Do Trucking Companies need Workers' Comp?

Why do Truckers need Workers’ Comp?

Similar to other workers who deal with physical risks from harsh environmental conditions and heavy equipment, truckers have to struggle with many occupational hazards. 

Fatigue

Spending hours out on the road can lead to tiredness, which is known to harm reaction times and judgment, leading to a higher chance of accidents. 

Strain-related Injuries 

This job also largely involves sitting which makes it more likely that drivers will experience health issues like chronic back pain and other musculoskeletal issues. Constantly loading and unloading cargo can also cause injuries like sprains, strains, and more serious injuries.

Bad Weather

Truck drivers often deal with bad weather conditions and traffic scenarios can be dangerous and unpredictable. Dangerous weather like rain, snow, and fog can make it more likely that collisions occur. 

Hazardous materials

Some truckers also move hazardous materials, which adds even more risk of accidents into the mix. It also leads to exposure to harmful materials.

What does Workers’ Comp for Truckers Provide?

Workers’ compensation for truckers provides several benefits, such as return-to-work programs, long-term care, funeral expenses, lost wages, and medical costs. 

Since trucking is a high-risk profession, this kind of coverage is important. After all, the job is composed of hazardous road conditions, handling heavy cargo, and long periods of driving.

Medical Costs

Workers’ compensation insurance is essential for truckers as it covers both ongoing and immediate medical costs resulting from work-related injuries. 

This includes a host of items like medications, physical therapy, hospital stays, emergency medical care, and follow-up treatments. 

This coverage can also apply to getting to and from medical appointments. The idea is to make sure truckers can get through recovery without having to worry too much about out-of-pocket costs.

Funeral Costs

While nobody wants to think about a work injury leading to death, workers’ compensation is there in that situation, too. For instance, funeral costs are covered for truckers who pass away doing their jobs. 

This benefit is used to provide needed financial support to the deceased’s dependents, such as children and spouses. This helps cut down on the financial problems associated with losing a loved one.

Wage Reimbursement

If a trucker cannot work based on an injury, workers’ compensation also offers reimbursement of wages. This is an important part of stabilizing the finances of an injured worker and their loved ones while they recover. 

Compensation is some amount of the trucker’s average earnings each week. This can help when someone has no income or is bringing in much less than usual.

Long-Term Care

When a work injury leads to long-term disabilities or other issues, workers’ compensation can provide care beyond the immediate. This might include surgeries, specialized medical care for chronic conditions, and other things that occur based on the initial injury. 

This coverage is needed for truckers who have a serious condition to be sure they get the care they deserve without having to pay for the entirety of it.

Return-to-Work Programs

Many forms of workers’ compensation for truckers also have programs designed to get injured drivers back into the workforce. This might mean learning new skills for a truck who can’t do what they did before or it could be a form of vocational rehabilitation. 

In some cases, an injured worker may be put in another role until they can go back to the road. Workers’ compensation is useful for both physical recovery as well as psychological well-being so truckers can return to their roles and feel a connection to their work.

How much is Trucking Workers’ Comp Insurance?

While premiums can vary widely based on many factors, a rough estimate is available from one of our leading partner carriers. The average premium in this case is $273 a month for a trucker who makes around $50,000 each year.

This estimate is only an average and is influenced by several things, such as the state where the business operates since each state has its own insurance rates and rules. 

The number of employees, the size of the payroll, and unique risk factors will also play a part in what the monthly cost will be. A huge company with lots of drivers will pay more than a small operation will.

In addition, the type of cargo being moved can also play a part in what insurance costs might be. If a trucker is handling hazardous materials, that is going to lead to higher premiums than non-hazardous jobs due to the potential for injuries and accidents.

Trucking businesses should obtain personalized quotes from providers to get an idea of what their specific costs might be. This quote will look at all the unique elements of their operations to create a more tailored price to move forward. 

Tips for Lowering Premium Costs

Having manageable workers’ compensation premiums is important for anyone who works in a high-risk industry like trucking. Below are a few tips to cut the costs and make sure you have the coverage you need.

Provide accurate Information

First up, make sure you provide the underwriter with accurate and detailed information. This includes things like realistic descriptions of job functions at the business, the right payroll data, and accurate class codes. 

Be as specific as possible so you can have your risk assessed and premiums set based on the truths of your trucking business.

Be proactive with Reporting Claims

Make sure you know the correct way to report claims in your state and then follow the process. 

By reporting claims right away, you can help keep claims costs down and make the process go smoother. 

Increase Workplace Safety

Having safety programs at the workplace can prevent injuries, which also means you can enjoy lower insurance costs. For truckers, this might look like safe driving practices and regular training, the use of proper safety equipment, and knowledge about safe cargo handling. 

Showing that you care about safety at your company can help prevent accidents. Because of this underwriters will be more likely to offer lower premiums.

Top Sources of Worker’s Compensation Insurance for Truckers

Trucking is a risky industry with the road posing a string of constant hazards and potential challenges. Based on these risks, all truck drivers, whether they are owner-operators or part of a large fleet, should have a strong workers’ compensation policy. 

If you are in the trucking world and need loyal solutions, Kickstand Insurance is here to provide specialized support tailored to the exact needs of truckers.

Starting the process is quick and easy. Start by requesting a free quote online from Kickstand Insurance. With a commitment to serving a variety of industries, we have a dedicated team ready to guide truckers through the process to get the proper insurance. 

Our team will also help you with any questions you have about workers’ compensation insurance. Protect yourself on the road by adding coverage today.