Hosted by SMSC Safety Consultant Austin Smith, "Safety Training That Sticks: Learning Principles in Action" examined the common reasons safety training fails to stick, along with strategies to address them. From understanding how adults actually learn to applying stronger facilitation techniques, designing cleaner training materials, and using reinforcement strategies like micro-reminders and peer safety moments, this session provided practical tools for turning passive attendees into active participants and driving stronger safety performance on the job. Key takeaways... Most safety training fails because it's lecture-heavy, disconnected from real tasks, and never reinforced. Adults learn differently. They need the "why," relevance to their own work, and a say in the process. Doing beats hearing. Explain, demonstrate, have them do it, then have them teach it. Delivery and design both matter. Facilitate instead of lecture, and keep slides clean, consistent, and readable. Reinforcement makes training stick. Micro-reminders, supervisor follow-ups, drills, and peer safety moments turn a one-time session into lasting behavior Click here to the view the presentation.

Karen Young serves as President of the Bay Family of Companies, a construction organization focused predominantly on insulation, including mechanical and metal building insulation, with more than 80 locations coast to coast and into Canada. In a recent conversation, she shared how a decades-long partnership with Cottingham & Butler has shaped the way Bay approaches risk and benefits. Four Decades of Partnership Bay has worked with C&B for more than 40 years. Karen, who joined the team in 2019, credits the expertise and accessibility of the C&B team as an integral part of the relationship. They stay responsive, build relationships across Bay's people, and continually bring ideas and best practices that help the company think more strategically about its business and risk as a whole. Measurable Results on the Benefits Side That guidance has produced measurable results. In 2023, Bay moved to Med One on a recommendation from C&B and saved at least around $650,000 over the course of a couple of years. Karen noted that transitions of that size come with pain points, and the C&B team helped navigate those conversations with employees to make the change successful. Finding Stability Through a Captive Bay was also an early adopter of the Guide Re captive on the benefits side. After managing the volatility of stop loss rates and premiums in the traditional market, the captive brought greater stability. It streamlines stop loss premiums and gives Bay insight into what other partners are doing across a membership that spans industries, including distribution, manufacturing, and trucking. More Holistic Than Buying Insurance For Karen, the captive is more holistic than going to market and buying insurance. It brings together operations, safety, and the financial side, and it holds members accountable to one another. Bay still quotes the market occasionally, but its most recent review confirmed the captive remained the better route. Advice for Others Considering a Captive Her advice for anyone considering a captive: they can feel scary at first, but trust the process and develop the relationships with your brokers. For Bay, that trust has become a success story. Contact our Stop Loss Captive Experts Today!

The Supreme Court's decision in Montgomery v. C.H. Robinson has freight brokers rethinking how they vet the carriers they hire. Here's what the ruling actually means, and the practical steps brokers should be taking as the legal landscape continues to evolve, because carrier vetting isn't just an operational function now but a risk management function too. Executive Summary The Montgomery decision does not establish new federal insurance requirements for freight brokers. It does, however, reinforce the importance of demonstrating a reasonable, documented carrier selection process. Key themes: Courts will continue defining reasonable carrier vetting. Maintain documented qualification standards. Technology supports, but does not replace, your vetting process. Shippers may also face increased scrutiny. Review insurance programs for today's liability environment. Five Immediate Actions for Freight Brokers Document your carrier vetting standards. Document minimum insurance requirements, safety thresholds, required documentation, alert response procedures, and exception approval processes. Review your carrier database. Review "Do Not Use" lists and ensure exclusion decisions align with documented standards. Technology supports the process — it doesn't replace it. Platforms such as Highway and CAB are valuable tools, but the broker remains responsible for establishing and applying carrier qualification standards. Review broker-carrier agreements. Consider requiring carriers to report significant safety changes, notify brokers of material issues, and correct inaccurate public information. Review your insurance program. Review Truck Broker Liability coverage, General Liability, Contingent Cargo, defense provisions, and all coverage limits. Frequently Asked Questions Broker Liability Will insurance requirements increase? No statutory insurance requirements were created. However, many shippers are expected to require higher liability limits. Will courts establish clearer negligent selection standards? Yes. Future case law will likely continue defining minimum carrier vetting expectations. Does Professional E&O protect brokers? Truck Broker Liability coverage is generally the more appropriate coverage because many Professional E&O policies exclude bodily injury and property damage claims. Do broker-to-broker agreements help? Intentional co-broker relationships may reduce exposure, while unauthorized double brokering can still create significant liability. Carrier Vetting Are Highway and CAB enough? Technology platforms execute the broker's standards but do not replace the broker's responsibility for carrier selection. Should brokers maintain written standards? Yes. Written carrier qualification standards help demonstrate consistency. How should brokers approach new carriers? Develop consistent standards for evaluating newer carriers lacking extensive safety history. Shipper Liability Does this decision affect shippers? Potentially. Shippers selecting carriers primarily on price or knowingly using inadequate vetting practices could face increased scrutiny. Can liability extend beyond brokers? Generally, brokers remain the primary focus, although shipper involvement in carrier selection may increase exposure. Final Thoughts The Montgomery decision reinforces the importance of aligning operations, contracts, technology, and insurance. As the legal standards surrounding negligent carrier selection continue to evolve, brokers can strengthen their position by implementing a documented, consistently applied carrier vetting process supported by appropriate insurance and operational controls.

