Smart Choice Transportation Insurance Markets

Updated January 23, 2025

 

Smart Choice has added  Transportation Insurance Markets to the Smart Start Commercial Program. In addition to the the Transportation Solutions offered via the Smart Choice Express Market Brokerage  Partners (see details below on this page) RPS, Burns & Wilcox, and CRC, Smart Choice Agents will now have a Team of Transportation Risk Specialist who will assist them in writing business.  Agents will input Transportation Risk into the Smart Start Commercial Portal Form (a Transportation Supplement Quote Form has been added at the bottom of the Online Form).

The Following will be an overview of the Transportation Insurance Solutions offered by Smart Choice.   Additional supporting Information is also available at the bottom of the page.  NOTE:  Always check the SC Agency Business Center for Updates with Carriers and New Appetites.

 

SMART START COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION

OUR TEAM IS READY TO HELP WITE YOUR TRANSPORTATION RISK! 

Our stellar Transportation Risk Team (above, from left) of Chad Witcher, Nate McMurphy, Matt Cothran and Matt Heacox will assist you in writing your Transportation Risks!

Contact the SSCL Transportation Team with any questions at trucking@smartchoiceagents.com

 

Transportation Risk Submission Process:

  1.  Determine What Type of Risks and Coverages are needed.  This Cover Whale Quote Form may be helpful.
  2. Review the Appetite and Summary Underwriting Guide for Carriers  Also see the Carrier Links Below.
  3. Log into the SSCL Quote Portal Form  and complete the form–a Transportation Quote Supplement at the bottom of the form must also be completed.
  4. The Transportation Team will communicate with you throughout the quote process.
  5. Contact the Transportation Team with any questions:  trucking@smartchoiceagents.com

The SSCL Transportation Program offers a variety of carriers:

 

Appetite includes (but not limited to):

  • Artisan Contractor Fleets
  • Cannabis Delivery
  • General Trucking
  • Hot Shots
  • Last Mile Delivery
  • Non-Emergency Vehicles
  • Occupation Accident Insurance for Trucking
  • Workers Comp for Trucking

RPS Transportation Solutions

 

Leading Expertise for the Transportation Industry

RPS is the leading wholesale and MGA broker in the transportation space. As a leader, we drive the industry best practices and coverage options. Our relationships with top carriers provide more possibilities in terms of limits and comprehensive coverage for less risk. We also aid you in building programs that increase driver safety and lessen workers’ compensation claims. RPS has tools and programs that focus on monitoring drivers to improve driver performance, as well as working with carriers to make renewals smoother.

Transportation Sectors We Serve

  • Commercial autos and trucks-flat beds, dry goods, van trailers, fuel haulers, refrigerated goods, container goods, dump trucks.
  • Public fleets-limousines, rideshares vehicles, charter buses, church vans, social services vans, courtesy vans.
  • Many industries niches, including school bus companies and private car services.

Exceptional Expertise for the Transportation Sector

We deliver for the transportation sector. Our products and programs are designed to help your clients navigate blind spots, mitigate and transfer risk, drive down costs and optimize operations.

We understand what is weighing most on your clients minds. How they work and their unique exposures-cyber and excess auto nuclear verdicts, higher maintenance expenses, reduced freight demand and poor infrastructure, an aging workforce, driver shortage and much more. We provide solutions that meet these challenges, and provide coverage options that include recommendation limits for liability, physical damage, cargo, general liability, garage and other solutions designed to address your insured’s risk profile.

We help your clients eliminate exposures with coverages such as:

  • E&O
  • Safety
  • Liability
  • Property
  • Environmental

Delivering Consulting that Drives Better Risk Control

As a leader, we have developed programs and processes that reduce risk and improve the overall profitability of your fleet and drivers. We look at challenges such as:

  • Improving driver classification
  • Guidance through complex regulations
  • Delivering consistent innovation that becomes industry standards

By utilizing our carrier relationships, possessing unique insight into business trends as well as leadership within the industry, we are positioned to help you deliver for your clients with better markets and coverage.

Below is Transportation Information From the RPS Senior Underwriter Ann Cassidy.

RPS can handle almost any Transportation risk from 1 unit to 500+.  We have a specific Fleet Division just to handle the 11+ risks.  We can write most anything on wheels.  But my office, Charlotte, does not handle Garage risks.  We would refer you to Mary Sandlin.

