Avalon Risk Management
Avalon Risk Management is a privately held specialty insurance agency and surety bond provider, founded in 1998 and focused exclusively on the trade and transportation industry, serving customs brokers, freight forwarders, motor carriers, warehouse operators, and drone operators across the United States and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersElk Grove Village, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Avalon Risk Management does
Avalon Risk Management is a privately held specialty insurance agency and surety bond provider, founded in 1998 and headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. The company focuses exclusively on the trade and transportation industry, serving customs brokers, freight brokers and forwarders, motor carriers, warehouse operators, air and ocean freight intermediaries, and emerging drone operators across the United States and Canada. Its product portfolio spans U.S. and Canadian customs bonds, transportation bonds (including the TIA Bond Program), ATA Carnets, cargo insurance, professional liability, business insurance, truck insurance, warehouse programs, and specialty/executive risk lines.
The core technology asset is Merlin, a proprietary portal that underpins bond issuance in two minutes or less and supports Canada Border Services Agency CARM compliance workflows. The Merlin Information Exchange (MIX) provides software integration capabilities that let clients embed bond and cargo management directly into their operational systems, with the platform having been developed and refined over approximately 25 years. Distribution is primarily direct and relationship-driven through regional offices in Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Houston/Humble, Los Angeles/Torrance, Phoenix, Charleston, and Atlanta, supplemented by industry association partnerships (NCBFAA, TIA, FIATA, PCC) and a December 2023 exclusive program-administrator arrangement with Zurich Canada for Canadian customs bonds.
Avalon generates revenue through commissions on insurance placements and through premiums and processing fees on surety bonds. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Late-2025 product expansion into Hurricane Insurance for Tier 1 coastal markets outside Florida, alongside the Cyber Defense Package, indicates a deliberate broadening of the product surface beyond the historical surety/cargo core, while a leadership cadence including a 2022 VP Sales & Marketing promotion and February 2026 senior hires reflects ongoing commercial-team investment.
Avalon Risk Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Avalon Risk Management
- Legal name
- Avalon Risk Management Insurance Agency LLC
- Website
- https://avalonrisk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Avalon Risk Management is a privately held specialty insurance agency and surety bond provider, founded in 1998 and focused exclusively on the trade and transportation industry, serving customs brokers, freight forwarders, motor carriers, warehouse operators, and drone operators across the United States and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Avalon Risk Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade and Transportation Insurance
- NAICS
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)
- SIC
- Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional Umbrella / Excess (E&O/D&O Wrap) (FSAJANAH), Product Liability Umbrella / Excess (FSAJANAI), Umbrella & Excess Liability (Fleet/Transportation) (TLABANAG)
Keywords
Where Avalon Risk Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elk Grove Village
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Avalon Risk Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Insurance Products: Commission-based insurance products including cargo insurance, truck insurance, business insurance, professional liability, specialty and executive risk insurance. Products are distributed directly through the company's sales team.
- Surety Bonds: Customs bonds, transportation bonds, ATA carnets, and specialty bond programs. Revenue generated through bond premiums and processing fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Annual | Quote-based pricing for all insurance and surety products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Avalon Risk Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Avalon Risk Management provides specialty insurance and surety bond products and services tailored to the trade and transportation industry. Its core offerings include customs bonds (U.S. and Canadian), transportation bonds (including TIA Bond Program), ATA carnets, cargo insurance, professional liability, business insurance, truck insurance, warehouse programs, and specialty/executive risk insurance. These are administered and distributed through the proprietary Merlin technology platform, which enables clients to file bonds in two minutes or less and remain compliant with regulations such as CARM, FMCSA, and CBP.
Product overview
Avalon Risk Management offers a comprehensive suite of insurance and surety products and services for the trade and transportation industry, with Merlin (including Merlin Information Exchange/MIX) serving as the core technology platform enabling digital bond issuance, CARM compliance, and cargo management. The product portfolio includes Customs Bonds (U.S. and Canadian), Transportation Bonds (including TIA Bond Program), ATA Carnets, Specialty Bond Programs, Cargo Insurance, Professional Liability (including Truck Broker Liability and Contingent Auto Liability), Business Insurance, Specialty & Executive Risk Insurance (including Cyber Defense Package with Shield Network Scan), Truck Insurance, Warehouse Program, Drone Insurance, Hurricane Insurance, and Support Services. The company has been engaged in the trade and transportation industry since 1998, operating across the U.S. and Canada.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Customs Bonds Surety bond products including U.S. Bonds, Canadian Bonds, ATA Carnets, FTZ (Foreign Trade Zone), and Carrier Bonds for customs compliance and trade facilitation, sold to customs brokers and importers/exporters.
