The Auto Liability Squeeze

A 2026 Field Guide for Field Service and Light-Duty Fleets

TRUCE white paper auto liability squeeze field service

14 Pages (PDF)

Commercial auto losses. Rising liability severity. Shrinking umbrella capacity.

Field service companies operating light-duty fleets are facing increasing pressure from rising insurance costs, nuclear verdicts, and shrinking umbrella capacity. This guide examines the trends driving commercial auto losses and what operators can do to strengthen their underwriting story before the next renewal cycle.

14 Years of Commercial Auto Losses

Why rates continue to rise even for companies with clean claims histories.

The Double Entrapment Gap

How company-issued devices can create liability exposure behind the wheel.

Nuclear Verdicts & Shrinking Umbrellas

Why excess coverage is becoming harder to obtain and more expensive to maintain.

What Underwriters Now Require

How carriers are evaluating distracted driving controls, telematics, and fleet risk.

36.5%

of commercial fleet trips show phone use

23x

higher crash-event risk from texting

75%+

rate increase on excess auto layers

7-15%

rate increase at renewal, even clean fleets