Telematics systems collect and transmit data from a vehicle, combining GPS tracking with insights from engine diagnostics, braking behavior, speed, idle time and more. In many fleets, that data is supplemented by ELDs and onboard video cameras, offering a deeper view into driver habits and day-to-day operations.
While once reserved for large carriers with complex logistics needs, these tools have become standard across fleets of all sizes. Not just for compliance with federal regulations, but to help reduce accidents, lower costs and ultimately, save lives.
Most trucking fleets must have ELDs in their trucks, as required by law. If you're driving under the short-haul exemption, you can hit the road within a 100-air-mile radius or up to 150 miles for some non-CDL drivers without needing to use an ELD. However, most fleets find ELDs and their data useful, so they are commonly used even with exemptions.
Telematics has put the power back in the hands of fleets and the brokers who support them. Instead of using emails and spreadsheets, they can now share a clear flow of odometer readings, VINs, and location data. This helps fleets show exactly what vehicles they have and how they’re used. With this info, brokers can negotiate better coverage terms based on real facts.
Here’s how that plays out in the real world:
Telematics is not just a passive tool; it's a digital handshake that facilitates collaboration. Fleets share transparent information, which brokers then use to gain leverage. Insurers can quickly verify this data and adjust their pricing based on the associated risk. The outcome is smoother renewal processes, improved safety feedback loops and coverage that accurately matches the needs of the operation, without the need for constant oversight.
Of course, there’s a catch. With so many telematics providers and platforms, aggregating and analyzing the data can be a logistical challenge. That’s where TruckerCloud comes in.
TruckerCloud is a data bridge between fleets and insurers. Their platform gives insurers real-time access to standardized data without requiring fleets to switch vendors or juggle complex integrations – opening the door for more accurate underwriting, faster quoting and tailored safety programs. Just as important, it helps fleet owners see the value in their telematics investment, not just in operations, but in insurance outcomes.
Our Amwins Special Risk Underwriters work with TruckerCloud to offer a seamless experience for our clients and carrier partners. This partnership gives us the tools to advocate for better rates, faster turnaround times and programs built around real-time insights, not outdated assumptions.
The transportation landscape is changing fast, and as technology becomes more embedded in every mile, it’s reshaping how we think about risk. Telematics isn’t about watching drivers. It’s about seeing the road clearly.
Amwins understands that by working together we can create a safer, more sustainable trucking ecosystem. Our team of end-to-end transportation brokerage and underwriting specialists offer comprehensive coverage for short- and long-haul trucking operations, commercial and public auto, aviation, maritime businesses and more.
We’re not in the cab; we’re in your corner. To learn more about our comprehensive suite of solutions designed to address a broad range of transportation business risks, click here.
