$4.9 Billion in Losses Signal Deepening Pressure in Commercial Auto, Even as Data and AI Expand Visibility

(NewsUSA) - The commercial auto industry is entering another year of sustained strain, as rising claims severity, persistent risky driving behaviors, and escalating litigation continue to push losses higher—even as fleets and insurers gain unprecedented access to data and technology.

SambaSafety, a provider of cloud-based driver risk management solutions, outlines the findings in its 2026 Driver Risk Report: Current Trends Shaping Roadway Safety. The report documents a 64% increase in claims severity since 2015, and citing industry research, an 81% rise in thermonuclear verdicts—jury awards exceeding $100 million—in 2024 alone. Commercial underwriting losses approached $4.9 billion that same year, according to data cited in the report.