Given the intense concentration of traffic on our nation’s roadways, there are unfortunately bound to be a significant number of motor vehicle accidents. Vehicles classified by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) as “trucks” are involved in more than two-thirds of the crashes that occur annually. The vast majority of these trucks are “pickups, vans, truck-based station wagons, and utility vehicles” which have received a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 pounds. But approximately 10 % of truck collisions involve larger vehicles that can be classified as commercial trucks. Accidents involving trucks with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or greater have the potential to inflict significant property damage and physical injuries upon any vehicles or objects that are struck, a point of particular concern for independent owner-operators or the owners of small trucking fleets.
Depending upon the severity of a truck accident and the circumstances which led to the impact, a small trucking company could conceivably experience a crushing setback as a result of such an incident. Legal fees associated with a court case, elevated insurance premiums, workers’ compensation claims, vehicle repair and replacement costs, and other factors can easily leave a business in a position where it is simply struggling to remain a going concern. Freight factoring can offer considerable relief if a ledger filled with unpaid invoices is compromising your ability to address the needs that have arisen due to a truck accident involving your fleet.
Truck Safety and Trucker Fatality Statistics
For the years 1990 to 2007, the number of large truck crashes (GVWR of 10,000+) has generally remained in the same range. 1991 was the year with the fewest crashes (330,347) 1999 had the most (474,920). Apart from being confined within this range, there appear to be no discernible trends. Despite this flat crash frequency figure, large truck occupant fatality rates have exhibited an ongoing upward climb. There were 585 fatalities in 1992 and by 2006 there were 805.
For a Financial Ally
As you attempt to resolve the array of problems that are assaulting your business venture in the aftermath of an accident, it is important that you are not distracted by having to devote your energies to collecting on unpaid invoices. At TBS Factoring Service, L.L.C., our business is helping your business to succeed by giving you access to the resources that you already should have received. Contact our team of freight factoring professionals to learn more.
In October 1992, Wellness International Network, Ltd. (WIN) became a reality. WIN’s Founders, Ralph and Cathy Oats saw the potential for the health and wellness industry and knew they could make a positive mark by providing others with a vehicle to achieve total wellness: mentally, physically and financially.
WIN is headquartered in North Dallas’ prestigious Legacy Business Park campus, while its European affiliate, WIN Worldwide BV , is located in Hoofddorp, Netherlands and its South African affiliate, Wellness International Network S.A. (Pty) Limited, is located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Heading into the company’s 16th year of business, Ralph and Cathy’s vision is ever expanding as they build WIN into a billion-dollar business.
The product line includes new protein shake, an omega-3 supplement and a new hair-care collection. Diving into the latest trend, anti-aging, WIN unveiled a skin-care line using the technology to help wipe away the signs of aging.
You can use Wellness International Network’s products with confidence, the product line ranges from products geared to help increase energy, stamina, weight loss and enhance mental function and mood to a complete line of cellular nutritional products, plus skin- and hair-care products.
WIN’s complete nutritional line is listed in the PDR
Customers play the most important part in any business, be it big or small. Thus providing good customer service becomes very crucial for a company’s success. A successful company is one that provides the best service in terms of continued customer support. One challenge that every customer support professional faces is dealing with customer complaints. Handling customer complaints has always been a challenge, but when armed with the right kind of tools and staff this becomes more of an advantage than a challenge.
Three very common mistakes made by the customer support professionals when dealing with customer complaints are:
Not listening to the customer’s complaint. Not armed with adequate knowledge or information. Not being courteous and polite to the customer.
Listening is the key to dealing with many business problems, and the same holds true when dealing with customer complaints. Jumping in to give a solution without properly understanding the problem tend to lead to more confusion and customer frustration. So listening and understanding the problem should be the first step when tackling customer complaints.
Customer care staff members are the first line of defense, so make sure they are properly trained and are well informed about the product or service the business offers. A well-planned training program needs to be put in place to achieve this. Also make sure the working environment is as stress- free as possible. Organizing regular stress management programs will help them tackle customer complaints more effectively.
When you talk to customers make you deal with them in a professional and appropriate manner. Be courteous, polite and kind while dealing with their complaints. Apologising tends to calm down even the most irate and frustrated customers. Also remember to thank them both before and after the problem has been dealt with.
