AI and "The Great Reset "in Trucking Insurance
We’ve all seen plenty of ups and downs in this industry. Rates go up, markets tighten, carriers pull out, and things eventually calm down again. But what started in March 2024 was different.
We’ve been calling it The Great Reset.
This wasn’t just another market cycle. It was a shift in how underwriting is done, how risk is priced, and how decisions are made. It didn’t happen slowly. It happened all at once. And if you work in trucking insurance, you felt it.
How AI Is Reshaping Trucking Underwriting
Artificial intelligence is now built into most underwriting systems used by major trucking insurers. It is being used to speed up processes, analyze risk faster, and make pricing more consistent. Here is how it works.
March 2024: The Turning Point (yeah, we noticed)
- AI
went from small pilot programs to full rollout across property and
casualty lines.
- Trucking
became one of the most affected segments.
- State
regulators started enforcing rules around fairness, bias checks, and
explainability.
- Investment
in AI surged. In early 2025, Nirvana, an AI-driven trucking insurer,
raised record funding.
This marked the start of full AI use in day-to-day underwriting. It was no longer a test. It became the new normal.
What These Systems Look Like
AI underwriting platforms are built using multiple layers of
technology:
- OCR
and NLP pull data from PDFs, emails, and handwritten forms.
- Machine
learning models are trained on old loss data, claim trends, and risk
patterns.
- Telematics
integrations link directly to ELDs, dashcams, and GPS tracking.
- Rules
engines apply the carrier's specific guidelines to accept or decline
risks.
- APIs
connect these tools to raters, quoting systems, and agent portals.
These systems do not just assist the underwriter. In many
cases, they now lead the decision-making process.
Core AI Capabilities in Trucking Insurance Underwriting
Submission screening
AI reviews everything from ACORDs to driver lists. It pulls key data like VINs,
cargo type, and prior losses. If something is missing or mismatched, it flags
it. Clean, organized risks move faster through the system and often get quoted
sooner.
Driver behavior scoring
AI tracks things like speeding, braking, idle time, and route history. It uses
that info to score each driver or fleet. That score can raise or lower your
premium based on how you operate today, not just your past losses.
Predictive risk modeling
AI combines CSA scores, equipment condition, route risk, traffic, and weather
to predict future losses. Carriers with strong maintenance and safety practices
may be rated more favorably.
Pricing and tiering
Fleets are grouped into pricing levels based on behavior, cargo, geography, and
claim trends. Fleets that run steady and clean may land in better pricing
tiers.
Image and document recognition
AI reviews inspection photos, dashcam video, and repair estimates. It helps
speed up claims by detecting damage and reducing fraud.
Litigation risk analysis
AI looks at where a claim happened, what the courts in that area have done in
the past, and whether it is likely to turn into a lawsuit. That can impact
liability pricing.
Explainability and governance
Some platforms track what data was used and why a decision was made. That helps
agents and underwriters explain quotes more clearly to insureds.
How AI Should Help Truckers
Faster quotes
AI can review a submission in minutes instead of days. That means less waiting
and fewer delays when a client needs to get on the road.
Fairer rates if the data is clean
AI can reward fleets that drive safely, keep low idle time, and run predictable
routes. Even new ventures may benefit if the telematics look good.
Fewer errors
AI catches mistakes like wrong VINs or missing driver info before they cause
problems. This helps avoid surprises during binding.
Faster claims
Some carriers use AI to speed up the claims process. Damage estimates from
photos and auto-flagged fraud checks can lead to quicker payouts.
More custom coverage
AI allows insurers to offer more tailored coverage based on real-time behavior,
specific commodities, and route types. That means coverage could better match
how the fleet actually runs.
Where AI Can Miss the Mark
Bad results from bad data
If the training data is outdated or limited, the AI can make unfair decisions.
Clean fleets may get flagged as high risk for the wrong reasons.
Too much weight on telematics
One hard brake or a few alerts can raise red flags. AI does not always
understand the context behind what happened.
No room for judgment
Some systems decline risks automatically based on a profile. That leaves no
space for the broker or underwriter to explain why the fleet is better than it
looks on paper.
False positives on claims
AI can misread damage photos or flag honest claims as suspicious. That slows
things down and adds frustration.
Inflexible pricing tiers
Fleets are grouped fast. But trucking is full of nuance. One produce hauler
might be nothing like another with the same radius and equipment, yet AI treats
them the same.
Our Take on AI in Trucking Insurance
We are not against AI. We understand the need for speed,
consistency, and better use of data. And when it works, it helps. Good fleets
get quoted faster, priced more fairly, and paid quicker on clean claims.
But we have seen where it falls short.
Trucking is not simple. It is real. It is long hours, tough
weather, last-minute changes, and hard-earned experience. AI does not always
understand that. And sometimes, it makes calls that do not match the reality on
the ground.
Since The Great Reset started, we have seen more submissions
declined without a second look. We have seen clean accounts misclassified
because one number looked off. And when a quote or decision does not make
sense, it can be hard to find someone who will explain it or fix it.
Our stance is this: Use AI where it helps. But keep people
in the process. Trucking deserves more than automated scores and rigid systems.
It deserves real underwriting, real listening, and real understanding.
Email us anytime at info@trucku.biz — we’ll break it down in plain English.
