At the beginning of a new year, it's common for people to set resolutions or goals for themselves, such as losing weight, eating healthier, quitting smoking, learning a new language, or some other personal achievement. However, it's far less common for businesses to set specific goals each year, beyond the generic "sell more" or "make more money" kind of goals. The truth is that all companies can benefit greatly from having a few goals to work towards throughout the year, especially if they are S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and timely).

Commercial drivers are in high demand as more businesses look to provide premium services to clients, including same-day delivery of products and merchandise. For example, more restaurants now offer delivery services for their customers, and a growing number of shoppers love the convenience of having their groceries delivered right to their front door.

Hurricane Harvey caused billions of dollars in damages to homes, apartments, and businesses across Texas and Louisiana. In addition, thousands of cars, trucks, vans, and commercial service vehicles were flooded or completely submerged by the deep floodwaters. Many impacted drivers are now in the market for replacement vehicles, but some may end up unknowingly buying used vehicles that also flooded and were quickly cleaned up for resale.

Businesses that have commercial vehicles and commercial drivers understand the many factors that can impact their daily routes and stops. If a driver is feeling unwell, if the vehicle is having mechanical issues, or if there are roadblocks and traffic delays, this can hurt productivity and lead to losses for the company. However, one of the biggest factors that can impact commercial vehicles comes from bad weather. Often, commercial drivers and the vehicles they operate can be seriously impacted by bad weather, and injuries and damages can result.

Over the last century, the American workforce has both increased and aged as a greater number of workers remain on the job even after reaching retirement age. Some older workers remain active on the job because of improved health and true enjoyment of their jobs, while others need to keep working in order to have enough money for retirement. There are definite advantages to having more senior employees in the workplace, but there are also some issues employers need to consider to keep these older employees safe.

One of the biggest innovations to impact the business world in the last few years has been the use of drones for commercial use. Drones are used in industries across the world, including farming, manufacturing, art, real estate, construction, retail, and everything in between. While they provide incredible and unique perspectives for businesses and their customers, the commercial use of drones comes with substantial risk for property owners.

As 2016 comes to a close, many businesses begin planning out strategies for the new year to increase revenue, win customers, improve efficiency, and lower costs. However, many companies miss out on important growth opportunities because they fail to perform a thorough year-end review. A year-end review can help identify successes, failures, and areas of improvement from the past year, all of which can help put businesses in a better position to thrive in the new year.

Houstonians rely greatly on their cars and trucks, largely because of our city's vast size and minimal public transportation options. However, over 19,000 of area vehicles experienced some form of vehicle flood damage during the historic Tax Day floods of 2016. While some of these flooded vehicles were completely submerged and sent to salvage yards, many were cleaned up and resold to unsuspecting buyers or used car lots.

Cars and trucks are a vital part of life in Texas, with millions of drivers and businesses relying on vehicles to commute to work, take kids to school, shop, perform service calls, and deliver merchandise and materials. However, these valuable personal and business assets are often the first victims when Mother Nature strikes our area. Thankfully, quality Personal Auto and Commercial Auto coverage can cover your vehicles from losses stemming from natural disasters and other causes.

Cars need repairs and maintenance over time, and car owners have a variety of options for service providers. They can take their vehicles back to their dealership for maintenance and repairs, or take it to a licensed maintenance or repair shop. However, in an attempt to save money, some vehicle owners entrust their personal vehicles and even commercial vehicles to amateur or shade tree mechanic friends, individuals who repair vehicles as a hobby or side job and are in no way certified or professionally trained.