We are excited to let you know that we are hopeful about possible improvements in underride prevention. We are also continuing to be involved in other truck safety issues with the goal of safer roads.
Toward that end, we are in the process of setting up a non-profit organization in memory of AnnaLeah & Mary Karth and, in light of their untimely death due to a truck crash on May 4, 2013, this corporation will seek to carry out the following purposes related to highway safety: charitable, educational, scientific, and testing for public safety.
Now, this is where you come in right now. We need to pick a name for our organization. This is what we have come up with so far:
AnnaLeah & Mary Stand Up For Truck Safety
A &M for Safe Roads
AnnaLeah & Mary for Safe Roads
Mary & AnnaLeah for Safe Roads
Stand Up For Truck Safety.
The first one is probably too long. And I think that I want to keep it connected to them to help us remember that it is about real people and real lives. But I am open to new ideas.
Please let us know what you think. We are eager to get this process underway to help us be more effective in our efforts.
I don’t really need to write about this. I should just have a stiff upper lip and all that. But there are still so many moments when I am caught unawares and the grief takes over.
Like tonight. . . my grandson was watching a Rhett & Link Youtube video and mentioned something about “Grandma watches them.” Well, I had told him about them–showed him one of their videos a few months ago and got him started watching, I guess.
But then, I started to explain how they had moved from North Carolina to California about. . . and then I stopped to think how long ago it was and I figured it in “Before/After the crash” “when AnnaLeah and Mary were still here” time units, and I realized that it had probably been about two and one-half years ago–the crash being two years ago and Rhett & Link’s move about 6 months before that.
When AnnaLeah and Mary and their brother and I would watch the new episode every week together on the computer in the dining room. And laugh. Seems like just yesterday yet foreverago. And nevermore.
But not anymore. I don’t watch it anymore. I don’t know why. Some things are just too hard.
That’s all. I can’t begin to describe how it feels so wrong. It wasn’t supposed to be like this at all.
After numerous phone calls and emails, I have finally been able to find someone who could give me a rough estimate of the premiums which a trucking company might be able to expect if the minimum liability gets increased from $750,000 to $4.2 million. In fact, two people–unbeknownst to each other–referred me to this man, who is the president of an independent insurance agency.
I spoke with him yesterday and explained to him the kind of information that I was looking for and why I was doing so. I let him know that I have been trying to verify whether there was any truth to the “early estimates” which I have been reading about and that it was important to me to know whether what truckers and Congress were being told was accurate. Specifically, is it accurate that a current premium of $5,000/year could skyrocket to $20,000/year?
After speaking with him, I immediately proceeded to email him and document what I had heard him tell me over the phone. I asked him to verify the accuracy of my description. Here is my email to him and his response to me:
Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me and answer my questions about trucking liability.
Please let me know if this is an accurate representation of your rough estimate of the impact of an increase in liability coverage upon trucking premiums:
1st million: $5,000/truck
2nd million: add $1,200
3rd million: add $900
each additional million: would continue to be a smaller increase
So, in this example, a trucker who currently pays $5,000 (and again, I am confused if this means that this $5,000 is for just his liability portion or his whole insurance bill) would pay something a little more than $7,100–like maybe $7,600.
To clarify: That estimate of a trucker’s premium would be for if the liability coverage was $4.2 million.
Would this be an accurate ROUGH estimate? Marianne
His reply to me:
Marianne: Thanks for your call and again my sincere regrets for your loss. Yes, this is a very rough and best guess estimate based on what I see and hear.
Best wishes in your pursuit.
I also heard back from a trucker whom I have been in conversation with via email and facebook. Tilden Curl got me in contact with his insurance agent, who responded to the above information with his own estimate:
Hello Marianne and Tilden,
My condolences, Marianne, for your loss. My heart is heavy for you as Tilden spoke of your story and inquiries to me yesterday. Admittedly my thoughts drifted to you & your daughters while I passed a number of tractor/trailers on the freeway just last night. . .
Due to so many factors the variance of premiums is enormous. We have seen some at $1,800 all the way up to $9,000 annual.
Historically, since the current minimums were mandated back in early 1980s, a good average would be the $5,000 mark. It does tend to flow up and down with the economy, markets, catastrophic events, and such, but a good average is the $5K.
I can only speculate on what the premiums would be if federal mandate were to be elevated to a $1.5MM, $2MM, $3MM or even $4.2MM limits.
The numbers estimated in the other emails seem pretty low to me. I would think closer to:
1.5MM – $6,200 +/- annual
2MM – $7,000 – $7,500
3MM – $7,800 – $8,400
4.2MM – $8,600 – 9,300
Mark D. Johnson
HUB International Transportation Insurance Services, Inc.
Even if we go with the second estimate, $9,300, this is still only an increase of $4,300 from a current $5,000. Compare this to the “early estimate” of $20,000 or more, which is what is being told to truckers and would increase their premium by $15,000/year.
Thus, the estimates I have been given are at least $11,700/year less than what truckers are apparently being told. Big difference.
