Nussbaum: Using data-driven fleet strategies for $300,000 in insurance savings

Nussbaum Trucking, a Midwest carrier with 550 trucks and 700 employees, cut $300,000 in annual insurance costs — auto liability and physical damage combined — after implementing Geotab telematics across their fleet. Their results show how real-time vehicle data, proactive driver coaching, and collision reconstruction can transform both fleet safety and bottom-line outcomes for trucking companies operating at scale in the United States.

The challenge: a fleet that needed more than tracking

Nussbaum is a purpose-driven trucking company that moves freight and keeps America's supply chain moving. With approximately 550 trucks on the road and a company vision centered on creating a positive impact in every interaction — with drivers, vendors, and partners — technology has become central to everything they do.

"When I first started, technology was kind of an afterthought," said Douglas Knepp, CIO at Nussbaum, who has been with the company for over 25 years, starting as a developer. "Now it's at the forefront of everything we do because everything is integrated to technology."

With a complex web of integrations and a drive to build innovative tools on top of their telematics platform, Nussbaum needed more than a basic GPS solution. They were looking for a platform with three non-negotiable qualities: rich data, consistent reliability, and the openness to build on top of it.

"We were looking for a platform that gave us rich data, was reliable, always up to date — because we had a lot of integrations and innovations we wanted to build on top of that platform. We wanted something that would give us very current data, very accurate data, and was easy to access." mentioned Kneep.

The solution: Geotab, deployed through advantage one

Nussbaum partnered with Advantage One, a fleet technology reseller with deep Geotab expertise, to implement the platform across their fleet. The deployment focused on four operational areas: remote vehicle diagnostics, hours of service compliance, driver safety coaching, and custom application development.

Remote Vehicle Diagnostics

For the first time, Nussbaum's operations team could access real-time vehicle data — engine sensor readings, dashboard warning lights, and driver location — without relying solely on what drivers reported over the phone. This fundamentally changed how the team responded to driver issues on the road.

“Before, we had to base our next step on what the driver's feedback would give us — what are they hearing, what are they seeing? Now we can pull the Geotab platform and get sensor readings, what lights are on the dash, and get a better sense of what the driver needs from us." - James Grier, Director of Fleet Services

The team views this capability as just the beginning. "I feel like we've only scratched the surface when it comes to utilizing that platform to better our maintenance for our drivers." concluded Grier.

Customizable safety alerts

Nussbaum configured Geotab's alert system to fit the specific needs of their fleet and operations. Unlike one-size-fits-all solutions, the platform allowed the safety team to define the triggers and thresholds that mattered most to their drivers and routes. "It's unique for me in a sense that we can customize these alerts to our fleet and our needs," said Nussbaum's Director of HR and Safety.

Hours of service compliance

Working closely with Advantage One, Nussbaum built custom hours of service reports within the Geotab platform. These reports allow the team to identify compliance issues before they become violations — and to reach out to drivers proactively.

"We've really worked alongside our reseller Advantage One to create reports for hours of service (HOS) so that we can be more efficient and more on top of hours of service issues that happen — so we can reach out and have those conversations and be proactive versus reactive in the coaching, training, and development that we're doing with our drivers." - Rick Schmidt, Director of HR and Safety.

Custom ETA calculator

Nussbaum developed a proprietary ETA calculator built directly on top of the Geotab platform. The tool pulls each driver's last known location, current hours of service status, and broader operational data to generate accurate, real-time arrival estimates — and trigger automated alerts when needed. It is one of several custom features the company has built on Geotab's open data infrastructure.

Collision data reconstruction: protecting drivers and the business

One of the most significant operational benefits Nussbaum gained from Geotab is the ability to reconstruct collision data without dispatching personnel to the scene. When an incident occurs — or even when a driver is involved in a situation that may escalate to insurance or legal proceedings — Nussbaum can pull precise vehicle data to document exactly what happened.

"Hopefully, the goal is never to have to — we don't want to have accidents and incidents — but we want to be able to show that our driver was doing the right thing, was properly handling the truck," said the Director of HR and Safety. "The data reconstruction allows us to work with our insurance, allows us to work with — if it ever gets to a lawyer — and show them the information without bringing people onto the scene." - Rick Schmidt, Director of HR and Safety.

The speed and accessibility of this data is equally important. "It allows us to gather all that information and send it right away without a lot of heavy lifting. Being able to have it at your fingertips, easily accessible — I can request it and have it at the end of the day and know that what our driver did was proper going down the road."

The results: $300,000 in insurance savings

At Nussbaum's most recent insurance renewal, the company recorded a $300,000 reduction in auto liability and physical damage premiums. The savings are a direct reflection of Nussbaum's improved safety record — one built on consistent driver coaching, proactive compliance management, and the ability to defend drivers with verified data.

"We are thankful to have a great safety record," said Schmidt. "This past insurance renewal, we saw a drop of $300,000 in our auto liability and physical damage. Being able to share that with drivers, being able to share that with the office, and being able to share that with a company like Geotab that helps us be proactive in our situations — has been meaningful."

The advantage one partnership

Nussbaum credits Advantage One as a critical factor in making the most of the Geotab platform. The reseller's responsiveness, technical ownership, and direct access to Geotab's team made the difference between a standard deployment and one that produced measurable, sustained results.

"Advantage One has been very personable for us to work with — easy to connect with, easy to get a hold of, and they take ownership of issues. They've been great to work with from a vendor point of view, and they have the connections at Geotab to get us results." - Douglas Knepp, CIO.

For fleets evaluating telematics solutions, Nussbaum's experience highlights the value of a partner who listens before recommending: “If you want someone who's not just bringing their own solutions but listening to yours and trying to make it happen — that's Geotab.”

Fleet safety and insurance cost reduction: what the data shows

For U.S. trucking fleets, insurance premiums are one of the largest and most volatile operating costs — and telematics data is becoming the primary lever for reducing them. Nussbaum's $300,000 insurance savings are consistent with broader industry patterns: active users of Geotab's safety solutions experience 28.7% fewer collisions compared to non-users, according to Geotab's 2026 Commercial Transportation Report. Insurers are increasingly rewarding carriers who can provide verified safety data  — not just clean records, but documented proof of driver behavior, incident reconstruction, and proactive compliance management. 

Geotab equips transportation and logistics fleets to do exactly that: turn telematics data into a negotiating asset at renewal time, demonstrate liability protection in the event of litigation, and build a culture of safety that reduces the frequency of claims before they happen. For fleets looking to reduce fleet insurance premiums, prevent commercial vehicle collision, and strengthen their safety program with actionable data, Geotab's platform provides the evidence-based foundation that both insurers and regulators recognize.