RICHFIELD, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Interstate, a leading provider of passenger transportation insurance, reports that it now insures 30,000 school buses. The company also estimates that these units represent approximately 20% of school bus contractors' vehicles on US roads.
National Interstate has been insuring school buses since its inception in 1989. The company offers a full suite of coverages including automobile and general liability, physical damage, garage liability, and workers' compensation for alternative risk clients. Programs include traditional insurance, as well as several innovative alternative risk transfer programs for best-in-class school bus operations.
"Insuring school buses has always been one of our core markets, and we are excited about our ongoing growth in this business segment," said Terry Phillips Senior Vice President of National Interstate. "We were also pleased to note that 32% of the prestigious School Bus Fleet's 2012 Top 50 Contractors are insured with National Interstate. It is our long-term experience, expertise and commitment to the school bus market that allows us to build our customer base and meet the industry's highly-specialized needs."
"We attribute our success in the school bus arena to the partnerships that we build with our customers," added Jim Parks, Vice President of National Interstate. "One of the ways we foster relationships is by helping our insureds become better operators. We offer an extensive portfolio of risk management tools which we are continually expanding and enhancing. For example, in March of this year we rolled out a school bus driver training course which we are making available to all school bus clients insured with National Interstate. To date, over 35% of our customers have the course, and we continue to offer educational webinars to ensure they reap the full benefits of the program. This initiative not only helps customers minimize losses, it also assists in controlling insurance costs while making transportation safer for drivers, children and the general public."
For more information about National Interstate's school bus contractor insurance programs, contact Mike Bissler, at 800-929-1500 x1349, or mike.bissler@natl.com.
About National Interstate
National Interstate Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Interstate Corporation, is a specialty property and casualty insurance company with a niche orientation and focus on the transportation industry. We differentiate ourselves by offering insurance products and services designed to meet the unique needs of targeted insurance buyers. Products include insurance for passenger, moving and storage, and truck transportation companies, alternative risk transfer, or captive insurance programs for commercial risks, specialty personal lines consisting of insurance products focused primarily on recreational vehicle owners and small commercial vehicle accounts, and transportation and general commercial insurance in Hawaii and Alaska. National Interstate and its insurance subsidiaries, which include Vanliner Insurance Company and Triumphe Casualty Company, are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Founded in 1989, we are headquartered in Richfield, Ohio with operations in Honolulu, Hawaii, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and Fenton, Missouri.