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The
Importance of
Commercial Truck Insurance in Cape Coral, FL
- Let's face it - truckers in America have always been the backbone of our great country. They still are in modern times. On any given day, thousands of trucks traverse our highways and local roads, delivering goods and products on time so that businesses and consumers have what they need to live life. And while commercial trucking can be an incredibly lucrative way to make a living and put food on the table, it can also be risky and expensive.
- Whether you're the owner of a fleet, an independent trucker, or have a business that uses big rigs to transport goods, you need commercial trucking insurance to protect you and your client's investments, shield you from liability, and more.
- That's where working with a reliable truck insurance agency comes into play. Unfortunately, for many commercial truck insurance providers, serving the needs of truckers is low on the proverbial totem pole. At Independence Insurance Agency, nothing could be further from the truth.
Service Areas
The Commercial Truck
Insurance Agency in Cape Coral, FL You Can Trust
Much like you pride yourself on running a successful trucking business, Independence Insurance Agency prides itself on its years of experience providing truck insurance for hardworking men and women across the country. And in our experience, insurance rates for truckers are just too high - so high, in fact, that they eat away at their bottom line, making it more difficult to run a business and make a profit. Fortunately, at Independence Insurance Agency, we provide truckers the freedom they need from astronomically high insurance rates so they can stay on the road and keep driving America forward.
As one of the most trusted commercial trucking insurance agencies in the U.S., we understand the challenges that you face daily as a trucker. We also know how important it is to protect your business. That's why we go above and beyond to find you the best-priced coverage available, whether you're an operator, own a small fleet, a large fleet, or something in between.
We Put Truckers First Because Others Don't
Truckers across the country choose to work with Independence Insurance Agency because we put their needs first before anything else. As experts in transportation insurance, we proudly offer a range of quality insurance products that are both practical and affordable for them. Our industry-leading carriers provide coverage that caters to the unique challenges faced by the trucking industry, ensuring that your business is protected at all times.
At our core, we are committed to finding the best possible price for your coverage without compromising the quality of service you deserve. The truth is, we understand how essential truckers are to the United States and take pride in making their insurance experience more streamlined and affordable.
One way we do so is by simplifying the insurance process. Our transportation specialists take the time to understand your specific needs and budget to tailor a comprehensive plan that works for you. You won't ever have to worry about cookie-cutter plans or uninterested agents when you work with our commercial trucking insurance agency. We take an educational approach to ensure that the entire big rig insurance process is quick, painless, and easy to understand. If there's something you don't understand, we're happy to take the time to explain. After all, the success and safety of your business are on the line.
Looking to the future, we are committed to providing innovative new products that cater to the ever-changing needs of truck drivers. As your one-stop shop for commercial trucking insurance, we are dedicated to your success, one policy at a time.
If you're a commercial trucker looking to ensure your rig, you can rest easy knowing that Independence Insurance Agency provides:
- Affordable Trucking Insurance Plans for Any Budget
- Exemplary Customer Service
- Seasoned Transportation Specialists Who Customize Plans to Your Needs
- A+ Carriers Across the Country
- Simple, Easy Quote and Bind Process
- Multiple Insurance Carriers Quoted to Find You the Best Rates
- Truck Insurance for New Ventures
Call us or send us a message today to learn more about the best 18-wheeler insurance options for your trucking business.
The Commercial Truck
Common Types of Big Rig Truck Insurance in Cape Coral, FL
At Independence Insurance Agency, we offer several types of insurance coverage for local, intermediate, and long-haul trucking needs. Here are just a few categories of trucking insurance coverage that our agency offers.
As the foundation of your insurance policy, liability coverage is required by law in most states in the U.S. It provides coverage for damage or injuries caused to properties or other people if your 18-wheeler is responsible for the crash. Without liability coverage, it's almost impossible to drive a truck or run a trucking business without major legal consequences.
Having physical damage coverage is an essential component that shouldn't be overlooked. This insurance is responsible for covering the expenses related to repairing or replacing your truck in situations such as accidents, theft, vandalism, and other damaging events. By having this coverage, you can rest assured that your business won't be affected significantly by unexpected incidents, and you can continue running your operations smoothly even in challenging times.
