It can happen in an instant — you’ve hit a patch of ice and lose control of your vehicle. As you instinctively press the brakes to no avail, the sudden loss of traction leaves you feeling helpless. Hopefully no one’s in your path as you careen down the highway.

Frigid weather can precipitate precarious situations like this on almost any road, as evidenced by last week’s ice storm that swept across the southern United States.

Freezing rain iced over highways across North Texas, spurring a series of fatal accidents that claimed the lives of nine people. One of those accidents is what firefighters are calling a “mass casualty incident,” as a 100-vehicle pileup on a Fort Worth freeway left six people dead and 36 people hospitalized.

It’s hard to prepare for such events, but the magnitude of these accidents can be mitigated.

Reliance Partners’ Director of Safety Brian Runnels encourages both commercial and noncommercial drivers to slow down and give themselves extra following distance when temperatures approach below freezing.

“There were plenty of cars and trucks involved in those accidents,” Runnels said. “If people in general would give themselves the time that they need and the distance that they need to stop, there would be a lot less vehicles involved.”

It should be noted that Runnels is not accusing any drivers in particular for the recent string of icy accidents. Rather, he suggests that these situations could be a lot less severe if all drivers take precautionary measures when conditions worsen.

“The problem is that everyone believes they’re the best driver out there, while everyone else is an idiot,” Runnels said. “It’s a situation where you’re only as safe as the worst driver on the road.”

The truth is that ice renders even the most experienced drivers powerless. You can throw the laws of physics out the window when the roads are slick.

Under ideal conditions, it takes 525 feet — nearly the length of two football fields — for a fully loaded, 80,000-pound semi-truck traveling 65 miles per hour to come to a complete stop. Comparably, under the same conditions and speed, a 3,000- to 4,000-pound passenger vehicle requires 316 feet to stop.

Remember, these are the best-case scenarios when conditions are good. A driver’s perception of hazards and subsequent reaction time is critical too. However, road conditions can deteriorate quickly; inattentive drivers have even less time to react.

Runnels states that the only way to bring your vehicle safely to a stop is to disengage the accelerator and resist jamming the brakes. It’s only after the vehicle begins to slow down that the brakes be gently applied to prevent a lockup.

A veteran driver himself, Runnels recalled a brush with ice while driving northbound on Interstate 25 through Trinidad, Colorado. Making his way downhill, he noticed that traffic was building up toward the bottom of the pass. He gently applied the brakes but they kept locking. The downhill struggle continued until Runnels regained traction by tailing the right-side trailer tires into the roadside gravel, then applying the brakes.

What’s notable about his experience was that he was able to recover because he approached the downhill terrain at considerably safe speeds of 10-15 mph. He asserts that he wouldn’t have been so lucky if he was pushing 40 or 50 mph instead.

Falling precipitation in the form of rain, snow and sleet are indicators of winter weather, but sometimes the signs aren’t as obvious. Runnels suggests keeping an eye on your vehicle’s outside temperature gauge for additional warning.

While water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, be on alert for icy conditions even slightly above those temperatures. The roads may still be slick even as temperatures begin to rise.

Black ice can form on any road surface and may appear invisible to speeding motorists. It’s common knowledge that bridges tend to freeze first, but Runnels urges drivers to also beware of ice below underpasses too.

“I’ve seen so many cars and trucks spin off into the ditch immediately after passing under an overpass,” Runnels said, asserting that drivers often forget that the areas below bridges can freeze just as fast.

It’s imperative for all drivers to do their part in keeping the roads safe. At the onset of worsening conditions, Runnels encourages commercial truck drivers especially to put extra space between themselves and the vehicle in front them. The combination of ice, speed and a heavy payload coupled with the inhibiting lag time of air brakes means that semi-trucks must cover an exorbitant amount of distance to lose momentum.

For speeds under 40 mph, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommends that drivers calculate their following distance by leaving one second for every 10 feet of vehicle length. For commercial vehicles, this results in around four seconds between you and the vehicle in front of you. Speeds over 40 mph require an additional second. However, FMCSA encourages drivers to double their following distance in adverse conditions.

