The Patch Playbook | Edition 005
What Carriers Are Digging Into...and How to Close the Gap Before It Costs You
Insurance renewals aren’t what they used to be.
Ten years ago, a clean loss history and a few COIs might’ve been enough. Not anymore.
Carriers are asking harder questions. They're digging into the “how” behind your operation, not just the “what.”
Why? Because loss trends are rising, litigation is more aggressive, and underwriters are getting smarter (and more cautious).
If you’re in the oilfield service space, you need to know what’s coming under the microscope before it hits your rates.
Let’s break it down:
🔍 1. Safety Culture Beyond the Manual
You’ve got a safety program...but is it working? Carriers want evidence that your team isn’t just trained, but actively engaged in safety.
They're looking for:
What to do: → Track safety meetings and attendance → Create a simple log for corrections and retraining → Involve field supervisors in shaping policy updates
📂 2. Subcontractor Controls
If you’re using subcontractors (and almost everyone is), carriers want to know:
What to do: → Build a subcontractor onboarding checklist → Require non-negotiable endorsements like Additional Insured (CG 20 10 + CG 20 37), Waiver of Subrogation, and Primary/Non-Contributory status → Maintain active renewal tracking — expired COIs are a red flag
🧯 3. Claims Management Process
A company’s claims history doesn’t just tell insurers what happened — it tells them how you responded.
Are you:
What to do: → Assign a point person to own claims handling → Set up a 24–48 hour internal claims response protocol → Implement light-duty programs to reduce lost time claims
🚛 4. Fleet and Driver Oversight
Auto liability is one of the biggest cost drivers in oil & gas. Carriers are looking for more than insured trucks; they want proof of driver management.
They’re digging into:
What to do: → Use digital systems to track driver compliance → Conduct quarterly internal DOT audits → Implement driver training refreshers — especially after incidents
📉 5. Loss Trend Insights
One bad year? That’s insurance. Three bad years with the same root cause? That’s a risk management failure.
Carriers want to see your plan for addressing loss trends and proof that you're acting on it.
What to do: → Review loss runs quarterly, not just at renewal → Identify trends by type, location, or employee group → Turn that insight into training, controls, or equipment changes
🏁 Bottom Line
Underwriters aren’t just pricing policies, they’re evaluating operational maturity.
If you can’t show how you’re managing risk across your subcontractors, safety program, drivers, and claims, they’ll assume you’re not.
And when that happens, the gap between what you’re paying and what you could be paying… gets wide, fast.
Want help preparing for your next renewal?
I work with oilfield companies to close compliance gaps and position themselves better with underwriters, not just quote and hope.
Shoot me a message on LinkedIn or email me at caden@bralyinsurance.com. Let’s make sure you’re not leaving money (or risk) on the table.
You can also schedule a meeting with me at the link below:
Coming Next in The Patch Playbook: 🔥 Top Claim Scenarios That Hammer Oilfield Companies — and How to Stay Off That List
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