For trucking companies, the goods they transport are crucial to their operations. To protect these goods from damage, loss, or theft while in transit, cargo insurance is essential. This coverage provides much-needed peace of mind for both you and your clients, allowing you to reimburse clients for any losses sustained while protecting your reputation and brand identity.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance is designed to cover property damage or bodily injury that may occur during personal time when the driver/truck is not under dispatch. This coverage can be applied with or without a trailer and is added to a commercial policy as an endorsement.
While Independence Insurance Agency has built a reputation of excellence in serving the needs of truckers, we also offer general liability. Also known as Truckers General Liability, this coverage insures for bodily injuries or property damage that happen due to business activities that are NOT the cause of operating a truck. It covers accidents that occur in parking lots, rest stops, also while loading or unloading. General liability can also cover losses related to theft and vandalism. Most brokers and shippers will require this coverage to work with you.
Bobtail insurance is a type of coverage that is comparable to non-trucking liability, which is designed to offer protection when driving a truck without a trailer attached. This is commonly referred to as "bobtailing." With bobtail insurance, the tractor is covered at all times, even when it is not attached to a trailer, regardless of whether or not the truck is under dispatch.
Trailer interchange insurance is a must-have if you're involved in a trailer interchange agreement. This essential coverage offers protection for trailers owned by other parties that you're using under a contractual agreement. It covers damages caused by collisions, fire, theft, and vandalism, providing assurance to all parties involved.
Curious whether our commercial truck insurance agency in cityname, state offers additional coverage? The following options can be bound in your insurance policy:
- Business Interruption Insurance
- Reefer Breakdown Insurance
- Occupational Accident with Contract Liability Insurance
- Rental Reimbursement Insurance
- Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist Insurance
- Towing Insurance
- Electronics Insurance
- Much More
3 Safe Driving Tips to
Lower the Cost of Truck Insurance in Cape Coral, FL
Keeping your drivers safe on the road is crucial not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of other motorists and the financial stability of your business. The Department of Labor has identified the trucking industry as one of the most hazardous sectors in the U.S. In fact, trucking and logistics fleets are known for their high injury and fatality rates. By improving how safely your truckers drive, you can help reduce expenses related to claim payouts, accidents, and insurance premium hikes.
Whether you own a large fleet or you're the owner and operator of a single rig, keep these safe driving tips in mind to help lower your insurance costs.
Implement Preventative Maintenance Plans
Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
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Practice Defensive Driving
This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
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Find Ways to Prevent Distracted Driving
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
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Ensuring the safety of your drivers begins with the safety of their vehicles. Trucks and tractor-trailers that do not receive regular maintenance, such as oil and brake pad changes, are more likely to experience breakdowns while on the road. Telematics devices provide real-time insight into engine and odometer data, including fault codes.
This information enables your mechanics to create comprehensive preventative maintenance schedules based on mileage, history of previous breakdowns, days, and more. Additionally, they can receive immediate notifications for critical fault codes. By implementing routine maintenance and proactive repair schedules, you can ensure that your vehicles are in top condition, minimizing the likelihood of breakdowns, which can help reduce the cost of trucker insurance.
Call Now
This approach aims to mitigate the risk of fatal crashes and injuries by proactively identifying and responding to potentially dangerous situations and making informed decisions while driving. By adopting defensive driving techniques, drivers can reduce their likelihood of accidents, thereby minimizing the need for expensive repairs, claim payouts, and increased insurance premiums.
Some of the easiest ways for you or your drivers to practice safe driving include:
- Be Wary of Blind Spots: Operating a reefer or tractor-trailer means driving high off of the ground, which can make visibility limited, especially in blind spots. To check your blind spot, look over your shoulder and out of your windows while changing lanes.
- Be Ready for Emergencies on the Road: It's important for drivers to be ready for unexpected situations when driving, especially during long trips. They should be equipped to handle emergencies such as poor driving conditions or big rig breakdowns.
- Use the Three-Second Rule: Truck drivers should try to maintain a three-second gap between their vehicle and the car in front of them. This means that the truck driver should reach a certain point on the road three seconds after the car in front of them has passed that same point.
- Always Use Right and Left Turn Indicators: It's important for drivers to always use their turn signals when changing lanes or exiting highways, even if they don't see any other cars around. This is not only required by law, but it also reduces the chances of accidents occurring on the road.
