Earlier this year, I asked readers to name the single biggest challenge facing their transportation company today. The responses were clear and consistent. Four issues stood out above the rest: a lack of real-time performance data, driver recruitment and retention challenges, rising insurance costs and safety risks, and variable costs that were out of control.
This series — You Spoke. We’re Addressing. — dives into each of those challenges. One by one, we’re exploring the root causes, sharing real-world examples, and offering actionable strategies for leaders ready to respond.
What follows isn’t just a conversation — it’s a practical guide.
In this third installment, we’re addressing rising insurance costs and safety risks — the pressures that continue to squeeze operators from all sides. I sat down with Alan Mar and Carter Bumgardner from Graham Company, one of the largest insurance and employee benefits brokers in the country, to unpack what’s driving premiums higher and what operators can do to regain control.
Together, we explored:
Why insurance costs have remained high — and why it’s more than a short-term cycle.
How leadership, strong culture, and accountability influence underwriting confidence.
The growing role of technology and data in shaping both risk profiles and insurer trust.
Practical, proven steps to build leverage before renewal season.
Alan and Carter made one point especially clear: controlling insurance costs starts long before renewal season. It begins with leadership, a strong culture, and consistent execution — doing the small things that demonstrate accountability and reduce risk over time.
Watch the full conversation above and use it as a reference as you strengthen your own approach to risk management and insurance strategy.
If you’d like to explore how these strategies can apply within your own operation, feel free to connect with me through Bus Business Consultants at busbusinessconsultants.com.
