Louis M. Schillinger, CIC LIC

Biography

Mr. Schillinger, as President/CEO of United Shortline Insurance Services, Inc. (USIS) since 1985, has been serving the rail industry with innovative and railroad responsive insurance products for the past 38 years.

From the objective of minimizing insurance expense for clients, Mr. Schillinger offers professional risk management expertise from an underwriting perspective to enable a realistic assessment of both conventional risks, as well as any emerging multi-modal initiative risk assessments to be integrated into existing operations for enterprise expansion. His background in the insurance industry, as well as participation in numerous transportation enterprises gives him perspective from “both sides of the desk”.

Professional Background

Early History

Mr. Schillinger has dedicated his entire 46+ years professional career to the insurance industry with the last third of a century leveraging that experience and entrepreneurial expertise in supporting the Railroad Insurance Industry. In 1985, shortly after the deregulation of the U.S. railroad industry, Mr. Schillinger’s agency began to produce unique Railroad industry Liability and Property products to the growing short line and regional railroad industry throughout North America.

As an early, founding pioneer in the rail sector, he was responsible for developing the policy language, current rating structure, underwriting guide, claims handling, disaster management manuals, and underwritten both alone and with various consulting underwriters, virtually every short line and regional railroad in America.

Accomplishments

United Shortline Insurance Services, Inc. has now become the largest Railroad Specialist Wholesale Agency, providing insurance to over 35% of the short line railroad industry and is credited with establishing and maintaining the only fully Admitted Railroad Liability Program in the country since 1994. Mr. Schillinger was awarded the exclusive marketing rights for Class I Railroads Railroad Protective Liability Program from Hudson Insurance Company in 2007, developed the first association insurance program for the Rail Passenger Car Alliance (RPCA) in 1999 and North American Railcar Owners Association, (NARCOA) 2004 as well as forming the first and only Railroad owned Insurance company, US Rail Insurance Company, Inc. RRG in 2007.

Acquired by HUB International in late 2020, Mr. Schillinger continues to serve as Executive Vice President, Managing Director of Rail Specialty.

Accolades and Recognition

Mr. Schillinger was appointed Chairman of the American Shortline & Regional Railroad Association’s Insurance Committee in 2020 and created an Association sponsored High Limit Excess program for Positive Train Control needs. He has conducted Railroad Liability seminars for agents, legislators, industry groups, and client railroads throughout the country.

In addition, Mr. Schillinger has had the privilege of presenting a Small Business Curriculum for a portion of the University of Pennsylvania’s MBA Programs and received Certification in Railway Management from Michigan State University in 2009.

Additional Dimensions

Education

Mr. Schillinger is a 1972 graduate from Michigan State University, earning a BA in Financial Administration and continuously maintained up-to-date techniques and innovation, through numerous hours of continuing education.

Service to Country and Community

He is a veteran of the US Air Force and Michigan Air National Guard and serves with the North Huron Board of Education, is a Port Austin Township Trustee.

Interests of Note

He is also an avid maritime lighthouse historian, Licensed Commercial Captain and President of various community and religious organizations. Mr. Schillinger acquired and began restoring an offshore Great Lakes lighthouse “Port Austin Reef Light”, www.portaustinreeflight.org located 2.5 miles north of Port Austin in Lake Huron in 1985 and continues this pursuit as President of the Port Austin Reef Light Association to this date, both directly, and as member of various state-wide and national lighthouse organizations. Lou resides with his wife Vickie in Port Austin enjoying 6 grandchildren whenever possible.