Tag: Incorrect DOT information

Auto-Issued DOT Numbers- What We’ve Seen and What You Can Do

Bob Holtzman

We’ve been seeing something a little strange lately here at Western Truck Insurance Services and we wanted to keep all of our loyal clients informed. We haven’t seen much information about this online, but it is something that several clients have experienced. If you’re having problems with this, or with anything else relating to your insurance, give us a call and we’ll happily help you sort things out.

Last year all clients with a California MCP # only were automatically issued a DOT #. We believe that the California DMV forwarded the information to the FMCSA for the applications. The problem is, much of this information was outdated. We had clients receiving their DOT # with an incorrect address, old registration information, etc. These clients never asked for or applied for this number. It was automatically issued to them. The California DMV is trying to transition to using DOT #s and provided this information to the FMCSA from their last update, but if things changed during the year, the information was outdated.

What Can Be Done?

If this happened to you, or happens to you in the future, what can you do? If you have insurance through Western Truck Insurance Services, get in touch with us and we’ll help you sort things out. This is what we’re suggesting:

  • Go online and check your information. This would typically be at the FMCSA website (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration). You can also call them at 800-832-5660.
  • Order your PIN for future updates. This allows you to update online in the future.
  • Print the MCS 150 page.
  • Call your insurance agent and discuss how to fill everything out properly. This is very important. Make sure things are filled out correctly to avoid future problems down the road. Please call us first!
  • Fax/mail in the documentation and keep a copy for yourself.
  • This is the first time we’ve seen something like this happen, but as the transition goes through, we’ll be here to help you with this and all of your other insurance needs. Get in touch anytime you have a question. We’re here to help you ‘Travel with Care’.

Beyond Truck Insurance – Great Benefits that Matter Most.

Bob Holtzman

Most Important Benefits to Get With Truck Insurance

Truckers need to insure their vehicles, and for most, they simply look for the most cost-effective policy at the most reasonable price. It is vital to get good coverage, but as you are speaking with various truck insurance brokers, there are other qualities to look out for. There are numerous benefits to be gained, but you need to seek them out.

Assistance with Resolving Inaccuracies

A big component of the cost of someone’s insurance policy are prior claims and driver motor vehicle reports.  Therefore, a trucking company that has had some accidents in the past will have to pay more for the same policy as a company with a clean history. However, various government agencies make clerical errors all the time, and it is entirely possible a company that has never had a problem will have a mark on its record. When searching for a new insurance provider, it is helpful to try to find an agent who will lend a helping hand in these instances. An insurance agent will most likely have greater success convincing an outside agency to change an error.

Availability to Talk

You will find yourself in situations where you need to talk to your insurance agent and the last thing you want is to deal with someone who is hard to get a hold of. As you are reviewing different policies, pay attention to how easy it is to get in touch with someone. You may contact an agency and get put on hold for a while only to be told the agent is currently out of the office. You want an agent and agency who makes an effort to always be accessible and a live body answering the phone.

Willingness to Give Options

An insurance agent should be there to give you exactly what you need and ask for. An agent will most likely inform you of different services you could potentially benefit from, but ultimately, it comes down to what you and your company need. Always look through a proposal  yourself before making a purchase. An honest, upfront agent will tell you everything and not leave out any important details. That kind of transparency  should be a priority for you  in selecting  an agent.

Buying insurance means you are entering into a partnership, and you want to make this union as viable as possible for years to come. Pay attention to what you are truly receiving  to get the most out of it.