Month: August 2013

Vulnerable Homeowners Negligent About Flood Insurance

Posted on by shasha insurance

Quite a bit of attention is being paid lately to floods and the devastation they leave behind. In the wake of Katrina, more and more questions have been raised about what kind of preventative measures would have lessened the catastrophic effects of such an event.  How well equipped are individual homeowners to handle financial consequences on their own, as opposed to relying solely on agencies like FEMA to provide them with economic assistance? Are Americans taking advantage of the nation’s flood insurance program?

That’s what FEMA wanted to know. The agency worked through the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to commission a study. AIR is a not-for-profit organization that conducts research on social issues and provides technical assistance in the fields of health, education, and workforce productivity. AIR coordinated the study, which was conducted by the Institute for Civil Justice and the Infrastructure, Safety and Environment division of the RAND Corporation. It was intended to be part of an overall evaluation of the flood insurance program.

In the course of their work, the researchers discovered that most homeowners buy flood insurance only because it is required. Only 20% of homeowners living in the areas most vulnerable to floods buy federal flood insurance when they are not required to do so. The study went on to reveal that just 1% of Americans living outside designated flood zones buy federal flood insurance even though the possibility of being victimized by flood is a real threat.

Only 50% to 60% of the 3.6 million single-family homes in the most highly affected areas are legally required to buy federal flood insurance. The remaining homeowners in these areas and the nearly 76 million single-family homes outside these areas are not required to buy flood insurance.

The study put the greatest emphasis on exploring the demographics of flood insurance purchasers. About 63% of homeowners living in areas subject to coastal flooding purchase flood insurance. Approximately 35% of homeowners living in areas that are only affected by river flooding buy flood insurance. The researchers surmised that the disparity might be the result of a perception of having less risk or that coverage available for basements is limited, and basements are prevalent in inland areas subject to river flooding. The report recommended that this aversion to flood insurance by those living in inland areas be studied, to search for an explanation or possible causes.

The study also looked at purchasing habits along geographic breakdowns. In the South, 75% of homeowners who carry flood insurance also have contents coverage. Only 16% of homeowners with flood insurance in the Midwest and 49% in the Northeast have contents coverage.

Clearly homeowners everywhere need to reassess their exposure to flooding.  If you have questions about obtaining flood insurance for your property, please give us a call.

Traffic Violation Cameras and Your Auto Insurance Premium

Posted on by shasha insurance

With the sudden presence of traffic violation cameras (red light, speeding, aggressive driving) in states across the country, many Americans feel that their privacy is violated.  Others believe that this is a government ploy for fundraising, or to replace the local police department.  Many people are curious as to the effect a red light camera violation will have on their insurance premium.

Since initiating the program a few short years ago, participating cities have seen very promising results from their investments.  Many have seen a 40% decrease in violations since starting the program.  Fines can be anywhere from $35 to $200, depending on the city in which the violation was issued and the speed over the legal limit at the time of the photograph.

If you are found in violation, the cameras take a picture of your car, with a motion-triggered shutter, which captures an image of you in your vehicle in addition to a zoomed-in image of your license plate.  Some cameras even take a few seconds of video.  Once the data is analyzed, you are issued a ticket through mail.

Some drivers have contested that if the vehicle owner is not the driver at the time of the violation, they should not have to pay the fine.  Most cities allow residents to appeal the citation in this situation.  Other states, however, hold the vehicle owner responsible regardless of who was driving.

There have been a few reports that suggested the cameras increase traffic accidents.  This is both true and false.  As the lights change from green to yellow, drivers begin to panic.  To avoid receiving a traffic violation, they are inclined to stop much more suddenly, which could cause minor rear-end collisions, and fender-benders.  However, more serious side-impact and head-on collisions caused by drivers speeding through red lights have significantly decreased.  As these crashes were much more hazardous, and resulted in far more injuries, the cameras are still viewed as a positive implementation.

Since violations are usually issued as a civil penalty, in most cases they do not result in changes to your insurance premium or points on your license, except in extreme cases.  Driving safely, however, will always result in better insurance rates.

A Quick Guide to Understanding Insurance Policies

Posted on by shasha insurance

There is little disagreement among policyholders that an insurance policy is an insanely boring piece of literature.  Too often we get our policy and until we have a claim, it is filed with barely a second glance. Is there a way to make reading insurance policies more interesting and more productive?  Let’s try.

