Market Insights

While some segments are seeing softening, others face the hardest market conditions in decades. In this State of the Market report, Amwins specialists share market intelligence spanning rate, capacity, and coverage trends across lines of business and industries.

Existing marine writers have gained capacity in 2024, enabling them to look at larger and more complex schedules of equipment and increasing competition in the marketplace. At the same time, we have seen new entrants offering fresh capacity, beating incumbent rates and offering lower deductibles and more attractive terms and conditions – causing further disruption for established carriers.

The state of the 2024 transportation insurance industry is marked by a blend of competitive pressures, regional capacity constraints and innovative technological advancements. Trucking insurance remains a battleground for new business, while commercial auto markets grapple with firm pricing and notable market exits.

In the Home Health Care arena many agencies require employees to transport clients throughout the day using their personal vehicles. To protect agencies from liability exposures related to Non-Owned and Hired Auto, we recommend they implement a written Risk Management policy. In this article we highlight a few topics that should be included in such a policy.

Tough conditions in the marketplace are expected to improve long term, but competition remains fierce with significant pricing pressure and standard carriers working hard to fight for and win business. There are opportunities, particularly in markets such as California, where Admitted Carriers are pulling back or leaving altogether.

While some segments are seeing softening, others face the hardest market conditions in decades. In this State of the Market report, Amwins specialists share market intelligence spanning rate, capacity, and coverage trends across lines of business and industries.

The costs of clean-up and regulatory actions after a pollutant release in an auto accident can be enormous. Businesses engaged in this activity, even sporadically, need to understand the limits of the various options they have for insuring themselves against these risks.

​Recycling operations have unique risks that require careful insurance underwriting. Having the proper risk transfers in place, completing supplemental forms and complying with loss control inspections prior to placement may be in order.

​Every industry has exposure to cyber risks, including transportation and logistics. While these industries worked from paper and wheels for many years, now there are both internal and external networks that are critical to operating in this industry group. This article discusses the unique cyber risks facing the transportation and logistics sector, coverages to address these threats, and proactive cyber risk management tools.

With travel increasing and more vehicles on the road post-pandemic, collisions and other vehicle issues have surged, resulting in greater demand for towing services and roadside assistance. This article explores unique exposures faced by towing companies, risk management strategies, and other keys to success.

While some segments are seeing softening, others face the hardest market conditions in decades. In this State of the Market report, Amwins specialists share market intelligence spanning rate, capacity, and coverage trends across lines of business and industries.

Arriving unbidden in the aftermath of severe storms, increasing numbers of auto repair contractors offer quick fixes that can put auto dealers at risk of committing insurance fraud. This article will cover tips to help your insureds identify unscrupulous contractors and best practices to help them get back on their feet as soon as possible.

Climatologists predict that climate change will continue to cause larger and more frequent loss events as storms increase in both frequency and intensity. Now, more than ever, auto dealers must prepare their operations for extreme weather or suffer the unpredictable aftermath.

Cyber events don’t always just result in financial loss but can also cause first or third-party bodily injury or physical damage. In response, many insurers have adopted various exclusions, sub-limits and changes to non-cyber insurance policies. This issue of non-affirmative coverage for cyber events is known as silent cyber. Through various claim scenarios across coverage lines and industries, this article explores the wide range of insureds that are at risk of a silent cyber incident.

​Social inflation is an issue that continues to gain intensity. The term describes the convergence of societal and legal trends resulting in increased litigation and larger jury awards. As these cases are tipping in the plaintiff’s favor, social inflation is adversely impacting insurance capacity and increasing pricing. This article explores the issues driving social inflation, mitigation strategies and what the future holds for impacted sectors.​

Finding coverage for an experienced motor carrier with an above average safety history should be an easy task. However, coverage is often determined by the way a risk is presented - and interpreted. Usage of tools like Central Analysis Bureau (CAB) reports are critical not only to understanding a motor carrier’s risk but also to identifying what further actions need to be taken to research items in question. This article highlights common issues that raise questions when reading a CAB report.

