Owner-Operator Truck Insurance
Why choose Zurich for Owner-operator truck insurance?
Owner-operator truck insurance combines coverages designed to address work-related injuries, truck damage, liability exposures and passenger accidents. Insurance needs may vary depending on the driver's operating arrangement and contractual obligations. Zurich offers Occupational Accident and related trucking insurance solutions for eligible owner-operators, independent contractors and the motor carriers that engage them.
Zurich has provided Occupational Accident solutions since 1997. Our experienced transportation specialists understand the risk management challenges associated with independent contractor fleets. Zurich offers coverage options for work-related injuries, vehicle damage and liability exposures to help eligible owner-operators, independent contractors and motor carriers address their trucking insurance needs.
Claims support designed for the trucking industry
Zurich has an in-house Claims unit dedicated to Occupational Accident and Contingent Liability. Available services include multilingual capabilities, medical provider referrals, pharmacy direct billing through a third-party vendor and managed-care resources. Services are subject to the applicable policy and program.
Related industry and insurance
Insurance solutions for owner-operators and trucking companies
Core coverages for owner-operators
Owner-operators and independent contractors may face different risks while working, between assignments and during non-work use of a truck. Zurich offers coverage options designed to address several of these exposures.
Occupational Accident Insurance may provide covered medical expense and disability income benefits following a covered work-related accident. Physical Damage provides collision and comprehensive coverage for covered truck damage. Non-Trucking Liability is designed to address certain third-party bodily injury and property damage exposures when a contractor uses the truck between assignments or during non-work activities.
Occupational Accident coverage enhancements
Available Occupational Accident enhancements may include Flexible Accident Medical Expense, Truck Payment, Vocational Retraining and Non-Medical Repatriation and Return of Remains. These options are designed to address specific financial and practical needs that may follow a covered accident. Coverage terms and availability vary by policy and program.
Which trucking coverage addresses which risk?
Different coverages address different trucking risks:
- A covered accident injures an independent driver while working: Occupational Accident may provide covered medical expense and disability income benefits.
- A truck is damaged by a collision, theft, fire, hail or another covered hazard: Physical Damage may help address covered repair or replacement costs.
- A contractor uses a truck between assignments or during a non-work activity: Non-Trucking Liability is designed to address certain third-party bodily injury and property damage exposures.
- A passenger is injured in a covered driver’s truck: Passenger Accident provides scheduled accident benefits for covered passengers.
- A covered injury prevents a driver from meeting truck-payment obligations: An available Truck Payment enhancement may help with qualifying loan, finance or lease payments.
- A covered contract driver seeks employee status for Workers’ Compensation benefits: Contingent Liability may provide the trucking company with legal defense and covered settlement or benefit costs.
Specialized protection for a modern trucking business
Zurich also offers solutions for trucking companies that use independent contractors. Contingent Liability may provide legal defense and covered Workers’ Compensation settlement or benefit costs if a covered contract driver seeks employment status for purposes of receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits.
Trucking companies may also consider Corporate Workers’ Compensation, Fleet Workers’ Compensation and Accidental Death and Dismemberment Buy Back, subject to eligibility, underwriting qualifications and product availability.
Insurance for independent truck drivers
Coverage options for independent drivers include:
- Occupational accident: May provide covered medical expense and disability income benefits when an independent driver is injured in a covered accident while working for the trucking company.
- Physical damage: Provides collision and comprehensive coverage for covered truck damage caused by accidents, theft, fire, hail and other hazards.
- Non-trucking liability: Is designed to address certain third-party bodily injury and property damage exposures when a contractor uses the truck between assignments or during non-work activities.
- Passenger accident: Provides scheduled accident benefits for passengers of a covered driver.
Available Occupational Accident enhancements include:
- Truck payment coverage: May help an eligible driver meet qualifying loan, finance or lease obligations when a covered injury results in temporary total disability.
- Vocational retraining: May help prepare an eligible driver for alternative work if a qualifying injury prevents a return to commercial truck driving.
