone which can be easily accessed from the driver’s seat and activated with a single button.
• Driving means operating a commercial vehicle while on a public road, and when stopped in traffic on such a road. Driving does not include instances when the driver is safely parked. Emergency use is permitted.
• The term mobile telephone does not include two way or Citizen Brand Radio services, however the term mobile telephone does include mobile services which are provided for profit, have interconnected service and is available to a substantial portion of the public.

Penalty: Driver is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for 60 days with the second offense in 3 years (120 days for each subsequent offense within 3 years). Only applies if violation occurred while driving a CMV.

Why e-Policy?
1. Greener – we are saving natural resources
2. Speed – no waiting for the mailman to deliver the envelope
3. Easier to find – store the e-Policy on your computer (local/network/cloud drive) so you can find it if you ever need to see it (Aronson Insurance will store a copy for at least 7 years)

Why YouSendIt?
1. Security – Only the policyholder (the recipient of the email from Aronson) can access the e-Policy
2. Ease of use -

• Clients do not need to create an account, UserID or Password
• e-Policies will be in the easy-to-use PDF format; Clients who don’t already have a program to open .pdf documents can download the free Adobe Reader from http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html
• e-Policy files are easy to store wherever the policyholder chooses, whether on the local hard drive (c:\MyDocuments\InsurancePolicies) or in the cloud (Suggestion: Dropbox)

3. Options – Although we do not recommend it, policyholders can always print the policy

If your business IT security rules/systems do not allow you to access the YouSendIt site, alternative distribution can be arranged. If this is the case, you might ask your IT department to allow access to YouSendIt before we look for an alternative. For more information about YouSendIt’s security and how to retrieve files, please visit http://www.yousendit.com/security-overview

http://www.workerscompstarthere.com/workerscomp

Distracted driving is a major issue and Arbella has created an online Crash Course on Distracted Driving, “Distractology, the science of distraction”. Distracted driving has become such a big issue these days that a whole new vocabulary has had to be invented just to talk about it. Browse through Arbella’s site and learn about smerging, snackcidents and textidents. And be sure to take their Distract-O-Meter learning challenge to see if you make the grade. Phones down and heads up! That how they roll at Distract U!

http://www.distractu.com/

Consumers, already contending with the rising cost of gasoline, food, and other necessities, could now also face sharply higher home insurance premiums.

After several years of modest increases, insurance companies are raising rates to offset a big jump in claims related to damage caused by tornadoes, severe snowstorms, and Tropical Storm Irene last year, according to industry executives. The increases, which must be approved by the state, will likely affect most of the state’s nearly 2 million policy holders, and if approved, homeowners will see their rates go up when they renew or buy new policies this year.

“Homeowners rates are likely to go up a lot this year,” said Chris Olie, chairman of Bunker Hill Insurance. in Boston. “It was a wake-up call from Mother Nature.”
Bunker Hill, plans to raise its rates by 11.9 percent this year. Another insurer, The Andover Companies, plans to raise rates an average of 9.3 percent.

Commerce Insurance, the second largest home insurer in the state, is raising rates by 8.5 percent; Safety Insurance, by 10 percent. and Holyoke Mutual, a smaller carrier in Salem, has applied for a 20.3 percent increase.

The increases mark a sharp departure from the past few years, when insurance rates remained generally stable. The average annual premium on a traditional homeowner insurance policy rose less than 1 percent a year from 2007 to 2010 to just under $1,100, according to the state Division of Insurance.

But insurance companies say they need larger increases now because they were hit so hard by wild weather, including a brutal winter a year ago that caused widespread damage from ice and snow; deadly tornadoes that swept through Western and Central Massachusetts in June; Tropical Storm Irene that caused flooding and wind damage in August; and an early snowstorm that downed trees and power lines across the state in October.

Andover Companies, for instance, said it lost $50 million on home insurance in the state last year – more than it earned on Massachusetts policies in the entire previous decade.

“I’ve never seen results as bad as they were last year,” said Donald Vose, vice president for underwriting for Andover. “Just about everything that could go wrong did.”
The damage wasn’t confined to Massachusetts. Many states were pounded last year by tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters, driving rates up nationwide. For instance, Chubb Corp., the fifth largest home insurer in Massachusetts, said it is generally requesting rate increases of 5 percent to 6 percent across the country this year, compared with 3 to 4 percent last year.

Chubb, of Warren. N.J., declined to comment on how large an increase it is seeking in Massachusetts.

http://articles.boston.com/2012-03-04/business/31122134_1_homeowners-rates-holyoke-mutual-rate-increases

It’s sparkling, it’s dazzling, it’s perfect! Imagine you have uncovered the perfect gift that will last a lifetime for that special person in your life. Isn’t that a great feeling? Whether it’s a beautiful necklace for that special someone, a timeless watch, or an instrument for your child, wouldn’t it be nice to know how it is protected if something were to happen to it? Let’s start with the basics.

What’s included on a standard homeowners policy?