Warehouse Legal Liability is a complicated line with many gray areas and multiple interpretations of its coverages. This article discusses coverage triggers, legal vs. contractual liability and the importance of warehouse receipts.

The disruptive impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on supply chains is already having a pronounced effect on the world of logistics and logistics insurance. Port closures, demand surges and production shifts are requiring nimble response to keep up with change. This article arms insurance brokers with the information needed to understand the changes taking place and plan for what is likely to occur in the months ahead.

The Casualty market’s response to COVID-19 is continuously evolving. With a wide array of factors already impacting this sector pre-crisis, segments of the Casualty marketplace are responding to the pandemic differently. In this article, our industry specialists share overall themes in the Casualty market and take a closer look at how various segments are being impacted.

For decades, the logistics insurance market has been considered a sub-market of the cargo or ocean marine market. However, the continual rise of e-commerce and its effect on the global supply chain has carved out a complex and expansive industry niche. This article provides insight into the various lines of coverage, the specialized underwriting approach, and rate surges within the U.S. logistics insurance market.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lloyd’s remains open for business and syndicates have successfully transitioned to working from home. However, there are notable changes in how the London market is approaching business. In this article, specialists from THB, AmWINS’ London broker, share their insight on consistent themes across the London Market as well as updates on various lines of business.

The term “freight forwarder” doesn’t have a singular definition; rather, freight forwarders are identified by the services they provide and the geography in which they operate. Coverage for Freight forwarders is equally complex and includes numerous coverage forms to account for all types of exposures. This article details the various types of freight forwarders, how the services they provide can impact coverage needs, and key factors to consider when working with a carrier or MGA partner.

As the U.S. economy continues to move forward, one of the fastest-growing industries is Logistics and Freight Forwarding. With more and more Freight Forwarding startups entering the space, it is becoming a highly competitive environment. Added services, such as Shipper’s Interest policies, can be a key differentiator and competitive advantage for a forwarder. This article provides insight into the benefits of offering a Shipper’s Interest policy and how it differs from a Cargo policy and other essential coverages.

​The explosive growth of the sharing economy – businesses offering goods and services through digital platforms that match consumers and providers – presents tremendous opportunity for retailers to market insurance and risk management services to a new breed of businesses. However, the regulation of shared-services is complex, continuously growing and can vary at the state and local level. This article provides insight into the regulations and laws impacting insurance for this industry and key questions to ask when considering the right insurance program for your sharing economy customers.

Many businesses that depend on the export and import of goods contract with freight forwarders to manage the intricate logistics of international trade. As the number of freight forwarders operating in the United States continues to grow and their roles continue to expand, new risks are being generated that require quick adaptation and innovative underwriting solutions. This article identifies the ever-evolving risks that freight forwarders face and explores coverage options for this growing market.

Due to the Doctrine of Negligent Entrustment, the consequences of allowing an employee with a poor driving record to operate any motor vehicle for work purposes extend beyond a possible traffic violation or accident. These seven tips will help you to proactively manage your drivers and maintain your CDL files as part of your fleet safety program.

The engine and cars that come down the track are only a small part of the property of any railroad operation. Property exposures are as diverse and complex as railroads themselves and require a specialized approach to navigate the insurance marketplace.

When a cement truck turns over and pollutes a stream, how is that insured’s exposure addressed? If a freight hauler is unloading drums of soap and one of those drums turns over and spills into a storm drain, how will the insured be protected? In the environmental marketplace, carriers will offer transportation pollution liability coverage to address these exposures.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration mandate which requires nearly all U.S. truck operators to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track duty status has been upheld in court and will take effect December 16, 2017. The mandate will impact not just the trucking industry, but the trucking insurance sector as well.

Motor carriers must continually battle the Safety Measurement System (SMS) and the public misperception its data creates, which often leads to higher premiums and difficulty obtaining coverage. Is there a clear solution to the problem?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is considering a proposal for regulations that would increase the minimum insurance limits for motor carriers - a change that could significantly affect smaller trucking companies.