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Driver-Centric Telematics Services Could be Secret Weapon in Fight Against Driver Churn for Commercial Vehicle and Fleet Businesses 0

Driver-Centric Telematics Services Could be Secret Weapon in Fight Against Driver Churn for Commercial Vehicle and Fleet Businesses

New data from Escalent’s Fleet Advisory Hub™ underscore driver influence in commercial vehicle telematics programs, offering new path to differentiation for solutions providers Livonia, MI (May 14, 2025) – The number of connected vehicles on the road is projected to more than double over the next three years. However, while the commercial vehicle telematics market is poised for strong topline growth, the commoditized nature of telematics solutions presents a mounting challenge for service providers. To stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape, telematics solutions providers must find new ways to differentiate their products and services for commercial vehicle and fleet businesses, and drivers could be the key. These are the latest findings of the Roadmap to Telematics Growth report from Escalent’s Fleet Advisory Hub™, a leading insights tool designed to explore the needs, expectations and emotions of commercial vehicle and fleet business decision-makers. Based on input from more than 1,000 fleet decision-makers, this study explores how commercial vehicle and fleet businesses are using telematics solutions today, the barriers to adoption commercial vehicle and fleet businesses face and their plans to invest in connected services in the future. “While telematics adoption is on the rise, not all commercial vehicle and fleet...

Auto Insurer Websites and Apps Become Battleground for New Customers as Policy Shopping Activity Skyrockets, J.D. Power Finds 0

Auto Insurer Websites and Apps Become Battleground for New Customers as Policy Shopping Activity Skyrockets, J.D. Power Finds

Nationwide Ranks Highest in Service; Amica, Erie Insurance Rank Highest in a Tie in Shopping Troy, MI (May 14, 2025) – More than half (57%) of auto insurance customers have actively shopped for a new policy in the past year, the highest shopping rate ever recorded by J.D. Power, and that’s putting more pressure than ever on digital channels, which have become the primary tool through which customers purchase insurance. According to the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Insurance Digital Experience Study,SM 47% of auto insurance shoppers now purchase their policies through digital channels, but the experiences they are having on those websites and apps is notably uneven from one insurer to the next. “The primary communications conduit customers now have with their auto insurer is a website or an app, so that’s really ramped up pressure on insurers to put their best foot forward on digital properties,” said Eric McCready, director of digital solutions at J.D. Power. “Some insurers are doing this much better than others. Particularly in quoting new policies and comparing prices and coverages, the data shows a stark divide between top and bottom performers, which could have serious effects on new business growth during this period of heightened...

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Widow of Arkansas Airport Director Killed in Raid Sues ATF Over Husband’s Death

Article 1 Comment The widow of an Arkansas airport director who was killed during a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives raid on his home last year sued the agency and several officials, claiming the agency and officers acted recklessly and negligently. Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Executive Director Bryan Malinowski died days after he was shot when ATF agents were executing a warrant March 19, 2024, at his home in Little Rock. The ATF said Malinowski shot at agents, striking and injuring one, after which agents returned fire. An affidavit released after the shooting said the warrant was related to accusations that Malinowski bought over 150 guns between May 2021 and February 2024 and that he resold many without a dealer’s license. In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Little Rock, Maria “Maer” Malinowski accused the ATF and 10 agents and task force officers of violating hers and her husband’s constitutional rights. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requested a jury trial. “The Constitution requires reasonableness and, specifically here, that defendants both knock and announce their presence and purpose and wait a reasonable time before entry,” the lawsuit said. “The ATF failed to do so, resulting...

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People Moves: Zurich NA Promotes Fox to Lead National Accounts, Caminiti CUO

Article 0 Comments Zurich North America announced key leadership changes within U.S. national accounts and underwriting as Heather Fox has been promoted to lead national accounts and Peter Caminiti was promoted to chief underwriting officer. Fox was most recently chief underwriting officer for U.S. national accounts, and Caminiti was most recently head of underwriting for national accounts. Heather Fox Fox will start as head of national accounts, which serves large national and multinational companies, on May 15. She will be part of the Zurich North America executive committee, the group leadership team and the global commercial insurance leadership team. Paul Lavelle, who previously held the post, is retiring. He will remain with the company until June 1. An industry veteran with time at Allstate and AIG, Lavelle was with Zurich for seven years and also served as chief claims officer. Fox joined Schaumburg, Illinois-based Zurich North America as CUO in 2023. She previously worked as general counsel and chief broking officer for ARC Excess & Surplus, and held multiple roles at AIG, including general counsel and CUO of executive liability lines. Peter Caminiti Caminiti will move to become CUO, also on May 15. He will be a member of the...

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11 Best & Worst Broker-Dealers: Q1 2025

/ ThinkAdvisor provides financial advisors, registered investment advisors and wealth managers with comprehensive coverage of the products, services and information they need to guide their clients in making critical wealth, health and life decisions.