“When you’re on the freeway, especially when the weather’s bad, are drivers traveling putting any additional distance between each other? The answer is no,” Runnels said. “I hear so many people say, ‘I can’t keep the distance and drivers will cut me off.’ While it’s true that drivers will cut in front of you, it’s your job to get that distance back and you have to be going at a speed that will allow you to make those adjustments, especially on ice.”

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RELIANCE PARTNERS NAMES CHIEF SALES OFFICER AND ANNOUNCES NEW LOCATION IN AUSTIN, TX

Chattanooga, Tenn. – November 19, 2018 – Reliance Partners is pleased to announce the addition of Brandon Richards as Chief Sales Officer and growth into the Austin market.  Richards is a veteran insurance professional with more than 17 years in the commercial transportation insurance space. Brandon’s addition also marks the opening of a new Reliance Partners location in Austin, TX where the agency plans to rapidly expand its team adding 50 employees in the next 36 months.

“Its a big win for our team to have Brandon on board,” says Reliance CEO, Andrew Ladebauche. “Brandon’s insurance and fleet risk management experience will be a key driver to our growth as an agency, especially in the Midwest.”

Prior to his insurance career, Richards served in the US Army for 6 years in Texas, Virginia, Kentucky, and Bosnia. He has been married to his wife Kelly for 19 years, and they are both fitness enthusiasts and enjoy travel, great food, and the outdoors. Kelly and him are active members in Cornerstone Church of San Antonio and also involved in several non-profits.

Reliance was recently featured in Inc Magazine as a member of its 5000 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies from 2016-2018, Inc. Magazine’s ‘50 Best Workplaces,’ and in Fortune as one of “America’s Best Workplaces.”

Reliance Partners is one of the fastest-growing commercial insurance agencies in the country. The company has locations in Chattanooga, Tenn., Birmingham, AL, Chicago, IL, Austin, TX, Milwaukee, WI, Vero Beach, FL and Victoria, TX with a national client base largely concentrated in the transportation and logistics space, in addition to a fast growing presence in other lines of business insurance. The company was incorporated in 2009 by a group of individuals with a common goal: to be the best agency in the insurance industry.

To learn more, please visit us:

www.reliancepartners.com

LinkedIn: Reliance-Partners

Twitter: @truck_insurance

Facebook: ReliancePartners

Instagram: @ReliancePartners

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Collaborative Environment

When society pictures a work environment, cubicles, silence and little employee interaction often comes to mind. Reliance Partners however, values community within the office. Our desks are set up where employees can see surrounding coworkers, providing an efficient yet united feel. Reliance strives to provide an enthusiastic and supportive work environment, collaboration being one of the ways Reliance Partners aims to reach this goal.

Contests

Reliance Partners is always up for friendly competition. Frequently, contests are held to motivate our employees to go the extra mile. We have competitions across departments including everything from monthly group contests on sales volume to Chili-Cook offs that benefits local charities. Competitions whether work-related or simply for fun, give employees a chance to connect with the Reliance process in a fun way. Reliance Partners employees drive one another to reach their full potential and competition is a great way to motivate one another- Reliance Partners knows how to have a good time.

Diversity

Reliance Partners has flags that represent each country in the office. It is an advantage to have a diverse group of employees. More than 40% of employees are bi-lingual, and it is a joy to be surrounded by so many nationalities inside our office space. We come to the same office space every day, but learn stories about life in other countries on a daily basis. There is opportunity to gain multi-cultural understanding at work, which may not be true of all companies.

Reliance Partners makes work feel like more than just a job, rather an invested community striving to reach a common goal: to be the best transportation insurance agency in the United States. Be on the look out for more about work life at Reliance Partners. A video will be published soon and we can’t wait for you to gain insight into the daily life at Reliance Partners.

