North Carolina workers’ compensation laws for truck drivers govern how benefits may apply when a driver is injured while performing job duties. Drivers of trucks and other large vehicles are at an increased risk for work injuries, both on the road and at delivery locations, and the nature of their work can sometimes lead to more complex questions regarding coverage.
It is crucial for drivers in North Carolina who are independent contractors or operating under the authority of a carrier to understand how workers’ compensation rules apply. In 2026, these laws continue to shape who is responsible for coverage and what benefits may be available after a work-related injury.
Hire a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
At Ayers, Ayers & Dressler, we serve injured workers throughout North Carolina, including truck drivers who were injured on the job. Our firm has decades of experience with workers’ compensation and other workplace injury claims that involve transportation and commercial vehicle issues.
We are proud that our attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers and received Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings. We believe in thorough investigation, careful analysis of the law, and counsel based on North Carolina workers’ compensation statutes.
Workers’ Compensation for Truck Drivers in North Carolina
Employees in North Carolina who’ve been injured on the job are usually covered by workers’ compensation, whether the injury was the fault of the employer or not. Truck drivers can qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if they are injured due to:
- Driving, loading, or unloading a vehicle
- Inspecting vehicles or cargo
- Otherwise performing a work-related duty
If an injury qualifies for benefits, the workers’ compensation coverage should include medical treatment, partial wage replacement, and other benefits. There can be more ambiguity over whether truck drivers are covered by workers’ compensation benefits due to variations in work assignments, interstate travel, and contractual relationships.
Eligibility for workers’ compensation often depends on the:
- Work being performed
- Amount of control a carrier has over a driver’s activities
- Way the driver is classified for purposes of state law
The Special Rule for Truck Drivers Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-19.1
North Carolina law includes a specific provision that affects many truck drivers. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-19.1, responsibility for workers’ compensation coverage may follow the motor carrier that holds the U.S. Department of Transportation number rather than the driver’s classification alone.
Essentially, a carrier may be required to provide coverage for a driver who was classified as an independent contractor. The law was intended to deal with the multiple layers of contracting found in the trucking industry. To apply the rule requires an analysis of who was in control of the work, under whose direction the driver was working, and if separate coverage was in place.
Workers’ Compensation Benefits That Truck Drivers Might Get
Workers’ compensation will generally cover necessary medical care related to a qualifying injury. It can also provide partial wage replacement benefits to an injured truck driver while they cannot work. In a case involving permanent impairment, a driver may also get disability benefits.
Truck drivers do not have a right to pain and suffering damages under workers’ compensation, but this system may provide much-needed financial assistance while the driver is recovering from the injury. The benefits available to a driver in North Carolina depend on:
- The severity of the injury
- The length of time they can’t work
- Doctors’ evaluations
It is helpful to understand these benefit categories in advance so a driver has realistic expectations in the event of an injury.
Coverage Issues and Disputes That Truck Drivers Face More Often Than Other Workers
Truck drivers often face work injury coverage disputes that other employees typically do not. For example, they may face a challenge to their employment status, a multi-state injury question, or multiple company coverage disputes. Carriers may dispute that the driver was an employee by contending that they were an independent contractor.
A driver may have been operating outside the scope of employment at the time of the injury. An injury suffered while on an out-of-state delivery can also raise a jurisdictional question. Reviewing a driver’s contract, driving assignments, DOT authority, and the circumstances of their injury is necessary to sort out the application of North Carolina law.
FAQs
How Does Workers’ Compensation Apply If a Truck Driver Is Injured Outside North Carolina?
Truck drivers frequently travel across state borders during the course of their employment. This can lead to confusion as to which state’s workers’ compensation law will apply to any given injury. Generally, it will depend on:
- The location of the employment relationship
- The site of the injury
- Which state’s system the employer has subscribed to
- An examination of the driving routes
- The location of hire
- Contractual obligations with the carrier
Are Truck Drivers at a Higher Risk of Serious Work Injuries?
Safety risks are a serious concern in transportation-related work. In 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a total of 177 fatal occupational injuries in North Carolina. Transportation incidents were among the leading causes of fatalities statewide. Although not all injuries in trucking are fatal, the data gives a sense of the potential for serious accidents and injuries that can result from commercial driving and its associated job tasks.
Can Workers’ Compensation Cover Injuries That Develop Over Time?
Some injuries experienced by truck drivers do not result from a one-time accident but develop and worsen over a period of time. These types of injuries can arise out of repetitive motion, prolonged sitting, vibration exposure, or repeated lifting or pulling. The compensability of these conditions depends on medical findings and the extent to which the condition can be directly tied to work performed during trucking activities.
Why Are Transportation Incidents a Major Workplace Safety Concern?
Accidents and incidents involving commercial vehicles make up a large share of the state’s fatal workplace injuries. Across North Carolina, there were 62 transportation-related fatalities in 2023. Transportation incidents represented 35% of the total number of fatal work injuries in the state. Coverage and safety rules for truck drivers are important topics, given the potential for injuries in these jobs.
Contact a North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Truck drivers face several unique issues in dealing with workers’ compensation. Many of these issues are fact-specific, and some are layered with rules. The first question in a truck driver’s workers’ compensation case is what law applies under North Carolina statutes.
Ayers, Ayers & Dressler have represented many truck drivers from across the state, reviewing their workers’ compensation issues and explaining their options. Contact us today for a consultation, and hire a workers’ compensation lawyer you can trust.