We help clients lower their total cost of risk by challenging the status quo, solving complex business problems and delivering creative insurance solutions. Our technical expertise and proprietary programs, combined with our commitment to client service is the foundation of the value we bring to our clients every day. Case Study Leveraged best practices and good loss experience to return $80,000 year after year Read More Article HR’s Role in Mergers and Acquisitions Read More Article Coverage Basics: Cyber Insurance Read More

Manufacturing Leveraged best practices and good loss experience to return $80,000 year after year Up Published on Written by: Page View A best-in-class processing equipment manufacturer had been seeing a decrease in their loss experience, yet they were not seeing a decrease in how much they were paying for insurance. They were curious to learn if there was a way to incentivize their increased focus on safety and best practices. Their current program was "off the shelf" and was not designed to meet their specific needs. After engaging with Cottingham & Butler's Risk Management Assessment (RMA) , they quickly learned that there was not only a better way to buy insurance, but that there were significant coverage deficiencies in their program. The company recognized the value of a customized loss-sensitive program, as well as having a broker partner who would advocate on their behalf for claims. Program Design Delivered a loss-sensitive program option, Horizon, that would allow the company to receive up to 50% of their premium back for good loss years. Identified 3 carriers that had never seen the account before, and had an interest in the business. Coverage Identified 20 coverage deficiencies in their existing program. Significant deficiencies include: Multiple sub-limits were inadequate compared to their operations. The policy was designed for Architect and Engineering Professionals, NOT for Manufacturers. Multiple exclusions related to the core business operations of the company were present. No flood/earthquake coverage in a high-risk area. Contractual Risk Transfer Highlighted areas of concern and how their current risk transfer methods were inadequate for their industry and line of work. Cottingham & Butler put together recommendations and corrected critical mistakes in policy language Stability After joining Horizon, the company experienced a large loss in its first year of implementation. Even after the loss, their spend was similar. By paying in guaranteed cost, they avoided the increases they would have seen in the standard market. Since then, the company has received $80,000+ each year for their good loss experience. Claims Advocacy While the company had great loss experience, they had not previously received any claims reviews or advocacy services. After being made aware of the impacts of delayed reporting, their claims reporting processes were improved and consistent claim reviews were scheduled with the team. April 25, 2023 Cottingham & Butler View All Posts TAGS: Article Case Study Employee Benefits Manufacturing Property & Casualty Claims Management Coverage Basics Cyber Loss Control & Prevention Mergers & Acquisitions Upcoming Events WEBINAR September 1, 2026 Emerging Risks Facing the Ready Mix Industry Insurance is one of the largest expenses for the ready mix industry, and the pressure is not easing. Liability costs keep climbing, large claims tied to concrete performance often fall outside a general liability policy, and nuclear verdicts fueled by third party litigation funding are pushing settlements past what most operators have budgeted for. Join Cottingham & Butler for a look at the exposures reshaping the ready mix industry, where the marketplace is heading, and the specific coverage and risk control moves producers are making to protect their bottom line. Built for owners, CEOs, CFOs, and risk leaders who want a clear read on where their exposure sits and what to do about it. Learn More! Learn More! IN-PERSON October 25, 2026 International Risk Management Institute Conference Happy Hour Attending the IRMI Construction Risk Conference in Washington, DC? Don't miss your chance to unwind and connect with fellow industry professionals at an exclusive evening hosted by Cottingham & Butler, Guignard and Watt Tieder. Register Now! Register Now! IN-PERSON September 15-18, 2026 NATMI Training & Certification According to NATMI, recipients who enrolled in a NATMI training and certification lowered their organization's accident rate by 86%, achieved a lower occupational injury rate by 83%, and controlled costs associated with accident litigation by 100%. The cost of participating in NATMI is minimal compared to the company’s day-to-day operational savings. The Certified Director of Safety (CDS)/Certified Safety Supervisor (CSS) course is designed to help safety personnel attain a greater professional knowledge base that should, in turn, provide greater confidence to improve operations, prevent and control injury and damage, as well as the ability to provide strong representation such as during a court case. View All Events Connect with a C&B Representative Today!

A leading provider of risk management and employee benefits insurance & consulting services for domestic and international markets. Better Every Day That is our promise to our clients, company, and people. It’s a commitment to challenging conventional wisdom, innovating, and improving how we serve our clients and grow as industry professionals. 3rd largest privately and independently held insurance broker in the U.S. At Cottingham & Butler, we sell a promise – to show up and deliver for our clients during life’s toughest moments. Every day, we pair brilliant ideas with strategy, empathy and hard work that produces results that are the rival of the industry. SEE HOW WE HELPED BUSINESSES LIKE YOURS Trusted Insurance Advisors Cottingham & Butler is a privately-held, national insurance broker, and a leading provider of risk management and employee benefits insurance & consulting services. Property & Casualty Employee Benefits Solutions Captives & Programs Safety Management Services Claims Management Featured Insights Cottingham & Butler Strengthens Property & Casualty Leadership At Cottingham & Butler, our growth has always come from the same place — deep expertise, genuine care for our clients, and a team that knows this business inside and out. Today, we're excited to share several leadership appointments across our Property & Casualty business that build on our strong foundation. News A 40-Year Partnership Built on Strategy: Bay Family of Companies and Cottingham & Butler Case Studies Safety Training That Sticks: Learning Principles in Action On-Demand 2026 Open Enrollment Checklist | At a Glance Articles VIEW ALL INDUSTRY NEWS & EVENTS “The relationship that we have, and have always had, with Cottingham & Butler is trust. We listen to them, and they haven’t steered us wrong yet. Without Cottingham & Butler, it’d be hard for us to be where we are today.” David Freymiller | CEO, Freymiller People Who Make A Difference What makes Cottingham & Butler so special? It’s simple – our people. Our team is made up of extraordinarily talented individuals who consistently prioritize the success of our clients and their teammates, working to achieve the very best in everything they do. EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES