Owner-Operator Truck Insurance
Why choose Zurich for Owner-operator truck insurance?
In addition to providing a broad range of accident and disability insurance for independent truckers and owner-operators, Zurich Occupational Accident Insurance for trucking also delivers coverage enhancements not widely available, such as truck payment coverage if an injured driver is unable to work and is struggling to make loan payments.
In addition, Zurich’s program also provides related commercial truck insurance coverages, including Non-trucking Liability and coverage for physical damage to the truck, as well as Passenger Accident insurance.
Related industry and insurance
Insurance solutions for Owner-operator truck
Core Coverages for Owner-Operators
Insurance plays an important role in supporting the operations of owner-operators working within today’s commercial trucking industry. Zurich’s solutions are designed to address the distinct risks independent truckers face on and off the road. We work with you to build a plan that includes key coverages. Occupational Accident Insurance provides benefits for medical expenses and lost income if you are injured while working. This helps you manage your health without compromising your financial stability.
Physical Damage coverage can help address repair or replacement costs following covered collision or other damage events involving your truck. We also address the unique nature of your work through Non-Trucking Liability, which is designed to cover your vehicle when you are not operating under dispatch for a motor carrier. Zurich provides insurance solutions designed to support trucking operations as they navigate industry challenges.
Specialized Protection for a Modern Trucking Business
Beyond individual coverages, Zurich offers solutions that address the broader needs of the trucking industry. For trucking companies that collaborate with independent contractors, our Contingent Liability insurance is designed to provide a crucial layer of protection in the event an owner-operator’s primary liability coverage is insufficient following a covered incident. This helps motor carriers manage their liability exposures with greater confidence.
Additionally, our offerings can be tailored with enhancements such as truck payment coverage for drivers unable to work due to a covered injury, or vocational retraining for those unable to return to trucking. We understand that your business is dynamic and our flexible approach allows us to help you prepare for a wide range of scenarios.
Coverages for independent drivers include:
- Occupational accident: Pays medical expenses and disability income if the driver is injured while working.
- Physical damage: Provides collision and comprehensive coverage when a truck is damaged in an accident, theft, fire, hail or other hazards of the open road.
- Non-trucking liability: Designed to close coverage gaps that may arise when a contractor uses the truck for non-work activities.
- Passenger accident: Provides accident benefits for passengers in a covered contractor’s truck.
Available enhancements include:
- Truck payment coverage: Helps truck drivers meet financing obligations if an injury prevents them from working.
- Vocational retraining: If a trucker cannot return to driving after an injury.
- Critical burn: Because the risk of severe burns is high in trucking.
- Non-medical repatriation and return of remains: If an accident extends a driver’s time away from home or results in death.
Companies that choose Zurich’s Occupational Accident coverage for their drivers also have the following options.
- Contingent liability: Offers companies legal defense and workers’ compensation settlement/benefit costs if a covered contractor seeks employment status for purposes of receiving workers’ compensation.
- Corporate workers’ compensation: Statutory workers’ compensation policy issued to a company to cover employee injuries and events outlined in state law. Generally provides coverage for medical bills and lost wages for employees who are injured on the job regardless of fault.
- Fleet workers compensation: Statutory workers’ compensation policy issued to an eligible trucking fleet owner contracted exclusively to an approved motor carrier.
- Accidental death and dismemberment buy-back: For transportation companies that self-insure, provides protection for their statutory workers’ compensation deductible by reimbursing for workers’ compensation AD&D claims.
Want to learn more?
Connect with our Customer Inquiry Center for more information.
FAQs
Independent truckers and contract drivers are hustling to meet record-setting demands for freight hauling. But with expanding opportunities come growing risks, including the potential for work-related injuries not covered by traditional Workers’ Compensation insurance. For independent owner-operators, a loss of income due to injury and even a short-term disability could be disastrous.
Occupational Accident Insurance for trucking answers this need, providing owner-operators and independent drivers with insurance coverage protecting them against lost income and related expenses if they are injured on the job.
1. Bearth, D. P. “Carriers, shippers working to meet demand for freight hauling.” Transport Topics. 19 April 2018. https://www.ttnews.com/articles/carriers-shippers-scramble-meet-demand-freight-hauling
2. Zurich bound 94% of the renewals that were quoted in 2018.
3. Based on insurance industry experience handling claims as of October 2019.
4. Zurich Closed Claims Net Promoter Score: 83 (January 2017-June 2019). “Best in Class” NPS threshold for insurance industry: 51 (2019). Source: Medallia.