Armstrong & Associates Named
New Endorsed CDTOA Agency

Agency President Martin Armstrong

TruckPro program manager and Vice President of (A&A) Dan Bertrand

In late July, USI of San Diego, our endorsed workers’ comp insurance broker since 1997 surprisingly announced that they were no longer interested in being the broker of record (BOR) for our group workers’ comp insurance program.
Citing shifts in premiums and profitability USI corporate management decided to “no quote” the business.

With only about ten weeks left until our October 1st group renewal date, CDTOA was forced to hurriedly conduct a statewide search to find an insurance agency that could provide association members complete access to the most comprehensive and competitive insurance packages available. After interviewing many quality agencies, the CDTOA Executive Committee at a special meeting in San Diego in late August agreed to the selection of Armstrong & Associates Insurance Services (A&A) as the CDTOA’s endorsed workers’ comp insurance program broker. Four of the key determining factors were:

1. Armstrong & Associates active participation and commitment as a long term CDTOA affiliate.
   
2. Their managements committed partnership to not only grow the workers’ comp group program but also offer some competitive property and truck liability insurance products for both small and large carriers.
   
3. The company’s knowledge and commitment directed specifically at the construction trucking market, industry and product knowledge.
   
4. They staff four offices conveniently located throughout the state, a true statewide presence.

As of September 7th, the transition of the book of business from USI to A&A has gone very smoothly. Armstrong & Associates is working feverishly to make sure all quotes move smoothly for the upcoming renewal. Many of you will see at least a 25% drop in rates due mainly to workers’ comp reforms. We will continue to keep the group with State Fund but may have some additional competitive markets interested in the accounts with low losses and ex-mods.

Members of the CDTOA Executive Committee and staff recently met with the Armstrong & Associates staff and asked them to share a little about their agency and what the CDTOA members may come to expect relating to both pricing and service.

The Endorsed Company Profile
Armstrong & Associates Insurance Services (A&A) is one of the leading insurance agencies focused on the rock, sand and gravel industry in California with four offices throughout the state. Their TruckPro program has been providing quality transportation insurance since 1985 insuring California truckers of all sizes. Armstrong and Associates takes pride in understanding their client’s business and is able to handle all of their insurance needs.

Agency President Martin Armstrong and his staff have built a loyal and growing client base relying heavily on strong relationships, trust and responsive and knowledgeable service. “Our clients want and need the best an agency has to offer and we are there for them through good times and bad. By being their Professional Insurance Partner, our clients know that we look out for their interests first and foremost. Today, many businesses ask themselves, ‘What am I really getting from my insurance broker?’ We hope our clients never ask that question.”

It has been this Professional Insurance Partnership that has built strong relationships not only with Armstrong and Associates clients, but with their insurance carriers as well. Armstrong & Associates has access to the most competitive insurance carriers in the state for all lines of insurance.

TruckPro program manager and Vice President of (A&A) Dan Bertrand explains, “Our insurance carriers understand that when we work closely with our clients, they are a better insurance risk because of it. That allows us access to preferred rates and preferred insurance programs.”

Armstrong and Associates prides itself in providing value-added services such as a full fledged in-house claims department that provides prompt and knowledgeable claims service. Armstrong’s claims staff knows that any claim has the potential to be very disruptive to an insured’s operation. This is why they work in unison with the client and the insurance company from the moment the claim is reported until the claim is paid and the client satisfied.

“Many of our clients can go years without ever having a claim but when one does occur, we are there for them. We work hard to get the claim paid fast and to the client’s satisfaction.” Amy Conn, A&A Claims Manager.

“By working our workers’ compensation claims and getting them closed properly, Amy and her staff have helped lower our experience modification,” explained Sharon Cutler, President of R&S Trucking.

Armstrong and Associates also allows their clients complete access to their in-house safety consulting services. As part of this service, the Armstrong safety team conducts an analysis of the client’s existing safety program and then provides and implements a complete Injury and Illness Prevention Program (SB198).

“Some of our clients are slightly hesitant at first to allow someone outside of their company to review their safety program which is understandable. But after seeing the value we bring to their company, they now treat me like I am part of their staff,” noted Rosa Greenhalgh, A&A Safety Manager.

“Some of our employees thought Rosa was actually on our payroll, she is so ingrained in our company and our company’s safety program. She always keeps the safety meetings interesting and entertaining.” Henry Cerutti, President of Cerutti and Sons Trucking.

As the newly endorsed insurance agency of the CDTOA, Armstrong and Associates is offering all of their services to CDTOA members who allow them to be their agent of choice. “We are extremely excited and proud to have been selected as the newly endorsed agency by the CDTOA. We will continue to support the association and its members and we wish to thank the CDTOA for giving us this wonderful opportunity to share our services and to save the CDTOA members money on their insurance,” finished Dan Bertrand, TruckPro Program Manager and Vice President.