New Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Drivers
New Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Drivers The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is instituting an Entry-Level Drivers Training (ELDT) rule for drivers obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or certain endorsements for the first time. Effective February 7, 2022, individuals seeking a commercial driver license in the State of Massachusetts will be required…
New Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Drivers
New Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Drivers The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is instituting an Entry-Level Drivers Training (ELDT) rule for drivers obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) or certain endorsements for the first time. Effective February 7, 2022, individuals seeking a commercial driver license in the State of Massachusetts will be required…
Renting a Motorcycle and Coverage
Question Renting a Motorcycle and Coverage This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 13, 2021: Can you shed some light on renting a motorcycle for someone who has a personal auto policy and wants to be able to rent one? He has a personal auto policy with only…
Tech Talk: Business Auto Classification: When You Disagree with the Carrier
Tech Talk: Business Auto Classification: When You Disagree with the Carrier by Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, MLIS, CRIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA MAIA’s Big Event is just days away! Certainly, hope to see your smiling faces … having missed them last year! Register Now Business Auto Truck Classification This topic appears to…
Will There be Coverage with no Vehicle on Policy and Renting
Question Will There be Coverage with no Vehicle on Policy and Renting? This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on October 6, 2021: Background- this insured purchased a Ford 150 to tow his new Airstream Camper home. But he found out the Ford F150 is not enough to tow this…
Tractors
Question Tractors This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 14, 2021 I have a client with a John Deere tractor to mow grass and plow snow. It is about the size of a pickup truck. Last year while helping a neighbor with snow at end of driveway a…
Auto Binders
Question Auto Binders This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on June 29, 2021 In regard to issuing binders, we have received conflicting advice/directives from different sources (including our companies), so I would appreciate your feedback. According to the MAP, it appears that after we stamp an RTA for a…
Seizure
Question Seizure This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 03, 2021 I had a customer call in regards to his son having a recommendation from his doctor to not drive for 6 months due to a seizure he had a couple of months ago. The son has been…
MAIA Awards Its First AILP Designation!
MAIA Awards Its First AILP Designation! Huge congratulations to Laura Douillette, AILP/CL, on being the first recipient of the prestigious Accredited Insurance Lines Professional in Commercial Lines (AILP/CL) Designation! On October 5th, MAIA CEO Nick Fyntrilakis and COO Heather Kramer visited Laura’s workplace, the Connell & Curley Insurance Agency in Natick, MA, to deliver her certificate…
Uber Eats
Question Uber Eats This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 21, 2021 I’m getting shut down by all of our voluntary carriers in regards to writing a client who will be delivering for Uber Eats 10 to 20 hours a week. Do you have any carrier you know…
Trailer Titles 2
Question Trailer Titles This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 07, 2021 We had a client that had a trailer that weighed 2950. Back in 2017 when she registered it the personal lines CSR typed in 3000 for weight. Now she is trying to sell it and the…
WCRIBMA Releases Circular Letters No. 2390, No. 2391 and No. 2392
WCRIBMA Releases Circular Letters No. 2390, No. 2391 and No. 2392 The MA Workers’ Compensation Rating and Inspection Bureau (WCRIBMA) has issued three new Circular Letters titled: Payroll Determination for Sole Proprietors, Partners of Legal Partnerships & Members of an LLC (No. 2390); Adjusted Individual Payroll Limitations (No. 2391); and Basis of Premium – Taxi Cab Companies…
Lynnfield Agency Honors Co-Founder with Memorial Scholarship
Lynnfield Agency Honors Co-Founder with Memorial Scholarship Soderberg Insurance Services of Lynnfield, MA, has found a wonderful way to give back to their community, by offering an educational scholarship in memory of the agency’s co-founder, Frances Soderberg! Inspired by her daughter Karen, who was born with Down Syndrome, Frances dedicated her life to creating recreational…
Company Signage on an Employee’s Truck
Question Company Signage on an Employee’s Truck This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 13, 2021 Have a client who wants to put his company info on a employee’s truck, is that remotely possible? Answer Kathy Cormier: Are you talking signage? An employee can have signage from the business…
3rd. Party Claim
3rd. Party Claims This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 13, 2021 Back in the mists of time, I seem to remember that if an insured is going 3rd party against an auto carrier, and if their insureds do not respond within a certain amount of time to inquires,…
How to Insure a Trailer with No Auto
Question How to Insure a Trailer with no Auto This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 13, 2021 We have an unusual situation I have a question how we would cover. We have an insured who has a “trailer” called the Candy Shack. We had this insured on…
New Health Insurance Compensation Disclosure Requirements
New Health Insurance Compensation Disclosure Requirements Effective on December 27, 2021, recently enacted requirements will have a significant impact on health insurance producers and consultants, and require them to disclose their compensation and other information to group health plan sponsors. In addition, health issuers will be required to disclose to individual health insureds the compensation…
Adding A New Driver
Question Adding A New Driver This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 15, 2021 I am reaching out with hopefully an easy question; though there is nothing cut and dry easy in insurance is there?!?! What is the timeframe to add a new driver to an auto policy?…
