Quality seeks its own level.  T h a t ’ s on e w a y t o d e s c r i b e W a t ki n s M o t o r L i n e s ’ bu s i n e ss a pp r o ac h . B ill W a t ki n s s t a r t e d t h e L akela nd , F la ., c o m p a n y i n  1932  w i t h a r e d p ick up t r u ck bough t w i t h a  $300  n e s t e gg h e ea r n e d w o r ki ng on t h e f a m il y f a r m . H i s s on s a nd g r a nd s on s no w o v e r s ee a  $900  m illi on n a t i on w i d e l ong - h a u l t r u cki ng c o m p a n y w i t h  2 , 800  c o m p a n y - a nd c on t r ac t o r - o w n e d t r u ck s ,  11 , 200  t r aile r s a nd  7 , 200  e m p l o y ee s . R on C h i p m a n , r i gh t , t ake s a p e r s on al i n t e r e s t i n t ho s e e m p l o y ee s . H e s hou l d . A s e x ec u t i v e v ice p r e s i d e n t f o r r i s k m a n a g e - m e n t f o r W a t ki n s M o t o r L i n e s a nd i t s  $1 . 4  b illi on A t la n t a - b a s e d c o r po r a t e p a r e n t , W a t ki n s A ss o cia t e d I ndu s t r ie s , h e ’ s p a r t l y r e s pon - s i b le f o r t h e e m p l o y ee s ’ h eal t h a nd w ell - b ei ng . W h e n W a t ki n s A ss o cia t e d I ndu s t r ie s d eci d e d t o o ff e r hou r l y e m p l o y ee s a g r oup d i s a b ili t y p r og r a m , C h i p m a n s a ys , “ I s t a r t e d a s ki ng a r ound f o r a good p r o v i d e r , a nd T h e H a r t f o r d ke p t c o m i ng up . ” H e d i s c o v e r e d t h a t T h e H a r t f o r d s h a r e d W a t ki n s ’ s t r ong b elie f i n h el p i ng i n j u r e d w o r ke r s g e t b ack on t h e j ob a s s oon a s t h e y ’r e a b le . “ W e w e r e w o r ki ng on a n ea r l y - r e t u r n - t o -w o r k p r og r a m , ” C h i p m a n s a ys , “ a nd w h e n w e t alke d w i t h T h e H a r t f o r d w e f ound t h e y w e r e i n sy n c w i t h u s . ” T h a t w a s  10  y ea r s a go . S i n ce t h e n C h i p m a n , S t u a r t , F la . - b a s e d a g e n c y L . M . R ei d & C o ., T h e H a r t f o r d ’ s S e n i o r A cc oun t M a n a g e r M a r le n e K e tt e r i ng , le f t , a nd S e n i o r A cc oun t E x ec u t i v e D a v i d Jac ob s h a v e d e s i gn e d g r oup d i s a b ili t y p la n s f o r W a t ki n s A ss o cia t e d I ndu s t r ie s ’ s ala r ie d e m p l o y ee s a s w ell . “ W e w o r k t og e t h e r on clai m s a nd o t h e r i ss u e s , ” C h i p m a n s a ys , “ a nd T h e H a r t f o r d t ail o r s t h e p r og r a m t o all ou r c o m p a n ie s . I t ’ s r eall y a p e r f ec t m a rr ia g e b e t w ee n W a t ki n s a nd T h e H a r t f o r d . ” 2003 Annual Report Nine