Call Now
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), distracted driving is the primary reason behind truck driver accidents. Any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the road or the steering wheel is considered distracted driving. Distractions can come in various forms, such as eating while driving or gazing at a billboard outside the window. However, the most frequent form of distracted driving is the use of cellphones, specifically texting while driving.
Assuming you or your driver's rigs are equipped with dual-facing cameras, try reviewing footage of an unsafe driving incident. Coach your drivers on ways to correct their unsafe behaviors or look up ways to do so yourself if you're the one operating the big rig. The bottom line is that when your drivers aren't distracted, they drive safer. And when they drive safer, the cost of 18-wheeler insurance in cityname, state can be reduced.
Call Now
FAQs About
Independence Insurance Agency
If you're looking for a commercial trucking insurance agency for your business, chances are you have some questions - and we've got answers. Keep reading to learn more about some of the most commonly asked questions we hear from truckers like you.
Why go with a "jack of all trades" when you can work with specialists who focus exclusively on transportation insurance? We have excellent relationships with major trucking insurance carriers and, as such, can provide the best assistance and reasonable rates.
Typically, companies will look at claims that date back three years or less.
We proudly work with more than 20 carriers to provide our clients with the most advantageous options at competitive prices, catering to the needs of owner-operators and big fleets alike.
Permit filings are typically done by insurance companies on the next business day. Federal (FMCSA) filings are completed online and updated immediately, while some states may take up to three weeks to process.
Independence Insurance Agency: Committed to the Trucking Industry
There's no question about it - you've got to protect your staff, your rig, and your trucking business with insurance. But choosing the right insurance partner isn't always easy. Thankfully, with Independence Insurance Agency by your side, you can rest easy knowing you're covered no matter where the road takes you. If you're in need of a commercial truck insurance agency in Cape Coral, FL that caters to truckers like you, pick up the phone and contact one of our transportation specialists today. That way, you can get back on the road with confidence tomorrow.
Latest News in Cape Coral, FL
U-Haul crashes into power poles and drives through fence in Cape Coral neighborhood
Taylor Wirtzhttps://winknews.com/2024/03/25/u-haul-crashes-power-poles-drives-through-fence-cape-coral-neighborhood/
An entire street in Cape Coral has no power after a U-Haul crashed into more than one power pole and took out a woman’s fence.The craziest part is that the driver took off. They just left all of that damage behind on Kismet Parkway.Police are still investigating, so we don’t know for sure why the driver ended up on the road and if the driver lost contro...
An entire street in Cape Coral has no power after a U-Haul crashed into more than one power pole and took out a woman’s fence.
The craziest part is that the driver took off. They just left all of that damage behind on Kismet Parkway.
Police are still investigating, so we don’t know for sure why the driver ended up on the road and if the driver lost control, but the homeowner said people cut through her backyard all the time on Kismet Parkway ever since major construction started on it because they don’t want to sit in the resulting traffic.
Susan Fischer said it was only a matter of time, but that doesn’t make this any less painful.
It all started when she heard a noise a few hours prior.
“All of a sudden, I heard this huge boom, and I thought somebody had hit the house or maybe there was another airplane crash, so I looked out the front window. I didn’t see anything, and I came and looked out the back, and I said, ‘What are these poles laying around?’ And I realized it’s my fence, and then I noticed all the telephone poles down, and my neighbor came over and said he saw a box truck, a U-Haul truck, come through our backyards,” Fischer said.
A witnessing neighbor said the driver didn’t just come through the backyards. He plowed through them, knocking down multiple power poles in the process.
“They said the poles flew like 50 miles an hour,” Fischer said.
She said that nobody on her street has any electricity.
Neighbors say he drove off as quickly as he drove in, leaving the wreckage behind him.
“We’re still dealing with the Ian claim that hasn’t been satisfied yet. Then we have to deal with this, too, on top of all the bills we already have. It’s tough,” Fischer said.
Lee County Electric Cooperative has been on the scene ever since, and they told Fischer they’re prepared to work through the night to get power back to this neighborhood if they have to.
Meanwhile, police are still looking for the person who did this, so if you happen to see a U-Haul box truck with damage that you think could have been involved, be sure to contact them.
New in Cape Coral: Fast-casual, sweet and savory waffle shop opens
Hannah Holmeshttps://www.news-press.com/story/life/food/2024/03/24/lets-waffle-opens-in-cape-coral-with-sweet-and-savory-lunch-options/73074085007/
Waffles aren’t just for breakfast anymore — at least according to Nadin Feix, owner of Let’s Waffle.“It’s not the waffle people have in mind,” she said. “This is a different way of presenting and eating it. It's for lunch.”Her new fun and creative waffle joint — in the ...