Personal Property or Contents Coverage is the portion of your standard homeowners policy that covers the cost of replacing your possessions in the event that they are destroyed by a covered peril (wind, fire, hail, lightening, theft). The standard policy will provide 50 percent – 70 percent of your dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A) towards your Contents Coverage, though you can increase the limits. However, coverage is limited on certain items. Insured personal property is covered anywhere in the world as long as it is owned by you or residents of your household.

Which items need endorsements?

Most standard homeowners policies limit the amount paid for loss to certain classes of property, such as jewelry, furs, and silver. There is minimal coverage for personal property in these classes and a standard policy may limit the perils or cause of loss for which an item is covered. Rule of thumb – if you have an item or a collection that is valued over $2,500, you should mention it to your local insurance agent. The limitations for valuable articles can differ from carrier to carrier and from policy to policy (see sidebar).

Adding valuables to your policy – Two ways:

No matter which way you decide to add your valuable items on your policy, you first should compile a valuables inventory. This will help in identifying items on the policy and help in the settlement of your claim. You should get an appraisal for any valuable items. You should update your appraisals every three to five years and should send your local agent any updated appraisals you receive.

Scheduled coverage

Scheduling allows you to determine the insured value of each specific item. In the event of a total covered loss, you will receive repair or replacement value. There is no deductible and no depreciation. Scheduling may also provide broader coverage, such as the mysterious disappearance, which a standard policy excludes. Another benefit of scheduling is that it provides protection for the full value of a set, so if you lose one diamond earring, it will reimburse you for the set. Some insurers will allow for agreed value, paying the full amount the item is insured for.

Blanketed coverage

If you have a number of “smaller” pieces that when put together represent a large total investment, you can choose blanket coverage for the total value of the collection. In the event of a covered loss, the carrier will pay the value of each item up to its blanket limit. There may be a per item limitation such as $10,000 or $50,000 depending on the carrier, so more expensive items are better off scheduled.

How your policy works:

Your typical household belongings, such as furniture, clothing, appliances, computers and kitchenware are included in the amount of Personal Property you have covered by your homeowners policy (Coverage C). Property is covered on a “specified perils” basis, meaning you are only covered for the perils listed on the policy contract: fire, windstorm, explosion, smoke, theft and vandalism, to name a few. Items are usually covered on an Actual Cash Value basis, subject to a deductible. This means that each item is covered for its market value at the time of the loss. Since depreciation often occurs, the cash value is often well below the cost to replace the item. You can, however, change your policy to replacement cost for a minimal premium.

As you begin the shopping process this holiday season, hold on to your receipts. If necessary, obtain a professional appraisal on the item and call your local insurance agency to inform them of the new purchase. They can help you figure out the best way to insure the item. Of course, feel free to call us with any insurance related questions: 781-444-3050 x148.

Marissa Goldstein is a licensed insurance broker where she specializes in personal and business insurance at Aronson Insurance Agency, a leading, award-winning independent insurance agency located in Needham and Newton. Aronson Insurance represents more than 15 insurance companies and personally services over 6,000 clients. For more information, please call 781-444-3050 x148 or Marissa@AronsonInsurance.com.

Needham & Newton, Mass – June 17, 2011: Aronson Insurance, a leading, award-winning independent insurance agency in the suburban Boston area, is pleased to announce that Steven Aronson, President & CEO of Aronson Insurance, was selected to present at the Commercial Lines Insurance Carrier Session in Dallas, Texas.  Hosted by the Association for Cooperative Operations Research and Development (ACORD), the seminar took place on June 9, 2011.

Mr. Aronson participated on the “Sales Culture” panel and discussed the techniques and technologies that are helping companies communicate more efficiently and succeed. Participants came from all aspects of the insurance industry, including agencies, brokers, carriers and solution providers. 

“I was honored to be chosen to speak at this important seminar that is helping agencies succeed,” said Steven Aronson, President & CEO, Aronson Insurance.  “Of importance was the discussion of how agencies have evolved to be more of a sales culture in order to improve business, ensuring that independent agents have more time for service, retention and sales, rather than data processing.”

Mr. Aronson is a third-generation insurance professional, who joined Aronson Insurance, alongside his father, in 1975. Since this time, Mr. Aronson has led the firm through acquisitions of several agencies as well as setting the tone for organic growth.  In addition to leading the agency, Mr. Aronson is an insurance educator and industry technology expert. He serves the insurance industry in leadership positions on various national committees (ACT, ACORD, AUGIE and NetVU), often lecturing at insurance conferences around the country.

About Aronson Insurance Agency
Aronson Insurance is the leading, award-winning independent insurance agency in the suburban Boston area, specializing in providing the highest quality insurance products and services to individuals and businesses that protect and safeguard their assets from financial loss.  With three locations in Newton and Needham and a staff of over 20 insurance professionals, Aronson Insurance represents more than 15 insurance companies and personally services over 5,000 clients.

Aronson Insurance, with offices at 120 Highland Ave & 950 Highland Ave in Needham, as well as 697 Washington Street in Newton, is open six days a week while the client-service phone team is available 24/7.  For more information, visit www.aronsoninsurance.com or call us at (781) 444-3050.