To make your policy interesting to read, we are going to go on a scavenger hunt.  Find a pen, pencil, or highlighter; open up your policy; and let’s begin.  We will break down the typical insurance policy into the following parts:  1.) Declarations, 2.) Definitions, 3.) Covered Perils, 4.) Exclusions, 5.) Conditions, and 6.) Endorsements or Riders. Get used to looking in this particular order, regardless of how your policy is arranged.  Because of the nature of insurance policies, you will not overlook anything by going out of the policy’s inherent order; so do not worry about jumping from page to page.

1.      Declarations – The declarations page(s) comprises the who, what, when, and where of your policy.  Look for the named insured, the address, limits of coverage, deductible or retention levels, and listings of forms that might apply to your coverage as well.  Make sure that all the personalized information is correct and all the forms match the ones quoted with your policy.  This should always be your first stop. 

2.      Definitions – Not all policies have a definition section, but most have defined terms.  Hunt down the definitions in your policy, see what the defined terms mean, and to be truly thorough, find those defined terms as they are used in the policy to see if the definitions make sense. 

3.      Covered Peril(s) – Regardless of what type of policy you have purchased, it will always have a specific covered peril or list of covered perils.  It may be called “Coverage Agreement,” “Covered Perils,” or something similar.  (NOTE:  A typical auto policy has as many as six distinct coverages, each with their own terms, conditions, exclusions, and so on.)  Coverage agreements can also include additional coverages related to the covered peril, i.e., legal defense and other expenses paid by the company in a liability policy. 

4.      Exclusions – Virtually all policies have exclusions, which are usually found in a section entitled “Exclusions” or “What We Do Not Cover.”  Common exclusions include exposures that are deemed uninsurable by law or uninsurable by the insurance company.  Punitive damages, for example, are not insurable in some states because of the act that precipitated the punitive damages. Other exposures, such as asbestos liability, are simply undesirable to the insurer and excluded accordingly. Often, policies have “carve outs” built into the covered peril section or elsewhere in the policy, so look for these exclusions too.  For example, the policy might have a definition section with a definition for “Damages” or “Covered Damages.”  Damages might be stated to include monetary loss suffered by a third party (for a liability policy) and defense costs, but not to include fines, penalties, or punitive damages assessed against the insured. 

5.      General Conditions – All policies have what are called general conditions or common policy conditions if there is more than one coverage section to the policy.  Typical conditions that apply are “Policy Territory,” “Cancellation,” and “Other Insurance” clauses. 

6.      Endorsements or Riders – Many policies have endorsements or riders added to the basic policy to account for variations by state, updates to the basic form, or elements that are peculiar to your situation and require tailoring of coverage. 

Now that you have gone through your policy, the final step is to ask questions.  If there are no questions, move on to the next policy, start with the declarations and don’t stop until you hit the riders.  I guarantee it will be a page-turner!

The Big Freeze: How to Prevent Freezing Pipes

Posted on by shasha insurance

Imagine waking up on a frigid winter morning, throwing on your bathrobe and stumbling down the stairs to make a pot of coffee—only to find your kitchen is filled with water. Each winter, about a quarter of a million families find themselves in scenarios like this all because of water pipes that freeze and burst.

Not only can a pipe eruption ruin your day, but it can also cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home. Your furniture, carpet, photos and floors could be completely water-logged and even ruined from a single bursting pipe. As a matter of fact, just a three millimeter crack in a pipe can dump up to 250 gallons of water in your house in a single day. Whether your home is outfitted with copper or plastic PVC pipes, no one is immune to pipe bursts—both of these pipes can rupture.

Fortunately, you can take a few precautions to protect your pipes and avoid the hassle of a messy, expensive pipe burst. If you want to steer clear of the rising flood waters, follow these simple steps: 

Bundle up those pipes: Before winter arrives, take time to insulate all the exposed pipes in your crawl spaces, garage and attic. Because these pipes are open to the elements, they are more vulnerable to freezing. Don’t be shy with the insulation—the more you use, the less likely your pipes will freeze and burst.

