Navigating the Commercial Auto Insurance Crisis: New Research Offers Hope for Trucking Fleets
- Cottingham & Butler
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Current State of Commercial Auto Insurance
The numbers tell a concerning story. Trucking auto liability premiums have surged 36 percent per mile over the past eight years, creating persistent unprofitability for insurers and financial pressure for motor carriers. What makes this trend particularly frustrating is that truck crashes have actually declined over the past four years, yet premiums continue their upward trajectory.
It's no surprise that in 2025, insurance cost and availability ranked as the third-greatest issue facing the trucking industry, while lawsuit abuse, a primary driver of rising insurance costs, came in second.
How Fleets Are Responding
In response to these financial pressures, motor carriers are getting creative with their risk management strategies. Many are exploring:
ATRI's previous research revealed that from 2018 to 2020, many fleets reduced coverage and raised deductibles in search of savings. While these changes self-incentivized safety improvements, carriers still experienced higher premiums overall.
Why This Research Matters
As Josh Hankins, J.B. Hunt Senior VP of Safety & Security, notes: "The total cost of risk is growing annually for every fleet, regardless of size. While many carriers are cutting back on insurance coverage to control expenses, premiums keep climbing and reducing coverage only heightens exposure to catastrophic litigation."
ATRI's new research aims to expand on previous findings by examining industry-wide trends in the adoption and effectiveness of various risk management strategies. Understanding what works and what doesn't can help the entire industry make more informed decisions.
Participate and Gain Valuable Insights
ATRI is requesting motor carriers to submit data on their coverage stacks for 2021 through 2024, along with information on safety technology usage and alternative insurance arrangements. All data remains completely confidential and is analyzed only in aggregate form. ATRI will sign non-disclosure agreements as needed.
The benefit for participating carriers? A customized report comparing your fleet's cost of risk to an anonymous peer group - valuable intelligence for benchmarking and strategic planning.
Motor carriers can complete the survey by PDF or online here. The deadline is Friday, December 19.
How Cottingham & Butler Can Help
At Cottingham & Butler, we work daily with transportation companies navigating these exact challenges. Our specialized transportation insurance team understands the unique pressures facing motor carriers and can help you:
Evaluate your current coverage structure and total cost of risk
Identify safety technologies and protocols that may positively impact your insurance costs
Explore alternative insurance arrangements that may fit your operation
Develop comprehensive risk management strategies tailored to your fleet
The commercial auto insurance landscape isn't getting easier, but with the right data, strategies, and insurance partnership, fleets can better position themselves to weather this storm.
Ready to discuss your transportation insurance strategy? Contact our transportation insurance specialists at Cottingham & Butler to learn how we can help protect your operation while managing costs.
For more information about ATRI's research or to participate in the survey, visit the ATRI website. Survey deadline: December 19, 2025.