A company in Ontario that provides quotes for trucking insurance is facing scrutiny after several licensed brokers claimed they are not connected to the business, despite being listed on its website as part of its team. This situation developed early yesterday morning, and soon after the inquiries were made on April 23, the brokers noticed their profiles were removed.
Operating under the name Ontario Trucking Insurance, the site claims to consist of a network of licensed professionals and prompts users to submit their details for quotes. However, at least three of the nine Ontario brokerages whose profiles appeared initially stated they were unfamiliar with the organization and had not permitted the use of their names, images, or details.
The Richmond St. headquarters listed by Ontario Trucking Insurance actually belongs to Mitch Insurance, leading to surprise for CEO Adam Mitchell.
Profiles of brokers were presented on a page claiming to introduce the “Expert Team,” stating they were licensed Ontario insurance brokers contributing their expertise in commercial trucking insurance. Ian McCowan from D.G. Dunbar & Associates, one of the listed experts, expressed his unfamiliarity with the organization.
Contact from RIBO
Adam Mitchell learned about the situation from the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO), which reached out to him on April 23 to confirm if he had authorized his name’s use. He clarified he had not. “Seeing the mix of people involved, it felt implausible that such a group could form a legitimate organization,” he noted.
The website’s legitimacy was further questioned as it lacked a verifiable address for itself and claimed to be registered with RIBO and affiliated with the Ontario Trucking Association (OTA), which later confirmed it had no record of such membership.
It has been speculated that the website could be an attempt to exploit licensed brokers’ reputations to sell nonexistent policies, generate leads for profit, or even broker insurance without proper authorization. Mitchell highlighted the danger this poses to those seeking genuine coverage, noting that it’s crucial for fleets to verify the legitimacy of the brokers they engage with.
To ensure safety, Joanna Mendonca recommends that individuals check the RIBO registry to confirm that both the brokerage and individual brokers are properly licensed and active.