- Canadian Customs Bonds Specialized customs bond products for the Canadian market, administered through a strategic initiative with Zurich Canada for D-120 customs bonds in response to CBSA requirements and CARM Release 2.
- Transportation Bonds Surety bonds for transportation intermediaries including FMCSA Property/Freight Broker and Domestic Freight Forwarder bonds, FMC OTI bonds, SDDC bonds, and DOT bonds.
- TIA Bond Program A premier surety bond program exclusive to TIA members, offering $100,000 and $250,000 bonds to fulfill FMCSA requirements for property/freight brokers and domestic surface freight forwarders.
- ATA Carnets International customs document services for temporary admission of commercial samples, professional equipment, and exhibition/fair goods, providing duty-free temporary import into approved countries.
- Specialty Bond Programs Customized surety bond programs addressing specialized bonding needs in the trade and transportation industry beyond standard customs and transportation bonds.
- Cargo Insurance Insurance coverage for cargo including All-Risk Shipper's Interest, FPA (Free of Particular Average), WA (With Average) coverage, Project/Special Shipments, and Shield Coverage.
- Professional Liability Errors & Omissions, Cargo Legal Liability, Contingent Motor Truck Cargo, and Contingent Auto Liability coverage for logistics professionals.
- Combined Transit Liability Program Comprehensive liability coverage combining Contingent Auto Liability, Contingent Motor Truck Cargo, and Contingent Auto Liability for freight brokers and forwarders.
- Business Insurance Commercial insurance products including Commercial General Liability, Business Auto, Property, Workers' Comp, Excess/Umbrella, and Crime coverage for trade and transportation businesses.
- Specialty & Executive Risk Insurance Specialized coverage including Employment Practices Liability (EPLI), Directors & Officers (D&O), Cyber Liability, Fiduciary, and Trade Credit insurance for trade and transportation businesses.
- Cyber Defense Package Comprehensive cyber insurance coverage including cyber extortion and ransomware, social engineering schemes, data breach, destruction of data, privacy notification expenses, crisis management, and access to pre/post-incident response services including network vulnerability scanning.
- Truck Insurance Commercial vehicle insurance including Commercial Auto Liability, Physical Damage, Motor Truck Cargo, Trailer Interchange, and General Liability for trucking operations.
- Warehouse Program Insurance program for warehouse operators covering Warehouse Legal Liability, Property & General Liability, and Crime.
- Drone Insurance Specialized insurance coverage for drone operators in the transportation and logistics industry.
- Hurricane Insurance Specialized property insurance product launched to protect high-risk property owners in Tier 1 coastal markets from Brownsville, TX to Newport News, VA (excluding Florida), offering stable premiums, lower deductibles, and risk management services.
- Merlin Platform A proprietary technology platform that enables clients to file bonds in 2 minutes or less, manage import bonds, stay CARM compliant, and access cargo and bond issuance capabilities for the trade and transportation industry.
- Merlin Information Exchange (MIX) A component of the Merlin technology platform that facilitates software integration and data exchange capabilities for clients in the trade and transportation industry.
Companies that use Avalon Risk Management
Customer profileSegments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Avalon Risk Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Avalon Risk Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Zurich CanadacoreZurich Canada granted Avalon exclusive authority as Program Administrator to manage the sale, solicitation, and distribution of Canadian Customs Bonds using Avalon's proprietary Merlin technology. This strategic initiative responds to CBSA requirements for D-120 Customs Bonds and CARM Release 2 implementation.
- Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA)coreAvalon is an Elite Participant in the TIA Marketplace and sponsor of TIA events including the Policy Forum and CTB Scholarship Program. Offers TIA Bond program recognized as a premier surety bond for FMCSA compliance.
- Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Associations (PCC)coreAvalon co-sponsors WESCCON scholarships with PCC, awarding scholarships to enable industry members to attend the annual conference. Avalon has sponsored this program for 16 consecutive years.
- National Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association (NCBFAA)coreAvalon participates in NCBFAA Government Affairs Conference and advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill regarding regulations affecting the transportation industry.