Waffles aren’t just for breakfast anymore — at least according to Nadin Feix, owner of Let’s Waffle.
“It’s not the waffle people have in mind,” she said. “This is a different way of presenting and eating it. It's for lunch.”
Her new fun and creative waffle joint — in the 10 Twenty Five-anchored Santa Barbara Plaza near Santa Barbara Boulevard and Nicholas Parkway — is the first of its kind in Cape Coral.
This twist on a breakfast favorite — not typically seen in Southwest Florida — drew inspiration in Feix’s roots. Originally from Germany, the Feix family fell in love with the area after visiting Sanibel in 2014. They have called Cape Coral their home since 2022.
Feix’s Belgian waffles ditch the standard circle and square formats in favor of a German twist: heart shapes.
“We make the batter here, fresh every morning,” Feix said. “We make the waffles, fill it up and flip it in half.”
They come in a variety of sweet and savory options. No matter the craving, there is a waffle waiting to satisfy it. You can also pick your own toppings, in freestyle form, where the possibilities are endless with 13 sauces (from peanut butter to balsamic), fruits (from mango to grapes), sweets (from Oreos to Kinder chocolate), candy, cheese, greens, sprinkles and more.
There are even meat options with bacon bits, pulled pork, ham and chicken bites. If that’s not enough, ice cream will be available soon too.
“If you like barbecue and Nutella, I can do it,” Feix said. “I wouldn’t recommend it, but I’d do it.”
Bringing your creativity is not mandatory, though. Signature sweet waffles include banana and strawberry filled; banana and chocolate or Nutella; the candy-filled Kid’s Love waffle; and waffles with pulled pork, avocado, ham and pineapple and more fall on the savory side.
"We have really high quality, fresh items," Feix said. "Everything is fresh here. Quality is really important. I only sell things I would eat myself."
She takes those ingredients and comes up with the signature waffle creations herself.
“I talk to people, hear what they like,” she said. “I do the ones I like, my daughter likes.”
Learning of American’s love of Chick-fil-A sauce, she incorporated it into the Chicken Love waffle — popcorn chicken, Caesar salad fixings and that beloved sauce.
“Everyone loves it,” Feix said.
Portions are generous and the toppings are hearty.
“It’s a lunch,” Feix said. “It’s not a breakfast waffle. This has a lot.”
A made-to-order vegan version of the waffle is available upon request. And after talking to a diabetic customer, sugar-free syrup has been added as a topping.
“I’m learning what people like," Feix said. “If someone wants something, I will get it. If they can’t decide, I can do half and half now too.”
Feix recommends eating your waffle there since it may become soggy on the drive home, depending on the toppings.
Dining news::Waterfront Pine Island restaurant reopens to this food critic's delight — JLB
Four round tables with yellow and green chairs on one side and padded benches await those dining in. Her shop is bright, clean and welcoming.
When Feix isn’t behind the counter, she has a handful of employees working for her, including her daughter, Julika. An Ida Baker high student, Julika not only has a waffle named after her — the Julika’s Love with strawberries, bananas, Nutella, powdered sugar and sprinkles — but her likeness is also the Let’s Waffle logo.
“I wanted something young and fresh that people can’t copy,” Feix said. “Like Wendy’s and KFC, I thought I might just think big.”
Let’s Waffle, 1031 Santa Barbara Blvd., No. 12, Cape Coral; open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday; (239) 898-1041; letswaffleflorida.com.
Florida Atlantic University seeks participants for harmful algal blooms study in Cape Coral
Staffhttps://www.capecoralbreeze.com/news/local-news/2024/03/22/florida-atlantic-university-seeks-participants-for-harmful-algal-blooms-study-in-cape-coral/
Florida Atlantic University researchers are asking residents of Cape Coral and surrounding communities to consider participating in a study to help evaluate the potential impacts of exposure to harmful algal blooms (HABs). Southwest Florida has experienced HABs such as red tide (karenia brevis) in prior years, which is most abundant during the summer and early fall months.Researchers will recruit volunteers on Tuesday, March 26, from noon to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Public Works Department, 815 N...
