In a timely and insightful webinar, SambaSafety's Vice President of Customer Success, John Conley, led a panel of seasoned safety and insurance experts through a discussion on rising fleet insurance rates and what organizations can do to get ahead of the chaos. Drawing from SambaSafety’s newly released 2025 Driver Risk Report and real-world experience across fleet and insurance sectors, the panel explored the compounding factors behind surging premiums and the proactive strategies needed to adapt.
Watch the Webinar | "Curbing Cost Chaos: What’s Fueling 2025’s Surging Auto Premiums & How to Adapt"
Our panel included:
- Chris Moore, BSc (Hons), FCII, CRIS, President, Apollo ibott 1971
- Nate Miller, Director, North America Safety, Security & Business Continuity, Gordon Food Service
- Heidi McCaffray, Senior Manager, Occupational Health & Safety, Serco
What's Driving Auto Insurance Costs?
Auto insurance rates are climbing rapidly. The panel kicked off by laying out the multi-layered pressures facing the market: supply chain challenges and advanced vehicle technology are making vehicle repairs more expensive and time-consuming, while medical cost inflation is pushing claims costs higher than ever. These are macroeconomic realities most companies can’t control.
But there are risk factors that can be managed, and that’s where the conversation turned next. Speeding, distracted driving and invalid licenses were all highlighted as behaviors that significantly increase the likelihood of crashes. According to the 2025 Driver Risk Report, for instance, speeding was reported to raise crash risk by 47%. These human factors are where organizations have the greatest ability to intervene.
Litigation, AI, and the Rise of the Nuclear Verdict
Chris Moore of Apollo ibott 1971 offered a sobering look at how legal trends are adding even more pressure to the insurance system. He emphasized that while companies have made huge strides in leveraging data and technology to reduce crash frequency, claim severity is still on the rise. One reason behind this is the increasing sophistication of the plaintiff’s bar.
Litigation funding and the strategic use of AI by plaintiff firms were highlighted as growing threats. In some cases, law firms are using AI to identify lawsuits with nuclear verdict potential, then buying those cases from less experienced firms to maximize payouts. This kind of organized legal strategy can leave companies vulnerable, even when they're only partially at fault.
To counteract this, Moore stressed the need for insurers and organizations to match that sophistication with their own, through better data and a faster, more proactive response. Waiting until a case reaches court is too late. The focus must shift to early identification and prevention.
Breaking Down the Silos
Another major theme was the importance of proactive collaboration between insurers and risk managers. Moore noted that insurers often engage too infrequently with their clients, and that both sides need to build stronger, more frequent communication channels to align strategies. Waiting until a claim hits the courtroom often creates friction and misalignment in defense strategies.
Nate Miller of Gordon Food Services echoed this sentiment. “The best time to establish those relationships is before you need to have that conversation,” he said. Strong, ongoing relationships with insurance providers and an internal culture that prioritizes safety across all levels are essential.
Prevention Starts Early
Heidi McCaffrey of Serco highlighted the importance of prioritizing safety early, well before a new hire is behind the wheel. Motor vehicle record (MVR) checks, defensive driving training and ride-alongs are critical in establishing a strong foundation from the get-go. At Serco, for instance, a working group meets monthly to review driver telematics data, identify trends and ensure consistent coaching and interventions across all roles and risk levels.
Tailoring coaching to the unique needs of each driver was also emphasized. From high-speed highway drivers to urban delivery professionals, each role comes with different safety risks. One-size-fits-all programs don’t work. “If it doesn't reach the person in the seat, then you [must] refine and retool your processes to see that it does,” said Miller.
The Need for Actionable Data
Technology can be a double-edged sword. As Moore pointed out, simply having telematics data isn’t enough. In fact, failing to act on high-risk behaviors uncovered through technology can open companies up to even greater legal liability. A recent example he cited involved a company that had clear telematics data showing chronic distracted driving, but failed to intervene, resulting in a nuclear verdict.
The takeaway: data must drive action. That means investing in the internal resources to monitor, analyze and respond to risk patterns continuously.
Other Creative, Field-Tested Solutions
Both Moore and McCaffrey shared examples of how innovative thinking can prevent incidents before they happen. Moore discussed a case where dog bites were a top source of injury among delivery drivers. The solution? A simple feature alerting drivers to the presence of dogs at delivery addresses, working to cut incidents and costs.
McCaffrey shared Serco’s use of “guardian angel lights,” portable, high-visibility lighting devices drivers wear at night to increase visibility during highway incidents. Both examples demonstrate the power of granular data and field feedback in designing meaningful, low-cost safety interventions.
Improving Culture and Alignment
The webinar wrapped with advice for new safety professionals: build relationships early, embed safety into your culture and never lose sight of the “why.” As Miller put it, safety must be about people. When the goal is getting every driver home safely, policy, data and partnerships become tools to support that mission.