Media Contact:
(617) 965-3030 x148

A company will typically utilize traditional property/casualty insurance products to protect its physical assets, various liabilities and employees. Trade Credit Insurance is an additional tool that can help protect accounts receivables against non-payment by commercial customers.

In deciding if this type of insurance might be right for your company, here are answers to some commonly asked questions.

• Exactly what is Trade Credit Insurance?
  Answer: It is an insurance product that can help protect the accounts receivables of a company against the insolvency of, or non-payment by its corporate customers.

 

• Why would a company consider buying Trade Credit Insurance?
  Answer: Most often it is used to help protect a significant concentration of accounts receivables against potential non-payment.

 

• What types of companies buy Trade Credit Insurance?
  Answer: All types. Availability and cost will vary by industry sector and specific company / customer profile.

 

• What types of customers (buyers) can be covered?Answer: Commercial customers. Various options are available such as domestic only, foreign only, both domestic and foreign, its top 10 or 20 buyers, etc.

 

• Is this insurance expensive?
  Answer: It depends on many factors, but costs are often reasonable. Minimum premiums can start as low as $5,000.

 

• Is this insurance available even in uncertain / tougher economic times?
  Answer: Yes. Insurance companies are very active in the current economic environment.

 

• Are there other benefits to buying this insurance product besides protecting against significant non-payment loss?Answer. Yes there are. Among others, securing Trade Credit Insurance can often support more attractive bank financing.

While these high level questions and answers should be helpful in providing some initial information about this product, we strongly suggest that you work with an insurance broker who specializes in Trade Credit Insurance to learn much more about this coverage, its features and benefits, and how it may be able to assist your specific company.

At Aronson Insurance, we have experience in this area and would be happy to answer your questions and see if we can be of assistance. Please contact us at agent@aronsoninsurance.com.

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I have spent the past six years studying why consistent, industry-leading growth is hard to produce over long periods of time. And I have tried to understand the “DNA” of companies that have been able to put together an impressive string of industry-leading growth. Among others, these companies include SYSCO, Best Buy, UPS, Stryker Corp., Total Systems Services, Tiffany & Co., Outback Steakhouses, American Eagle Outfitters and Walgreens.

My work has focused on who seems to create earnings the old fashioned way — more customers, more products/services, more operating efficiencies — in contrast to earnings created by serial acquisitions or generated by financial engineering, currency gains, or accounting elections or reversals, etc.

What I found was that consistent, organic growth is much more than a strategy — it is both a process and an internal system. This system is aligned in that it is seamless, consistent and self-reinforcing. The critical components of the system are one’s strategy, structure, culture, execution processes, employee policies, leadership philosophy, and measurement and reward procedures.

These systems are designed to drive desired behaviors and seek to measure much more than just financial returns. Likewise, these systems are aimed at getting every employee emotionally engaged in growth, not just the executives. The “magic” or beauty of these systems is that line employees take “ownership” and act more entrepreneurially, leading to higher loyalty, emotional engagement and productivity, which results in incremental growth.

When I began my research, my hypotheses were that consistent growth companies had:
(1) differentiating and diversified strategies;
(2) the best talent;
(3) visionary leadership;
(4) unique products or services;

(5) outsourced non-core competencies;
(6) the lowest labor costs; and
(7) the best innovation.

To my surprise, I found none of those hypotheses to be necessary for creating a consistent, high organic-growth company. Instead, I discovered the six keys to organic growth, which are discussed in my book “The Road to Organic Growth” (McGraw-Hill, 2007).

High organic-growth companies had an internal system made up of:

(a) simple, focused strategies;
(b) high employee engagement leading to an ownership mentality and high levels of execution excellence;
(c) humble operators as leaders committed to being better each day;
(d) best of class technology to drive efficiency, productivity and measurements;
(e) an iterative, incremental improvement culture and process mentality focused on being better, faster, and cheaper; and
(f) a resistance to complacency, executive elitism, and in most cases, an avoidance of big-change initiatives and big acquisitions.

Leadership was focused inward on the details of execution and outward on customers. There was less emphasis on industry trends, the competition or Wall Street. The leaders understood that, no matter how good a strategy is in theory, it still has to be executed, and execution happens on the front lines, not with consultants or by executives.

These companies did not necessarily have the “best talent” but they did have engaged talent because of an “ownership” mentality, a stable measurement and reward system, and a promotion-from-within policy buttressed by the devaluation of executive perks other than compensation.

The creation and management of this internal growth system is hard. It takes a heightened sensitivity to ward off inconsistent messages, which lead to hypocrisy that destroys employee trust in the system.

It all comes down to drilling down deep to understand what behaviors drive value creation in your business and learning how to measure and reward those behaviors by creating the right environment that enables, rewards and reinforces those behaviors closely in time to their occurrence.

Growth is much more than a strategy — it is an aligned, internal growth system that enables and rewards execution excellence.

Adapted from Virginia Business magazine. Edward D. Hess is professor of business administration and Batten Executive-in-Residence at the Darden School of Business. His writings can be found at http://www.EDHLTD.com

From Fairfax County Economic Development Authority: http://www.e-country.org/tw_ne.htm

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