TRUCKING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK JOINS COALITION TO PROTECT DRIVERS FROM EXORBITANT AUTO INSURANCE PREMIUMS
New York’s Trucking Industry Leaders Partner with Citizens for Affordable Rates to Tackle New York’s Ongoing Affordability Crisis and Prevent Skyrocketing Insurance Rates
NEW YORK – The Trucking Association of New York (TANY), the voice of New York’s trucking industry, is proud to join Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR) to confront New York’s escalating auto insurance affordability crisis. Together, the groups are calling attention to an often-overlooked driver of rising premiums: staged accidents, fraudulent no-fault claims, and coordinated crash scams that inflate costs for honest drivers and responsible businesses.
“Citizens for Affordable Rates's mission to root out auto insurance fraud and staged crashes is directly related to the Trucking Association of New York’s mission to support the economy, promote driving safety, and keep costs down for New Yorkers,” said Kendra Hems, President of the Trucking Association of New York. “Last year’s viral video of a staged crash on the Belt Parkway was a stark look at the reality truck drivers are subjected to on New York roads. We are joining CAR to root out further instances of this abuse and push lawmakers in Albany to prevent reverberations which will inevitably raise costs for New Yorkers.”
New York is currently facing an auto insurance premium crisis, with commercial rates jumping as much as 300% over the last five years. New York’s trucking industry employs 327,540 New Yorkers, or 1 in 25 jobs in the state. Rising premiums threaten to balloon industry costs at a time when many operators are already trimming margins to adapt to changing regulatory frameworks. Left unchecked, fraudulent and exaggerated claims, among the top factors driving this surge, will contribute to increased costs for New Yorkers.
CAR’s broad, diverse coalition of community and business leaders is united in calling for anti-fraud reforms, stronger enforcement, and fairer insurance rates. With nearly 90% of communities in New York relying on trucks to move their goods, TANY’s membership now expands this movement to include the voices of the drivers, technicians, and operators which keep New York moving.
“New Yorkers are paying the bill for fraud that’s hiding in plain sight,” said XX spokesperson for Citizens for Affordable Rates. “Every staged crash, every inflated claim, and every abuse of the no-fault system drives up premiums for hardworking families and businesses across the state. Partnering with the Trucking Association of New York sends a clear message – we’re not going to stand by while fraudsters exploit the system and force New Yorkers and our state’s economy to pay the price.”
Based on the 2023 report from the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), 75% of all reported fraud cases were suspected to be no-fault insurance frauds. The most common types of this fraud involved staged car crashes and inflated medical claims. No-fault fraud occurs when individuals manipulate the no-fault insurance system, where each driver's own insurance company covers their medical and wage costs after an accident, regardless of who was at fault.
About the Trucking Association of New York
Since 1932, The Trucking Association of New York (TANY) has served as the unified voice advocating for New York’s trucking industry at all levels of government. TANY’s core mission revolves around creating jobs, supporting the economy, driving safety and delivering a sustainable future for our members. New York’s trucking industry accounts for about 1 out of every 25 jobs in New York State, paying wages in excess of $22.5 billion annually. The industry’s commitment to sustainability has seen progress to reduce emissions, and 60 trucks on the road today equals the output of one truck in 1988.
About Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR)
Citizens for Affordable Rates (CAR) is a coalition of citizens, advocates, and organizations dedicated to tackling the root causes of high insurance premiums in New York. Through advocacy, education, and policy reform, CAR is committed to building an affordable and dependable insurance system for all. To learn more, please visit: www.citizensforaffordablerates.org