Vanliner is a full-service property and casualty insurer for the moving and storage industry, doing business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Vanliner was born out of an insurance “crisis” in the moving industry. In 1978, many movers found themselves facing wildly fluctuating premiums, indiscriminate policy cancellations, and coverage gaps among the various policies available from insurers who regarded the mover as “just another customer.”
One major transportation company, United Van Lines, provided a solution for its agents and independent owner/operators by organizing its own insurance program, which was Vanliner’s forerunner. It was also good timing, with motor carrier deregulation in 1980 further destabilizing the trucking industry and drawing positive attention to the Vanliner opportunity.
Over the years, Vanliner’s business expanded steadily, and TransProtection Service Company was established to perform sales, underwriting and claims administration functions.
Encouraged by the success of its initial insurance operations, United took a bold step in 1986 to become “full-service” with the purchase of a domestic insurance company, changing its name to Vanliner Insurance Company. In January 1987, Vanliner began operations.
With state authorities expanded to blanket the country, Vanliner began to selectively write coverages for trucking companies and movers outside the United Van Lines network. Customers were particularly impressed by the fact that Vanliner had “grown up” in the moving industry and had no interest other than providing first-class service to this specialized business segment.
Today, Vanliner is headquartered in Fenton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. It is a subsidiary of National Interstate Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of National Interstate Corporation (Nasdaq:NATL) and leading provider of transportation insurance since 1989. Many of Vanliner’s most loyal customers are the same van line agents who needed an insurance solution more than three decades ago and, impressed with the competitive rates and prompt service, have chosen to remain with Vanliner year after year. These original customers have been joined by a growing number of other best-in-class movers who also recognize the advantages of being insured by a company that understands their business.