Carrier News & Updates

Happy Afternoon!

As we approach the 4th Quarter of 2025, I hope this message finds your office thriving and optimistic about the months ahead. It’s been a dynamic year, and I’m excited about the continued momentum we’re seeing in several key regions.

📈 Market Highlights:

• Strong appetite for growth in the Midwest: OK, AR, MO, KS, IA, IN, TN, CO

• Continued challenges in TX, GA, CA, FL, but opportunities remain with the right positioning

• New market expansions are on the horizon, with fresh coverage areas launching in 2025

I’m offering marketing calls to discuss appetite, target areas, and how we can align with evolving market demands. If your office is interested in scheduling a call, I’d love to connect and explore opportunities together.

Let’s keep the momentum going and finish 2025 strong — for all of us!

What’s New:

• New markets on our distribution list:

  • Nirvana requires telematics for at least prior 90 days of data (see attached approved telematics list)   

  • Dual North American require front face dash cam (writes on Spinnaker Non-Admitted A- rated paper)

• We are back in the office 3 days a week: Tues- Thurs, and working from home on Mon/Fri. 😊 We have brand new offices on 7^th floor of our buildings nice remodeled high tech and luxury space – please come and visit us !!!

Recently placed risks:

1. HOT SHOTS HAULING BUILDING MATERIAL LUMBER STEEL with NICO and Dual

2. Non-Trucking risk

3. Stand Alone Cargo and Phys Dam – we can offer these as a Package policy with Canopius with AWESOME rates!

4. TEST DRIVE with Canal for new ventures

5. MILES PER CANAL for 2+ years in business- see attached flyer for more info

6. Fleets (11+) with Northland – ask about the appetite

Things to keep in mind when sending submissions (these will help your submissions to be worked in a timely manner):

• Attached are some acceptable submissions forms in case your office is currently not using one. Please note that accord applications are not acceptable unless it is just for General Liability.

• Please remember to break out commodities on your submission by % - General commodities/freight is NOT an acceptable commodity. Not having this information holds up getting your quotes out to you in a quicker manner.

• PLEASE remember to put VIN numbers on your submission as this hinders us from being able to produce quotes quicker to you especially on new ventures!

Most of our markets for 3-5+ power units are requiring clearance now.  To get clearance with the market(s), we must have the following:

1. Completed application (non-Acord)

2. Last 4 quarter IFTA reports (if applicable)

3. 4 years currently valued hard-copy loss runs

4. Complete vehicle and driver lists including date of hire

5. 3 year historic unit count/mileage/revenue as well as projected

Below is a summary of our current capabilities:

___________________________________________________________

1.Berkley Prime Non- Fleet Program: ( AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL*, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA **, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NE, NM, NV, OH, OK, SC, TN, UT, WI)

1. Risks in business at least 3 years *Note must have 3 years of consecutive filings with no lapse

2. 1-9 power units – Tractor Trailers Only

3. Monoline AL or Packages with APD/MTC/GL are available

4. Requires 3 years of loss runs unless the risk is 4+ years in business then will require 4 years of loss runs

5. Drivers must have 2+ years of CDL experience

6. Units must be 25 years or less

7. Single garaging states only

8. Additional state are coming throughout the year to be available for the lower 48 states!

*Florida: Interstate risk only. No CAB alerts

**Louisiana: Interstate risk only. No CAB alerts

2.Canal (available in all states EXCEPT AK, HI, LA, MA, NV, NJ, NY)

1. New ventures are acceptable, must have an owned unit, owner as a driver, AND over 500 mile radius

2. Dump trucks are acceptable at 2+ years in business

3. Hotshots are acceptable at 2+ years in business

4. Long haul, local, intermediate available on 2+ years in business – Risk garaged in Harris or Hidalgo TEXAS counties must be long haul – no local radius allowed

5. No public auto

6. For fleet accounts 11+ contact us for submission clearance requirements

7. Payment Plans Available with 20% down and 10 installments

TEST DRIVE for New Ventures with Canal – (available in all states except – IL,NJ,NY,LA)

1. Houston and the state of Mississippi and California are now available for this program only for new ventures. This is a huge change for Canal.

2. Risk will follow previous Canal New Venture guidelines as nothing has changed on that part

3. Direct Bill is an option for payments if the insured wants to pay on a miles driven basis. The benefit of test drive is to pay based on how many miles the insured will drive. For example, if on the month of Aug they will go in vacation and drive 0 miles they will have to pay $0 only for the liability part, but they will have to still pay for the phys damage and cargo portion for that month as calculated on their monthly estimation payment. Deposits on these accounts are due up front and then the first payment is due on the 1^st of the next month and may be prorated until data is calculated. It will always be billing in the rear.  There are no late fees for payments. The payment will always be due on the first of the month and the insured will have 10 days to pay. If no payment is received Canal will process a cancellation 30 days out due to filings. Canal handles all billing.

Here are 2 scenarios on the direct bill option at binding:

1.    if insured would bind an account on July 1^st-  they will have to pay the deposit as shown on the installment schedule, then on Aug 1^st he will pay his 1^st installment based on how many miles they will drive.

