Are you regularly asking for discounts?  If not, why not?  The worst someone will say is no and it didn’t you cost you anything for asking.   But it could be worth your asking time if the answer is yes.  Think of the possibilities of where you could be saving some money.

Discount on your insurance for loss-free driving and ticket-free driving.  Insurance companies love the squeaky clean driver and sometimes reward you accordingly.

Shop around when looking for an insurance company.  Ask some questions about any discount programs they may have and compare pricing.  It could be worth it to be able to pay your truck insurance on a monthly basis rather than quarterly, semi-annually or annually.  If you are dealing with an Independent Agent, try to get a better deal on insurance by bundling your personal vehicles, motorized toys and home/renters insurance all together for bigger discounts on everything.  Ask other truckers who they have for insurance coverage and whether or not they would recommend them and why.  Most people will gladly share good and bad experiences with companies.  You ultimately decide who is going to get your $$ for coverage.

How about meal discounts?  Take advantage of customer appreciate cards at food stops you frequent.  Some may give you reward $$ that accumulate and others give a free meal after the purchase of others.   Ask the waitress/waiter if they have any program and participate if it’s to your advantage.  Those of you with AARP cards or eligible for the seniors discount, don’t be shy to ask for that discount on your meals.  It all adds up.

I can just hear what you are saying that you can write off your meals.  Maybe so, but we are talking daily out of pocket expenses that you encounter every day.  You decide whether or not you want to keep more of your money right now or wait until the end of the year.  You can still write off your meals, but a little extra cash right now is my first choice.  How about you?

Asking for discounts at big box stores like Wal-Mart doesn’t work so well unless the item is slightly damaged but still usable.  But if you are dealing with a local business, sometimes you can fernagel (negotiate) a better deal by just asking an employee or asking for the manager.

Did you know that the United States is the only country where the people don’t dicker (negotiate) prices with a seller.  True!  Give it a try sometime and tell me about your experiences.

About a year ago my stove quit.  We talked about what I wanted in the next stove and how much we could afford to spend.  And guess what, we found what we were looking for at the price we were willing to pay which was almost half what the stove was originally priced.  Of course the salesman is going to direct you to the more expensive models but we found ours discounted as a floor model and it came with the full one-year warranty which I took advantage of when the oven didn’t heat correctly.  A new “brain” was installed at no cost and everything is now good.  Had we not asked for a better deal, the salesman never would have directed us to the floor models that were for sale.

I am a big Dave Ramsey fan.  If you never heard of him, google the name Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and check him out.  He gives sound money management advice/debt reduction which has helped us and many others we know.  He also teaches asking for discounts and negotiating prices and not to be afraid of walking away.  If someone is eager/commissioned for a sale, they will try to do whatever they can to make that sale.

We at Easy Trucking Software try to help you keep more of your money as well.  We provide a quality product at a reasonable price you pay for only once.  And if you are an OOIDA member, ask me about the discount we offer just for you.  www.easytruckingsoftware.com Get a FREE Trial Download to check us out before you even spend $1 of your money on anything.  www.easyruckingsoftware.com click on Download.

So back to asking for discounts…….like I said earlier, if you don’t ask, you don’t get.  And the worst that could happen is a no.  But the best that could happen is you save some money right now.

Easy Truckin is brought to you by Easy Trucking Software. We hope you enjoy it.

Things may not be quite that bad, yet.  Those things out of your control like fuel prices and food prices are just that, out of your control so don’t worry about them you’ll only make yourself sick trying.  Look at the things that are in your control like your insurance expense.

Just like the multitude of insurance companies out there, so it is with trucking software companies.  But not all are equal.  Here at Easy Trucking Software we pride ourselves on our outstanding customer service that is the foundation of our operation.  We pack a lot of tools into our software for a reasonable cost, giving you the reports you need and want.  We can help you keep your business on track for success just as your insurance carrier can help shield your business with a blanket of insurance protection.

Insurance companies too have a lot of tools at their fingertips to aid in your decision making of what coverage is right for you.  There are many insurance carriers out there to choose from to do business with.  Here are a few things you may want to consider when you next review your truck insurance.