And as rising premiums and legal risks continue to put pressure on the industry, that proactive, people-first approach will be a sustainable path forward.
Webinar Q&A Session
Below are questions asked by webinar attendees and answered by our expert panelists.
To mitigate driver risk effectively, especially in the context of fleet or commercial operations, what is the best approach to begin with?
It's twofold. . . at times, we forget that the drivers have other responsibilities other than driving. [Make] sure that you have proactive steps in and around the training necessary to mitigate [all] risks. . . prescribed training around material handling, walking surfaces and proper lifting, looking both ways, those sort of things. So the data is well beyond actually [driving] . . ." — Miller
I hear that data monitoring is a double-edged sword if you don’t manage the risks, so where do I go for targeted driver training?
"We have [a] hybrid system. So we [use] the SambaSafety training courses, which are very good. One of the things we like best about those is they are really broken down by the type of vehicle that is being driven. We also have defensive driving and trainers within our company. Our supervisors and managers can do one-on-one coaching ride-alongs, and [we] really encourage peer training or peer coaching." — McCaffray
How much influence does state statute or jurisdiction (the legal environment) have on expected losses and ultimately rates? Do tort reform improvements at the state level really matter?
"We are seeing huge loss cost shifts as a result of state-level legislation. A good example of this is the Florida ride-share law that has transformed the excess claims picture for that very difficult risk. As a result, we monitor legislative change constantly and factor it into Auto and excess pricing." — Moore
How frequently will an insurance company ask to review your telematics or SambaSafety platform?
"It is rare for us to look at the raw telematics data, but we want to regularly review the aggregated data output in the form of a presentable dashboard where we can dive into the KPIs we believe are driving the risk. We use that data to forecast account performance and work collaboratively with Insureds to drive better risk-based decisions." — Moore
Does regular driver training improve outcomes? Does continuous driver monitoring improve outcomes?
SambaSafety’s Efficacy Study conducted with over 4 million monitored drivers found that continuous driver monitoring reduces violations by 32% after a 12-month period. Pairing that with training reduced violations by 77% in the same time period.
A separate examination of the effects of training on the Transportation and Logistics peer group revealed that companies with a consistent training program saw an earlier and sustained reduction in violations. For the analysis, a cohort of companies that consistently train and monitor were compared to a cohort of companies that only monitor with SambaSafety. The companies in the training cohort implemented regular and proactive training assignments, assigning an average of 1.3 courses monthly per driver, with an average 78% completion rate in 2024. This group reduced violations twice as much as their peers over a 24-month period.
How frequently should drivers be trained/re-trained?
SambaSafety has several resources related to this topic, including our latest guide: The Measurable Power of Effective Driver Training, which covers training efficacy and strategies for optimizing your training program.
McCaffray also provides an example below.
All Drivers:
- Include driver safety in new hire orientation.
- Provide ad hoc training for changes in vehicles, routes or policy.
- Conduct a weekly targeted safety meeting with drivers focused on trends, observations and feedback from drivers. Having a JHAs and Job Box/Toolbox Talk library available for employees and supervisors to access has proven to be an excellent resource.
- Maintain documentation of all training and coaching for regulatory and internal compliance.
CDL (Commercial Driver's License) Regulatory Requirements:
- Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT): Required by 49 CFR Part 380, Subpart F (FMCSA), applies to new CDL holders and those seeking endorsements (e.g., hazmat, school bus, passenger)
- Hazmat Training: Refresher every 3 years per 49 CFR § 172.704(c)(2)
- Reasonable Suspicion Training for Supervisors: Required one-time by 49 CFR § 382.603, 60 minutes each on recognizing alcohol and drug use symptoms
Non-CDL Drivers Recommended Practices (OSHA General Duty Clause & Industry Standards):
- Initial Driver Training: Before operating any company vehicle.
- Annual Refresher: Covers distracted driving, safe vehicle operation and weather hazards.
- Event-Triggered Coaching: After incidents, complaints or supervisor observations.
- Ride-Alongs: Every 1–2 years or as needed based on performance trends.
Other Best Practices (FMCSA & Industry):
- Annual Safety Training: Topics include defensive driving, hours of service, vehicle inspection, weather and fatigue.
- Post-Incident Coaching: Required after any preventable crash or safety violation.
- Behavior-Based Coaching: Use telematics or dash cams to address high-risk behaviors (FMCSA guidance on proactive safety).
- Ride-Alongs/Evaluations: Every 12 to 24 months to reinforce compliance and correct habits.
To dive deeper into how organizations can combat rising auto insurance costs, visit the link below to watch our full webinar on demand.