Use heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables to wrap your high-risk pipes. Make sure the product is approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Use exterior tape for outside pipes and interior tape for indoor pipes, and carefully follow all the installation instructions.

Seal the cracks: Look for air leaks near your pipes. If arctic air seeps through even a tiny crack, your pipes can quickly freeze and burst. To keep the cold out and the heat in, seal up every leak with caulk or insulation.

Put the garden hose away: Before the temperature plummets below freezing, disconnect your garden hose and shut off the indoor valve.

Bump up the thermostat: Never set your thermostat below 65 degrees in the winter. The temperature inside the walls and attic, where your pipes are located, is much colder than the inside of your house. If you let the indoor temperature drop below 65 degrees, your exterior wall pipes are at high risk of freezing and bursting.

Let the water trickle: Turn on one faucet in your home and let warm water drip throughout the night. Even a tiny trickle of water can help prevent your pipes from freezing. If possible, use a faucet on an outside wall.

Protect your home when you’re gone: If you’re going out of town, ask a friend or neighbor to check your house each day. Tell them to look for any signs of a burst pipe and make sure it’s warm enough to prevent pipes from freezing.

If you don’t have anyone who can check your home, consider shutting off and draining your water system before you leave. Keep in mind that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it will be disabled when you shut off the water.

Know the signs of a pipe freeze: If you turn on your faucet and no water comes out, this could be a sign that your pipe is frozen. Leave the faucet on and call a plumber.

You may be able to thaw the frozen pipe yourself with a hair dryer. Start warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest part of the pipe. Never try to thaw pipe with a torch or open flame.

Deal with the pipe burst: If your pipes freeze and burst, turn off your water at the main shut-off valve and leave the water faucets on. Call a plumber right away.

You should also call your insurance agent or company as soon as possible. Although your insurance adjuster doesn’t need to see the spill before you clean it up, you should at least inform them of your situation.

Move electronics, furniture, carpet and other items away from the water. Start mopping up the water and try to make temporary repairs to protect your home from further damage. Be sure to save all of your receipts for any money you spend related to the pipe burst. Your insurance company may be able to reimburse you for temporary repairs. Try to avoid making expensive permanent repairs until your insurance adjuster has a chance to assess the damage.

Obviously, no one wants to deal with the costly and messy aggravation of a pipe burst. To avoid this nightmare, take the proper measures to protect your pipes and your home. However, it’s also important to ensure your family is prepared to act swiftly and smartly if a pipe does rupture.

Worker Found Eligible for Compensation from Seizure Related Injury

Posted on by shasha insurance

In an August 2006 ruling, Connecticut’s Supreme Court ruled that the claimant in the case of Michael G. Blakeslee Jr. vs. Platt Brothers & Co, who was injured when co-workers tried to help during a seizure, is entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. Typically, workplace injuries caused by a seizure wouldn’t be eligible for compensation because the injuries arise from the medical condition itself and not from conditions in the work area. In the Blakeslee case, the claimant received two dislocated shoulders on February 13, 2002, when three co-workers tried to restrain him during his seizure. He had fallen near a large steel scale, and then started flailing his arms and legs as he regained consciousness.

The claimant filed a workers’ compensation claim contending that because the actual injury resulted from the restraint, and not the seizure itself, the shoulder injuries should be covered. The claimant argued that an injury received during the course of employment is eligible for compensation even if infirmity due to disease originally set in motion the final cause of the injury. The claimant also asserted that an injury inflicted by a co-employee is eligible for compensation, unless the injured employee engages in unauthorized behavior or the injury is the result of an intentional assault.

Initially, a workers’ compensation commissioner decided that Blakeslee was not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The commissioner determined that the claimant’s injuries resulted from a chain of events set off by a grand mal seizure unrelated to his employment. A workers’ compensation review board agreed with the finding. The review board stated that there is a prerequisite requirement for eligibility for compensation, which the claimant overlooked. The cause of the injury must arise out of the employment and work conditions must be the legal cause of the injury. The review board contended that the claimant’s seizure caused the need for first aid, which caused the injury. There was no element of the claimant’s employment involved.