RPS Transportation Carriers in VA   Non-Fleet (1-10 units)

  • National Indemnity (NICO)
  • Canal
  • National Casualty (a Nationwide company)  Has to be in operation 3 or more years.
  • Northland
  • Occidental
  • Arch (Freberg Environmental Program for Hazmat only)
  • AIG (5-10)  has to be in operation 3 or more years
  • Navigators (at least 8 units but they prefer 10+)  has to be in operation 3 or more years.

Fleet (11+)    **Fleets need more info than Non-Fleet so best to contact Ann Cassidy for the fleet requirements**

All of the above Carriers Plus:

  • Ace Westchester
  • Berkley Prime (NOT available yet on VA but we can do in MD, NC, PA if your VA agents are writing in these states plus many more)
  • Everest
  • Hallmark
  • AIG

For New Ventures

For New ventures (less than 2 full years in operation) we only have NICO and Canal.  Canal has specific guidelines.  Here are some of them:

  • Canal requires the Owner to be a driver.  NO Tankers, Dump, Dullay’s, UIIA, Oversize/Overweight, Cargo Vans or Box Trucks or Auto Hauling in first 2 years. Units no older than 2000.  Up to 2 units max in 1st year.  Has to be Long Haul with more than 20% of total miles over 500.  The 2nd driver must be licensed In the state of the risk and must be company employees,  NO Owner Operators.  NO team Driving. No Losses.
  • Northland and National Casualty require Dually’s to have CDL’s.  Northland also requires CDLs on a Box truck.  IAT will not write Dually’s or Box trucks.
  • Many of our carrier weigh heavily on CAB scores.  So if a lot of Out of Service then it may not qualify.
  • Apps are dependent on many things so best to check on a specific risk to see what app might be needed, but the  NICO app will work to at least get us info.  But all of our carriers need their own app to Bind.

Contact Ann Cassidy for any Transportation Risk.  Her phone number is a Charlotte NC number, but she is located in Richmond VA. 

 

Ann Cassidy
RPS Senior Underwriter

Direct: +1 704 264 0087   |   Fax: 704 972 2317
Risk Placement Services, Inc.   |   Transportation
Ann_Cassidy@rpsins.com  |  RPSins.com

 

 

Burns & Wilcox Transportation Solutions

Burns & Wilcox and Burns & Wilcox Brokerage provide solutions for a growing portfolio of transportation opportunities. They continue to expand the list of carrier partners and transportation specialists who can help you place risks whether they are small or large, regional or national, preferred or distressed.

Specialty Solutions for One Unit to the Largest Fleets

Over the last decade, the Transportation industry has witnessed extreme challenges in securing adequate and cost-effective insurance solutions. The transportation professionals at Burns & Wilcox have significant experience in finding the right coverage at competitive rates through long standing relationships with highly specialized transportation insurance partners.

We can secure proposals for first dollar to small and large deductible options. Many of our Transportation Practice Group offices have in-house authority that give us the ability to respond with quotes quickly.

 

Burns & Wilcox Trucking Insurance

Classes: Non-Fleet, Small Fleet 5-10 & Fleets of 10+ Units (With Greater Appetite for 15-20+ Units)

  • Trucking — distressed, poor SMS scores, unsatisfactory/conditional  DOT Rating, historical losses 
  • Commodities hauled — dry van, flatbed, dump, refrigerated, hazardous material
  • Public Transportation 
  • Specialty Commercial/Business Auto

Sample Classes of Business

  • Food Delivery, Contractors, Distributors, Garage and Dealers, Non-Owned Auto
  • Charter and School Buses, Limousines, Social Service operations
  • Hazardous Haulers
  • Couriers
  • Non-Emergency Medical Transportation
  • Amazon Last Mile Delivery

Additional Trucking Capabilities 

  • Mono-line and/or package auto physical damage and motor truck cargo 
  • Mono-line Excess Auto on pretty much any class. 
  • Transportation pollution
  • Contingent Liability

Available Transportation Products

  • Auto Liability
  • Auto Physical Damage
  • Inland Marine / Cargo
  • Excess Liability
  • Hired and Non-Owned Auto Liability
  • Garage Keepers
  • Garage Liability
  • General Liability
  • Dealers Open Lot
  • Transportation Pollution Liability
  • On Hook
  • Property (Garage only)
  • Installation Floater
  • Load Broker’s Legal Liability and E&O
  • Warehouseman’s Legal Liability
  • Bailee’s Liability
  • Rigger’s (Hook) Liability
  • Comprehensive Marina Package
  • Piers, Wharves, Docks and Slips
  • Associated Property
  • Equipment Dealer
  • Trip Transit
  • Forest fire fighting expense

