Short answer
A loss run is a report from your insurer listing the claims charged against your policy, with dates, payments, and open reserves. In Texas, Insurance Code Section 542.102 lets a policyholder request a list of claims and payments in writing, and Section 542.103 requires the insurer to provide it within 30 days of receiving the request.
- Underwriters ask for loss runs, usually covering several recent years, before they will quote a trucking account. Requesting them early is the easiest way to avoid a renewal scramble.
What is on a loss run
Formats vary by insurer, but a trucking loss run usually shows:
- Policy number, line of coverage, and policy period
- Each claim's date of loss and a short description
- Amounts paid and amounts still reserved (the insurer's estimate of what an open claim will cost)
- Open or closed status
- A "valued as of" date, which tells the underwriter how current the report is
A claim with a large open reserve can matter as much as a paid one, because underwriters price for what they expect the claim to cost. If a reserve looks wrong, ask the claims adjuster for a review before you shop the account.
Your right to the report in Texas
Texas gives policyholders two related rights in Insurance Code Chapter 542, Subchapter C:
- Section 542.102: on written request, an insurer that writes property and casualty insurance in Texas must provide a list of claims charged against the policy and payments made on each claim. (Certain workers compensation policies are carved out.)
- Section 542.101: a named insured under a liability policy, including commercial auto liability, can request information about a specific claim, such as the claimant and amount paid, within six months after the claim is resolved.
- Section 542.103: the insurer must provide the information in writing within 30 days of receiving the request.
Put the request in writing, email the insurer or your agent, and keep a copy with the date sent.
How underwriters use them
When you apply for new coverage, face a renewal increase, or get a non-renewal, the new underwriter will want loss runs for each line: auto liability, physical damage, cargo, and workers comp if you carry it. Most will also look at your FMCSA safety data, which is why CSA scores come up in the same conversation.
A short written explanation of each significant claim (what happened, what you changed afterward) gives the underwriter context that the loss run itself does not.
Common questions
How many years of loss runs do I need?
It depends on the underwriter. Requests for several recent years are common. Ask for every year you have been insured so you are not waiting on a second request.
Can my new agent request loss runs for me?
Usually yes, with a signed authorization from you. The insurer still responds to the policyholder's request, so signing it yourself can speed things up.
What if I am a new venture with no loss history?
Then there are no loss runs to provide. Underwriters lean on driver experience, MVRs, and prior employment instead. See what a new venture trucking policy looks like.
Do loss runs include claims that were denied?
Many do, often showing zero paid. Formats vary, so read the report and ask the insurer to explain any line you do not recognize.
Sources
- Texas Insurance Code, Chapter 542, Subchapter C. Sections 542.101 to 542.103: claims information on written request and the 30-day response deadline.
- IRMI glossary: loss run. Definition of a loss run as an insurer report of claim information.
This page explains insurance, not law. Have your attorney review indemnity and contract language; our job is making the insurance match it.
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