Occupational Accident Insurance

Occupational Accident Insurance for Truckers

Occupational Accident insurance covers owner operators and contract drivers who qualify as independent contractors when they have an injury sustained while under dispatch with a motor carrier or performing the duties of a lease.

At Great West, we offer Occupational Accident coverage to motor carriers, owner operators, and independent drivers to provide financial protection against work-related accidents and deaths that happen while on the job.

What’s covered by occupational accident insurance?

Great West’s Occupational Accident coverage includes:

Accident medical expenses,
Lost wages,
Accidental death,
Dismemberment,
Paralysis, and
Accident disability.

Who needs occupational accident insurance in trucking?

As an owner operator or independent driver, even though you work under a motor carrier’s authority, in most cases you’re not considered an employee. While being an independent contractor means you have the freedom to run your trucking business the way you want, it also means you don’t get the benefits a motor carrier offers their employees. If you have an accident while on the job, you can’t get Workers Compensation benefits — even if the injury happens while you’re under the motor carrier’s dispatch or while you’re fulfilling the requirements of your lease.

This gap in coverage can be devastating for an independent driver and their family — especially if you are disabled or killed on the job.

That’s why many owner operators, independent drivers, and contract drivers choose to add Occupational Accident coverage to their trucking insurance. It provides a financial safety net in the event of an on-the-job accident.

In addition, many trucking companies require their contract drivers and owner operators to get their own Occupational Accident coverage as part of their lease agreement.

Why Motor Carriers Choose Occupational Accident Insurance

Most of the time, the independent drivers you hire are not covered by state Workers Compensation laws. That’s because owner operators and independent drivers are typically considered contractors instead of employees. Therefore, they are also not covered by your trucking company’s Workers’ Compensation insurance.

That means if an independent driver or owner operator has an accident on the job while under your dispatch, your Workers Compensation policy won’t cover the expenses associated with their injury.

That doesn’t mean they won’t sue you, though.

Independent contractors have the right to pursue legal action against your trucking company to pay for financial losses associated with an accident.

While it is not required by law like Workers Compensation, many motor carriers choose to add Occupational Accident coverage to their trucking insurance. It helps motor carriers avoid the cost of a lawsuit by providing medical, disability, death, and dismemberment benefits for work-related accidents involving contract drivers.

Additional Occupational Accident Benefits

Carrying Occupational Accident insurance can also help you attract and retain contract drivers who are concerned about not having Workers Compensation protection while they work for your trucking company.

And in some cases, if you’re allowed to opt out of your Workers Compensation program, an Occupational Accident policy can be a lower-cost alternative to fulfilling your legal obligation to provide employees insurance coverage for injury or death on the job.

Occupational Accident Coverage Driver Qualifications

Great West’s Occupational Accident policy is not available in all states. Our covered truck drivers must meet the following qualifications:

Minimum age of 23
U.S. citizen
Hold a current Commercial Driver's License (CDL) in the driver's home state
Minimum two years of experience operating tractor/trailer equipment
No charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUl) in the last six years
No driver’s license suspension within the last three years
No more than four moving violations in the previous 38 months, and no more than two in the previous 12 months
No more than one preventable accident in the last three years
No felony convictions

owner operator answers a phone call as he sits outside his semi truck

Why choose Great West’s occupational accident insurance?

At Great West, we’ve spent more than 70 years focusing only on insuring the commercial trucking industry.

We offer Occupational Accident coverage underwritten by Old Republic Life Insurance, so you have the peace of mind of not only Great West’s exemplary customer and claims services but also a reputable and financially secure underwriter.

Whether you are a motor carrier with operating authority, or an owner operator, independent driver, or contract driver working under someone else’s authority, you can rely on our experience in the trucking industry and our deep understanding of the risks your business faces to find the right protection for your trucking operation.

employees have a quick meeting inside a garage

Please Note: An Occupational Accident Policy is not a policy of Workers Compensation Insurance. This policy is not in place of, and does not affect, any requirements for coverage under any workers compensation, unemployment compensation, or disability benefits law, or under any similar state or federal law. This summary is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace or modify the definitions or information contained in any insurance policy or declaration page, which controls all coverage determinations. Terms and conditions may vary by state, and exclusions may apply.

Insurance Contracts are Underwritten, Administered, and Issued by: Great West Casualty Company, Old Republic Life Insurance Company, and Old Republic Union Insurance Company.

One or more Old Republic companies may provide the products and/or services described. Information presented is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute a contract or advice, including employment advice or advice to motor carriers. Please refer to the relevant insurance policy for actual terms. Products and services may not be available in all states and may be subject to change without notice. © 2026 Old Republic International Corporation. Old Republic® and the Old Republic Circle of Stars monogram are registered trademarks. All Rights Reserved.

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Occupational Accident Insurance