It is a good idea to review your coverages if:

• Your insurance agent deals mostly with homeowners and auto insurance and knows very little about the trucking industry but writes a policy here and there.  You want a professional in trucking insurance to help guide you through the process to make good decisions for your business and to answer your questions.  You want a reputable and knowledgeable agent.
• You have had your insurance for more than a year or have recently had an accident or near accident.  Don’t get caught on the short end of missing or a lack of proper coverage.  Don’t rely on the other person having insurance coverage because some do not, crazy as that is.
• You have recently bought a different or new truck or are adding an additional truck for your business.  Adequate coverage at a minimum is a must.  One accident could put you into financial ruin without sufficient coverage.  You also do not want to be insurance poor by paying too much  for the coverage you want or for coverage you do not need.  Shop around and compare costs and agencies.
• You get an unexpected bill from your insurance carrier.  Something has changed with your insurance or new policies going into effect by your carrier and now is a good time to review your policy.   Sit down and review your policy in depth if needed to get a clear understanding of what you are paying for and why.

Work with a reputable insurance company and agent.   Ask other truckers who they use and whether or not they would recommend their company.  Word of mouth is a powerful thing and people are always willing to share what they think, good or bad.  Outstanding customer service should be a given when dealing with your insurance carrier.  If you are not treated well why are you doing business with them and giving them your premium dollars?

Don’t get caught short on insurance or without a trucking software like Easy Trucking Software to help track your business. We even offer a FREE download to try the software before you buy it.  Can’t do that with insurance can you.  Visit our website at www.easytruckingsoftware.com and click on Download.   Easy Trucking Software has been in business since 1993 and isn’t going anywhere but forward.  No bailout money taken here.

Easy Truckin is brought to you by Easy Trucking Software. We hope you enjoy it.

At the top of my list is dealing with a reputable Insurance Agent.   

To find a reputable agent, ask other truckers who they use and what they think of their insurance and agent.  Dealing with someone in your own community is preferred.  There are quite a few “independent agents” in every area around the country to choose from that will deal with a variety of insurance companies.  You also one an agent that has experience with trucking insurance.  

To check up on the reputation of an agent do a search in your state by entering your state initials, i.e. WI for Wisconsin, and Insurance Commissioner (WI Insurance Commissioner).  This should give you a start to find your information on-line about any agent or a number you can call in the Commissioners office.

Now that you have found an agent, ask for a coverages and premiums comparison from several different insurance companies your agent deals with.  Your driving record will also factor in for the bottom-line premium.   Have your current insurance information handy for when you talk with the agent.  They will undoubtedly have a list of questions concerning your current coverage.  Also think about and mention any changes you may want to consider making to your coverage.

If you already have or are thinking about buying your own trailer, mention this fact to the agent for your premium quote.  

Ask if the agent will give you a package deal by offering them your personal business for your home and auto coverages, plus any “toys” you may have stashed in your garage or storage building such as snow mobiles, motor cycles, goats, ATVs, and so on.    Most insurance companies have packaged plans for personal insurance coverages that you can take advantage of and save some money in the process.

Ask for the best deal they can possibly give you and tell them you are shopping around so they know you are serious and mean business.  Ask about premium payment plans and what they are and the cost you.  Sometimes if you have a monthly automatic electronic funds transfer (EFT) for your premium you can save some money.  And sometimes if you pay your insurance annually, you get a bigger break.  But ask before you commit to anything.

The higher deductible you take the lower your premium can go.  You decide what is right for you concerning the deductible.  A quick definition for deductible is what you can afford to spend out of your own pocket in the event of an accident.  Some people have more money set aside just for this so they would want to take a higher deductible to lower their premium.  Or you can figure what you save by taking a higher deductible and put it in the bank.  You decide what is right for you and your budget.

Insurance is a necessary thing to have and you want to get the best deal you can for your trucking business.  Also review your insurance coverages on an annual basis for any changes you want to make.  You sometimes can’t prevent someone else from hitting you and having good insurance coverage will help you transition through the claim process a little better.

Easy Truckin is brought to you by Easy Trucking Software. We hope you enjoy it.