[Updated on 5/18/2020] Here at Paradiso Insurance, we like to partner with our clients and the local community.We try to supply as much information as we can, especially to local businesses, because we want to become your trusted advisors in the insurance world.Today, we’d like to take a moment to talk to businesses that use commercial vehicles as part of their service, so that we can ensure that your company vehicles stay protected.

Numbers Don’t Lie! When considering best practices or safety management for your commercial vehicles, it’s important to understand the statistics.Here are a few stats that may be an eye-opener for those of us driving a business vehicle on a daily basis: In 2017, 13% of the total vehicle crashes on the Nation’s roadways which resulted in a fatality, also involved a commercial vehicle. In 2017, out of the 6.4 million total motor vehicle crashes, 511,000 involved a commercial vehicle. The top five warnings to commercial vehicle drivers were speeding, failure to use a safety belt, failure to obey traffic control devices, using a handheld phone/texting, and improper lane change.Practicing Safe Driving Simply practicing safe driving alone will help prevent your vehicle from many of the dangers that could potentially cause it harm.We recommend to all of our commercial clients, that you review safe driving practices with your team at least once a year, if not quarterly.

These simple reminders can go a long way towards reducing your risk of an accident and lowering your chance of a claim.  One of the first things we tell all of our customers is to remember to buckle up every time you sit down, especially since it accounts for a large number of commercial vehicles that get pulled over by the police.Also, it’s important to always pay attention to the rules of the road, especially speed limit and lane changing rules.Always be sure to remind your drivers to get a good night’s sleep, eat breakfast, and minimize all distractions, such as texting, messing around with the radio, or eating food while driving.  Last but not least, have an ongoing safety training program developed for your team, and if you need help with guidelines, you can read up on the U.S.

Department of Transportation’s CMV awareness training guide.  If you need more information on best practices for all commercial vehicle drivers, feel free to visit the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance website.They have extensive resources including training seminars, education for members, and even an online shop that will equip you with the tools you need to stay protected.Get the Coverage you Need Even with all of the necessary precautions in place, you never want to be the person that says “that would never happen to me,” and then fall short on your insurance coverage when you need it the most.  If you have any questions or concerns about commercial vehicle insurance, or would like to open a policy, feel free to reach out to one of our professional agents today, at (860) 684-5270 or visit us at www.paradisoinsurance.com, and we can get you started!