Venice, Florida - March 16, 2009 – 1st Guard Corporation, a specialty insurer for long-haul truckers, recently implemented a monumental change in the way they store policyholder credit card information. This change eliminates the storing of all credit card numbers onsite and drastically reduces [if not eliminates] the exposure to a security breach and the liability associated with it. It is all too common these days to hear about companies that have lost hundreds of thousands of customer credit card numbers in a single devastating event. “1st Guard’s® priority is to protect our policyholders,” commented Daniel Ribar, Chief Information Officer at 1st Guard Corporation. “People count on us to provide reliable insurance services and it is our duty to deliver just that,” added Ribar.
For each customer that pays their premium electronically, only one primary card will be stored on file. 1st Guard® will no longer store multiple credit cards for a single customer. This change immediately reduces the exposure to a security breach. Additionally, only the last four digits of the credit card with the expiration date will appear on the payment screen at 1st Guard®. All sensitive numbers that make up the entire credit card will be stored at merchant services which are kept on file for a maximum of 90 days.
Ed Campbell III, Chairman of 1st Guard Corporation stated, “The hacker stories on television have made everyone cognizant that security is a huge issue in daily business operations. 1st Guard took the initiative to make sure the best security measures are in place to protect our policyholder’s financial information.”
Monday, March 16, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
1st Guard Corporation Launches 1st Guard® Mobile: A Website Application for Smart Device Users
Venice, Florida – February 17, 2009 – 1st Guard Corporation, a leader in providing physical damage and nontrucking liability insurance to lease owner operators, announced today they have launched 1st Guard® Mobile, a website interface that is accessible from any mobile Smart Device. A Smart Device is considered an iPhone, Blackberry, Palm Pilot, WindowsMobile and the like. The premise behind 1st Guard® Mobile is to allow a user access to 1st Guard®’s website [www.1stguard.com] using a mobile device instead of a PC. Beyond typical phone capabilities, Smart Devices are being used more frequently to access the Internet and carry out day to day business operations. “It is important for us [1st Guard] to be on the cutting edge, if not bleeding edge, of technology and automation,” stated Daniel Ribar, Chief Information Officer for 1st Guard Corporation. “Through innovation we strive to provide everything our customers and future customers would need at their finger tips. 1st Guard® Mobile is a prime example of that,” added Ribar.
1st Guard® Mobile is simple in design, but mechanically driven and extremely functional. To access the 1st Guard® website on a mobile device, a user must go to http://www.1stguard.com/, which automatically takes you to a mobile version of the website. The functions are the same on the mobile device as they are using a computer to access the Internet. A user can obtain an instant quote on a tractor/trailer, view products and FAQ’s, and submit an inquiry for a 1st Guard® representative to call them back.
1st Guard® Mobile is in production mode and will reflect any changes that are made to the public website. For example, in the Spring 1st Guard® anticipates releasing the enhanced version of My Account. This is where a current insured can access his account, view and print documents, make a payment and much more. When this capability is made available on the public website, it will also be available on 1st Guard® Mobile. “To be able to access your truck insurance account in real time on a mobile device any time, any place is an amazing feature that no other truck insurer offers,” remarked Ed Campbell III, Chairman of 1st Guard.
1st Guard® Mobile is simple in design, but mechanically driven and extremely functional. To access the 1st Guard® website on a mobile device, a user must go to http://www.1stguard.com/, which automatically takes you to a mobile version of the website. The functions are the same on the mobile device as they are using a computer to access the Internet. A user can obtain an instant quote on a tractor/trailer, view products and FAQ’s, and submit an inquiry for a 1st Guard® representative to call them back.
1st Guard® Mobile is in production mode and will reflect any changes that are made to the public website. For example, in the Spring 1st Guard® anticipates releasing the enhanced version of My Account. This is where a current insured can access his account, view and print documents, make a payment and much more. When this capability is made available on the public website, it will also be available on 1st Guard® Mobile. “To be able to access your truck insurance account in real time on a mobile device any time, any place is an amazing feature that no other truck insurer offers,” remarked Ed Campbell III, Chairman of 1st Guard.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
First Guard Insurance Reports 98.5% Customer Satisfaction for Claims Handling
Venice, Florida – February 4, 2009 – First Guard Insurance Company, a specialty truck physical damage insurer for long-haul truckers, recently reported a 98.5% customer satisfaction rating for claims handling for 2008. As a direct-writer for physical damage insurance, First Guard operates their own in-house claims division that deals with tractor trailer claims on a daily basis. First Guard does not use a third party administrator (TPA). Betsy Stealey, Director of Claims for First Guard Insurance Company, commented “In the truck insurance business, it is extremely important to provide our customers with fast, reliable claims service so they get back on the road as quickly as possible. Receiving such a high customer satisfaction rating is not only gratifying but an achievement that will resonate within the owner operator community.”
