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.

Towing Included in a First Guard Physical Damage Policy

Venice, FL – October 15, 2008 – Truck insurer First Guard Insurance Company offers a comprehensive physical damage policy for lease owner operators that includes all towing expenses incurred from a covered accident to the nearest repair facility. Additionally, First Guard has no limit or “cap” associated with towing expenses. “Increasingly, our competitors are placing limits on towing costs or charging extra premium for a towing endorsement,” stated Donna Fortuna, President of First Guard Insurance Company. “Unfortunately, by the time owner operators get around to reading the small print, they’re already looking at towing bills that can run thousands of dollars,” added Fortuna.

With a First Guard physical damage policy, lease owner operators do not have to worry about towing co-insurance costs once they meet their deductible. Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company believes every consumer should review their insurance policies to find out exactly what is covered. “In today’s environment, it is extremely important to know what you are getting for your money At First Guard we offer excellent coverage at a cost-savings price for lease owner operators,” said Campbell.

First Guard Insurance Company Reports Record 3rd Quarter Earnings

Venice, FL – October 6, 2008 – First Guard Insurance Company, a specialty truck physical damage insurer for long haul truckers, announced record results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2008. Earnings exceeded last year’s record 3rd quarter by over 10%.

Ed Campbell, III, First Guard’s chairman said, “We continue to refine our underwriting and data mining techniques to good effect. We’re now achieving these outstanding underwriting results while concurrently leading the way in offering competitive insurance rates to truckers. Our direct writing formula has given us a tremendous cost and logistical advantage.”

“The trucking industry of course continues to face very challenging times as does the entire economy,” Campbell added. ‘While we have always emphasized underwriting profitability over growth, our investments in marketing and brand development have positioned us for expansion as well, particularly when the freight environment for truckers improves.”

On a related note, Campbell mentioned that First Guard Insurance Company has never owned any mortgaged backed securities and that its investment portfolio consists entirely of AAA and AA rated bonds.

First Guard Insurance Company Insures High Value Equipment

Venice, FL – October 1, 2008 – First Guard Insurance Company, one of the nation’s premiere physical damage truck insurance companies for commercial (Class 8) vehicles, now has the capability of underwriting and insuring high value tractors. A high value tractor is considered a tractor with a custom size sleeper over 100 inches. “We've modified out rating methodologies and reinsurance structure to accommodate high value tractor trailer combinations up to $300,000,” stated Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company. “Unlike our competitors, we are a direct-writer for physical damage insurance. This enables us to cater to the growing need of insuring super size rigs and offering rates owner operators can feasibly afford,” added Campbell. “There are not many truck insurance companies out there that will insure tractors of such monetary value, and if they do, they’ll charge the owner operator an outrageous premium. At First Guard, we’re all about helping owner operators save money,” remarked Campbell.

First Guard offers fast, simple and hassle-free quotes over the phone or on the Internet. Call 866-FAST234 to speak with a customer service representative. Or, go online to http://www.fast234.com/. First Guard Insurance Company is currently the only truck specialty insurer in the country that does not market through independent insurance agents.

First Guard Insurance Company “A” Rating Reaffirmed by A.M. Best

September 16, 2008 - Venice, FL – First Guard Insurance Company, one of the nation’s premiere truck physical damage insurance companies for commercial (Class 8) vehicles, announced today that A.M. Best Company has affirmed its financial strength rating of A (Excellent) with a stable rating outlook. In 2004, First Guard received an upgrade in rating to “A” and since then has been able to maintain this solid rating. A.M. Best expects First Guard’s excellent capitalization and operating performance to continue in the medium term.
For the latest ratings, access www.ambest.com.

“Our excellent underwriting and tight-run operations have helped secure our position in the truck physical damage market and as an insurance company on the whole,” remarked Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company. “Because of our niche market (lease owner-operators) we need to execute well on all levels to deliver superior service to our customers,” added Campbell.

First Guard sets itself apart from its competitors by leveraging technology to provide quick and efficient policy-issuance, billing and claim handling service. Additionally, First Guard relocated the company’s claims operations to the home office location in 2007.

First Guard Insurance Company began operations as a reinsurer in 1997. It started writing truck physical damage insurance directly in 2003. Presently the company holds licenses in twenty-five states. First Guard Insurance Company is the only truck specialty insurer in the country that does not market through independent insurance agents.

1st Guard® Aims for Quality at the Great American Trucking Show

Venice, FL – August 27, 2008 – 1st Guard Corporation, a leader in providing physical damage and nontrucking liability insurance to leased owner operators, recently exhibited at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas at the Dallas Convention Center from August 21st – August 23rd, 2008. Several 1st Guard® staff members worked the booth consecutively over the three-day event.

“In past years, our goal was to get as many physical damage quotes as possible; however, we re-directed our thought-process this year and focused on quality over quantity,” stated Ed Campbell III, Chairman of 1st Guard Corporation and also a participant at the 1st Guard® booth. “The change in direction allowed for more meaningful conversations with potential customers, which is exactly what we were aiming for. At the end of the day, our story resonated very well with the lease operators and our approach deemed successful for 1st Guard®,” added Campbell.

Beyond the implementation of a new sales approach at this truck show, 1st Guard® also hosted a sell-out breakfast with Bill Mack, a popular radio personality on XM satellite radio trucking channel The Open Road (Channel 171), the morning of Friday, August 22nd. Bill Mack “This past March, we hosted the first breakfast with Bill Mack at the truck show in Louisville. We had a great turnout and rave reviews, so without hesitation, we decided to bring the breakfast to Dallas,” remarked Courtney Wilson, Marketing Director for 1st Guard Corporation and also event coordinator for the breakfast. “There is no doubt that the breakfast with Bill Mack has become an event to attend amongst the owner operator community,” commented Wilson.

Unlike their competitors, 1st Guard® is a direct-writer for physical damage insurance which is placed through their affiliate, First Guard Insurance Company, rated “A” by AM Best. Being a direct-writer enables 1st Guard® to provide fast, efficient and anonymous “on the spot” quotes.

Have Breakfast with Bill Mack at the Great American Trucking Show

August 7, 2008 – Venice, Florida - 1st Guard Corporation, an insurance firm specializing in truck insurance for owner operators leased to a motor carrier, announced today they are hosting a breakfast with Bill Mack at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas. This is 1st Guard’s® second breakfast with Bill Mack this year.

“We held the first breakfast with Bill Mack at the truck show in Louisville in March,” stated Courtney Wilson, Director of Marketing for 1st Guard Corporation. “The event was fun, the food was great and everyone had a good time. Because we had such an overwhelming response at that breakfast, by popular demand we decided to bring the breakfast to Dallas,” added Wilson.

The breakfast is complimentary and will be held at the Dallas Convention Center on Friday, August 22nnd from 8:00 am to 10:00 am in room D174, located on the ground level of the convention center (just below the registration lobby). The breakfast is open to lease operators and their immediate family members. Those planning on attending the breakfast do not have to be a customer of 1st Guard®.

The breakfast is based on a first come first serve basis; however, reservations are encouraged due to limited space. For advanced reservations call 1st Guard® directly at 866-FAST234. 1st Guard Corporation will be exhibiting at booth #13039 all three days of the show, August 21st – 23rd. Make sure to stop by their booth for an instant, customized truck insurance quote.