- Critical burn: Extends the Accidental Dismemberment benefit to qualifying critical burn injuries that occur while the covered driver is under dispatch for the trucking company.
- Non-medical repatriation and return of remains: May provide specified transportation assistance when a covered accident or covered occupational fatality occurs away from home.
Insurance for trucking companies
Trucking companies that select Zurich Occupational Accident coverage for eligible independent contractors may also have access to the following coverage options:
- Contingent Liability: May provide legal defense and covered Workers’ Compensation settlement or benefit costs if a covered contract driver seeks employment status for purposes of receiving Workers’ Compensation benefits.
- Corporate Workers’ Compensation: A statutory Workers’ Compensation policy issued to the motor carrier to cover statutory exposures.
- Fleet Workers’ Compensation: A statutory Workers’ Compensation policy issued to an eligible fleet owner contracted exclusively to an approved motor carrier.
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Buy Back: Protects a qualifying Workers’ Compensation self-insured retention or deductible by reimbursing the policyholder or captive for covered Workers’ Compensation AD&D claims.
Additional Occupational Accident options
Depending on the policy or program, additional options may include flexible Accident Medical Expense benefits and a smartphone or tablet benefit associated with a covered Accident Medical Expense loss. TICA may also offer expanded dental benefits and coverage for specified vision and hearing expenses. Terms, conditions and state availability vary.
Discuss trucking coverage with Zurich
Whether you are exploring coverage for independent drivers or options for a trucking company that uses contractors, contact Zurich to discuss available Occupational Accident and related trucking insurance solutions. Coverage availability, terms and underwriting requirements vary.
FAQs
Owner-operator truck insurance refers to a combination of coverages designed to address risks independent truck drivers may face. Zurich’s available solutions include Occupational Accident for covered work-related injuries, Physical Damage for covered truck damage, Non-Trucking Liability for certain non-work vehicle-use exposures and Passenger Accident for covered passengers. The appropriate coverage combination depends on the policy or program and the driver’s operating arrangement.
Occupational Accident Insurance provides specified benefits for covered independent contractors who are injured in an accident while working for a trucking company. Depending on the policy, benefits may include covered medical expenses and disability income. Optional enhancements may also be available.
Zurich Occupational Accident Insurance for trucking is available to eligible owner-operators and independent contractor drivers through the trucking companies engaging them. It may provide covered medical expense and disability income benefits when a driver is injured in a covered work-related accident. Benefits, eligibility and availability are governed by the applicable policy.
Occupational Accident Insurance and Workers’ Compensation are designed for different types of work arrangements. Occupational Accident Insurance is designed to provide specified benefits for covered independent contractors injured in work-related accidents, while Workers’ Compensation is statutory coverage for employee exposures. Worker status, applicable legal requirements and policy terms help determine which coverage applies. Because the two coverages serve different purposes, Occupational Accident Insurance should not be considered a universal replacement for Workers’ Compensation.
Occupational Accident coverage can help trucking companies provide a coverage solution for eligible independent contractors who may need benefits following a covered work-related accident. Coverage availability, eligibility and benefits depend on the applicable policy and program.
Zurich’s Occupational Accident solutions are designed for eligible owner-operators and independent contractor drivers and are made available through the trucking companies engaging them. Eligibility and coverage are governed by the applicable policy and program.
Depending on the policy or program, available enhancements may include Flexible Accident Medical Expense, Truck Payment, Vocational Retraining, Critical Burn and Non-Medical Repatriation and Return of Remains. Additional options and availability vary.
Truck Payment coverage may help an eligible driver meet qualifying loan, finance or lease obligations when a covered injury results in temporary total disability. The benefit is subject to the applicable policy terms and eligibility requirements.
Vocational Retraining coverage may help an eligible driver prepare for alternative work when a qualifying injury prevents the driver from returning to commercial truck driving. Eligibility and available assistance are governed by the policy.
Non-Medical Repatriation may arrange and pay for an eligible injured driver’s return to the driver’s primary residence after a covered accident away from home. Return of Remains coverage may provide specified preparation and transportation services following a covered occupational fatality away from home. Policy terms and conditions apply.