About Us | Great West Casualty Company

FOUNDED ON TRUCKING

THE HISTORY OF GREAT WEST

Great West Casualty Company was founded more than 65 years ago to serve the needs of the trucking industry. Today, we’re one of America's largest truck insurance companies, offering coverage in 46 states.

Our story about Great West starts in 1936 when the Interstate Commerce Commission was formed to impose new transportation regulations across the nation. At that time Great West’s founder, Joseph A. Morten, started a business to help truckers obtain operating authority from states.

His son, Joseph W. Morten, later joined the business. Together they expanded to meet their trucking clients’ other needs, including providing insurance. In 1956, Great West Casualty Company was created, and Morten established a culture focused on service and partnership with trucking professionals. (pictured right: Gene Murdock (left) and Joseph W. Morten.

In 1985, Great West proudly joined the Old Republic Insurance Group.

Today, Great West has a reputation for providing our clients with unparalleled trucking insurance and safety services through innovative underwriting, claims, loss prevention, and subrogation departments. We partner with more than 200 independent agencies that specialize in truck insurance, and we work closely with the trucking companies we insure to design customized policies to protect their businesses.

Our devotion to unparalleled service has helped us grow through our Great West History. We now insure more than 40,000 trucking companies across the United States.

ABOUT GREAT WEST'S

FINANCIAL STRENGTH AND STABILITY

Great West Casualty Company has been rated by multiple insurance rating services. These ratings confirm our financial strength and our ability to pay our clients’ insurance claims now and in the future.

Our ratings*:

A.M. Best's rating of A+ (superior)
S & P Global rating of A+
Moody's rating of A2

Most importantly, they demonstrate that Great West has the financial soundness and stability to protect what is most important to truck drivers: their futures.

Great West Casualty Company is a part of the Old Republic General Insurance Group, the largest business segment within Old Republic International Corporation, one of the nation's 50 largest publicly held insurance organizations. Our oldest insurance subsidiary dates back to 1887. Since 1923, Old Republic has grown as a specialty insurance business. We have one of the industry's best records as a long-term growth company. As a result, we serve many of America's leading industrial and financial services companies. For more information, visit www.oldrepublicinsurancegroup.com. Insurance contracts are underwritten and issued by Old Republic Insurance Company, a member of the Old Republic group of insurance companies.

*Rating determinations made by rating agencies are subject to change from time to time. While the Company attempts to show accurate information, it cannot assure the timeliness of ratings referred to herein and assumes no obligation to monitor the ratings actions of any rating agency. AM Best ratings as of July 12, 2023; Standard & Poor's as of October 16, 2023; Moody's as of November 9, 2022. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) ratings from AM Best represent the 2nd and 3rd highest ratings, respectively, among 13 rating categories. An A2 rating from Moody's (Highest Quality) represents the 6th highest rating among 21 rating categories and an A+ (Strong) from Standard & Poor's represents the 5th highest rating among 20 rating categories.

about great west's

CORPORATE VALUES

The character of our company is demonstrated by the daily actions of our Great West employees and agents. We uphold these six values as the foundation of our success.

Celebration

We are enthusiastic about work and life. This energy leads to positive working relationships with all of our business partners, both internal and external. We celebrate team successes and achievements as we work together to run an efficient, effective, and enjoyable work environment.

Empowerment

We are personally committed to achieving the highest standards of success. We take ownership of the quality and quantity of work completed, and we utilize intentional decision-making to identify and solve problems.

Integrity

We partner honestly and fairly with the businesses and people we insure, our agents, and our employees. We believe we have a responsibility and commitment to follow through on our promises. We will never compromise on our ethical code of conduct.

Opportunity

We challenge ourselves to seek feedback for the purpose of improving work performance. We keep an open mind to new ideas and suggestions in order to enhance our performance. Through continual skills-based and knowledge-based learning, we develop and leverage our strengths to the benefit of all.

Respect

We respect the dignity of each individual and treat all people with thoughtful consideration and equity. All conversations, decisions, and actions are conducted ethically and with open communication to ensure proper perspective.

Service

We are servant leaders who exist to help others. Through this service, profit and growth are never compromised. As such, we focus on identifying agent and insured needs and promise to respond in a timely and effective manner. We strive to exceed the expected value to all whom we interact with whenever possible.

As a member of the Old Republic family of insurance companies, Great West’s values are in harmony with its code of ethics, to which we adhere completely.

GREAT WEST'S

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY HOTLINE

Complaints or concerns regarding questionable accounting standards, accounting controls, auditing matters, or any other activities believed to be unlawful, contrary to corporate policy, or otherwise improper, may be reported to the audit committee of the company's Board of Directors.

The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. You may submit a report anonymously. All submissions are sent promptly to the company's audit committee for further review and handling.

submit a report

behind the wheel

Our leadership team

Jeff Allen, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Mary Anderson, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND TREASURER
Mandy Graham, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Sarah Hansen, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Gina Jepsen, VICE PRESIDENT
Terry Keime, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, UNDERWRITING AND CORPORATE SAFETY SERVICES
Dick Lehr, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Steve Olson, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Steve Ponder, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Craig Posson, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
Jesse Wendlandt, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
Bill Wiebelhaus, VICE PRESIDENT, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY