Common injuries in this line of work
A lot of trucking injuries happen when the truck is not moving. Drivers slip climbing in and out of the cab or trailer, fall off loading docks, get pinned between a truck and a dock, or catch a hand in a door or tailgate. Unloading by hand can lead to back injuries, including disc problems.
Crashes are the other big risk, from fender benders in a yard to serious highway collisions. A big rig crash can cause injuries to the neck, back, head and more. Years of sitting, vibration and irregular sleep can also take a toll on the back and overall health, and long-term pain is common.
Trucking has its own setup. Drivers may be employees, lease operators or owner-operators, may work for a carrier in one state while living in another, and are often hurt hundreds of miles from home. Each of these can affect how a claim works and who to report to.
Common situations
- Fell off a loading dock
- Fell getting out of my truck or trailer
- Pinned between a truck and a loading dock
- Hand slammed in a door or tailgate
- Herniated disc from work
- Back injury unloading a truck
- Back pain from years of driving a truck
- Truck accident on the job
- Chronic pain after a work injury
- Can't go back to my old job after an injury
Reporting it and the claim process
Drivers often report through dispatch or a safety department. Ask how your company handles injury reports and get the claim number.
Deadlines vary by state, and drivers may face questions about which state's rules apply when they live, are based and get hurt in different places. Check with your employer and the workers' compensation agency in the relevant state as soon as possible.
If you are an owner-operator or leased to a carrier, coverage can be complicated. Ask the carrier how injuries are handled under your agreement, and keep copies of your contracts.
Getting medical care
When you are hurt far from home, you may first be seen at an emergency room or urgent care near the route. Ask for copies of records. Follow-up care closer to home may need to be arranged through the adjuster.
Some states and employers have rules about which provider you see first. Ask your employer or the adjuster.
If you are prescribed medication, ask the pharmacy and the adjuster how work-injury prescriptions are handled, including whether they can be delivered home. Some medications can affect driving, so ask your clinician.
Prescribed medication? Learn about prescription home delivery and medications often used after work injuries.
When people often talk to an attorney
- You were in a crash caused by another driver.
- You are an owner-operator or lease driver and unsure if you are covered.
- You got hurt at a customer's dock and their equipment or workers were involved.
- You have a serious back injury or ongoing pain.
- You cannot go back to your old job after an injury.
- Your claim is denied or delayed.
Recovery and going back to work
Long-haul driving is hard on a body that is healing. Follow your care plan and ask your clinician about time in the seat and lifting.
If light duty is offered, like yard work or dispatch, get it in writing and share it with your doctor so they can say whether it fits your restrictions.
If you cannot return to driving, it is common to have questions about your options. Chronic pain and the stress of being off work can be hard; tell your clinician how you are coping.
Questions to ask
- Who do I report injuries to: dispatch, safety or the terminal?
- Which state's workers' comp rules apply to me?
- Am I covered as a lease or owner-operator driver?
- How do I arrange follow-up care closer to home?
- Can my prescriptions be delivered to my home?
- Is light duty available while I recover?
- What is my claim number?
If you're hurt on the job
Emergency? Call 911- 1Call 911 for any crash with injuries, a fall from the cab or dock, a crush injury, or a head injury.
- 2If you are pinned or someone is caught between a truck and a dock, do not move the truck unless responders say to.
- 3Get medical care, and tell the clinician you were working.
- 4Call your dispatcher or terminal and report the injury. Follow up in writing, such as an email or message through your company system. Keep a copy.
- 5Write down the location, the load, the equipment, and anyone who saw it, including dock workers.
- 6If it is safe, take photos of the scene, the truck and any damage.
General information only — not medical or legal advice.
Injuries common in trucking
Other industries
Frequently asked questions
What should truck drivers injured on the job do first?
Get medical care and call 911 for anything serious. Then report the injury to dispatch and follow up in writing. Keep copies of everything.
I got hurt far from home on a run. What now?
Get care near where you are and ask for copies of records. Report the injury to your company in writing. Ask the adjuster how follow-up care at home is arranged.
Are owner-operators covered by workers' comp?
It depends on your state, your agreement with the carrier and your situation. Ask the carrier how injuries are handled. Many people in this situation consult an attorney.
I fell getting out of my truck. Is that a work injury?
Falls from a cab or trailer while working are often treated as work injuries, depending on your state. Report it in writing and get checked.
Can I make a claim for back pain from years of driving?
You may be able to, depending on your state and what a clinician finds. Report it in writing and describe your driving history.
What if another driver caused my truck accident?
Get care and report it to your company. When another driver is involved, there may be more than one source of coverage, and people often talk to an attorney.
Prescriptions.plus is an educational portal. We are not a pharmacy, law firm, medical provider, insurer or claims administrator, and nothing here is medical or legal advice. Educational purposes only. Workers' compensation rules and deadlines vary by state — check with your state's workers' compensation agency. Medical emergency? Call 911. Hurt outside of work? Personal-injury legal help: attorneys.plus (coming soon).