Florida Atlantic University researchers are asking residents of Cape Coral and surrounding communities to consider participating in a study to help evaluate the potential impacts of exposure to harmful algal blooms (HABs). Southwest Florida has experienced HABs such as red tide (karenia brevis) in prior years, which is most abundant during the summer and early fall months.
Researchers will recruit volunteers on Tuesday, March 26, from noon to 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday, March 27, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Public Works Department, 815 Nicholas Parkway, East, Cape Coral. Appointments are available and walk-ins are welcome. Study participants will be asked to fill out a questionnaire and provide urine and blood samples as well as a nasal swab.
Human exposure to HABs comes from ingestion, direct skin contact or inhalation, and can lead to a variety of symptoms ranging from respiratory irritation to skin rashes and in severe cases liver damage. Despite numerous occurrences of red tide and blue green algae in Florida waters, our understanding of the long-term health effects of exposure to these blooms remains limited.
With grant funding from the Florida Department of Health, researchers from FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Harbor Branch Oceanograp-hic Institute are continuing this first-of-its-kind evaluation of both the short-term and potential long-term health effects among Florida residents. The “Long-term Effects of Exposure to Harmful Algal Blooms” study uses a collaborative, multisite approach which also includes researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University.
This latest study expands upon prior studies conducted in 2016 and 2018, and previous FDOH studies from 2019 to 2020 and 2021 to 2022.
“We have little data on health outcomes related to human exposure, despite the prevalence and intensity of harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida,” said Rebecca S. Koszalinski, Ph.D., principal investigator and an associate professor in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. “Understanding short- and long-term health impacts and outcomes is crucial to protecting the health of Floridians. By developing tools to measure concentrations of harmful algal blooms toxins in the environment and multiple human tissues, we will gain a better understanding of health-related outcomes and health care needs in Florida and elsewhere.”
The study also is the first to evaluate the potential effect of exposure to COVID-19. Researchers are exploring if there is a relationship between a history of being infected with COVID-19 and susceptibility to the effects of harmful algal blooms exposure.
The latest study involves a survey to identify the potential routes, duration and types of exposure to blooms through recreational and occupational activities. Researchers also will assess potential effects on individuals with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and chronic gastrointestinal disorders. Bloodwork including liver enzymes and renal markers also will be included in this study.
Algal toxin concentrations including microcystin and brevotoxin will be measured in blood, urine and nasal mucosa. The toxin levels also will be used to understand the dose-response relationships with self-reported respiratory, dermal and gastrointestinal symptoms. Urine and blood analyses will be conducted in collaboration with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is developing methodology to detect emerging algal toxins in human tissues.
The study includes conducting environmental sampling of water and air to measure potential sources of exposure.
Researchers have developed a bio-repository and participant registry to store the data and samples in collaboration with FAU’s Clinical Research Unit within the FAU Division of Research. The purpose is to build an ongoing infrastructure to support the team’s long-term studies on the health effects of exposure to current and emerging harmful algal blooms toxins and serve as a resource for researchers around the state.
For more information or to participate in the study, call or text 561-297-4631, or email Rebecca Koszalinski, Ph.D., at NurHAB@health.fau.edu. Community participants will receive up to $25 in gift cards as an incentive for participating in data collection activities each year.
Cape News
Florida Atlantic University seeks participants for harmful algal blooms study in Cape Coral
Red Sox present scholarships to 16 local students
For the ninth consecutive year, local high school students were bestowed scholarships by a Major League Baseball ...
10-foot great white shark, tracked by OCEARCH, pings off Florida, near Cape Coral
Kim Lucianihttps://www.news-press.com/story/news/2024/03/04/great-white-shark-rose-ocearch-ping-swfl-florida-coast-again-cape-coral/72837478007/
Southwest Florida waters had a visit from a "snowbird" of the seas Sunday.A great white shark, tagged by the research group OCEARCH, pinged far off the Cape Coral coast at 12:33 p.m.The 10-foot 5-inch ...
Southwest Florida waters had a visit from a "snowbird" of the seas Sunday.
A great white shark, tagged by the research group OCEARCH, pinged far off the Cape Coral coast at 12:33 p.m.
The 10-foot 5-inch shark, nicknamed Rose, has a satellite tag attached to her dorsal fin which emits a ping when it breaks the water's surface and sends her location to trackers.