22 B2B Locations & New Drop-Off & Pick-Up Hours – Spread the Word!
22 B2B Locations & New Drop-Off & Pick-Up Hours – Spread the Word! It’s been a bumpy ride lately for agents and runners, but the RMV is working hard to improve flexibility and convenience for our members. B2B locations were cut back to six due to COVID, and agents & runners understandably miffed at having…
Higher Commissions on WC New Business Through January!
Higher Commissions on WC New Business Through January! Number One is continuing our higher commission rates for NEW Workers’ Comp business with effective dates of October 1, 2021 and through January 31, 2022! We launched this incentive program back in February, and it’s going to be gone before you know it! Depending on the carrier,…
NEW Product! E&O for Your Clients in the Real Estate Field!
NEW Product! E&O for Your Clients in the Real Estate Field! MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency is proud to launch yet another new offering for your commercial lines clients: Real Estate Professional Liability Insurance! We’ll match the market for your real estate clients – residential or commercial; independent brokers to large firms; plus other industry-servicing professionals…
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – October 2021
Updated Company Auto Insurance Filings – October 2021 MAIA periodically visits the Division of Insurance to collect the latest information about each company’s private passenger automobile insurance rules, rates, and forms filings. Recent changes and updates are presented here. Company Filing Date/Rate Impact Accredited Surety & Cas. PERR132477569 Form/Rate/Rule 01/28/21 New to MA AIB AIBM13234359 Rate…
Massachusetts Agents Honored at 2021 Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference!
Massachusetts Agents Honored at 2021 Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference! The extended MAIA family was well represented at the Big “I” Fall Leadership Conference in Kansas City last week! The left photo shows Springfield’s Joe Leahy, former Big “I” and MAIA Chair, holding a Certificate of Appreciation for his service to the Big “I”. Presenting…
InsurPAC: It’s the Reason Independent Agents Have Clout on Capitol Hill
InsurPAC: It’s the Reason Independent Agents Have Clout on Capitol Hill As the largest property-casualty insurance industry political action committee in the nation, the non-partisan InsurPAC is the political voice of the 23,000 Big “I” member agencies and 300,000 agents and brokers nationwide. Your InsurPAC contribution will help elect federal political candidates who support our industry,…
OEM vs Aftermarket
Question OEM vs Aftermarket This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 22, 2021 Not sure if you would know this answer but lately, we have been having a lot of customers questioning why they are getting after markets windshields instead of an OEM windshield when getting a windshield…
Higher Commissions on WC New Business Through January!
Higher Commissions on WC New Business Through January! Number One is continuing our higher commission rates for NEW Workers’ Comp business with effective dates of October 1, 2021 and through January 31, 2022! We launched this incentive program back in February, and it’s going to be gone before you know it! Depending on the carrier,…
NEW Product! E&O for Your Clients in the Real Estate Field!
