Yes folks, it's that time of the year again where I bend over and brace myself for a 12-inch, lube-less slab of rebar being rammed in through my out-door, courtesy of my insurance broker.
So last year I paid roughly $15,600 to Great West for my usual policy with $250,000 in cargo and a $2500 deductible.
This year, DESPITE NOT HAVING ANY CLAIMS, it jumped to $17,495 for the same policy. If I increase my deductible to $5000, it "lowers" it to $16,130. The same policy with Progressive is over $20,000, and Century's quote was comparable to Great West.
What the hell is going on? Have any of you here gone through the same scenario?
Are the insurance companies colluding or what? I really don't know how to proceed. It seems like all of them are doing this.
Insurance renewal blues, rates jumping.
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by gekko1323, Mar 26, 2026.
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You need a new agent. GW did this to us and we switched away for a few years, back with GW now as the rates magically returned lower than before.
Accidental Trucker, 86scotty, Siinman and 2 others Thank this. -
So you switched away from Great West, or the agent? I know that if I switch brokers, I won't be able to get Great West because they don't let new brokers quote the same customer. They do this as a way to protect the original broker. I can write a letter to the agent demanding that they release exclusivity, but since I only have one truck, Great West won't appease me.pnw guy Thanks this.
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What's going on is the commercial auto market is in the toilet. Insurance carriers are running at a 103-105% margin, so they lose $3-5 on every dollar of premium collected. Be thankful you only went up +/- 10%. Compared to the inflation on other costs that is right in line with what it should be.
This is a direct result of all the shady, unqualified and illegal trucking companies driving up the rates for everyone. Just because you didn't have any losses doesn't mean your not paying for the misbehavior of others in the industry. It is a sad reality and nothing will change until we get the shady people out of the industry and get crashes under control.PSM379, Accidental Trucker, pnw guy and 10 others Thank this. -
That's what burns my arse the most---that I don't have any claims and my rates went up. I can understand inflation and whatnot, but the good players shouldn't be penalized because of the bad players. If an insurance company didn't do their due diligence, that should be on THEM, not us.blairandgretchen, pnw guy, Arctic_fox and 4 others Thank this.
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I have them and mine went up about $300 for the year. Maybe it is the power only thing or did you put your trailers on the new quote?blairandgretchen and gekko1323 Thank this.
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My insurance has gone out of control as well. I was at 5k for my coverage 3-4 years ago. Now im at 10k pay in full or 12k pay monthly. I've never had an accident and never made a claim on my insurance. I agree we shouldn't be paying for the screw ups of others, but this corrupt evil system seems to be set on punishing us for others mistakes.
Siinman, blairandgretchen and gekko1323 Thank this. -
Never ceases to amaze me how time after time, we simply turn the channel, "A 50 vehicle pileup on the ( click) Wheel of Fortune",,,I look at it a lot differently. Now, I'm not cryin' for Flo (who makes a reportedly $1-$2 mil a year, Jamie a bit less) but the payout on these crashes has to be enormous. Not just the vehicles involved, but property damage, cargo damage, towing( a fortune itself) lawsuits, I mean, they have swanky lifestyles to uphold, that has to come from somewhere. That ^^^ is a hefty increase, and with fuel, I just don't understand how it works at all. All said and done, what do you folks make, $3.00/hr.? Now, I'm not stupid, was an O/O myself you know, from a clearly different time, and I understand, on a smaller scale, you can't afford to quit. My bills PALED in comparison to todays, yet on a different scale, bills were equally devastating, but I slogged on for 4 "in the red" years, until when fuel went over $1.49/gal. ( 1994) I sold the truck and was a company driver ever since until retirement..
My advice, while dated, still applies some, get away from the truck. Can you imagine the rates if you actually have a claim? I have Progressive on my Jeep, and was told they give you ONE, then raise the rates and you CAN'T cancel.
Didn't you read the fine print? I think that certain O/O applications will be needed in the future, with bills paid by some company that doesn't want a truck, or outlaw loads at night with no insurance,, but to do this yourself is foolish today, as they ( ins. and gubment) clearly want O/Os out of the picture. Good luck.
Last edited: Mar 27, 2026
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