Finally, do not see a customer complaint as a purely a ‘negative point’ for the business. Look at them as a challenge for improving the product and service which is being offered. Also see complaints as a chance for you and your staff to get to know your customers better. Treating every customer’s complaint in the proper manner will hopefully bring them one step closer to being loyal to your business.
The Iowa State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of State income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:
Department of Revenue
Income Tax Division
Hoover State Office Bldg.
P.O. Box 10457
Des Moines, IA 50306-0457
(515) 281-3114
(800) 367-3388 (in state)
http://www.state.ia.us/tax
Iowa requires that you use Iowa form “IA W-4, Centralized Employee Registry Reporting Form/Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate” instead of a Federal W-4 Form for Iowa State Income Tax Withholding.
Not all states allow salary reductions made under Section 125 cafeteria plans or 401(k) to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Iowa cafeteria plans are not taxable for income tax calculation; taxable for unemployment insurance purposes. 401(k) plan deferrals are not taxable for income taxes; taxable for unemployment purposes.
In Iowa supplemental wages are taxed at a 6% flat rate.
State W-2s are not applicable in the state of Iowa.
The Iowa State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:
Department of Workforce Development
1000 E. Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0209
(515) 281-5387
http://www.iowaworkforce.org/wc/index.html
The State of Iowa taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $19,700.00.
Iowa has optional reporting of quarterly wages on magnetic media.
Unemployment records must be retained in Iowa for a minimum period of five years. This information generally includes: name; social security number; dates of hire, rehire and termination; wages by period; payroll pay periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.
The Iowa State Agency charged with enforcing the state wage and hour laws is:
Iowa Workforce Development
Labor Services Division
1000 East Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50319-0209
(515) 281-5387
http://www.iowaworkforce.org//labor/index.html
The minimum wage in Iowa is $5.15 per hour.
There is also no general provision in Iowa State Law covering paying overtime in a non-FLSA covered employer.
Iowa State new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire; independent contractors over $600. The employer must report the federally required elements of:
Employee’s name Employee’s date of birth. Employee’s health insurance. Employee’s address Start date of contract. Employee’s social security number Employer’s name Employers address Employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
This information must be reported within 15 days of the hiring or rehiring.
The information can be sent as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax or electronically.
There is a penalty contempt of court for a late report in Iowa.
The Iowa new hire-reporting agency can be reached at 515-281-533 or on the web at http://icer.dhs.state.ia.us/.
Iowa does not allow compulsory direct deposit.
Iowa requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:
Gross and Net Earnings straight time and overtime pay hours worked itemized deductions
The State Wage and Hour Law provisions concerning pay stub information in Iowa is that it must be provided within 10 days of employee’s request, only once a year unless earnings, hours, or deductions are changed.
Iowa requires that employee be paid no less often than monthly, semimonthly, or biweekly.
Iowa requires that the lag time between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee not exceed twelve days after pay period; excluding Sundays and holidays.
Iowa payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by their next regular payday; 30 days for commissions and that voluntarily terminated employees must be paid their final pay by the next regular payday; 30 days for commissions or by mail if employee requests it.
There is no provision in Iowa law concerning paying deceased employees.
Escheat laws in Iowa require that unclaimed wages be paid over to the state after one year.
The employer is further required in Iowa to keep a record of the wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 4 years.
Iowa payroll law mandates no more than 40% of minimum wage may be used as a tip credit.
In the Iowa payroll law there is no provision covering required rest or meal periods.
There is no provision in Iowa law concerning record retention of wage and hour records therefor it is probably wise to follow FLSA guidelines.
The Iowa agency charged with enforcing Child Support Orders and laws is:
Child Support Recovery Unit
Department of Human Services
Hoover Bldg., 5th Fl.
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 242-3237
(888) 229-9223
http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/dhs2005/dhs_homepage/financial_support/child_support/index.html
Iowa has the following provisions for child support deductions:
When to start Withholding? 10 days after receipt of order. When to send Payment? Within 7 days of Payday. When to send Termination Notice? “Promptly.” Maximum Administrative Fee? $2 per payment. Withholding Limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.
Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will happen from time to time.
One of the things that the Total Wellness International opportunity promises to provide is something that a lot of Americans have to think about, that is, retirement. According to the statistics provided by Total Wellness International themselves, people over the age of 40 and making over 50,000 dollars still need to make more than 1 million dollars to retire comfortably.
The culprit here is the continual depletion of entitlements like Social Security and in the rising cost of medical care. The specter of medical care is one that every American should be worrying about, and when it comes to helping you plan ahead, Total Wellness International states that it has some great opportunities. Before you get involved, though, think about everything that this opportunity entails.
