Songplugger Chris Keaton on The Courtney Wilson Show - Listen!

Venice, FL - May 10, 2012 - Did you miss The Courtney Wilson Show today? Don't fret - you can listen to the show archived on 1st Guard's website. Or, you can download the podcasts from iTunes.

Today's show stepped out of the realm of trucking and into the world of the music industry. The interview unveiled a niche of the music industry that many people are unaware of -- songplugging. Enjoy listening to the engaging interview with Nashville-based songplugger Chris Keaton of Chris Keaton Productions. You'll also be one of the first to listen to a new song entitled Taylorsville Angel just released on the radio by new artist Joseph Scott.

Host Courtney Wilson takes you through a journey never before chartered by the truck insurance industry! Listen now!

Truckload Carriers Association on The Courtney Wilson Show

Join Courtney Wilson, host of 1st Guard's own radio show - The Courtney Wilson Show - this Thursday, May 3rd at  2pm Eastern. The special guest this week is the President of the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA), Chris Burruss. Chris has an extensive career in the trucking industry, particularly heading up state trucking associations for Missouri and Tennessee. Chris has been President of the TCA for 8 years and counting. We're excited to discuss hot button trucking issues with Chris and listen to what he has to say about the state of the trucking industry. You don't want to miss this show!

In order to listen to the show LIVE, go to www.1stguard.com/radio. 1st Guard Radio is the only radio show geared for the American Trucker. Relevant trucker news, interviews with top executives and management at renowned motor carriers, the latest technology  for truckers, insurance tips and much more are featured on the show. If you cannot listen LIVE, you can listen ANYTIME as each show is archived on our website for 12 months. 1st Guard Radio is an Internet-based radio show streamed live over the Internet every Thursday at 2pm Eastern.

1st Guard Truck Insurance Releases Version 2.0 of TRUCKER1 iPhone® App

Venice, Florida - April 10, 2012 - 1st Guard Corporation is proud to announce today that Apple has approved version 2.0 of the TRUCKER1 iPhone app. It is accessible to download now from the Apple App store.

"The need to improve and enhance TRUCKER1 ultimately came from ideas given to us by truckers", stated 1st Guard's® Chief Information Officer, Dan Ribar.  "Many of the changes seen in this new version started out as conversations we had with our customers at trade shows."

The main goals of enhancing TRUCKER1 were to provide faster access to detailed data in a more efficient manner. Quite technical but very practical in today's world of virtual e-commerce. Some features were removed in version 2.0 of TRUCKER1that were not needed while those that were critical were enhanced to met the truckers needs.  Here's what we did:

• Eliminated our speedometers. Too many out there.
• Eliminated the Find a Friend feature. This is available on the iPhone so we eliminated our version.
• Email alerts is now integrated with contacts.This idea came from a trucker!
• Added Agent Connect. This feature is on the front screen and will automatically connect your phone number to an agent at 1st Guard. This keeps you from having to find the number.
• Added Trucker Referral. 1st Guard believes in word of mouth. This new feature gives you the opportunity to refer one of your trucker friends to 1st Guard for a quote.
• Added 1st Guard News. Stay current with the latest news and happening from 1st Guard on the web.
• Added Customer Pictures. Store a picture of yourself and your truck. If you are insured with 1st Guard these pictures show up in your account.
• Added My Status. This new function gives you an executive view of your performance with 1st Guard regarding your truck insurance.

TRUCKER1 is a free iPhone app for anyone - but it is particularly useful for truckers and 1st Guard customers. No matter where you are or what time of day it is, TRUCKER1 provides essential detailed information about the trucker's insurance. "TRUCKER1 is a virtual ID card in the palm of your hand," concluded Ribar.

First Guard Insurance Company Announces Winners of 2011 Fleet Safety Awards

Truck insurer First Guard Insurance Company (rated A by AM Best) announced today the winners of their 2011 fleet safety awards. Four trucking companies were selected for the awards. Low claims experience over the past year in addition to superior commitment to safety were criteria used to select the winners. Each winner has owner-operator fleets.


The winners of the 2011 fleet safety awards are listed below.

• Ace Doran Hauling & Rigging Co (Cincinnati, OH)
• Beelman Truck Co (East St. Louis, IL)
• M C Tank Transport Inc (West Chester, OH)
• Northwest Logistics Heavy Haul (Oklahoma City, OK)

"First Guard is unapologetically selective when it comes to the trucking companies we underwrite. In any given year, we turn down more deals than we pursue. We regard this year's award winners as the finest and safest trucking companies in the business."

1st Guard Truck Insurance Starts Own Internet Radio Show for Truckers

Dedicated to serving the leased owner operator community with fast, reliable and competitive truck insurance 1^st Guard® has gone a step further by creating their own informative radio show on 1stGuardRadio, The Courtney Wilson Show.  Relevant trucker news, interviews with top executives and management at renowned motor carriers, the latest technology for truckers and insurance tips are some of the topics of discussion. Broadcast live from the 1^st Guard Truck Insurance studios in Venice, Florida Thursday afternoons at 2pm Eastern featuring host Courtney Wilson with her gruff trucker. The ONLY radio show on the Internet broadcast by a truck insurance company geared for the American Trucker. Tune in every Thursday afternoon at 2pm Eastern starting March 1^st, 2012 by going to www.1stguardradio.com.

Interview with CIO Dan Ribar on The Extreme Truckers Show

The Extreme Truckers Show, http://www.extremetruckers.us/, is a LIVE Internet talk radio show that air EVERY Thursday night at 10:30 pm Eastern. Host Rich Miller interviews those directly involved with serving truckers and the trucking industry.

1st Guard's CIO Dan Ribar was the product spotlight of last night's show (February 9th). Listen to the interview here and learn about all the ways 1st Guard incorporates technology to help SAVE truckers the most money on their insurance.

First Guard Insurance Company Reaffirmed “A” Rating by A.M. Best

Venice, Florida (October 21, 2011) – Specialty truck insurer First Guard Insurance Company announced today that A.M. Best Company (Oldwick, NJ) has affirmed its financial strength rating of A (Excellent) with a stable rating outlook. Since 2004, First Guard Insurance Company has maintained the rating of A (Excellent). For the latest ratings, visit http://www.ambest.com/.

The “A” (Excellent) rating of First Guard reflect its solid capitalization, balance sheet liquidity, history of excellent underwriting and operating profitability. First Guard’s expertise in the trucking physical damage market for leased owner operators coupled with prudent underwriting standards and conservative operating strategy continue to play a strong role in their long-term profitability and stability.

While the first half of 2011 proved challenging in regards to higher than expected claims losses due to storm/weather related activity the rigid underwriting and pricing discipline at First Guard continues to produce favorable results in comparison to competition.

“We are very pleased that AM Best has once again affirmed our "A" rating,” stated Ed Campbell III, Chairman of First Guard Insurance Company. “The significant investments that First Guard continues to make in underwriting, marketing and automation processes are clearly paying dividends. Notwithstanding the challenging economy our surplus stands at an all time high.”