Asked about the overall direction of the market, 37.5 percent of respondents say “flat”; 21.9 percent say “hardening”; and 32.8 percent say “soft.” In contrast, during the 2010 first quarter, 95 percent of sellers surveyed said the market was flat or soft.

For small accounts, respondents were split evenly three ways at 33.3 percent on whether premiums have increased, decreased or remained the same compared to the previous quarter.

For medium accounts, 35.9 percent say premiums have decreased, while an equal number says premiums are unchanged. Another 28.3 percent say premiums have increased.

On large accounts, 46.5 percent say they are seeing decreases, while 35.6 percent say premiums are unchanged and 20.9 percent say they are seeing increases.

Just under 47 percent say the number of insurers in the transportation class has remained the same, and almost 19 percent say the number has decreased. More than 34 percent say there are more insurers in this space.

Segment results provided in the most recent NIP survey give a few more indications of market hardening. For example, in classes like “specialized carriers of heavy equipment and riggers,” 42.5 percent of producers and underwriters surveyed say premiums rose between 1- and 10 percent in the first quarter. A year ago, only 5 percent of respondents reported increases, while 63 percent said specialized-rig premiums fell during first-quarter 2010.

Beyond its high-level summaries of overall opinions of market conditions and insurance capacity, NIP Group, in its reports for various quarters dating back to midyear 2008, graphically reveals bands of premiums changes indicated by survey respondents (“down 1-10 percent,” “no change,” “up 1-10 percent,” up 10-20 percent,” etc.) for 10 different segments

For all individual transportation segments, the number of respondents saying that premiums are remaining flat or increasing outnumbered those saying premiums decreased. The segments include trucking; intermodal trucking; specialized carriers and riggers; bulk transportation; messenger and courier services; charter, tour and transit buses; school buses; limousines; ambulances and medical; and airport ground transportation.

Based on the most recent quarter’s results, the “messenger and courier services” segment and the “charter, tour and transit bus operators segment” showed the most evidence of harder market conditions.

For the messenger/courier segment, nearly 90 percent of respondents reported premiums unchanged or rising, with 5 percent indicating double-digit hikes. NU’s historical records of prior NIP reports reveal that in first-quarter 2010, only 40 percent of survey participants said courier-premiums were unchanged or rising.

In the charter bus segment, 75 percent of sellers now report flat or increasing premiums, compared to less than 30 percent last year.

Detailed first-quarter 2011 results for other account sizes, segments and for various coverages (auto liability, physical damage, cargo, workers’ comp and umbrella) are summarized in the full report which is available for download at: http://www.nipgroup.com/corporate/tips-results-q1-2011.