The commercial property insurance market has hardened in recent years, with consistent rate increases since the third quarter of 2017. These rate increases were evident in the beginning of 2022, with first-quarter rates rising by an average of 7.6%, according to industry data. Similar pricing trends occurred in the reinsurance markets during the same period through moderate, single-digit rate increases for most carriers. Yet, it’s important to note that some insureds may have encountered above-average…

Improving the fuel efficiency of a company’s fleet of vehicles can have many financial and environmental benefits, especially with fuel prices on the rise. Fuel can be one of the largest and most difficult expenses to predict and control. Vehicle fleet managers must conserve fuel, maximize efficiency and reduce vehicle emissions by implementing fuel-efficient policies, technology, and maintenance strategies. Best Practices Managing a fleet’s fuel usage—even for just a couple of vehicles—can feel overwhelming. The…

On average, two workers are killed every month in trench collapses. As employers, it is our responsibility to provide a safe workplace, free of recognized hazards that may cause serious injury or death. By instituting safe work practices and procedures while excavating and working in trenches, we can prevent needless worksite injuries. Defining an Excavation and Trench An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench or depression in an earth surface formed by earth removal.…

Unlike other lines of coverage, the market for workers’ compensation insurance has remained stable across most states and industries, performing as an outlier by producing profitable underwriting results. According to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), the private carrier combined ratio for workers’ compensation in 2020 carriers was 87, up from 85 in 2019, marking the seventh consecutive year of underwriting profit. Nevertheless, there are still trends that could pose concerns within the market…

On March 21, the federal government warned businesses in the private sector to harden their cyber defenses, reiterating earlier warnings related to potential cyberattacks against U.S. organizations by Russia. “I have previously warned about the potential that Russia could conduct malicious cyber activity against the United States, including as a response to the unprecedented economic costs we’ve imposed on Russia alongside our allies and partners,” Biden said. “It’s part of Russia’s playbook. Most of America’s…