Risky Business
Scary Drivers
Hi Everyone, and Happy Halloween! I thought it would be fitting today to talk about "Scary Drivers". Every month we receive calls from Owner Operators looking to expand their small business by adding drivers...Great idea!
The problem is so many want to hire "someone I know"...even when that someone has a horrible driving record. What's worse is that so many of these "friends" fail to disclose their experience in full, which leads to surprises when the motor vehicle report is run. Then the Owner Operator feels bad because it is his buddy after all, and he'd like to help him get on his feet.
I hate to sound like cold hearted Hannah, but it's just not worth it guys. If you knew the number of these "scary drivers" who are causing the serious accidents out there you'd be amazed. If he "can't remember" what's on his record, he's being dishonest from the start, so that should steel your conviction not to hire him.
If you hire him and he causes an accident (and it's usually shortly after, by the way)... your immediate problem is that it's your insurance that's adversely affected at renewal. It's your record of loss runs, not his.
Even if you have your friend on his own policy listing you as Additional Insured, you're jeopardizing your relationship with the carrier who's contracted you to take this run. That widget still needs to get "expedited" to that plant on time to keep things running, and when it doesn't arrive on time that can then cause the carrier to not get the next load. It's a domino effect.
My most recent "scary driver" just caused a 5 car pileup...this is his third accident. Safe to say he's not a Professional Driver.
The insurance moral of the day is that you'd never hire an office girl who couldn't type...don't hire a driver who can't drive. Hope you all have a fun & spooky weekend!
Shelly Benisch, CIC
Commercial Insurance Solutions (C.I.S.)