Unitrin Q&A
In order for our agents and customers to better understand how the marketing relationship between Red Shield Insurance Company and Unitrin Specialty works, we have anticipated some of the more common questions.
- Q: What products apply within this marketing relationship?
- A: Unitrin Specialty offers the Commercial Vehicle. Red Shield offers the Cargo and/or Truckers General Liability.
- Q: Who is our point of contact for both products?
- A: The point of contact for both companies does not change, and the phone numbers are listed at the end of this document. Unitrin Specialty agents may contact Unitrin Specialty Underwriting for any service or underwriting questions or your local Unitrin Specialty Marketing Representative for all other questions. Red Shield agents may still contact Red Shield’s Inland Marine Department for Motor Truck Cargo and Truckers GL underwriting related questions, and Marketing for all other questions.
- Q: Does the manner in which I receive quotes or submit new business change in any way?
- A: Unitrin Specialty continues to handle all Commercial Auto quotes and applications. Red Shield continues to handle all Cargo and/or Truckers GL quotes and applications.
- Q: What if I’m appointed with one carrier but not the other?
- A: At Unitrin Specialty, please contact Jani Campbell. At Red Shield, please contact Jim Brown.
- Q: What are the benefits to my clients that write policies with both Red Shield and Unitrin Specialty?
- A: Unitrin Specialty offers a 10% GL/BOP discount off the Commercial Vehicle policy for having an in-force Truckers General
Liability with Red Shield, or a 5% discount for having a GL or BOP with a company other than Red Shield. (These discounts for Unitrin
are currently only applicable to the State of Oregon. We are filing with the Department of Insurance to add these discounts in
Washington in the future.)
Red Shield also offers a 10% discount on Motor Truck Cargo, along with a special endorsement offering coverage extensions and supplemental coverages when the corresponding Commercial Vehicle coverage is written through Unitrin Specialty. These Red Shield discounts are currently available in both Oregon and Washington. - Q: How do Unitrin Specialty and Red Shield make it easy for the agents to quote both policies?
- A: Both companies provide website links to the other company’s website, so that our agents can easily access the other company’s products for quoting or to access Red Shield’s applications.
- Q: What happens when either the Unitrin or Red Shield policy cancels mid-term? How is the policy impacted?
- A: In order to qualify for the Unitrin Specialty GL/BOP discount of 10%, Unitrin Specialty requires an in-force Truckers GL policy with
Red Shield at the time the Commercial Vehicle policy is written. Unitrin Specialty asks that the agent keeps a copy of the GL declarations page on file,
as this is an auditable discount that can be removed if sufficient documentation is not provided.
Red Shield also requires an in-force Commercial Auto policy in order to obtain the 10% discount off the Motor Truck Cargo policy. The Red Shield discount is also auditable and can be removed if sufficient documentation is not provided. If a policy lapses or is cancelled mid-term by one company, the discount is removed from the remaining in-force policy at the next renewal. - Q: If I place a risk with one carrier, does that guarantee placement with the other carrier?
- A: No, it does not guarantee placement. Each company’s list of acceptable and unacceptable risks is unchanged. Please refer to your Product or Underwriting Guide for the list of acceptable and unacceptable risks for each company, or give your underwriter a call.
- Q: Who handles claims and how are they submitted?
- A: Claims are handled by each respective company. Commercial Vehicle claims continue to go to Unitrin Specialty; and Cargo & Truckers GL claims continue to go to Red Shield.
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