Furthermore, I am assuming, that Congress has been told that the rates will skyrocket and go up to $20,000. So the question is: Did Congress vote upon the THUD Appropriations Bill — to take away funding from FMCSA which would allow them to continue the rulemaking on this vital matter (previously authorized by Congress) — based on INACCURATE information?
http://www.insidefmcsa.com/hours/hos-other-provisions-included-in-house-bill/ : “Regarding the insurance provision: FMCSA is known to be considering raising the current minimum levels of bodily injury/property damage liability insurance that motor carriers are required to hold. The language in H.R. 2577 would prevent the agency from doing so. This provision was championed by the Owner-Operators Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) and the interstate bus industry, which fear the costs of higher premiums and oppose any increase in the required minimums.”
U.S. Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) offered an amendment that would strike a section of the Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill that prohibits funds from being used to increase levels of minimum financial responsibility within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A recorded vote was ordered on an amendment.
So, if you own a Toyota Camry and you had a problem with sudden unintended acceleration, should you be worried that it might happen again–even though you paid $1,300 to have it repaired?
No recall listed for that problem for a 1996 Toyota Camry. . .
Care for Crash Victims shared this perspective on whether NHTSA needs more money to do its job in auto safety oversight:
June 17, 2015
Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:
The Detroit News reports:
“In a notice sent to Senate offices late Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee said it will hold a June 23 hearing titled, “Update on the Recalls of Defective Takata Air Bags and NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Efforts.”…. The committee’s chairman, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said in a Detroit News interview last week he is considering legislative proposals to reform NHTSA, but said he is still not convinced the auto safety agency needs more funding.
Thune said “the White House has not been very visible” on the NHTSA request for more funding.
In an interview Tuesday, Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he hasn’t made any decisions about whether he will propose auto safety legislation. He backed an amendment to the House Transportation budget last week that would add $4 million to NHTSA’s budget.
“We want to make sure that (NHTSA) is able to deliver,” Upton said.” See
How does $4 million compare with 32,675 Americans dying of crash injuries in 2014?That value would be nearly $300 Billion in 2014. And that includes zero dollars for an estimated 2 million Americans injured each year. See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812139.pdf
Hopefully, the American people will make sure that Congress delivers safety — not just a few more dollars. Here in America, please!
I have tried in every way I can think of, but I just cannot get anyone to give me any actual rates which a truck driver could expect if minimum liability insurance were to be raised by the federal government for interstate trucking.
I have a few leads which I am waiting to hear back on, but I am not holding my breath.
So, I thought that I would turn to truckers themselves and ask for help in discovering what the truth of the matter is: Will rates actually skyrocket and put independent owner operators out of business? That’s what I hear. Is that the truth?
If you are a trucker, please contact your insurance carrier and ask them what your current annual rate is for liability insurance and what it would be if the minimum level were to be raised from $750,000 to $4.2 million.
Then, please let me know what you find out. You can comment on this post or send me a Tweet at my Twitter account or a private message at our facebook account. If you don’t feel comfortable about letting me know, please talk to each other about it and see what you think.
My husband has found himself–more than once–looking for a new job due to the economy. We have had to live apart for months at a time while he did contract work in another state, make moves across the country to start over (including selling houses while living apart), worry about the possibility of losing a house, learn how to gracefully be in the position of needing to trust the Lord to take care of all of our needs, and watch our nine children grow and deal with various stages of struggling to obtaining a living wage (including some with disabilities).
Don’t look at the waves; He can sustain you no matter what you are going through. Live. Love. Laugh. Whatever the circumstances. Each day. Pack up your troubles. . .
But, if I could pick my troubles, I would go through those struggles all over again rather than face a lifetime without AnnaLeah and Mary. There are usually alternative solutions and creative ways to survive life’s challenges. Nothing, however, can fix unexpected and irrevocable death due to a preventable crash.
So full of life, snatched from us without any warning. . .
Published on Jul 26, 2013
When we got back home after the crash and were looking through our photo and video files, we found some short video clips of a short story which AnnaLeah had apparently written and which she narrated as Mary acted it out and Susanna filmed it with her digital camera in our backyard in Midland, Texas (circa 2009).
Published on Dec 24, 2013
When Mary was very young, we used to call her www.mlk (wonderful wiggly worm mary lydia karth). She was full of energy and very expressive. It didn’t take much for her to make us laugh or smile.
This two-minute video, where we were packing up to go home after a summer vacation, was one of those times where she amused her older brother without even trying.
Published on Sep 5, 2013
My Favorite Present…Catch a glimpse of AnnaLeah and Mary as they enjoy watching Vanessa open her 3 year-old birthday presents…including books from AnnaLeah (of course!) and an empty plastic Pooh Bear honey jar which Mary had saved for months (knowing Vanessa would like it). Simple things, simply joy…
Published on Oct 27, 2013
Getting our house ready to sell took a lot of work. One day, AnnaLeah worked very hard to trim the new blinds throughout the house (with the help of Jerry & Levi). Mary’s job was to have fun and entertain the rest of us!