Five out of seven Supreme Court justices reversed the board’s ruling. They were not persuaded by the argument posed by Platt Brothers, and the employer’s insurer, Wausau Insurance Co., that finding for the defendant would be in direct opposition to public policy because it would prevent employees from assisting co-workers in future medical emergencies. The majority noted that the co-workers restrained Blakeslee to keep him from harming other employees as well as himself. Their actions benefited the employer. The action was directly related to the employment and would therefore be eligible for compensation.

The two dissenting justices argued that the Supreme Court should not have accepted review of the case.

Renter’s Insurance – A Small Investment for a Potentially Large Benefit

Posted on by shasha insurance

If you’re currently renting a house or apartment, you should strongly consider an investment in renter’s insurance. No one likes to think about the possibility of a fire or a burglary, but these are real possibilities. 

Burglars can break in while you’re away and steal your computer, entertainment system, jewelry, and other valuable items. Without renter’s insurance, you will have thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs to replace the stolen items. By contrast, if you have renter’s insurance, you will promptly receive a check that covers either the replacement costs for the stolen items or the current value of the items-depending upon which type of insurance policy you’ve purchased.

Maybe you believe there is little risk of a burglary in your geographic area, but what about the risk of fire? Fires strike randomly and can begin in electrical wiring over which you have no control. It’s unpleasant to contemplate, but you could come home to find that everything you own has been destroyed. With renter’s insurance, you would have a check in hand quite soon to begin refurnishing your life.

Yet another scenario for which renter’s insurance can be of enormous benefit is personal liability. If a visitor is injured in your home, for example, by falling down the steps, you could be liable for her medical bills. Renter’s insurance would cover this liability.

Some renters are under the impression that their possessions are covered by their landlord’s insurance. This is rarely true. Typically, the landlord’s insurance covers loss or damage to his property, not yours. Your landlord’s insurance also covers his liability in case anyone is injured on the property, though not always injuries inside your apartment.

Most renters can get comprehensive coverage for a few hundred dollars per year, depending on where they live. Considering the risks covered by renter’s policies, this is a low cost for the potential benefits.

Before speaking with an agent about renter’s insurance, look around your house or apartment and take an inventory of items you would need to replace in the event of a catastrophe. Take note of high value or difficult to replace items such as antiques, furs, jewelry, or expensive art. Before you get a policy or immediately thereafter, you should record information on all your high value items, including details about the make, model, serial number, age, and costs (both purchase and current replacement). It may also help to have photos of these items for identification purposes.

A basic policy usually pays only for the actual cash value of your items at the time they were lost. In other words, they would be valued not at what you paid for them originally or what it would cost to replace them, but at their actual value as used items. So a 3-year-old computer would be covered for its initial cost minus depreciation. Since computers depreciate quickly, yours may be worth little by the time it’s 3-years-old, so your insurance proceeds will be limited.

If you have expensive items like electronics that are subject to depreciation, you should consider replacement cost coverage. With this type of policy, you would be reimbursed for the current cost of buying a new equivalent item. Thus, in our example of the $2,000 computer at 3-years-old, you would receive a check that would enable you to buy a new computer. Of course, replacement cost coverage is more expensive. It’s up to you to decide which type of coverage-actual value or replacement cost-best fits your needs and budget.

Like most other insurance policies, your renter’s policy will have deductibles. A deductible is an amount of loss you will have to absorb yourself before receiving any money from the insurance company. For example, let’s say you have a policy with a $500 deductible. You have cameras you bought for $2,000 several years ago. If you have replacement cost coverage and the cameras are lost in a fire, you would receive a check for $1,500 from the insurance company. Of course, you can lower your insurance premium by accepting a higher deductible, but this means if there is a loss, you must absorb more of it from your own pocket.

Renter’s insurance usually does not cover damage from floods or earthquakes, but you may be able to get endorsements for these and other “acts of God.” An endorsement extends the perils covered by your policy. Obviously, you must pay an extra premium for the extra coverage.

Be sure to discuss any special high value items, such as antiques, furs, and jewelry with your insurance agent, since you may need extra coverage for these.

As mentioned, a basic renter’s policy includes liability coverage should someone be injured in your rented home or apartment. As with car insurance, there is a per-incident limit on this coverage, and you should make sure this is high enough to protect your assets.

