Multiline regional market Grange Insurance continues its drive for growth in commercial auto, garnering upwards of 25% growth in 2012 written premiums over 2011 results.
PRODUCT: Commercial AutoAccel
COMPANY: Grange (admitted)
BEST RATING: A
AVAILABILITY: Grange offers commercial auto policies through its network of more than 3,500 appointed independent agents. The carrier welcomes both individual submissions and books of business. For more information on becoming a Grange agent, visit grangeinsurance.com and click Join Our Team.
FOCUS: Multiline regional market Grange Insurance continues its drive for growth in commercial auto, garnering upwards of 25% growth in 2012 written premiums over 2011 results. It’s a pattern that’s been continuing from year to year “for quite some time,” says Scott Van Woerkom, commercial lines product manager.
The company’s monoline commercial auto product, AutoAccel, has fueled growth. AutoAccel has gained double-digit increases for written premiums for the past five years, Van Woerkom says. With AutoAccel, Grange attracts hard-to-place commercial auto risks, such as sand and gravel haulers, gravel haulers, tow trucks, drivers with multiple minor violations, contractors with seasonal business and risks with no previous insurance protection.
Van Woerkom points to several program elements that can attract producer business, including the carrier’s 400-mile radius of operations, its ability to insure up to 20 power units with no limitations on trailers. and accident limits of $250,000 for motor truck cargo and on-hook towing business. He also touts the carrier’s garage keepers endorsement to the commercial auto policy with limits of as much as $250,000. Grange anticipates AutoAccel will eventually achieve as much as $50 million in commercial auto premiums, Van Woerkom says. In addition, he trumpets Grange’s ease of doing business, saying that agents can get AutoAccel rates, pricing, quotes and policy changes on the company’s password-protected website. Grange’s Web system also interfaces with numerous agency management systems.
UNDERWRITING: Grange provides stand-alone commercial auto policies. Its book of business in this line consists of 85% stand-alone and 15% package accounts. Policies contain comp/collision, bodily injury/property damage, medical payments of up to $10,000 and on-hook coverage. Insureds pay extra for uninsured/underinsured motorist protection. Producers can arrange drive-other-car liability coverage. Bobtail-deadhead liability coverage also can be delivered. Combined single limits can be as high as $1 million. Umbrella coverage is not offered over AutoAccel. The company shies away from submissions involving residential garbage haulers, loggers, steel haulers, ambulances, public livery, taxis and limousines.
MINIMUM PREMIUM: None
TARGET: Grange focuses on small- to mid-sized business owners and contractors whose operations include pickup trucks, utility vans and other vehicles. The company welcomes submissions involving dump trucks and tow trucks, sand and gravel haulers, delivery vans, agricultural hauling (corn and other crops), new business ventures and drivers with imperfect motor vehicle records. The company also accepts local to mid-range trucking risks (tractor/trailers).
COVERAGE TERRITORY: GA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MN, OH, PA, SC, TN, VA and WI
CONTACT: Scott Van Woerkom, commercial lines product manager, 671 South High St., Columbus, OH 43206, 800-422-0550, ext. 2390; vanwoerkoms@grangeinsurance.com; grangeinsurance.com.
Ron Lent is an IA contributor.