Each time a claim is settled a claims survey is automatically sent to the insured. In hopes of increasing the percentage of returned surveys, a self-addressed pre-paid envelope is included. The survey consists of four key questions that target adjuster responsiveness and overall service. Each question is weighed individually and then averaged to compile the overall claims satisfaction rating. For 2008, the satisfaction rating for each question ranged between 97.8% to a high of 99.7%.
“Handling truck claims are not easy,” commented Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company. “But we have the philosophy here that just because a lease owner operator has a claim doesn't mean his business has to come to a halt. It’s quite the opposite when you deal with First Guard. We get them back on the road in no time so business can continue as usual.”
Each time a claim is settled a claims survey is automatically sent to the insured. In hopes of increasing the percentage of returned surveys, a self-addressed pre-paid envelope is included. The survey consists of four key questions that target adjuster responsiveness and overall service. Each question is weighed individually and then averaged to compile the overall claims satisfaction rating. For 2008, the satisfaction rating for each question ranged between 97.8% to a high of 99.7%.
“Handling truck claims are not easy,” commented Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company. “But we have the philosophy here that just because a lease owner operator has a claim doesn't mean his business has to come to a halt. It’s quite the opposite when you deal with First Guard. We get them back on the road in no time so business can continue as usual.”
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Save BIG with 1st Guard
Did you know you could Save up to 15% on your physical damage premium if you sign up for one of the electronic payment methods offered by 1st Guard?
Electronic payment methods include: debit card, credit card or automatic draft from a checking/savings account. Forget the hassle of writing a check and making sure it arrives on-time. Your physical damage premium is on-time, all the time when you pay electronically. Generally speaking, no deposit (escrow) is collected when you pay your premium electronically. That means less money out of your pocket!
The savings attributed to paying a physical damage premium electronically is offered only to lease owner operators that buy direct from 1st Guard.
True Statistic
The average 1st Guard customer saves $295 PER YEAR
when switching to an electronic payment method.
when switching to an electronic payment method.
Please Note: Discount may not be applicable in all states. Call 1st Guard for an instant quote to see if you are eligible for this potential savings!
Monday, January 12, 2009
1st Guard® Launches Customer-Oriented Website
Venice, Florida – January 12, 2009 – 1st Guard Corporation, a leader in providing physical damage and nontrucking liability insurance to leased owner operators, launched a new version of their public website this past weekend. The website received an overhaul in design and functionality, incorporating navigation tools that allow the customer to use the website with ease. Daniel Ribar, Chief Information Officer of 1st Guard Corporation, stated “It boils down to the customer and making their life easier. It’s not about us, it’s about them [customers] and that’s the mindset we used when developing the new look and feel of the website.”
The new version of the 1st Guard® website, which can be viewed at www.1stguard.com, is very straightforward. There are four main activities that a customer, or potential customer, would visit the 1st Guard® website for: 1) Get an Instant Quote 2) Purchase Online 3) Manage My Account and 4) Submit a New Claim. “We got rid of the fluff and honed in on simplicity and functionality for the customer,” added Ribar. Beyond functionality, the 1st Guard® automation group integrated additional layers of security, making the website an extremely safe place to do business.
The last revision of the website occurred in April 2006, which relatively speaking is not that long ago. However, in business it is essential to never let things go stale and the redevelopment of the website goes along these lines. “1st Guard® is the only truck insurer that provides online business activities with such ease. We want to deliver the best service possible to our customers and the website revamp drives this point home,” remarked Ed Campbell III, Chairman of 1st Guard Corporation.
The new version of the 1st Guard® website, which can be viewed at www.1stguard.com, is very straightforward. There are four main activities that a customer, or potential customer, would visit the 1st Guard® website for: 1) Get an Instant Quote 2) Purchase Online 3) Manage My Account and 4) Submit a New Claim. “We got rid of the fluff and honed in on simplicity and functionality for the customer,” added Ribar. Beyond functionality, the 1st Guard® automation group integrated additional layers of security, making the website an extremely safe place to do business.
The last revision of the website occurred in April 2006, which relatively speaking is not that long ago. However, in business it is essential to never let things go stale and the redevelopment of the website goes along these lines. “1st Guard® is the only truck insurer that provides online business activities with such ease. We want to deliver the best service possible to our customers and the website revamp drives this point home,” remarked Ed Campbell III, Chairman of 1st Guard Corporation.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
DD&S Express Awarded Fleet of the Year 2008
Venice, FL – January 7, 2009 – First Guard Insurance Company announced today that DD&S Express Inc., a heavy and specialized transportation company based out of Baltimore, Maryland, has won Fleet of the Year for 2008. This is the fourth time DD&S Express has won this prestigious award. They also received Fleet of the Year in 2002, 2004 and 2005.
