In trucking, a lot of workers’ comp problems start long before anybody gets hurt. They start at hiring and at audit time.
Hire with the job in mind
Driving is only part of the job. Loading, tarping, climbing in and out of the cab, and long hours all take a toll. A good pre-hire routine helps:
- A conditional offer, then a plain talk about what the job physically takes.
- A post-offer questionnaire about the physical demands of the job.
- A written rule that injuries get reported to dispatch right away.
Check with your HR person or attorney about what’s right in your state, and keep it consistent with your DOT driver qualification process.
Owner-operators vs. employees at audit
This is a big one. If an owner-operator is truly independent and carries their own coverage, the auditor generally shouldn’t charge you for them. If the paperwork isn’t there, like the lease agreement and their certificate of insurance, the audit may treat them as your employee and bill you for it. Keep those files current all year, not just the week before the audit.
Don’t lump everybody together
Your mechanics, dispatchers, and office staff shouldn’t all be counted the same as your drivers. Look over the classifications on your audit.
Get hurt drivers back to work
A driver who can’t drive can often still help with dispatch, safety training, or yard checks. Light duty keeps claims shorter.
Check your mod every year
Your experience mod raises or lowers your bill based on your own claims. Get the worksheet each year and look for claims that are closed but still carrying reserves, or payroll that doesn’t match your books. If you run in more than one state, look twice. Mistakes are more common when the data comes from several places.
O. Rickey Harris wrote a plain guide on cutting workers’ comp overcharges, updated for 2026. Read the guide, or call 205-275-5005 for a free look at your mod and audit.