First, take a look at the Total Wellness International products. Like so many products on the MLM business opportunities, they are geared towards health, which is a fairly safe bet in today’s health and body conscious world. Not only do they sell colostrum products, they also manufacture a variety of multivitamins and supplements that improve muscle flexibility and growth. If you are looking for a great way to make sure that your business product is something that you can get behind, you should see what this company has to offer.
In continuing my online research, we noticed a site called TWI Now which is supposed to be a front end marketing system for TWI. They claim this opportunity is designed to merge the power of Network Marketing with the influence of the internet. They even claim that it is the most revolutionary design for making money on the Internet today. They talk about multiple streams of income and how joining this system can also improve your health and the health of others since health products are primarily promoted.
In terms of support, the Total Wellness International opportunity is one system that might make it ideal for beginners. The site advertises full training and support, and along with an inexpensive original investment, it might be a great place for people who are new to the trend of MLM business to get started. The site does advertise itself as not requiring any prior experience or any employees. Further, like all MLM opportunities, it offers residual income and a flexible schedule. Unlike other MLM opportunities, though, it does over tax benefits, something that will make it very attractive to those investors who are a little reluctant to take the plunge.
When you are looking at the Total Wellness International opportunity, the thing that will make it stand out the most for the new investor is the low cost and the full training and support. Many other MLM opportunities will simply ship you a box full of their products and expect you to harry your friends and family into buying them, but the Total Wellness International opportunity takes a much more professional view of it.
While you should definitely check for actual costs and time investment, this seems to be a great opportunity whether you are looking to add a bit of income to your existing job, or looking to replace it entirely!
Business coaching can be very helpful in streamlining business processes, harnessing business potential, and increasing profitability. However, these can only be achieved by using the right kind of business coaching that is cost effective and does not hinder the day-to-day functioning of the business. Before selecting a business-coaching course, it is important that you spare some time for learning about the coaching facilitators, their experience, their areas of expertise, their educational qualifications and the type of coaching they are willing to provide.
Although organizations such as the International Coaching Federation (ICF) do accredit commercial coaching companies, the fact is that most of these large associations are guided by their own private business agendas that concentrate on adding more and more members to their database for commercial purposes. As such, depending on just accreditation for selecting a particular business-coaching company or firm may not be the right thing to do. If you research properly, you will find numerous reputed business coaching companies that are neither accredited by the ICF nor follow its course curriculum. Accreditation organizations such as the ICF are often blamed for violating professional business standards. In many cases, the ICF has provided certification to individuals and accredited the schools from which these individuals have received their training. The ICF has also been criticized for its recent decision that calls for including only ICF accredited schools on the list of approved coach training organizations. With accreditation available to anyone who is willing to pay, the integrity of both the coaching professional as well as the association is being adversely affected.
The right business coaching course needs to be ‘evidence based’ wherein the contents of the course can be verified based upon a process of methodical, clinical and industry research, evaluation, and the utilization of up-to-date systematic research findings to support decisions about practice. Such courses are scientifically proven and are certainly better than commercial courses, popularized mainly by coaching associations and coach training providers that are engaged in mass marketing to a primarily uneducated marketplace. With evidence based coaching gaining prominence, old approaches are being replaced with new ones that are more powerful, more accurate, more efficacious, and safer. Evidence based coaching is also advantageous for coaching professionals as it allows them to provide more effective and accurate assessments, more informed program planning and select the most appropriate coaching technology.
Selecting the right business coach is also important, as ultimately it is the human factor that determines the success of any business-coaching course. The right coach is someone who you can trust and work with comfortably to build a strong partnership. Before selecting a coach, you need to learn more about his/her coaching experience, coaching specialization if any, philosophy about coaching, coaching process (duration and frequency of coaching sessions), and past coaching related success stories.
It is recommended that you conduct personal interviews with as many coaches as you possibly can for determining ‘what feels right’ in terms of interpersonal chemistry. Coaching professionals are used to being interviewed and normally do not charge any fees for the initial introductory conversation.
During interviews, look for similarities and differences in the thought process between the coach and yourself, discuss your goals, learn about the coach’s preferred way of working with a team or individual, and discuss ways and means of handling future problems. Always remember that business coaching is a partnership and as such make sure that you discuss with the coach everything that is going to affect your business.