-Anna Rogers

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RELIANCE PARTNERS RECOGNIZED AS  A TOP WORKPLACE BY INC. MAGAZINE

Chattanooga, Tenn., May 24, 2018 – Reliance Partners has been named on Inc. magazine’s Best Workplaces in 2018, the magazine’s annual ranking in the fast-growing private company sector.

Out of thousands of applicants,  Reliance was one of two companies in Tennessee named to the list and one of five companies in the insurance industry. The company has been recognized by numerous publications for its growth and top work environment and was most recently featured in Inc. Magazine as a member of its 500 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies in 2017, Inc. Magazine’s 2017 ‘Best Workplaces,’ and in Fortune as one of “America’s Best Workplaces.”

“We’re honored that our team and Inc. have recognized Reliance as a Best Workplace,” says Reliance Sr. Vice President, Laura Ann Howell. “Our goal at Reliance is to provide and support a road-map to success for every member of the team. Identifying personal and professional goals on the individual level is what makes our collective success as a company possible.”

What does it take to become a company that workers want to be part of? Inc. magazine says it’s more than good pay and good perks – it’s also about having a clear purpose, a sense of humor, and leadership that makes the two work together.

The 2018 Inc. Best Workplaces Awards assessed applicants on the basis of benefits offered and employees’ responses. Survey scores account for employer size to level the playing field between small and large businesses. All companies had to have minimum of 10 employees and to be U.S.-based, privately held, and independent – that is, not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies.

“By including an employee survey into this year’s Best Workplaces selection process, we’ve really raised the bar. Companies that don’t score at the very top of their peer group don’t make the cut. So, our hats are off to the winners. They all excelled at engaging their workers, making them feel appreciated, and aligning them behind a mission. And remember, that’s not just our opinion: The employees told us that themselves,” says James Ledbetter, Inc. editor-in-chief.

To learn more, please visit us:

www.reliancepartners.com

LinkedIn: Reliance-Partners

Twitter: @truck_insurance

Facebook: ReliancePartners

Instagram: @ReliancePartners

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As a former Wisconsin State Motor Carrier Trooper and FMCSA Investigator with more than 20 years of experience in risk services, Seidl is well versed in the transportation insurance space. He has worked at the FMCSA, FAA, and most recently as an insurance producer and DOT consultant.

“We know John will play a key role in our continued success and growth,” says company President and COO, Chad Eichelberger. “His hands-on experience in DOT compliance and fleet risk management are a perfect fit with our growing national client base of large fleets.”

Reliance was recently featured in Inc Magazine as a member of its 500 Fastest Growing Privately-Held Companies in 2017, Inc. Magazine’s 2017 ‘50 Best Workplaces,’ and in Fortune as one of “America’s Best Workplaces.”

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Reliance Partners Named One of the 2018 Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance by FORTUNE and Great Place to Work®

Chattanooga, TN – Great Place to Work and FORTUNE have honored Reliance Partners as one of the 2018 Best Workplaces in Financial Services & Insurance. The ranking considered input from more than 76,000 employees in the Financial Services & Insurance sector.

Great Place to Work, a research and consulting firm, evaluated more than 50 elements of team members’ experience on the job. These included employee pride in the organization’s community impact, belief that their work makes a difference, and feeling their work has special meaning. Rankings are based on employees’ experiences, no matter who they are or what they do. Reliance Partners took the No. 14 spot on the list.

“At Reliance Partners, we know that our strongest assets are our people,” says Andrew Ladebauche, CEO of Reliance Partners. “It is an honor to be recognized as a ‘Best Workplace’ by our team, and we look forward to big things in the future.”

“Great Place to Work is proud to have these Best Workplaces show that maximizing human potential creates a great workplace and drives business performance,” said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. “Organizations like Reliance Partners set the bar for other Financial Services and Insurance companies, proving that if you invest in your people they will invest in you.”

The Best Workplaces in the Financial Services & Insurance is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified™ organizations. Reliance Partners also was ranked as a Best Workplace in Insurance in 2016 and 2017 by Great Place to Work and FORTUNE.

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