National Interstate reserve strengthening pressures profits

A $10mn reserve strengthening exercise by Ohio-based motor carrier
National Interstate pushed its combined ratio north of 100 percent
for the fourth quarter.
The carrier reported a 104 percent combined ratio for Q4,
marking a deterioration from the 102.5 percent it reported for the
same period in 2014.
As a result of the reserve charge National Interstate saw net
income from operations almost halve to $2.6mn, down from the $4.6mn
it reported the previous year.
The carrier's CEO Dave Michelson...