Hello friends and valued producers, and welcome back to "Interstate Bits & Pieces".  We have been continually expanding our distribution list, and as of this mailing, the newsletter will be distributed to all Interstate appointed agents in all states that we do business in.  If you are new to the newsletter, welcome aboard!

        We have also been working to increase the readability and appearance of the newsletter.  You should now be able to scan the article headlines rapidly, and with a click of your mouse open any article that is of interest to you (of course we hope that they all are).  We hope that you like the new format and welcome any comments that you may have.

        This and future issues will contain information about our auto department products, and our P & C department products, separated into two easily navigable subject headings.  Connie Kennedy will be providing the bulk of the articles relating to P & C coverages, and I will continue to author those relating to auto coverages.  We will also include articles from other Interstate employees as available, and will sprinkle in some relating to accounting, claims, or policy service functions.  Perhaps even an article or two relating to events at Interstate and the employees - with 4 offices and nearly 50 employees on staff, there is always something new happening here.

        Have you noticed the "Underwriter's Corner" on our web site?  Each of our underwriters is contributing an article on a monthly rotation basis.  The current monthly article is always posted on the main page of our website, and all past articles are archived and available for your review.

        We hope that the Newsletter and Underwriter's Corner will keep you informed about our products and the marketplace, provide valuable marketing ideas that will help to increase our joint books of profitable business, and provide information about our capabilities and technologies that will make your business transactions with Interstate easier and more efficient.

        Thanks to all for your business and continued support! 

Denny Beecher
Commercial Auto Underwriter

Auto News

Reduced Pricing for Cement & Ready Mix Operations
Effective March 1st, Colony Insurance Company has announced reduced pricing for cement and ready-mix accounts.
Read More.…

Deluxe Coverage Endorsement Claims at Interstate
In January of 2006, Northland announced a new optional coverage endorsement providing a greater level of protection for small trucking accounts.
Read more.…

FMCSA Proposes New CDL Requirements
In late 2007, the FMCSA announced a proposed new federal rule implementing new training requirements for entry-level truck drivers required to have a commercial driver's license (CDL).
Read more.…

West Virginia Senate Votes to Restore 1% Insurance Tax
In February, the West Virginia Senate voted 32-7 to restore a 1% surcharge on most insurance policies. 
Read more.…

P & C News

New Market
We now have an in-house market to write up to $3,000,000 property limits at any one location and package it with the general liability.
Read more.…

Excess Flood Coverage
Excess Flood coverage is available with limits up to $5,000,000 over the National Flood Insurance Program.
Read more.…

Rental Housing Law Change for Baltimore County, MD
Effective 7/1/2008 all buildings in Baltimore County, Maryland that have one to six units that are rental units must be registered and licensed with the county. 
Read more.…

Recently Quoted and/or Written P&C Accounts
We have many markets available to quote a varied assortment of coverage and classes of business. The following is a listing of some of the accounts that we have recently quoted and/or bound.
Read more.…

Miscellaneous News

Interstate in the Media
This past February, Interstate received positive press about our software solutions for agents.
Read more.…