For more information or to request a quote, please click below for a transportation professional in your area: 

 

 

Gene’ Cain

BROKER, TRANSPORTATION SPECIALTIES

 
 

 

Connor Patterson

BROKER, TRANSPORTATION SPECIALTIES

 
 

Lisa Miller

BROKER SPECIALTIES

 
 

 

Additional Transportation Insurance Information

The Following Links are from the  NATIONAL TRUCK UNDERWRITING MANAGERS  company.

 

INDUSTRY INFORMATION 

AMERICAN TRUCKING ASSOCIATION  External web link – https://www.trucking.org/

INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY  External web link – https://www.iihs.org/

GOVERNMENT & REGULATORY

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION  External web link – https://highways.dot.gov/

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY ALLIANCE  External web link – https://www.cvsa.org/

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION  External web link – https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION   External web link – https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/PKG_REGISTRATION.prc_option

HAZMAT—OFFICE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY  External web link – https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION  External web link – https://www.nhtsa.gov/

US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORATION (DOT)  External web link – https://www.transportation.gov/

TRANSPORTATION PRODUCT & EQUIPMENT

INTERNATIONAL  External web link – https://www.internationaltrucks.com/

KENWORTH  External web link – https://www.kenworth.com/

PETERBILT  External web link – https://www.peterbilt.com/

WESTERN STAR  External web link – https://www.westernstartrucks.com/

AIR-WEIGH ON-BOARD ELECTRONICS  External web link – https://www.air-weigh.com/

ROUTING & WEATHER

TRUCKMILES  External web link – http://www.truckmiles.com/

FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMIN. NATIONAL TRAFFIC & ROAD CLOSURES External web link – https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/trafficinfo/

WEATHER CHANNEL  External web link – https://weather.com/

NATIONAL COUNTY/CITY SEARCH  External web link – https://ce.naco.org/

TRUCKING GLOSSARY

ATA TRUCKING TERMS External web link – https://www.trucking.org/ATA%20Docs/What%20We%20Do/Image%20and%20Outreach%20Programs/STR/Trucking%20Glossary.pdf

TRUCK SHOWS

NAST   External web link – http://nastshowtrucks.org/

GREAT AMERICAN TRUCKING SHOW  External web link – https://www.truckshow.com/

FOR A QUICK RESPONSE  CONTACT US

OFFICE LOCATIONS

CLAIMS

CAREERS

NTUM INC.   NATIONAL TRUCK UNDERWRITING MANAGERS, INC.

 
 

TRANSPORTATION SAFETY LINKS:

FILING FORMS

 
FormDescriptionAuthorities Subject to Filing
BMC-91 or BMC-91XPublic liability insurance (bodily injury/property damage/environmental restoration)
  • Motor Carrier
  • Freight Forwarder (Note: Non-vehicle operating freight forwarders may seek waiver of this requirement.)
  • Freight:–$750,000 – $5,000,000, depending on commodities transported; $300,000 for non-hazardous freight moved only in vehicles weighing under 10,001 lbs.
  • Passengers:–$5,000,000; $1,500,000 for registrants operating only vehicles with seating capacity of 15 or fewer passengers.
BMC-34 or BMC-83
  • Cargo insurance–$5,000 per vehicle
  • $10,000 per occurrence
  • Household Goods Motor Carrier
  • Household Goods Freight Forwarder
BMC-84 or BMC-85
  • Surety Bond amount is $75,000
  • Trust Fund Agreement amount is $75,000
  • Freight Forwarder
  • Broker of Freight
BOC-3Service of Process AgentsAll Authorities
MCS-90Endorsement for Motor Carrier Policies of Insurance for Public Liability under Sections 29 and 30 of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980Hazmat Safety Permit Carriers

What are the penalties for failure to submit the biennial updates?

Failure to complete biennial updates to FMCSA will subject the entities to civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day with a maximum penalty of $10,000. Certain for-hire carriers of passengers and freight, freight forwarders, and brokers may be subject to additional civil penalties as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 14901(a). FMCSA may also deactivate the USDOT Number for any entity that fails to comply with the updating requirements. – source: FMCSA

 

 

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