SPECIAL REPORT
want to either give a quote or write this operator,” McClellan said. Telematics that track GPS location and driver behav-
ior have become so pivotal to the insurance market that some policy providers offer a discount to carri- ers that have installed the technology. For example, software company Samara provides NSM customers with a discount for installing its fleet management and safety technology. In addition to helping shop for a new policy, Mc-
Clellan said these technologies help reduce crashes through better risk analysis. Making it a practice to meet with clients regularly, McClellan said he reviews the status of pending claims and discusses future im- provements that can help keep claims down. “Data and information allow us to identify where claims are coming from, specifically if they have 10 to 20 different locations throughout the area, [and] which lo- cation is having more issues than others,” McClellan said. Although increased school bus data can help identi- fy crash patterns to reduce incidents, there will always be an unpredictable element of chance on a road shared with other vehicles. “School buses are the safest vehicles on the road
statistically, but there’s a random element with auto [policies] that other drivers can hit you, and that can turn into liability,” said Carol Murphy, executive vice president and North American casualty practice leader at HUB International. Still, telematics can reduce costs by helping trans-
portation managers analyze and eliminate common crash risks. “They might not eliminate a catastrophic accident,
but when you’re buying first dollar coverage, there’s routine losses that might be $5,000, $10,000, $25,000 that can chip away at the profitability for the carrier,” Murphy said. “So, you can avoid a lot of accidents through telematics.” School bus safety can also be increased, not just by
installing more tools but by ensuring drivers are well- trained. Murphy pointed out that employee retention is an important risk factor in calculating insurance rates. Competitive employee benefits as well as driver coaching can create a workplace where people stay. “Any policies that reduce employee turnover are
really important because across all drivers in com- mercial insurance more longevity of an employee translates to more safety,” Murphy said. “That could be things like good employee benefits or employee assis- tance programs or pay levels as well as training.” Despite the benefits, one industry veteran cautions against being overly reliant on technology and letting
24 School Transportation News • JULY 2025
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