The Fleet of the Year award is presented once a year to the trucking company with the lowest physical damage loss ratio. The purpose of the award is to promote safety and efficiency amongst trucking companies and their owner operators.
Rick Seleski, Vice President & General Manager for DD&S Express, said “Not only is it an honor to receive this award for the fourth time, but it is a testament to our culture at DD&S. As a specialized heavy haul carrier we must put safety front and center. This commitment has enabled us to
The Fleet of the Year award is presented once a year to the trucking company with the lowest physical damage loss ratio. The purpose of the award is to promote safety and efficiency amongst trucking companies and their owner operators.
Rick Seleski, Vice President & General Manager for DD&S Express, said “Not only is it an honor to receive this award for the fourth time, but it is a testament to our culture at DD&S. As a specialized heavy haul carrier we must put safety front and center. This commitment has enabled us to
maintain the safest, most professional owner operators on the road.” Scott Furley, Director of Safety & Recruiting, added “We are happy to bring this award back to DD&S Express this year. With the help of First Guard's staff and our owner operators we will make another run at it in the new year.”
Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company, knows what an accomplishment it is to win the Fleet of the Year award. “There is no doubt DD&S Express raises the bar for safety standards in the owner operator trucking community,” commented Campbell. “To win the Fleet of the Year award four times is almost unheard of. DD&S Express definitely deserves a round of applause for their amazing safety and compliance management.”
DD&S Express was established as a division of Davidson Transfer & Storage Company. In 1995, DD&S Express became their own company, making a niche in the trucking industry for super loads (heavy –specialized) while supplementing with standard shipments. In September 2008, DD&S Express became a division of Security Storage Company, a moving, storage and logistics company located in Washington, DC.
Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company, knows what an accomplishment it is to win the Fleet of the Year award. “There is no doubt DD&S Express raises the bar for safety standards in the owner operator trucking community,” commented Campbell. “To win the Fleet of the Year award four times is almost unheard of. DD&S Express definitely deserves a round of applause for their amazing safety and compliance management.”
DD&S Express was established as a division of Davidson Transfer & Storage Company. In 1995, DD&S Express became their own company, making a niche in the trucking industry for super loads (heavy –specialized) while supplementing with standard shipments. In September 2008, DD&S Express became a division of Security Storage Company, a moving, storage and logistics company located in Washington, DC.
Picture (left to right): Larry Depace, President & Rick Seleski, General Manager for DD&S Express
Monday, November 10, 2008
1st Guard® Offers Hassle-Free Truck Insurance Quotes On-Line
Venice, FL – November 10, 2008 – 1st Guard Corporation, a leader in providing physical damage and nontrucking liability insurance to leased owner operators, recently unveiled an updated version of their instant quote, which is available on-line at www.FAST234.com.
The updated instant quote features a multiple vehicle quote option that calculates the monthly premiums for all vehicles quoted. Prior to this feature, an owner operator could only get one quote at a time. “Owner operators often have more than one vehicle that needs truck insurance; that’s where the multiple quote capability comes into play. It makes it more efficient for the owner operator,” remarked Daniel Ribar, Chief Information Officer for 1st Guard®. A savings calculator appears once a quote is complete. The savings calculator allows the owner operator to enter his current physical damage premium for the week, month or year and then compare it to the quoted 1st Guard® premium. Typically, 1st Guard® can usually save owner operators a truckload.
Ed Campbell, Chairman of 1st Guard Corporation and First Guard Insurance Company, stated “Being a direct-writer enables us to provide instant quotes with very minimal truck information. We make purchasing truck insurance fast and hassle-free by eliminating the middleman and passing along the cost-savings to the owner operator.”
1st Guard® is the only truck insurer that offers a truly instant and anonymous truck insurance quote on-line as well as over the phone.
The updated instant quote features a multiple vehicle quote option that calculates the monthly premiums for all vehicles quoted. Prior to this feature, an owner operator could only get one quote at a time. “Owner operators often have more than one vehicle that needs truck insurance; that’s where the multiple quote capability comes into play. It makes it more efficient for the owner operator,” remarked Daniel Ribar, Chief Information Officer for 1st Guard®. A savings calculator appears once a quote is complete. The savings calculator allows the owner operator to enter his current physical damage premium for the week, month or year and then compare it to the quoted 1st Guard® premium. Typically, 1st Guard® can usually save owner operators a truckload.
Ed Campbell, Chairman of 1st Guard Corporation and First Guard Insurance Company, stated “Being a direct-writer enables us to provide instant quotes with very minimal truck information. We make purchasing truck insurance fast and hassle-free by eliminating the middleman and passing along the cost-savings to the owner operator.”
1st Guard® is the only truck insurer that offers a truly instant and anonymous truck insurance quote on-line as well as over the phone.
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