The trucking industry is operating in a high-cost environment with little margin for error. According to the American Transportation Research Institute, average operating costs rose to $2.25 per mile in 2022, driven in part by a nearly 50% rise in insurance premiums over the last decade. As expenses climb, so does the demand for smarter, more responsive trucking insurance programs to manage risk.
That’s where technology is rewriting the story.
Fleet platforms that once focused solely on logistics now play a central role in how insurers evaluate risk. Telematics, dashcams, predictive maintenance systems, and dynamic routing tools are producing real-time data that’s reshaping underwriting, streamlining claims, and influencing how premiums are calculated. Carriers that use these tools effectively are seeing improved safety records, faster resolutions, and greater control over loss outcomes.
For brokers, this shift calls for fluency — not just in coverage forms, but in the operational technologies their clients use every day. Risk is no longer a static profile; it’s a living system of inputs and signals. The ability to interpret that system and position it clearly to underwriters gives brokers a measurable edge.
This article offers a practical framework for doing exactly that: identifying the technologies influencing today’s trucking insurance landscape, understanding their impact on risk and claims, and guiding clients toward transportation insurance programs that reward performance, not just compliance.
Telematics and Dashcams: The Data That Drives Underwriting
An 18-wheeler merges onto a congested highway during peak delivery hours. A sedan accelerates into the lane beside it and makes contact with the trailer. The car’s driver files a claim, alleging the truck veered without warning. Incidents like these can turn into drawn-out investigations or end in settlements that impact a fleet’s loss history, even when fault is unclear. But this time, the data tells the full story.
Telematics confirm the truck’s speed, lane position, and signal use. Dashcam footage captures the moment clearly. The truck signaled well in advance and held its lane, and the sedan attempted to force a gap that wasn’t there. The claim is denied, and the fleet maintains its clean record.
Insurers increasingly rely on telematics and video analytics to evaluate risk profiles and performance trends across an entire operation. Safer driving, documented with consistency, can lead to premium credits, better retention terms, and access to programs built around real-time performance, not just generalizations.
Brokers who understand how this data is used in underwriting and who have access to markets that reward it are in a stronger position to advocate for their clients. The ability to present operational insight as part of the insurance conversation turns everyday fleet activity into negotiating power.
Predictive Maintenance and Reduced Downtime Risks
AI-enabled maintenance platforms allow fleets to address mechanical issues before they escalate. By monitoring diagnostics, mileage, and performance patterns, these systems help reduce breakdowns, extend asset life, and keep trucks safely on the road.
For underwriters, this data signals measurable risk reduction. Fewer roadside incidents and stronger equipment reliability contribute to improved loss histories and more competitive pricing. Fleets that can demonstrate proactive, tech-driven maintenance practices are better positioned in underwriting reviews.
Operational Efficiency, Cost Metrics, and Insurance Alignment
Insurance has traditionally heavily considered accident history, violations, and MVRs. But now, underwriters are also weighing how well a fleet manages itself. Technologies that reduce idle time, avoid congestion, and streamline dispatch reflect a higher level of operational discipline, something insurers increasingly factor into program structure and pricing.
Fleets using route optimization, fuel tracking, and digital load management tools consistently demonstrate tighter control over daily operations. Fewer delays, smarter routing, and more efficient vehicle usage contribute to reduced exposure and more predictable risk.
According to the American Transportation Research Institute, operational costs continue to climb, with smaller fleets facing the greatest pressure. Technologies that reduce idle time, avoid congestion, and streamline dispatch reflect a higher level of operational discipline, something insurers increasingly factor into program structure and pricing.
Helping Clients Choose the Right Transportation Insurance Program
Matching a fleet with the right insurance program requires more than identifying limits and endorsements. It starts with understanding how the operation runs. Does the client use telematics across the entire fleet or only on newer trucks? Are dash cams reviewed regularly? Is predictive maintenance integrated into their scheduling system? Or are these just ideas they hope to get to next quarter?
These details matter. Underwriters increasingly want to see how a fleet’s technology translates into real behavior. A safety policy is helpful. Documented driver scorecards, regular video reviews, and maintenance logs tied to diagnostic alerts carry more weight.
Brokers who can ask operationally specific questions are in a stronger position to shape coverage recommendations that actually align with performance. Equally important, they can identify markets that value those investments, whether that means structuring policies for high-value cargo, preparing for FMCSA reviews, or building in incentives that reward continual improvement.
Speak to an Expert in Modern Trucking Insurance Programs
As technology continues to reshape how risk is managed, priced, and prevented, brokers need partners who can keep pace. Matching evolving fleet operations with programs that recognize accountability and performance gives brokers a meaningful edge and helps clients reduce costs while strengthening the way they run.
Cochrane & Company offers brokers direct access to transportation insurance solutions built for today’s marketplace. With nationwide reach, responsive underwriting, and a deep bench of commercial auto expertise, Cochrane & Company supports brokers in structuring programs that reflect how fleets actually operate versus just how they look on paper.
To explore how modern tools are influencing insurance strategy, or to review high-performing program options for your transportation clients, speak with a Cochrane & Company expert today.
About Cochrane & Company
For more than six decades, Cochrane & Company has been proudly at the forefront of the insurance industry. Our experience has enabled us to innovate in powerful ways, reimagining the E&S market, and providing technology solutions that make it easy to do business with us. Licensed in all 50 states, we proudly serve clients across the nation, providing personalized and powerful solutions to help you become an even better partner for your clients. Speak to one of our experienced professionals today by calling (855) 967-0069.
