Rising Insurance Costs: What Small Fleets Can Actually Do About It
- Guest Writer
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Written by: Chris Loewenberg, Vice President - NSTD
For small fleet operators, the insurance landscape has become increasingly challenging. Trucking auto liability premiums have surged by 36 percent per mile over the past eight years, according to the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), putting significant financial pressure on carriers - especially those with limited resources to absorb these increases.
Last year, insurance cost and availability ranked as the third-greatest issue facing the trucking industry, with lawsuit abuse, a primary driver of rising insurance costs, coming in at number two. As we move through 2026, small fleets continue to face difficult choices: reducing coverage to lower premiums but increasing exposure to catastrophic loss, raising deductibles to shift more risk onto the business, or maintaining comprehensive coverage while absorbing premium increases that impact profitability.
While no single strategy can stop premiums from rising, there are practical steps small fleets can take to reduce volatility and improve how they're viewed by insurance carriers.
Turn Safety Technology into Real Insurance Value
Simply having technology like ELDs, telematics, or dash cameras isn't what drives insurance results. What matters to underwriters is the trend of the data and how you're using it to improve over time.
Underwriters focus on whether your fleet can demonstrate improvement - reduced speeding, better hours-of-service compliance, or documented driver coaching after incidents. Fleets that actively review data, address issues, and take corrective action are viewed as more stable and predictable risks. Technology creates insurance value when it supports better decision-making and safer operations - not just when it exists.
Work With Insurance Partners Who Understand Trucking
Trucking insurance is highly specialized, and small changes in operations, equipment, or contracts can create coverage gaps if they aren't properly addressed. Working with insurance professionals who understand the nuances of trucking - coverage triggers, exclusions, cargo requirements, and contract obligations - helps ensure policies remain aligned with how your fleet operates.
This expertise extends to everyday items often overlooked, like certificates of insurance. Knowing when a certificate is truly required, what language matters, and how quickly it needs to be issued can prevent delays, contractual issues, or uncovered exposures.
Fleets that build long-term relationships with knowledgeable advisors benefit from continuity, better guidance through market changes, and fewer surprises at renewal or claim time.
Use Partnerships and Resources to Reduce Total Risk
Insurance costs extend beyond the policy itself. Small fleets can benefit from partnerships and resources that help reduce overall risk:
Fuel discount programs that help manage operating expenses
Access to excess cargo or specialty coverage when freight changes
Safety and training resources focused on common claim drivers
Guidance on understanding SMS scores rather than just reacting to them
Used correctly, these tools help fleets operate more defensively and avoid surprises that can negatively impact insurance outcomes.
Actionable Steps for Small Fleet Operators
While market conditions remain challenging, small fleets can take meaningful steps to improve stability:
Focus on safety trends and documented improvement, not just compliance
Use technology as a management tool, not just a requirement
Build relationships with insurance partners who understand trucking-specific risks
Treat insurance decisions as part of a long-term strategy, not a yearly transaction
Take advantage of resources that reduce total cost of risk beyond the policy itself
Rising insurance costs may be unavoidable, but volatility and surprise don't have to be. Fleets that take a disciplined, informed approach to risk management are better positioned to weather the storm and build long-term stability.