Common Workers’ Compensation Claims in Trucking – And How to Prevent Them
Trucking is a vital, rewarding profession that keeps the American economy moving. However, it’s also a demanding job with significant risks for both drivers and fleet operators. Prioritizing safety is essential—not just to protect lives, but to meet regulatory requirements and safeguard your business.
With high risk comes a higher likelihood of injuries—and that means workers’ compensation claims. In trucking, these claims are not only common, but also costly, often leading to rising insurance premiums and shrinking profit margins.
So, what types of injuries are most common—and more importantly, how can they be prevented?
The Costs of Workers’ Compensation Claims
Workers’ compensation claims are costly for obvious reasons, such as the need to cover medical bills and wages for injured employees. There are, however, some lesser-known costs associated with workers’ compensation claims, including:
- Increased premiums: The more claims your company submits, the higher the cost to the insurance company, usually resulting in higher premiums for a trucking company.
- Lost or decreased productivity: When a driver is injured, they can’t work as much, if at all, resulting in fewer hauled loads.
- Driver turnover: Some drivers never recover enough to return to work.
- Legal costs: Some compensation claims result in litigation and the need for legal representation.
Workers’ Compensation Claims in Trucking
Workers’ compensation premiums in trucking tend to be significantly higher than in other industries. Some of the reasons why include:
- High risk of serious injury According to the National Safety Council, trucking is ranked among the most dangerous industries in the US (1) due to long hours, loading and unloading cargo, operation of heavy machinery, and unpredictable road conditions.
- Lengthy recovery time Trucking often involves physical labor, so when a driver is injured, it can take longer for them to be able to return to strenuous physical work.
- Aging workforce The average age of truck drivers in the US tends to be higher than in other industries, according to the US Census Bureau. (2) Advanced age can increase the risk of injury, the seriousness of injuries, and recovery time.
- External factors Rising costs of medical care and instances of fraudulent claims or abuse impact workers’ compensation in every industry, with trucking being no exception.
The Most Common Workers’ Compensation Claims
Before you can develop effective prevention strategies, it’s important to know the most common causes of workers’ compensation claims. These include:
- Musculoskeletal injuries such as sprains, strains, and back injuries which often occur when loading or unloading cargo, cranking dollies, poor ergonomics in the truck cab, and long hours sitting in one position.
- Vehicle accidents are frequent causes of workers’ insurance claims due to another driver, poor driving conditions, or driver fatigue.
- Slip and fall injuries can easily happen when a truck driver slips or trips when climbing in or out of the cab or falling in an icy parking lot.
- Repetitive motions such as those made shifting gears, steering, or loading and securing cargo can cause injury.
- Harmful material exposure for drivers carrying hazardous substances can cause injuries such as burns, skin irritation, and respiratory challenges.
Minimizing Workers’ Compensation Claims
The best way to minimize the impact workers’ compensation claims have on your business is to prevent injuries from happening. Here are some best practices:
- Create a culture of safety. Utilize pre-employment screenings to ensure drivers are fit for duty and have a track record of safe driving. Reward employees for adhering to safety procedures.
- Implement a comprehensive safety program. Establish clear safety policies and procedures and make regular training mandatory. This also includes frequent safety meetings and incident reviews to help keep safety top-of-mind.
- Offer training. Training courses that help drivers and other employees be as safe as possible cover topics such as:
- Proper lifting and posture exercises
- Maintaining three points of contact when entering and exiting the vehicle
- Defensive driving and speed management
- How to avoid repetitive movements
- Prioritize driver health. This includes:
- Encouraging drivers to perform stretches and mobility exercises during rests
- Enforcing rest periods
- Provide supportive equipment. These are some pieces of equipment that can help prevent injury and support overall employee health:
- Pallet jacks
- Lift gates
- Lumbar support cushions
- Ergonomic seating
- Slip resistant footwear
- Telematics to monitor driver behavior
- Maintain safe workspaces. This includes:
- Ensuring all steps and handholds are non-slip and properly maintained
- Keeping walking surfaces well-lit and clear of hazards
- Maintain vehicles and encourage drivers to regularly inspect their vehicles
- Develop a return-to-work program. Getting injured drivers back to work, even at a light-duty capacity, can reduce claim costs and help workers feel supported as they rejoin your team.
- Review data. Review your claims history to identify patterns that could help highlight tasks or locations that cause injuries more than others.
Workers’ compensation claims are a significant cost driver in the trucking industry, but they can be reduced. By identifying common injury types and focusing on prevention, trucking companies can reduce claim frequency and severity, improve driver safety, and maintain more affordable insurance coverage.
Even with the best safety measures in place, accidents can still happen. That’s why partnering with an insurance provider that specializes in trucking is critical. An experienced insurer can help you understand your risk profile, assist with claims management and fraud detection, and design tailored plans to fit the unique insurance needs of your business.
At SWZ, we specialize in solving complex risk transfer challenges for businesses of all sizes. That expertise is why clients consistently choose us as their trusted partner for insurance coverage. We also offer a complimentary SCORE Report to help you evaluate your safety profile and understand its impact on your insurance costs. Request your copy today.
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