What separates an "insurable" fleet from one that isn’t? Often, it’s how the fleet uses on-board technology to improve driver safety.

Roughly 9 in 10 carriers with which we work at All Solutions Insurance now use telematics data to assess insurability. Some carriers offer premium discounts for connecting telematics and AI-powered dashcams. Others add a surcharge for fleets that don’t connect their Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) and dashcams to their insurer. Very few underwrite strictly based on losses and driver criteria. 

For these reasons, fleets that use technology and act on the data collected stand the best chance of maintaining their insurability. Fleets that don’t use these tools run the risk of higher premiums, worse terms and non-renewal.

Top Risk Considerations for Underwriters

When reviewing telematics data, underwriters look at 12-month trends, focusing on hard braking and speeding, two of the strongest indicators of crashes. When data show a steady decrease in those behaviors per 1,000 miles and a high completion rate of driver coaching sessions tied to flagged events, the fleet is typically more attractive for an insurer. Conversely, rising hard braking and speeding events, coupled with unresolved coaching alerts, make a fleet less attractive.

Other red flags underwriters look for include signs that telematics units are being disconnected or disabled, spikes in poor driving behaviors triggered by a wave of new hires, a lack of standard, documented driver onboarding procedures and poor claims history with no discernible improvement.

Telematics Is Just the Start

Along with reviewing telematics data, underwriters are also looking at how fleets integrate other on-board technologies into their driver safety programs.

Tools such as GPS tracking and telematics are table stakes. So are front-facing cameras, which track following distance and provide evidence that could exonerate a driver in a disputed or staged incident.

Emerging technologies include AI-powered dashcams and driver-facing cameras that use computer vision to detect distraction and drowsiness. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of fleets that use AI-powered video telematics report improved driver safety, according to Verizon’s 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report.

Other newer innovations include live coaching tools that deliver in-the-moment guidance to drivers on the road and predictive modeling software that analyzes driving history, vehicle diagnostics and other data to help fleet owners spot potential issues.

A best-in-class fleet from an insurance perspective will include a bundle of these technologies. Such a package might include telematics to monitor driving behavior and Hours of Service (HOS) compliance, dual-facing AI dashcams, and a structured driver coaching and gamification program, with all tools reporting data to dashboards that fleet owners can share with insurers at renewal time.

Make the Right Bets on Safety Technology

Large fleets might have the budget to implement numerous on-board safety technologies, but small-to-midsize fleets need to be choosier. Key items for consideration include:

• Total cost of ownership. Weigh per-vehicle subscription fees and installation costs against the potential claims and premium savings.
• Integration. Any on-board technology a fleet implements should integrate fully with Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), maintenance and dispatch.
• Data portability. Look for systems that let fleet owners export their data and share it directly with a carrier or new vendor.
• Data overload. While telematics use is widespread, roughly 45% of small fleets and 42% of mid-sized fleets say their systems collect too much information without clear direction on how to use it, according to a survey from Northland Insurance, a division of Travelers. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, focus on acting on one or two data points, such as hard braking and speeding.
• Driver acceptance. On-board safety technologies work best when they are paired with positive reinforcement. In the Northland Insurance survey, 61% of small fleets listed driver recognition programs as the most effective tool for building a safety-first culture.

Address Safety Risks and Improve Insurability

To remain insurable, fleets must demonstrate how they translate data into improved safety. Fleets should turn the data they collect into personalized coaching.

A spike in hard braking events should be followed by defensive driver training and coaching on maintaining a proper following distance. Upticks in speeding events may indicate scheduling pressures, triggering a review of routes and timelines. Alerts about driver fatigue should trigger a review of HOS to ensure compliance.

Fleets should also establish documented policies on phone use, device tampering, and distracted-driving prevention and offer ongoing training to drivers. Best-in-class fleets will also follow thorough driver screening practices, including pulling Motor Vehicle Records, conducting road tests, performing background checks and hiring only experienced drivers whenever possible.

Make a Data-Driven Case at Renewal

Fleet owners should start planning for a renewal conversation with their insurance agent or broker 90 to 120 days in advance. Prepare by pulling telematics and loss trend reports and identifying the two or three riskiest behaviors.

Then create a 12-month trend review of key metrics. Document coaching sessions tied to flagged events and completion rates. Aim to show a before-and-after comparison so an agent can demonstrate to underwriters how a specific intervention improved safety.

Consider adding a short, written summary from a safety or operations manager, along with the fleet’s written safety policy and any training certifications. This packet of information will give an insurer documented proof that a culture of safety exists within the organization.

A Safe Fleet Is an Insurable Fleet

Some factors that have driven up premiums over the past few years, such as nuclear verdicts and higher repair costs, are outside a fleet’s control. But every fleet owner, regardless of fleet size, can improve driver safety. Those who combine on-board technology with driver safety policies and show ongoing improvement stand the best chance of maintaining lower premiums and retaining their insurability.