Published on Dec 21, 2013
Short video clips of Mary as a Christmas angel in about 2003…in this one she is singing, “Jesus is the Heart of Christmas.”
Published on Dec 21, 2013
Short video clips of Mary as a Christmas angel in about 2003…in this one she asks, “Are we done yet?”
Published on Dec 21, 2013
Short video clips of Mary as a Christmas angel in about 2003…in this one she is a tired angel and counts on her big brother Angel Levi.
Published on Dec 21, 2013
Short video clips of Mary as a Christmas angel in about 2003…in this one she is glad that the program is finally over: Joy to the World!
Published on Nov 20, 2013
Mary and Susanna were in Midland Community Theater’s 2009 production of A Christmas Carol. They had a wonderful time and made lots of friends. This video includes scenes in which Mary participated–and some with Susanna as the blind man’s companion and in the ensemble, as well. Look for Mary’s long, flowing hair and a blue head wrap/scarf…doing a circle dance, as an angel singing…in the crowd of people…Video begins with photos of Mary & Susanna in costume so you can recognize them in the scenes.
Published on Oct 29, 2013
AnnaLeah Builds Her Hobbit Orphanage
AnnaLeah and Levi joined other youth from Grace Lutheran in Midland, Texas, in a servant event. Under the direction of DCE Eaton they thought that they were going to build a storage shed at Camp Lone Star in 2010. AnnaLeah knew that it was really an orphanage for hobbits! See them hard at work in this fast-action short video…
Published on Nov 27, 2013
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I didn’t like the idea of “Rock-a-Bye, Baby” with its line of “Down will come baby…” So I made my own version: “Snuggle now, baby, in Jesus’ arms”…remember AnnaLeah and Mary as smiling and laughing—in this life they had here and imagine them dancing on the streets of pure gold.
Published on Dec 22, 2013
AnnaLeah was 6 & Mary was 2, and they were both water bugs! Our family enjoyed a quiet vacation at a cottage overlooking Lake Michigan.
“Published on Sep 18, 2013
AnnaLeah and Mary participated in Vacation Bible School for many years in Michigan and later in Texas. As they got older, they began helping out in various capacities. The younger kids loved them! When Mary was about 4, she became the mascot for the Construction, INC VBS (Construction In the Name of Christ) and dressed up as Rick the Brick! Here you will see her as Rick the Brick at the beginning and end of the song by that same title. In between, there are just lots of photos of Mary enjoying life and participating in it fully.”
I have not read Susanna Clarke’s book, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. But AnnaLeah did. And she staged a photoshoot–portraying Mary reading through the book with various emotions passing across her face as she made her way through the book.
Today, I am getting ready to watch the mini-series based on the book with other members of my family. No matter how good it is or isn’t, it feels like AnnaLeah and Mary were somehow cheated of the opportunity to watch it. For no good reason.
But I am determined to watch it with an open heart and mind–even though it has to be without them. I imagine that AnnaLeah would prefer it that way.
(Note: Mary had not read the book yet at the time of this photoshoot.)
“Further regulations are nothing more than compounding a problem with more problems. The trucking industry itself can be the one to ensure safer highways and further correct many of the issues faced within the industry, without governmental action to impose additional regulations:
Develop and implement their own Entry Level Driver Training AND Hiring Standards
Increase driver wages which have remained stagnant for the past 25 years which add to drivers pushing for more miles in anticipation for a livable pay check
Develop a professional treatment toward their drivers, respecting the current rules in place as they relate to HOS rules, driver fatigue and drivers’ lawful rights
Stop the intimidation, harassment and retaliatory behavior against drivers to work toward ending the industry’s “Us against them” mentality
To further campaign and promote highway safety by providing educational resources directed at the general public in order to cultivate a deeper understanding and awareness for autos as it relates to sharing the road with the big rigs
As safety groups continue to play a major role in the addition of regulations placed on the industry, often these groups display a supportive approach for the drivers. Safety groups have called for better pay for drivers; they have voiced their concerns for the need of safer parking areas and appropriate rest time for drivers; they have expressed interest in the need to stop forced dispatching, causing the driver to be pushed beyond the boundaries of safety.
By all ways and means, the industry itself has been its own worst enemy. If the industry would step up and implement the solutions to the problems, would the government then have any reason to intervene on behalf of safety groups and attorneys? If the industry is so fearful of the CSA, safety ratings and interventions from the FMCSA, and is truly concerned about a driver shortage, why is it not possible for one of the world’s largest industries to create the solutions to the problems that they have allowed to continue for decades?
This industry must stop casting blame in all directions toward the FMCSA, professional drivers and even the general public, all for the sake of corporate greed. They must finally face these issues which they have generated over the years which in return, have forced the government into the equation with such actions as HOS, speed limiters and ELD’s.”
Here is another one:
“Can a reasonable argument be made using existing laws and regulations to create laws and regulations to transform this industry from a piece work pay system to an hourly based system for employee Drivers? https://www.facebook.com/TruckersUnitedUSA/posts/1578458142421756
For more interesting conversations on this topic, go to this page:
