Commercial Lines

Nine in 10 drivers are seeing more aggressive, reckless and distracted driving. The good news is independent agents are uniquely positioned to influence driving behavior with both clients and lawmakers.

Transparency regarding data protection practices will remain a key factor in the adoption of telematics-driven insurance policies.

The policy protects the tools, equipment and livelihood of small specialty contractors who focus on service, repair and standard installation work.

“I see telematics and cameras—both driver-facing and outward-facing—playing a much larger role in the future,” says independent agent Blake West. “Some insurance carriers are already using telematics in underwriting, while others incorporate it into ongoing risk management.”

This end-of-year episode of Agency Nation Radio is brought to you by the editors of Independent Agent magazine. Will Jones, editor-in-chief, hosts the discussion and is joined by Olivia Overman, content editor, and AnneMarie McPherson Spears, news editor.

In a market with such high selectivity, it falls on the prospective insured to show why it would be a good risk. Independent insurance agencies can help insureds implement approaches that demonstrate insurability and manage costs.  

While factors like increased repair expenses, more frequent claims and stricter regulatory requirements are responsible for over a decade of premium increases, insurance remains a large cost of doing business.

Trucking companies faced $165 million in nuclear verdicts in 2023, with an increasing trend of thermonuclear verdicts. Mounting costs from these large verdicts present significant challenges for the commercial auto insurance market.