NEW Product! E&O for Your Clients in the Real Estate Field! MAIA’s Number One Insurance Agency is proud to launch yet another new offering for your commercial lines clients: Real Estate Professional Liability Insurance! We’ll match the market for your real estate clients – residential or commercial; independent brokers to large firms; plus other industry-servicing professionals…
22 B2B Locations & New Drop-Off & Pick-Up Hours – Spread the Word!
22 B2B Locations & New Drop-Off & Pick-Up Hours – Spread the Word! It’s been a bumpy ride lately for agents and runners, but the RMV is working hard to improve flexibility and convenience for our members. B2B locations were cut back to six due to COVID, and agents & runners understandably miffed at having…
MA Registration for OOS Resident
Question MA Registration for OOS Resident This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 22, 2021 How would you advise a client who has their car registered in MA but currently living out of state with the specific intent returning early next year? The insured does not want to…
Deferred Operator
Question Deferred Operator This question was answered based upon current rules, regulations & statutes in effect on September 23, 2021 I need your assistance if I may. I have a client who is separated from his wife. He is insured with me under a Progressive policy. His ex-wife is with Liberty Mutual. They have a son…
A Big Event First! MAIA Partners with Dress for Success
A Big Event First! MAIA Teams Up with Dress for Success Boston We are thrilled to work with the amazing Dress for Success organization, which empowers women to achieve economic independence in work and in life by providing a support network, professional attire, and development tools. Their executive director will present “Fashion Do’s & Don’ts”…
Official Notice to the Members of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents of the 2021 Annu
Registration System Glitch for MAIA Classes & Big Event – It’s Not just You!
Registration System Glitch for MAIA Classes & Big Event – It’s Not just You! Some members have had trouble trying to register someone else for a MAIA education class or the Big Event. We are aware of this issue, and are working with our system hosts to resolve it. (They tell us it might take…
Tech Talk: Does HO or Personal Auto Cover Someone Doing Errands for the Insured?
Tech Talk: Does HO or Personal Auto Cover Someone Doing Errands for the Insured? September 2021 Irene Morrill, CPCU, CIC, ARM, CRM, MLIS, CRIS, LIA, CPIW VP Technical Affairs, MAIA Shameless plug! Don’t forget to register for MAIA’s Big Event, October 28-31, taking place live at the Westin Boston Seaport District. I really do look forward…
InsurPAC Dollars at Work Fighting Proposed Tax Increases for Big “I” Members
InsurPAC Dollars at Work Fighting Proposed Tax Increases for Big “I” Members Last week, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee released a summary of tax provisions, several of which could mean steep tax increases for pass-through businesses. Backed by InsurPAC dollars, the Big “I” Government Affairs team continues to advocate on behalf of independent agents…
Service Center Webinar Materials & New B2B Cover Sheet Now Available Online
Service Center Webinar Materials & New B2B Cover Sheet Now Available Online The RMV has posted the presentation slides, Q&A document, and additional supporting material from the Insurance Industry Webinar on Service Center Changes held on September 8, 2021. There is also a link to the revised B2B Cover Sheet, which must now be used…
New Regs Affecting Commercial Plates, Registrations, Licenses, Permits, Etc.
New Regs Affecting Commercial Plates, Registrations, Licenses, Permits, Etc. Big pickup trucks are pretty popular these days. Our members have told us that clients often complain about having to register their truck as a commercial vehicle, even though it’s strictly for personal use. They will be happy to hear that, effective October 1, 2021, the…
New B2B Drop-Offs & Pick-Up… Please Don’t All Go at Once!
New B2B Drop-Offs & Pick-Up… Please Don’t All Go at Once! MAIA has been getting calls about the new B2B drop-off (10:00 to 2:00) and next day pick-up times (2:00 to 5:00). It seems that many runners are waiting until 1:45 to drop off, then hanging around until 2:00 to pick up the prior day’s…
School Bus School Pupil Plates Issued at Greenfield RMV Service Center
School Bus School Pupil Plates Issued at Greenfield RMV Service Center Effective immediately, school bus plates and school pupil plates are available for initial issuance at the Greenfield RMV Service Center. School bus plates and school pupil plates will only be available in the following six RMV service centers for initial issuance: Braintree Greenfield Haverhill Milford…
Service Center Webinar Materials & New B2B Cover Sheet Now Available Online
Service Center Webinar Materials & New B2B Cover Sheet Now Available Online The RMV has posted the presentation slides, Q&A document, and additional supporting material from the Insurance Industry Webinar on Service Center Changes held on September 8, 2021. There is also a link to the revised B2B Cover Sheet, which must now be used…