Privately held national insurance broker from Dubuque, IA with a large transportation practice covering trucking P&C, group captives, safety services, claims management and benefits.
Services
Who it serves
Overview
Cottingham & Butler is a privately and independently held insurance broker (agency) headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It traces its history to 1887, and it describes itself as the "3rd largest privately and independently held insurance broker" in the U.S. It does not underwrite policies itself. It places coverage with insurers and builds risk programs for clients.
Transportation is one of its main industries. The firm says it has more than 300 dedicated transportation professionals and more than 2,300 trucking clients across the country. Beyond placing insurance, it runs in-house safety and claims teams and manages group captives for trucking companies.
Compare with other Insurance providers: Roanoke Insurance Group, Progressive Commercial and Great West Casualty Company, or see all Insurance.
Services
On the property and casualty side, Cottingham & Butler's transportation page lists auto liability, non-trucking liability, cargo, physical damage, general liability, workers compensation, umbrella and excess, alternative risk, independent contractor coverage and cyber.
Its captive practice is a defining feature. The firm says it has worked with group trucking captives for more than 30 years and serves eight member-owned group trucking captives, with dedicated loss control and claims management. Captives let a group of carriers share risk and potentially share in the results, which can appeal to fleets with strong safety records.
Safety Management Services Company, its safety arm, offers safety program analysis and benchmarking, driver risk evaluation, loss analysis and improvement plans, driver and management training tools, safety culture consulting and mock simulations.
Cottingham & Butler Claims Services works with guaranteed cost, large deductible, captive and self-insured clients. The firm describes an in-house claims advocacy team, a dedicated adjuster model, claims technology and reporting, and in-house nurse case management.
For independent contractors, it offers a risk scorecard and assessment, occupational accident, physical damage and non-trucking liability protection, and a drive and tow away program. It also has an inside sales team for small fleets of 1 to 10 units and a transportation-focused employee benefits practice.
Who it is for
Cottingham & Butler serves the full range of trucking operations, from owner-operators and small fleets to national fleets. Larger carriers that want alternative risk options, such as captives or large deductible programs, along with hands-on safety and claims support, are a natural fit. Small fleets can use its inside sales team for faster quotes and certificates. Carriers that lease independent contractors can use its contractor programs to cover those drivers.
How working with them works
Small fleets can request a quote through a dedicated quote page on the firm's site. Larger fleets typically work with a transportation sales executive who reviews their current program. For small fleets, the firm highlights fast certificate turnaround, cargo and liability exposure reviews, coverage gap analysis and support for new ventures.
As a broker, Cottingham & Butler places coverage with insurance companies, so premiums are set by those insurers or by captive structures. Pricing is not published. Clients have access to a client login, and the firm hosts an annual Transportation Summit.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask which insurers or captives will write each line of your coverage, and check each insurer's current AM Best rating yourself.
Get a written summary of auto liability, cargo, physical damage, general liability, workers compensation, umbrella and any occupational accident coverage for contractors. Request the cargo form and ask about exclusions for theft, unattended vehicles, reefer breakdown and specific commodities.
If you are considering a captive, ask about the capital or collateral required, how losses are shared among members, how dividends are determined, and what happens if you leave. Ask what safety standards members must meet.
Confirm who handles federal and state filings, including the BMC-91X from your auto liability insurer. If you also broker freight, ask whether the firm can place contingent cargo, contingent auto liability, E&O and a BMC-84 surety bond.
Ask how claims are managed: whether you will have a dedicated adjuster, how the claims advocacy team works with the insurer, and how reserves are set. Finally, ask which safety services are included and which cost extra.
Company background
Cottingham & Butler says it began as a single storefront on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1887 and grew over generations into a national firm. It remains privately and independently held, with more than 1,300 professionals.
Leadership listed on its site includes Andrew Butler as executive chairperson, David Becker as CEO, Mike Hessling as president and John E. Butler as chairperson. Beyond transportation, the firm serves construction, food and agribusiness, hotels, manufacturing, tribal nations and waste management clients.
Sources
Information compiled from public sources. Last verified November 2026. Confirm details directly with the company.
