Marsh Introduces BrokerSafe to Enhance Freight Broker Auto Coverage

What's Happening?

Marsh, a business under Marsh McLennan, has launched BrokerSafe, a new insurance facility aimed at providing U.S. freight brokers with more stable and affordable auto liability coverage. Freight brokers, who connect cargo owners with trucking companies, face significant contingent auto liability risks due to their intermediary role in the supply chain. The rising costs of freight broker auto liability rates, a shrinking insurance market, and increased nuclear verdicts have made it challenging for these brokers to secure adequate coverage. BrokerSafe, developed in collaboration with Oliver Wyman, another Marsh McLennan business, utilizes a unique underwriting technology tool. This tool employs advanced analytics and proprietary algorithms to assess a freight broker's full contingent auto liability risk exposure comprehensively. The facility offers bespoke contingent auto liability coverage tailored to the broker's actual risk profile, moving away from traditional underwriting methods based on broker-carrier agreements or revenue figures. BrokerSafe is supported by a panel of A-rated U.S. insurers, providing up to $5 million in primary limits and an additional $5 million in excess capacity from the London market.

Why It's Important?

The introduction of BrokerSafe is significant as it addresses the growing challenges faced by freight brokers in securing adequate auto liability coverage. By offering a more tailored approach to underwriting, BrokerSafe could potentially lower costs and improve access to necessary insurance for freight brokers. This development is crucial for the logistics and transportation industry, as freight brokers play a vital role in maintaining the efficiency of supply chains. The ability to secure appropriate coverage can help mitigate financial risks associated with safety incidents, thereby enhancing the stability and reliability of freight operations. Additionally, the use of advanced analytics and proprietary algorithms in the underwriting process represents a shift towards more data-driven and precise risk assessment methods in the insurance industry.

What's Next?

As BrokerSafe becomes available, freight brokers are likely to evaluate this new option against their current insurance arrangements. The success of BrokerSafe could prompt other insurance providers to adopt similar data-driven underwriting approaches, potentially leading to broader changes in the insurance market for freight brokers. Stakeholders in the logistics and transportation sectors will be closely monitoring the impact of BrokerSafe on insurance costs and coverage availability. Additionally, the response from the insurance market, including potential adjustments in pricing and coverage offerings by competitors, will be an area of interest.