2.    if insured would bind an account on July 20^th, they will have to pay the deposit as shown on the installment schedule, and then on Aug 1^st they will have to pay their 1^st installment based on how many miles they drove from July 20^th until July 31^st  from the mileage estimation prorated from 100k miles. Then the next month they would have to pay for miles driven.

1. The Samara/TEST Drive device functions as a register for miles, LED, GPS, produces maintenance codes for engine faults, and a paperless CAB type report for the insured. Canal will take care of any maintenance or replacement if anything is wrong with the samsara device. The device would not need to be returned to Canal is they choose to leave Canal as it wouldn’t be useful to the insured unless they have Canal as an insurance provider.

2. Risk can use an agency bill option as well on TEST Drive and will have a constant billing option but will not be able to pay as you go option that the direct bill option provides. This typically is a 5% discount from a non-TEST Drive policy.

If you have any more questions on Canal’s TEST Drive – please let me know. Attached is also a brochure from Canal on the program.

3.Canopius

This is a non-admitted, domestic company with a similar form to London that is available in all states.  Motor truck cargo and physical damage only. 

1. NOW Offering coverages for Non-trucking packaged with APD, and GL packaged with APD and/or MTC

2. All claims are handled in the USA by Littleton Claims

3. Can write monoline APD/MTC

4. Not looking for high-growth accounts (they will surcharge).  Contact our underwriters if you have an account that is expecting growth, as there is a chart that is used for surcharges.

5. ALL drivers must be listed/reported/excluded.  If a driver is not listed, coverage is NOT afforded

   1. Drivers must be at least 25 with at least 3 years’ prior experience in like vehicles

6. NO power units manufactured before 2000

Motor Truck Cargo

1. $150K max limit any one unit.  $250K limits available ONLY if required by a written contract and no true exposure

2. Only heavy and medium trucks/tractors

3. Reefer breakdown deductible $2,500 if less than 10 years old.  Coverage not available if units are over 10 years.

4. Minimum premium of $800 for limits $50,000 or greater. $500 for limits less than $50,000

5. Not a market for auto haulers

6. Any size fleet is acceptable

Auto Physical Damage

1. All units must be insured to FULL market value

2. $150K limit any one unit. $225K combined unit limit (tractor/trailer combo)

3. Max $1M terminal loss limit

4. No public livery exposures

5. No logging

6. $1,500 minimum premium applies – $750 per tractor, $750 per trailer

General Guidelines

·        No new ventures (<2.75 years in business)

·        No mid-term placements

·        No ineligible operations (listed in portal)

·        Restrictions on exposures and coverages:

o   GL unavailable for:

o   Classifications other than 99793 – Truckers

o   Boat Haulers

o   Fuel Hauling

o   Milk Haulers

o   Dumping Operations

o   Livestock Haulers

o   Forklifts

·        MTC unavailable for:

o   Auto Haulers

o   Boat Haulers

o   Livestock Haulers

o   Reefer Haulers with Average Trailer Age > 8 years

·        APD unavailable for: Milk Haulers

·        Pollution unavailable for: Fuel Hauling

Underwriter approval required for, but not limited to:

·        Unfavorable CAB data (violations, inspections, safety scores, out of services scores, alerts)

·        Loss experience (frequency & severity of losses)

·        Driver quality (years of experience, turnover, date of hire, MVR quality)

·        Vehicle Schedule (age & value)

·        Commodities hauled with proper percentage of each

·        Mileage (historical, projected, average miles per unit, operating and garaging area)

·         

The above scenarios will automatically flag in the system and display in the referral reasons.

Required Documentation

·        Commercial trucking application

·        Projected mileage & revenue

·        List and percentage of commodities hauled

·        Hard copy loss runs, currently valued

·        Current equipment schedule

·        Driver list (including DOB, DOH, license number & years of commercial driving experience)

·        Filing requirements

Does the applicant conduct any of the below ineligible operations?

·        Auto Dismantlers

·        Carnivals, Circus

·        Cement Mixers, Pumpers

·        Contractors, Contractor Equip, Mobile Equip

·        Couriers

·        Drive Away

·        Driving Schools

·        Fast Food Delivery

·        Fracking – silica sand, water, chemicals, rigs, derricks

·        Logging

·        Medical Transport, Ambulance, EMT, etc

·        Mobile Home Toters, Building Movers

·        Municipal

·        Owned Units - rented or leased to others

·        Passenger Transit

·        Rental Leasing, Demo Vehicles

·        Residential, Final Mile Delivery

·        Steel Dealers

·        Time Sensitive Delivery

·        Vendor Trucks selling cargo directly from unit

5.Dual North American (CA and TX only)

Premium range from $18-30K per unit.  

*** Forward-facing dash cameras are required on all trucking risks. If the insured does not already have them, will give a 30-day grace period to get those installed and send proof of installation.

E&S Auto Program – Snapshot:

-Focus on trucking and transportation risks including local, intermediate, and long-haul exposures.

-Specializing in risks with distressed characteristics which standard markets are declining.

-Ability to consider qualified distressed risks and challenging trucking classes.