Perform Lockout/Tagout Safety Measures While Servicing Machinery

Posted on by shasha insurance

As one of approximately three million workers who service and maintain equipment, you need to know how to prevent the serious risks of unexpected machinery startup or the release of hazardous energy.  While the risks are significant, by following OSHA’s lockout/tagout safety standards, an estimated 50,000 injuries can be prevented each year. 

Hazardous energy comes in multiple forms which include; the kinetic or mechanical energy of moving parts, potential energy stored in pressure vessels, gas tanks, hydraulic or pneumatic systems, electrical energy from generated electrical power, static sources or electrical storage devices such as batteries, high or low temperature thermal energy from mechanical work, radiation, a chemical reaction and electrical resistance.

While performing installation, maintenance, service or repair work near or related to hazardous energy sources these factors can lead to a dangerous situation and, are preventable:

–        The failure to completely de-energize, isolate, block, and/or dissipate the hazardous energy source,

–        Failure to lockout and tagout energy control devices and isolation points after the hazardous energy source has been de-energized, and

–        Failure to verify that the hazardous energy source was de-energized before beginning work.

Our OSHA-compliant hazardous energy control program helps to promote a safe working environment for employees.  The central goal of the program is to help you know how to identify at-risk tasks and conduct appropriate methods for controlling hazardous energy.

Our safety program is very comprehensive and includes the following general safety measures.  Safe work practices must begin before work commences and be applied at every step.  All sources of hazardous energy must be identified, labeled and then de-energized and dissipated, and all energy-isolating devices must undergo lockout and tagout to prevent startup and blocking.  We have developed the specific method of energy control based on the form of energy involved.  Workers must verify, using appropriate testing equipment, that all energy sources are de-energized before work begins. 

After work is complete, a designated individual must inspect the completed work to verify it was performed correctly using the correct replacement parts and that all personnel are clear of danger points before re-energizing the system.  Re-energized equipment should be closely monitored for several operating cycles.  The lockout/tagout program requires individually assigned locks and keys to secure the energy control devices.  Locks and tags must be removed only after workers have been cleared from the danger points and only by the workers who installed them.

Hazardous energy is a powerful force, however when diligently following our lockout/tagout safety program a safe working environment is created for all employees.

When Should You Get Car Insurance for Your Teen?

Posted on by shasha insurance

As soon as they start learning to drive, whether they are starting with a learner’s permit or going straight to the license, you should inform your insurance company to have them added to your policy.  This is usually much more cost-effective than placing them on their own policy, especially if you are a safe driver with a clean record.  They will also be eligible for more coverage under your policy.

Statistics show that teens are more prone to accidents than those in other age groups, so starting out with the right amount of coverage is extremely important.

When your child goes to college, unless they are taking a car with them, you will probably want to switch them to “occasional drivers” under your policy.  Some other considerations:

·   You may qualify for a multi-policy discount if your child’s car is covered under your policy.

·   You may also qualify for a discount during the time your child is away at college.

·   Encourage your child to earn good grades, and take a driver training course.  Some insurers discount due to good grades, and for completion of training courses.

·   Serve as a good role model; your child will learn by example, so it is important to demonstrate good driving habits early on (i.e. not talking on the phone, using seatbelt, not drinking and driving.)

The Number of Uninsured Drivers Continues to Rise

Posted on by shasha insurance

Here’s a sobering statistic you might not be aware of: nationwide, when a person is injured in a car accident, the odds are about one in seven that the driver that caused the crash is uninsured. According to a recent Insurance Research Council (IRC) study, the estimated percentage of uninsured drivers rose from 12.7% in 1999 to 14.6% in 2004. The IRC studied data provided by eleven insurance carriers, which represents approximately 58% of the private passenger auto insurance market in the United States.

Uninsured Motorists, 2006 Edition looks at trends in the percentage of uninsured drivers by state from 1999 to 2004. In 2004, the five states with the highest uninsured driver estimates were Mississippi with 26%, Alabama with 25%, California with 25%, New Mexico with 24%, and Arizona with 22%. The five states with the lowest uninsured driver estimates were Maine with 4%, Vermont with 6%, Massachusetts with 6%, New York with 7%, and Nebraska with 8%.

The researchers estimated the number of uninsured drivers by using a ratio of insurance claims made by persons who were injured by uninsured drivers to claims made by persons who were injured by insured drivers. The study also includes recent statistics broken down by state on the frequency of claims made by uninsured motorists, the frequency of claims of bodily injury, and the ratio of uninsured motorists to bodily injury claim frequencies.

