NTI’s Comprehensive Support for Australian Transport Fleets

With over 50 years in the industry, we’re committed to helping fleet businesses keep moving smoothly and safely. We know that transport operators face unique challenges, which is why we go above and beyond to protect what matters most.

More Than Just Coverage: We’re Here for Your People

At NTI, we believe insurance goes beyond covering vehicles. Fleet operators need support that looks after their people, especially when things go wrong.

“Our heavy motor offering provides a number of covers automatically to help the customer’s drivers and employees,” explains Brooke Caldwell, our National Heavy Motor Product Manager – Fleet.

“Medical assistance, trauma counselling and driver repatriation are just some examples of how our cover extends beyond standard vehicle damage cover,” adds Brooke. “Handling claim events timely and compassionately is part of our DNA.”

Kathleen Richards, one of our Technical Claims Managers, recalls an example of how we put this into practice: “In one claim, a driver for one of our insureds was completing their last run before retiring when they were involved in a fatal accident. This loss was felt far and wide across the company.” After the tragedy, NTI extended trauma counselling to the insureds’ entire team to ensure their people were supported in the wake of the incident.

Crisis Management and Public Relations: Protecting Your Reputation

When an incident goes public, a company’s reputation may be at stake. NTI was the first heavy motor insurance provider to offer Crisis Management and Public Relations (PR) support to help businesses handle high-profile incidents.

“With opt-in from the customer and broker, NTI’s PR partner Adoni Media can provide immediate support on media releases, fielding media contact, and managing social media. This allows our customers to focus on their core priorities while we handle public relations,” Kathleen explains.

As soon as we’re aware of a major incident, our PR team is ready to monitor and manage media and social channels, stepping in to provide necessary support so customers can stay focused on running their business.

The NTI Incident Response Team: Experts on Site

NTI’s Incident Response Team (IRT) is an essential resource for our customers. As Kathleen explains, “the team are available 24/7 and are able to work with local providers to either organise accident scene towing, site remediation, or dangerous goods cleanup.”

Kathleen recalls a recent example where the team stepped in to manage both environmental and cultural sensitivities following a fuel spill on Indigenous land. “The IRT worked directly with the traditional owners, consulting on all cleanup efforts and fencing off the site to protect local livestock.”

“We were able to consult with the traditional owners and coordinate with environmental experts to treat the site locally,” Kathleen explains. “By doing so, we avoided the high costs of transporting contaminated soil over 1,000 kilometres away for treatment.”

Our ethos is to ensure that customers, communities, and environments are looked after with care and expertise—going beyond a typical response to deliver peace of mind when it’s needed most.

A Community Mindset: Our Holistic Approach to Claims

Our approach to claims goes far beyond just processing repairs in isolation, it’s about how we consider the needs of both our customers and the communities they work in. This is evident when we respond to severe weather events that impact entire communities. A recent example of this was during the 2022 floods where NTI was one of the first insurance providers on the ground.

“By being first on the ground in the area, we were able to have our salvages go up for auction first, which resulted in higher returns on our salvages,” says Kathleen. “These returns on salvages are critical in keeping our customers’ claims costs and their loss ratios as minimal as possible.”

We make it a priority to work with local suppliers—repairers, towing companies, and contractors—to support community recovery.

“Many of our customers have council contracts and play a vital role in maintaining local infrastructure. In flood-affected areas, we worked with customers who had salvageable but operational equipment, allowing them to continue using their machinery to clear debris and stabilise roads,” explains Kathleen. “By enabling our customers to fulfill their contracts while waiting for settlements, we supported both their businesses and the wider community recovery effort.”

Part of the Solution: Forging Strong Industry Partnerships

NTI’s partnerships with Australia’s transport associations are central to our work. Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships, supporting the voice of industry.

“That includes championing the industry alongside our partners,” says Brett Paterson, NTI’s Proposition Manger – Fleet. “We sit down with members and discuss the most pressing issues that are facing that association. Beyond that, we have a number of NTI executives and key staff that are on committees of some of these associations.”

In the last five years, NTI has invested over $5 million in transport associations, advocating on issues from alternative fuel regulations to safety standards. It’s part of our commitment to supporting a safer, more sustainable future for operators.

NTI: Your Partner in Fleet Insurance

At NTI, we’re committed to providing practical, comprehensive support for Australia’s transport operators.

As Brooke sums it up, “given our decades of experience, our customers can have peace of mind knowing that NTI has a deep understanding of the challenges faced by Australian transport operators, and we are here to help.”

This article contains general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should obtain your own professional advice based on your personal circumstances. Our products are subject to limits and exclusions. And when making decisions about our products, consider the product disclosure statement and target market determinations available from Fleet Motor Insurance at https://www.nti.com.au/national-transport-insurance/fleet-motor-insurance. NTI is not responsible or liable for your use or reliance on the information in this article.