Current Operations and a Short History

ARM was formed by Marvin McDougal in 1992 as an outgrowth of prior operations primarily the Frank B. Hall Dealer Division and its successor Allied Dealer Insurance Services. Don Marlette joined the ARM organization in 1996 as Chairman and CEO and directed a significant expansion of the operations.  

Don had started the Hall operations in 1979 with Marvin joining the organization as COO in 1980.  During this period Auto Dealer Package and Umbrella premiums reached $67,000,000 annually on a nationwide basis.  Other related programs with writings of approximately $40,000,000 annually were carried on concurrently. Others ultimately acquired these operations in the mid-1990s and the business was acquired by ARM in the late 1990's. 

Don started his insurance career in 1946 by joining the family brokerage firm and has been active in the dealer business since the mid-1950s.  Marvin has been active in the Garage and Surplus Lines business since starting his career with Universal Underwriters in 1962. 

Many of the key personnel at ARM have been involved with us in the prior operations and ARM for over 20 years.  Our underwriting manager, Cathy Whitby, has handled substantial business nationally and is quite familiar with the nature of the marketplace. 

All of our program carriers are rated A- or better by AM Best. Some of these programs include Franchised Dealer Packages, Umbrella and Dealers Open Lot, and the RV, Used Car and Truck Dealers, as well as Service and Repair facilities.    

We also have markets available for specialty placements such as Contingent Lease Liability, Auto Rental Operations, Large Deductible Worker's Comp Programs, High Risk Physical Damage; Hail, Earthquake, Flood, and High Valued Non Dealer Related properties. 

The coverage provided in our Franchised Auto/Truck/RV Dealer Program includes the coverage's provided by all of our major competitors and in several coverage areas, broader coverage is provided.  We are well aware of the importance of pricing as a major factor and our rating structure is designed to give us the necessary flexibility to successfully compete without sacrificing underwriting integrity.  

ARM's authority varies by program but may include responsibility for production, rating, underwriting, policy issuance and service, claims, loss prevention and control, statistical and accounting and regulatory compliance. 

Responsibility and authority for claims supervision is held by John Krivacsy.  John has worked with us for over 20 years and has also had substantial experience nationally.  As President of Meridian Claims Services, Inc., an ARM affiliated company, John will appoint adjusters, appraisers, and attorneys in your area who have knowledge and experience in the many nuances of the Dealer business and who are acceptable to you for programs where ARM has Claims handling responsibility, such as the Lloyds Dealers Open Lot Program.  For Claims where the handling is managed by the insurance company, John's staff handles the reporting and follow-up. We take extreme pride in the quality of the claim service provided.  It is on claims service that our efforts will be ultimately judged by our clients. 

Loss prevention and control is carried out by the ARM Loss Prevention and Control Staff. A leading Loss Control Service, Fara Risk Services provides inspection services for us on a national basis. On line services are provided through the World Wide Web by www.armsafety.com and a hot line for clients' employee complaints is provided by a leading national legal firm specializing in Employment Law.

Extensive IT services are provided to the programs by dbCache.com, an ARM affiliated company headed by Vasco David, President and CEO.  The dbCache DataTracker; web enabled system used by ARM is a fifth generation system based on a design structured specifically for the transportation     specialty business by Marlette and McDougal  commencing in 1980. It has been in use since that time and has been constantly improved and expanded. 

The system provides all parties involved in the program complete data updated on a daily basis for any and all information required and relevant to their management purposes.  The system will handle your applications/submissions, perform all of the rating functions, issue a proposal, and issue the policy, binders, certificates, and Auto ID cards. Loss runs can be provided on a periodic basis as you desire and can also be produced on demand. 

In summary, we have competitive products, competitive pricing, unexcelled claims service, a comprehensive IT System, and the expertise and experience together with a program structured with people we have been dealing with for over 20 years to handle your business on a stable, long-term basis. 

For further information please call Marvin McDougal, Cathy Whitby, Maria McDougal or Don Marlette at (800) 224-6363 or email us at arm@armonline.com .