Hard-to-get Letters of Employment are a headache for drivers, Owner-Operators: insurance panel
Insurance panel at the 5th annual Bridging the Barriers Conference, hosted by the Women’s Trucking Federation of Canada. Photo: RWN
“Let’s face it, if your employer fired you on Friday, asking him to provide you with an LOE on Monday is a non-starter. You are the lowest priority on his list.”
Letters of Employment (LOE) are so hard to get, they are almost a fantasy, members of the insurance panel noted at the September 21st “Bridging the Barriers” industry conference.
“When we sit down with a Trucker trying to arrange or renew insurance, the first thing we have to do is ask for the LOE…you might be tempted to ask, ‘Do they even exist?’” asked Scott Cober of BFL Canada. His rhetorical question got a big laugh from the room, but Derrick MacDonald of Driver Verified responded by confirming the challenge drivers face getting the letters, and also by proposing a solution.
“Let’s face it, if your employer fired you on Friday, asking him to provide you with an LOE on Monday is a non-starter,” MacDonald pointed out. “You are the lowest priority on his list.”
Instead of relying on a busy and possibly acrimonious former employer to provide drivers with crucial documents, DriverVerified’s website notes, drivers can create a profile that includes vital details and documentation: “DriverVerified allows professional drivers, owner operators, and companies to upload and retain your driving history and documents. You have complete control over your own information – should you change companies, you will always have full access to your own data,” the website says.
DriverVerified’s Services are provided in four areas: Drivers, Owner-Operators, Trucking Companies and Insurance Brokers.
Drivers:
A driver can complete their profile and when their company requires the driver’s information, the driver grants permission. This ensures the driver always controls access to their data. The driver can also use the Report Centre to order a DriverVerified report themselves.
Owner-operators
Once an Owner/operator completes their profile, they can use the Report Centre to order a DriverVerified report that includes all information on their vehicle(s) and their employment experience. This can then be used if they’re applying for a new insurance policy, adding a new employee to an existing insurance policy, or updating their records.
Trucking companies
A trucking company creates its own profile containing their fleet information, and can then purchase reports on behalf of their drivers, for example if they’re applying for a new insurance policy, adding a new employee to an existing insurance policy, or updating their records.
Insurance brokers
Insurance brokers can purchase reports on behalf of their clients, for example if their clients are renewing their existing policy, or applying for a new policy. This can expedite the document collection process, to get their client coverage as soon as possible.
The Insurance industry panel discussion at the 5th Annual “Bridging the Barriers” conference was moderated by Alan Cofman, Associate Council Miller Thompson LLP. Panelists were Lisa Giannone and Scott Cober of BFL Canada, and Jillian Lovatt of Northbridge.