-Fleet sizes ranging from single-unit, 1-10 unit non-fleet business, and fleets up to 25 units.

-Featuring carrier partnership with A-rated paper;

-Dedicated in-house transportation claims team within Dual.

-Writing primary AL up to $1M CSL, along with PD, MTC, and truckers GL coverages ($1M/2M).

-Partnering with select Wholesalers with expertise, critical deal flow, and a dedicated focus on trucking.

E&S Program – Distressed Risk Characteristics:

-New Ventures

-Younger/Older Drivers

-Tough MVR’s

-Newer CDL’s

-Poor CAB Scores

-Distressed Loss History (hyper-distressed risks may not qualify)

-Midterm, Cancellation, and Lapse situations

E&S Program – Wide variety of trucking classes – AL/PD/MTC and Truckers GL.

-General Commodity

-Dry Van

-Reefer

-Flatbed

-Tanker Trailers

-Box Trucks, Sprinter Vans

-UIIA risks

-Small and Large Fleets

-Moving Companies – local and interstate

-Auto Haulers – excluding hotshot auto haulers

-Hotshots – excluding hotshot auto haulers

-Dump Trucks and Dump Tractors – dirt, sand, gravel

-Agriculture – bulk commodities, livestock, hay, produce, etc.

-Monoline Commercial Auto

E&S Program – Excluded Risks:

-Hazmat

-Frac Sand and other Oilfield exposures

-Tow Trucks

-Logging

-Oversize/Overweight and risk with pilot cars

-Auto and Truck Rental, Dealers, Service, and any other Garage operations

-International CDL’s and B1 drivers

-Brokerage Authority and Freight Forwarders

-Public Livery

-No mobile home haulers

-No last mile delivery

-No oilfield drill site exposure - Hauling to/from a transfer station may be entertained

6.IAT Specialty (Occidental/Wilshire)  (admitted in AR, IA, IL, IN, LA (NonAdmitted), MI, MO, NE, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WI)

1. Any size account

   1. For fleet accounts 11+, contact us for submission clearance requirements

2. No dump trucks for hire

3. Looking for 3+ years in business

4. Tractor/Trailer only – no hotshots, medium trucks or business auto

5. No public auto

6. In-house binding authority

7.National Indemnity (eff 02/01 all states EXCEPT HI, FL,LA,MA,MI,NJ & NY)

1. Any size account, including public auto and tough to place

2. New ventures (all classes of business are acceptable)

3. Trucking operations with CSA alerts (doable with plans of action)

4. In-house binding authority for 1-10 power units

5. In-house authority for AL limits up to $1.5M.  We can also do up to $5M on primary AL

6. Public/Business Auto available

8.Northland – admitted AR, AZ, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, ME, MD, MN, MO, MS, MT, NH, NE, NM, NV, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY

1. In-house binding authority for 1-10 power units

2. AL/PD/MTC/GL package product available

3. New ventures on some state where owner need to be the driver, 1 PU only, no growth allowed, owner/driver at least 35 years old with 6 years CDL experience; No new ventures in TX, GA (prefer 6+ years in business in TX) with only 1-10 units

4. Fleet risk 11+

Target criteria

Tech-enabled fleet

Coverages

Limits

ELD/Telematics required

Fleet size

1-9 power units

Auto liability

Up to $1M CSL

Class

Dry van, flatbed, intermodal, non-hazmat tanker, reefer

Auto physical damage ACV / Stated value

General liability          $1M occ / $2M agg

Radius

Local to long haul

Motor truck cargo       Up to $250K

Experience

2+ years in business

Additional endorsements & deductible options

Drivers

2+ years CDL exp + acceptable MVR

(including combined deductibles) available:

Blanket additional insured, blanket waiver of subrogation,

Auto haul, driveway, dump, expedited, hazmat, logging, waste

broadened pollution, debris removal, reefer breakdown, rental reimbursement, TL&S, trailer interchange, UIIA

Ineligible

Active states

GA, IA, IL, IN, MI, MO, NC, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX (Non-Admitted), WI

(more states coming soon)

NOTE:  We also have multiple markets for monoline physical damage and/or motor truck cargo (admitted and non-admitted in MOST states).  We have in-house binding authority and can entertain most of your small fleet 1-10 power unit accounts. 

This e-mail and any attachments may contain information that is privileged or confidential and is meant solely for the use of person(s) to whom it was intended to be addressed. If you have received this e-mail by mistake, or you are not the intended recipient, you are not authorized to read, print, keep, copy or distribute this message, attachments, or any part of the same. If you have received this email in error, please immediately inform the author and permanently delete the original, all copies and any attachments of this email from your computer.

Thank you and have a great day!

Please always reference your insured's complete name and policy number in your email subject line.

***Note we may not clear incomplete submissions within Amwins or with our markets.

***Additional underwriting information may be required. General guidelines:

• Transportation Supp App (w/ historical exposure)

• Equipment (Year/Make/Model/VIN/Value/Zip) & Driver (DOB/DOH/YOE) Lists

• 5 years of currently valued Loss Runs & Loss Summary

• 4 most recent IFTAs (if applicable)