Given these statistics, it’s a good idea for people to protect themselves in case they are in an accident with someone with either no coverage or not enough coverage. That’s why the insurance industry developed Uninsured Motorist Insurance and Underinsured Motorist Insurance. Requirements for carrying this coverage differ from state to state. However, in general, states that are considered “no fault” auto insurance states mandate both types of coverage.

Uninsured Motorist insurance protects you when the other driver has no coverage. In order for your Uninsured Motorist coverage to help, the uninsured driver must be the person responsible for causing the accident. The types of coverage provided under this policy include:

·        Uninsured Property Damage: Covers you when the insured vehicle sustains property damage, but the at-fault driver has no insurance.

·        Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury: Covers you, the insured members of your household and your passengers for bodily/personal injuries, damages or death caused by an uninsured at-fault driver. If you get into an accident in which the at-fault driver has no insurance, your policy will pay your medical expenses, up to the stated limits of your policy.

Underinsured Motorist insurance protects you when you are in an accident with a driver who does not have enough liability coverage. Again, this coverage only helps if the underinsured driver caused the accident. The types of coverage provided under this policy include:

·        Underinsured Motorist Property Damage: Covers you when the insured vehicle sustains property damage, but the at-fault driver is covered by a policy with a liability limit insufficient to cover all the damages.

·        Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury: Covers you, the insured members of your household and your passengers for injuries, damages or death caused by an at-fault driver whose insurance is insufficient to cover the entire expense. If you have an accident with a driver whose policy limits are too low to pay all your damages, your policy will pay the difference up to the stated limits of your policy.

If you haven’t reviewed your insurance coverage recently, talk to your insurance agent to review any gaps in your coverage. You may be putting yourself and your family in greater risk than you realize.

Strategic Loss Prevention Practices Help to Prevent Cargo Theft

Posted on by shasha insurance

Although you may not hear much about it on the evening news, according to the FBI, cargo theft is on the rise and represents a threat to both our economy and our national security.  Over the past five years, criminals involved in this type of activity have become more sophisticated, and more violent, in their methods. Due to this uptick in criminal behavior, the price tag associated with cargo theft is increasing.  In fact, the Major Theft Unit in the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division estimates that cargo theft costs U.S. businesses up to $30 billion a year. Such estimates may not present an accurate scope of the problem because businesses are often reluctant to report thefts out of concern for their reputations or because they fear insurance premiums will increase.

Although there is no magic bullet that guarantees you will never experience a cargo theft, there are steps trucking companies can take to reduce the risk.

  • Fence the entire physical premises of lots to make entry difficult. There should also be closed-circuit cameras, alarm systems and guards who monitor the surveillance cameras.
  • Place high-security locks on trailer doors and air-brake lines.
  •  Use GPS systems and other technology to track trucks and cargo.
  • Check the driving records and criminal backgrounds of all new drivers as part of your pre-employment screening process.
  • Work with your insurer to identify routes with a lowered possibility of cargo-theft.
  • Require drivers to drive at least 4 hours before their first rest stop. If a thief was close behind, they may lose interest while waiting for the driver to stop.
  • Ask drivers to notify their dispatcher prior to stopping. After they pull over, they should be sure their engines have been shut off so that waiting thieves can’t drive away easily while they are inside the rest stop.
  • Develop reciprocal agreements with clients to allow your drivers to park loaded trucks at the clients’ secured facilities while en route. You can also establish this kind of agreement with other trucking companies.
  • Place bills of lading in a secure location and designate a single person to control their distribution to the drivers. Bills of lading reveal details about what a truck is hauling. If a driver is working in collaboration with thieves, he can look at a bill of lading and tell thieves what cargo is being shipped, when it is due to leave, and the number of the trailer in which it will be packed. 
  • Never make a truck’s trailer a billboard for what is inside. While you may be promoting your products on the trailers to generate new business, you are also advertising the contents to cargo thieves.

Cargo theft may be a reality of the trucking industry, but you don’t have to assume that it is an inevitable cost of doing business. You can reduce your vulnerability if you follow these common sense precautions to make thieves work harder to steal your valuable freight.