No Insurance Breaks for Safety Tech

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Insurers say the technology motor carriers may use to become safer is great, but truckers shouldn’t expect any rebates on insurance rates for adopting the equipment.

“We haven’t seen any change in the loss picture based upon technology,” said Jack Burkert, executive vice president of Lancer Insurance Co., Long Beach, N.Y. Lancer insures limousines, airport shuttles and truckers but specializes in buses.

Burkert, testifying Sept. 1 at a truck and bus safety technology summit called by the National Transportation Safety Board, said it is difficult for his company to offer rate incentives to motor carriers for using computers and other devices on their vehicles intended to improve safety.

He said his company’s rates are “performance-based.”

“We’re a safety advocate and a risk-sharing mechanism,” Burkert told NTSB. “We’re only as good as our policyholders. If policy holders improve their performance and accidents go down, then costs go down.”

For the full story, see the Sept. 6 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.