Insurance

Occupational accident insurance for truckers: what it covers and who requires it

Updated October 22, 2026

Check what a program asks for. "What does this load need?" shows the workers' comp or occupational accident terms a broker or program publishes. What does this load need?

What it covers

Owner-operators look at occupational accident when workers' comp doesn't reach them. FMCSA's insurance minimums leave out both, so any requirement comes from your state, your lease or the brokers you haul for.

Who asks for it

Broker terms usually say "statutory" or "as required by state law" for workers' comp. These five go further on their own pages, as of October 2026:

Another 19 list workers' comp, most at statutory or legally required limits: Arrive, ArcBest, BNSF Logistics, Bridgeway, Circle, Cornerstone, DSV, Flock Freight, Hub Group (under its consolidation and fulfillment terms), Koch Logistics, Logistics Plus, NFI, ODW, Priority-1, RLS, SunteckTTS, Trinity, Uber Freight and Werner.

Averitt and CEVA are the two that accept occupational accident in place of workers' comp. They also set age rules: 365 days of active authority at Averitt and 90 days from your grant or reinstatement at CEVA.

Amazon Relay and workers' comp

Relay pairs its workers' comp rule with 180 days of active authority and $1 million in general liability per occurrence ($2 million aggregate).

A one-truck owner-operator planning to run Relay should ask an agent how the state treats that setup and whether a workers' comp policy can be written for it, then get the answer in writing before applying.

Once you hire drivers

Once you have employees, some brokers also name an employer's liability amount next to the comp requirement:

• Uber Freight: at least $1 million per person, per accident and per occupational disease.
• Flock Freight: $1 million per employee and per accident.
• ArcBest, for its LTL brokerage: $1 million per incident.
• Werner: at least $500,000.
• Priority-1: $500,000.

Your state sets who has to carry workers' comp. Ask your agent before your first hire.

What to ask an agent

• Benefit limits. Ask for the policy's benefit limits in writing, and check them against the terms of the brokers you want. Averitt, for example, names a $1 million occupational accident policy.
• Policy type. Ask whether the policy is written as occupational accident or workers' comp, since brokers name one or the other.
• A separate line. Have every agent quote it as its own line so you can compare the same coverage. The quote comparison guide shows how to set them side by side.

If you're leased on, read your lease too. It spells out which coverage you carry yourself. The non-trucking liability page covers the truck side of that lease.

Know what each program needs. "What does this load need?" lists the workers' comp, liability and cargo each broker or program calls for. What does this load need?

Frequently asked questions

What does occupational accident insurance cover?

It covers injuries to you, the owner-operator, while you're working. Owner-operators look at it when workers' comp doesn't reach them.

Do brokers accept occupational accident instead of workers' comp?

A few do. Averitt accepts a $1 million occupational accident policy in place of workers' comp if the insurer is rated AM Best A or better, and CEVA's invitation-only CEVA 250 program accepts either.

Does FMCSA require occupational accident or workers' comp?

No. The FMCSA insurance minimums don't include either, so any requirement comes from your state, your lease or the brokers you haul for.

Does Amazon Relay require workers' comp?

Yes. Amazon Relay asks for workers' comp in every state where your company operates.