Motor carriers rank insurance as one of their top concerns, landing at number three on the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) list of industry issues. If you’re trying to make sense of the insurance process, you need more than a checklist. You need a strategy that positions your business for stability and long-term success.
In this episode of TN Truck Thought, Bert Mayo, vice president of Risk Solutions at TrueNorth Companies, and Johnny Schrunk, transportation loss control consultant at Professional Safety Consulting, join nationally recognized experts P. Sean Garney and Steve Keppler to share practical ways you can strengthen your position in today’s insurance market.
Underwriters start with the numbers. Loss runs, Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) scores and motor vehicle records give them a snapshot of performance. But your story goes beyond just numbers, and it’s how you put them into perspective that counts.
Pair strong metrics with a clear narrative about your safety culture, corrective actions and measurable improvement. Show how you’ve turned challenges into progress. Underwriters want to see that your operation isn’t just compliant, but how it’s committed to safety and accountability.
And don’t forget about external pressures. Legal trends like nuclear verdicts are reshaping how risk is evaluated.
Exceptionally large legal awards, known as nuclear verdicts, are driving up insurer loss costs and making coverage harder or more expensive to obtain. You can’t control every risk factor, but you can reduce exposure with disciplined risk management: clear policies, consistent enforcement and thorough documentation. to obtain. You can’t control every risk factor, but you can reduce exposure with disciplined risk management: clear policies, consistent enforcement and thorough documentation. You can’t control every risk factor, but you can reduce exposure with disciplined risk management: clear policies, consistent enforcement and thorough documentation.
As Mayo puts it, “You cannot underwrite a nuclear verdict.” That reality changes how businesses protect themselves. Actuarial models and clean loss histories cannot shield you from a single catastrophic case that skews the numbers.
Your strongest defense is operational. Prevent risk by setting, and training for enforceable standards, and maintaining evidence of compliance. When you demonstrate that discipline, you reduce exposure even when the unexpected happens.
Your submission sets the tone for the entire renewal process. Underwriters need clarity and completeness to evaluate your operation efficiently. An organized application backed by the right documentation signals professionalism and speeds up decisions.
What matters most:
Together, these elements give underwriters confidence and help you secure competitive pricing.
If you run a small or midsize fleet, credibility is everything. Policies should be current and enforceable, and hiring standards realistic. Daily practice must match what’s on paper.
The legal risk isn’t just the crash, it’s the record behind it. As Schrunk explains, “Many fleets don’t realize negligent hiring, negligent training and negligent entrustment are what plaintiffs probe. If you don’t do what your policies say you do, you hand them the case.”
That’s why your best play is to keep it simple: apply policies consistently, use data to guide training and maintain thorough records. Discipline like this lowers the chance that a crash will be considered preventable, which reduces liability and strengthens your position with insurers and in court.
Safety culture isn’t just a buzzword. It shows up in well-maintained terminals, hands-on leaders and tech that works as hard as your drivers. Underwriters expect to see technology like cameras, telematics and advanced driver-assist systems in play.
Know what data you collect, how you monitor it and how you use it to improve. Underwriters may request access to your electronic logging device (ELD) and camera data, so transparency and follow-through are essential.
Growth is good, but uncontrolled growth raises red flags. Document how safety scales with expansion, including staffing, training and oversight. If you’re moving from buying insurance to financing risk, preparation is critical. Gather audited financials early and strengthen banking relationships to support that transition.
Cost matters, but long-term support is essential for sustaining value as needs evolve. Look for insurance partners who bring resources, follow-through and provide in-person engagement when needed. Experienced insurance agents who specialize in trucking can help package submissions, clarify operational efforts and maintain consistency across renewals.
Success isn’t measured by ticking off boxes; it’s earned through accountability and consistency.
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