Rose was previously tracked off the Treasure Coast Feb. 17 and 18 and Boynton Beach Feb. 19. Her tracker shows Rose has spent her winters around Florida since 2021, including the Gulf of Mexico in 2022 and 2023. She has traveled 15,405 miles since she was tagged by scientists in 2020.
Here's what to know about Rose, other sharks around Southwest Florida, OCEARCH and white sharks in Florida:
What to know about OCEARCH great white shark Rose
White shark Rose was tagged by OCEARCH scientists on Oct. 4, 2020 off Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.
At the time, she measured 10 feet 5 inches, weighed 600 pounds and was classified as a juvenile shark.
Great white sharks can grow up to 20 feet long, but most are smaller with adult females averaging 15-16 feet long and males reaching 11-13 feet.
According to OCEARCH, she was named after Rose Bay near where she was tagged.
White shark Keji visits off Marco Island twice
An OCEARCH great white shark nicknamed Keji pinged off Marco Island on Feb. 4 and Feb 16.
Keji's tracked pings also show him near the Florida Keys on Dec. 13, and southeast of St. Augustine on Nov. 30.
According to his tracker, Keji swam to the Panhandle in early 2023 and also wintered around Florida in 2021 and 2022.
Keji was tagged by OCEARCH near Ironbound Island Nova Scotia on Sep. 22, 2021. At the time, the male juvenile white shark measured 9 feet 7 inches and weighed 578 pounds.
Keji was named after the Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site in the region where he was tagged, according to OCEARCH.
White shark Penny tracked off Marco Island, Cape Coral, Sarasota in January
A 10-foot great white shark named Penny was tracked off Marco Island Jan. 6, off Sarasota on Jan. 11 and Cape Coral Jan. 15.
This is Penny's first trip to Florida since she was tagged. Once she was tagged, Penny traveled north to Nova Scotia before starting her migration south in late October.
Penny measured 10 feet 3 inches and weighed 522 pounds when she was tagged on April 23, 2023, off Ocracoke, North Carolina.
Great white shark Andromache pinged often in Southwest Florida waters
White shark Andromache hung around the Southwest Florida coast in November and December.
The shark pinged off Marco Island on Nov. 16 and Nov. 21, off Naples on Dec. 15 and Dec. 20, 21 and 23 and off Venice Dec. 30.
She was 10 feet 8 inches long, weighed 341 pounds and was classified as a juvenile when OCEARCH tagged her on Aug. 9, 2020, off Cape Cod.
Andromache also wintered in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico in 2022. She pinged off Southwest Florida in November of 2022 and traveled to the Panhandle in early December before heading back north.
Great white shark facts
Things to know about white sharks, according to NOAA Fisheries:
Why are great white sharks in Florida?
White sharks migrate south when the water gets cold and food sources become scarce up north, according to OCEARCH chief scientist Dr. Bob Hueter.
Think of them as the snowbirds of sharks.
Most of them tend to stay away from the beaches in continental shelf waters, Hueter said.
What is OCEARCH?
OCEARCH is a nonprofit research organization studying the ocean's giants.
The group studies great white sharks and other keystone species essential for the health of the oceans.
OCEARCH recently finished up its 46th expedition, dubbed Expedition Southeast. It departed from Jacksonville on Nov. 17 and made its final docking in Morehead City, North Carolina on Dec. 15.
During the expeditions, researchers collected previously unattainable data on the animals' migrations, reproductive cycle, genetic status, diet, abundance, and more.
"If we lose the apex predator (sharks) then we lose all our fish and then there are no fish sandwiches for our grandchildren," OCEARCH founder Chris Fischer told the Courier Journal. "That's oversimplified, of course, but the idea is important because many shark species are threatened by overfishing and a demand for shark fins in Asia. Their dwindling numbers jeopardize ocean habitats."
Most shark attacks happen in Florida
There were 69 documented unprovoked shark attacks around the globe in 2023. The U.S. led the world with 36 attacks and Florida again was the state with the most bites at 16.
Florida shark attacks by county:
While the U.S. has the most attacks, South Africa has the most shark-related fatalities.
Since 1992, there have been 1,232 shark bites worldwide, according to data from floridapanhandle.com, with white sharks credited as the top biters.
Support local journalism by subscribing to a Florida news organization.
Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island lead Southwest Florida job growth
WGCU Staffhttps://news.wgcu.org/section/business/2024-03-19/cape-coral-fort-myers-and-naples-immokalee-marco-island-lead-southwest-florida-job-growth
Two Southwest Florida metropolitan areas -- Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island – tied for the region’s lead in job growth for the 12 months ending in January.Both areas reported 3.2 percent growth in total non-farm employment, with 9,600 and 5,400 jobs respectively. That’s compared to the overall state growth rate of 2.7 percent.The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton Metro Area reported a 2.9 percent growth rate with 9,800 jobs and the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metro Area submitted a 2.4 ...
Two Southwest Florida metropolitan areas -- Cape Coral-Fort Myers and Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island – tied for the region’s lead in job growth for the 12 months ending in January.
Both areas reported 3.2 percent growth in total non-farm employment, with 9,600 and 5,400 jobs respectively. That’s compared to the overall state growth rate of 2.7 percent.
The North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton Metro Area reported a 2.9 percent growth rate with 9,800 jobs and the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater Metro Area submitted a 2.4 percent growth rate with 35,700 jobs in that period.
In the bottom of the region’s metro areas was Punta Gorda, with total nonfarm employment there increasing by just 1.6 percent and 900 jobs.
In specific sector comparisons, Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater topped the Southwest Florida area in leisure and hospitality and construction, with a gain of about 1,100 jobs (3 percent change) and 2,700 jobs (3.3 percent change) respectively from the previous 12 months ending in January. Overall, this area employed168,900 employed in leisure and hospitality and 93,000 in construction.
In leisure and hospitality, Cape Coral-Fort Myers reported a 3.2 percent rise, Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island a 2.9 percent increase and North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton a 2.1 percent boost over the period. Only Punta Gorda reported a drop with a negative 2.5 percent change.
The leisure and hospitality numbers reflect an employment level of 41,700 in Cape Coral-Fort Myers, 32,000 in Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island and 50,200 in North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton. Punta Gorda has 7,800 employees in this sector.
Cape Coral-Fort Myers gained about 3,500 jobs in the mining, logging and construction sector over the 12 months ending in January – a nine percent rise. As of January 2024 there were 42,200 employed in mining, logging and construction in this metro area.
The real estate and rental and leasing sector in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, gained about 1,100 jobs over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024 -- equivalent to an increase of 3.5 percent. The total number of people employed in the real estate and rental and leasing sector in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL as of Jan 2024 was 32,100.
Statewide growth
On a statewide level, total nonfarm employment in Florida grew by 2.7 percent over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024. That’s higher than the nationwide number, which grew by 1.8 percent. Florida ranks 4th in the nation for job growth over those 12 months.
Top-ranking sectors (fastest growing)
Florida ranked first in the U.S. in the job growth rate in the retail trade sector over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024. Employment in the sector grew by 3.1 percent –a gain of about 35,000 employees. Nationally, the sector was up 0.6 percent over those 12 months.
Florida ranked 2nd among U.S. states in the job growth rate in the Non-durable goods sector over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in the sector grew by 4.8 percent – that’s a gain of about 6,300 employees. Nationally, the sector was down 0.9 percent over those 12 months.
Florida ranked 4th among U.S. states in the job growth rate in the Manufacturing sector over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in the sector grew by 2.6 percent – that’s a gain of about 10,900 employees. Nationally, the sector was up 0.2 percent over those 12 months.
Florida ranked 4th among U.S. states in the job growth rate in the Wholesale trade sector over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in the sector grew by 3.8 percent – that’s a gain of about 14,500 employees. Nationally, the sector was up 1.3 percent over those 12 months.
Statewide sectors of interest
Florida’s Leisure and hospitality sector gained about 20,800 jobs from Oct 2023 to Jan 2024. That’s equivalent to a rise of 1.6 percent. Looking back further, employment in the sector grew by 2.8 percent over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024. Nationally, the sector was up 2.9 percent over that time.
Florida’s Health care and social assistance sector gained about 23,900 jobs from Oct 2023 to Jan 2024. That’s equivalent to a rise of 1.9 percent. Looking back further, employment in the sector grew by 5.1 percent over the 12 months ending in Jan 2024. Nationally, the sector was up 4.6 percent over that time.
The information in this report was based on research provided by APM Research Lab and Marketplace and data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
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