- FIATAminorAvalon is listed as a resource partner or member supporting international freight forwarding industry standards and practices.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Avalon Risk Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Amwins: Amwins is the largest U.S. specialty wholesale distributor with significant transportation, cargo, and surety practice groups. Larger and broader than Avalon, but competes directly in placing specialty transportation and trade-related insurance and surety products.
- Hub International: Hub International is a large North American insurance brokerage with dedicated transportation and logistics practices. Broader portfolio than Avalon but offers overlapping cargo, bond, and liability products to similar freight and customs broker clients.
- NFP (an Aon company): NFP is a mid-sized property and casualty broker with transportation and logistics specialty practices acquired by Aon. Competes with Avalon in placing specialty transportation, cargo, and bond products, with broader scale and parent-company backing.
Direct peers
- CRC Insurance Services: CRC is a large specialty wholesale broker with extensive transportation and surety practice groups offering freight broker bonds, motor carrier coverage, and cargo insurance. Direct competitor to Avalon in placing transportation risks with specialty carriers on a wholesale basis.
- RPS (Risk Placement Services): RPS is a specialty insurance wholesaler and brokerage with dedicated transportation and logistics practice groups offering bonds, cargo, and liability coverage. Like Avalon, RPS focuses on placing niche and complex risks with specialty carriers rather than competing in standard commercial lines.
- Burns & Wilcox: Burns & Wilcox is a specialty insurance wholesaler offering complex and excess/surplus lines placement across transportation, surety, cargo, and professional liability. Comparable to Avalon in serving agents and insureds with hard-to-place specialty transportation and trade risks.
- Brown & Riding Insurance Services: Brown & Riding is a specialty wholesale broker with dedicated transportation and surety capabilities, placing cargo, freight broker liability, and customs bonds. Comparable niche focus on hard-to-place commercial transportation risks with similar carrier relationships.
Emerging players
- LF Logistics Insurance Services: A specialty insurance agency focused on the logistics, freight forwarding, and customs broker segments, offering bonds, cargo, and professional liability coverage. Smaller and more niche than Avalon, providing similar products to overlapping customer segments.
- SuretyBonds.com: SuretyBonds.com is a digital-first surety bond agency offering online bond applications across transportation, customs, and contract bonds. Represents the InsurTech/digital distribution threat to Avalon's traditional brokerage model and Merlin-enabled offering.
Regional players
- Heffernan Insurance Brokers: Heffernan is a mid-sized West Coast-focused insurance brokerage with specialty transportation and logistics practice areas. Comparable in scale and mid-market positioning to Avalon, with similar niche specialty focus but primarily California/Nevada regional concentration.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Avalon Risk Management social profiles
Digital presenceAvalon Risk Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Avalon Risk Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Avalon Risk Management subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Avalon Risk Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Avalon Risk Management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Avalon Risk Management
What does Avalon Risk Management do?
Avalon Risk Management provides specialty insurance and surety bond products and services tailored to the trade and transportation industry. Its core offerings include customs bonds (U.S. and Canadian), transportation bonds (including TIA Bond Program), ATA carnets, cargo insurance, professional liability, business insurance, truck insurance, warehouse programs, and specialty/executive risk insurance. These are administered and distributed through the proprietary Merlin technology platform, which enables clients to file bonds in two minutes or less and remain compliant with regulations such as CARM, FMCSA, and CBP.
Is Avalon Risk Management a public or private company?
Avalon Risk Management is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Avalon Risk Management founded?
Avalon Risk Management was founded in 1998. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Avalon Risk Management based?
Avalon Risk Management is headquartered in Elk Grove Village, United States, in the North America region.
How does Avalon Risk Management make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Insurance Products are the primary driver. The others are surety Bonds.
Who are Avalon Risk Management's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Amwins, Hub International and NFP (an Aon company). Direct peers are CRC Insurance Services, RPS (Risk Placement Services), Burns & Wilcox and Brown & Riding Insurance Services. Emerging players are LF Logistics Insurance Services and SuretyBonds.com. Heffernan Insurance Brokers is listed as a regional player.
Does Avalon Risk Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Avalon Risk Management.
What industry is Avalon Risk Management in?
Avalon Risk Management's product category is Trade and Transportation Insurance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEADAJ, Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines), with a secondary code of FSAJANAH, Professional Umbrella / Excess (E&O/D&O Wrap). Its NAICS code is 5242 and its SIC code is 6411.