CBN Welcomes its Newest Member 0

CBN Welcomes its Newest Member

Toronto, ON (May 15, 2025) – Canadian Broker Network (CBN), Canada’s leading network of independent insurance brokers, is pleased to welcome its newest member, Harvard Western Insurance, headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan. “We believe there is great value in collaborating with progressive brokerages that share our vision, and we look forward to our mutual success,” said Dave Pettigrew, President & CEO of Harvard Western Insurance. “We are thrilled to welcome Harvard Western Insurance to the CBN Community,” said Lorie Phair, President of CBN. “Their addition not only strengthens our community but also exemplifies our commitment to fostering the growth and success of independent brokers in Canada.” About the Canadian Broker Network Canadian Broker Network (CBN) is an alliance of Canada’s leading independent insurance brokers. With over 30 member firms, 100 offices, 4,000 employees, and representing more than $3.5 billion in property-casualty premiums, CBN provides national reach with a local touch. CBN member brokers offer expertise across personal, commercial, employee benefits, life, and financial services, ensuring Canadians receive the highest standard of quality products, risk management advice and service. CBN also provides independent, employee-owned brokerages with a unique way to grow and innovate their businesses by leveraging the collective wisdom, experience, and...

Waymo reducing serious crashes and making streets safer for those most at risk: New Study 0

Waymo reducing serious crashes and making streets safer for those most at risk: New Study

By Trent Victor, Director of Safety Research & Best Practices, Waymo — The path to Vision Zero requires reducing severe crashes and improving the safety of those most at risk. Our latest research paper shows that the Waymo Driver is making significant strides in both areas. By reducing the most dangerous crashes and providing better protection for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, Waymo is making streets safer in cities where it operates. The paper, accepted to be published in the Traffic Injury Prevention Journal, expands on our Safety Impact Hub research, providing a deeper analysis of Waymo’s performance across 11 different crash types compared to human drivers. It also offers new insights into Waymo’s positive impact on serious injury crash rates. Types of crashes used for the Waymo Driver and human benchmark comparisons The research finds that, compared to human benchmarks over 56.7 million miles and regardless of who was at fault, the Waymo Driver had: Safer interactions with vulnerable road users (VRUs) with substantial reductions in crashes involving injuries among pedestrians (92% reduction), cyclists (82% reduction), and motorcyclists (82% reduction). 96% fewer injury-involving intersection crashes, which, according to NHTSA, are a leading cause of severe road harm...

CSIO Recognizes its Members’ Commitment to Standards Excellence with Standards Certification Ratings 0

CSIO Recognizes its Members’ Commitment to Standards Excellence with Standards Certification Ratings

Toronto, ON (May 13, 2025) – CSIO is pleased to announce a Standards Certification Rating Program that recognizes insurer and BMS vendor achievements in the adoption of CSIO Data Standards to benefit their broker partners and customers. The Standards Certification Ratings reflect an organization’s commitment to comprehensive Data Standards that respond to business needs. Developed by CSIO’s Standards Governance Advisory Council, the Rating criteria is designed to ensure organizations are advancing Data Standards through the achievement of CSIO Certifications. These include eDocs, Commercial Lines Data Standards, Compliance, and API Security Standards, and a current version of CSIO’s EDI and XML Standards. Insurers are assigned a separate Rating for personal and commercial lines while BMS vendors receive one overall Rating. Organizations that successfully programmed CSIO Standards and achieved all the criteria are eligible for the highest Rating, Platinum. CSIO congratulates the following Platinum Insurers: Wawanesa Insurance (Personal and Commercial) Definity Financial Corporation (Personal) Gore Mutual Insurance Company (Personal) Northbridge Insurance (Commercial) “We’re proud to be the first insurer to receive the highest CSIO Standards Certification Rating for both Personal and Commercial Lines,” said Glenn Hemming, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Wawanesa. “This achievement not only reinforces our commitment to...

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Waymo Recalls 1,200 Self-Driving Vehicles After Minor Collisions

Article 0 Comments Alphabet’s Waymo is recalling more than 1,200 self-driving vehicles to update software and address risks of collisions with chains, gates and other roadway barriers after U.S. auto safety investigators opened a probe last year. The recall affects 1,212 Waymo vehicles operating on the company’s fifth-generation automated driving system software, the company said. Waymo has over 1,500 vehicles on the road across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, Texas, and is running more than 250,000 fully autonomous paid rides a week. It plans to add service in Atlanta, Miami and Washington, D.C. Waymo said it was aware of 16 collisions with chains, gates and other barriers between 2022 and late 2024. But the incidents did not result in any injuries, according to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA opened an investigation into the performance of Waymo self-driving vehicles in May 2024 after reports of its robotaxis exhibiting driving behavior that potentially violated traffic safety laws. The agency said several incidents under investigation “involved collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.” The investigation remains open. The issue has been resolved with a software update to its...

Dream Payments launches Insurance Payment Network Across North America 0

Dream Payments launches Insurance Payment Network Across North America

Insurers can now collect and disburse payments across the U.S. and Canada through a single payments platform, the DreamPay Insurance Payment Hub, leveraging J.P. Morgan Payments’ capabilities Toronto, ON (May 1, 2025) – Dream Payments is pleased to announce it has launched the DreamPay Insurance Payment Hub — a two-way insurance payment network operating seamlessly across North America, leveraging J.P. Morgan Payments’ capabilities. For the first time, insurers can accept premiums from policyholders in both the U.S. and Canada, and issue claims payments to individuals and businesses of every size, using digital or physical methods, all in one platform. A Network That Reaches Everyone, Everywhere With the DreamPay Insurance Payment Hub, insurers now gain access to the most expansive insurance payment network on the continent. The platform connects to over 350 million individuals and more than 30 million businesses across North America. From policyholders in Toronto to service providers in San Francisco, insurers can initiate and receive payments across every relevant rail — from real-time payments and ACH in the U.S., to EFT and cheques in Canada — and even reach any address on the continent for physical check delivery. Purpose-Built for Insurance Carriers Insurers aren’t just looking for a...