Topic Commercial Auto
What’s to blame for distracted driving trends?
July 14, 2023 by Philip PoradoBrokers hear lots of stories about minor fender-benders that don’t lead to injuries. And some could even be seen as amusing – if they weren’t linked to financial losses for insurers. “We had an incident where someone was trying to…
By how much premiums increased in the first quarter
July 14, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoWhile consumers might have noticed their insurance rates are still increasing, prices are flattening out compared to last year’s single- or double-digit increases, two new reports from Applied Systems showed. Commercial lines saw an overall rate increase of 7.39% in…
Large Canadian brokerage now operating coast to coast
June 28, 2023 by Jason ContantEditor’s Note: An original version of this article incorrectly identified Western Financial Group as Westland. Canadian Underwriter apologizes for the error. Western Financial Group now operates coast to coast following its full acquisition of Huestis Insurance and Associates Ltd.…
Despite easing inflation, P&C insurers face challenges
June 27, 2023 by Philip PoradoCanada’s May inflation rate slipped to an annualized 3.4%, Statistics Canada said Tuesday. That’s the lowest rate in two years and solidly below the 4.4% annual rate posted in April. It’s also in line with the Bank of Canada’s efforts…
Ontario brokers’ biggest source of competition
June 22, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoAlthough Ontario’s broker distribution market share has slightly increased year-over-year, the direct-to-consumer (D2C) distribution channel is becoming more competitive, an expert broker shared at the Young Brokers Conference in Niagara Falls. Ontario brokers should expect to feel more pressure from…
How trade agreements could change claims adjusting in Canada
June 20, 2023 by Alyssa Di SabatinoWhen a NatCat occurs in Canada, it’s common for U.S. adjusters to be on the scene — sometimes before Canadian adjusters, who are bound by provincial licensing restrictions. And while processes for getting either country’s adjusters on the scene are…
Collision between semi-trailer and bus kills 15, injures 10
June 16, 2023 by Steve Lambert and Jeremy Simes - THE CANADIAN PRESSDAUPHIN, MAN. – Flags were at half-mast as residents of a western Manitoba city awaited word on the fate of loved ones, while police started to piece together what caused a crash between a semi-trailer and a bus carrying seniors…
How to hire more Gen-Z underwriters
June 14, 2023 by Alyssa DiSabatinoEmployers of all industries want to hire the newest generation of workers, Generation Z, and so the insurance industry needs to make sure it’s getting ahead of the curve, especially with a dearth of property and casualty underwriters in Canada. …
Auto insurers pay out record amount for auto theft
June 8, 2023 by David GambrillSupply chain issues are creating a hot domestic market for stolen vehicles, which in 2022 cost Canadian property and casualty auto insurers more than an estimated $1 billion — the most the industry has ever paid for auto theft in…
Province to launch restricted licence for incidental insurance
June 6, 2023 by David GambrillB.C.’s broker regulator, the Insurance Council of B.C., is now consulting on a proposed new restricted licensing framework to regulate the sale of incidental insurance, the council announced in late May. The regulator’s initiative follows the province’s Bill 37, which…
BrokerLink buys Burlington brokerage
June 6, 2023 by Philip PoradoFor the sixth time so far in 2023, BrokerLink has grown its market share through M&A, this time with the acquisition of Burlington, Ont.-based T.K. WoodMar Insurance & Financial Group. WoodMar has offered commercial (business owner, liability and commercial vehicle),…
The art of writing long-haul trucking
June 5, 2023 by Phil Porado, managing editorLong-haul trucking (LHT) insurance isn’t just for cargo and trailers — coverage must extend beyond the roadway. When underwriters consider long-haul trucking risks, they should examine broader business criteria such as a fleet’s age and size, vehicle class, the distance…