What agents should ask when driving is part of the construction job
A construction employee’s job title may tell you what they were hired to do. It may, however, tell you much less about the rest of their workday, including the time they spend behind the wheel.
In a construction environment, picking up materials or driving a company truck to a project may be part of the job, even when the employee was hired for a trade. That makes driving a useful part of a contractor’s workers’ compensation review.
For agents and brokers, the questions start with who drives and extend to the expectations employees face on the road. Do your client’s safety policies account for these trips, and does their coverage reflect how the business uses its vehicles?
Find out who drives
Start with a simple question: Who drives for the business, even occasionally?
Then ask whose vehicles they use and what those trips involve. Does an employee use a personal vehicle for a materials run? Who fills in when the usual driver is unavailable? Has the business taken on work that changes its routes or daily stops?
Those answers help you look beyond the company vehicle list and ask whether employees who drive occasionally receive the same attention to driver screening, training and safety expectations.
Talk about what happens during the drive
The consequences of work-related driving deserve attention. In 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recorded 129 fatal work injuries from roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles in private construction. So, a written safety policy is a great starting point, but the next question is how it holds up when the day gets busy.
Can a work call wait? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) explains that hands-free conversations can still distract a driver and recommends stopping safely to handle calls, messages or directions. Ask what employees are expected to do when a supervisor or customer contacts them on the road.
When does the driving happen? A short trip after a long shift deserves attention, too. NIOSH identifies long work hours, inadequate sleep and stress as possible sources of driver fatigue. Ask how work and travel are scheduled and what employees can do if they feel too tired to drive safely.
Connect the conversation to coverage
A work-related crash can raise several coverage questions at once, from an employee’s injuries to vehicle damage and the business’s liability to others. Looking at workers’ compensation and commercial auto together may help your clients consider how the two address these exposures.
For eligible construction accounts with an active Arrowhead General workers’ compensation policy or submission, Arrowhead offers a way to bring both placements to the same team. Our commercial auto companion product has expanded from California to 14 states, making that option available to more of the agents and brokers we work with.
If you have a construction account in mind, the following FAQs can help you assess whether it’s a fit.
Related: How workers’ comp opens the door to a bigger conversation
Your questions about commercial auto coverage, answered
Can I submit commercial auto without an Arrowhead workers’ compensation policy?
No. Commercial Auto is only available as a companion product for eligible construction accounts with an active Arrowhead workers’ compensation policy or submission. To bind the auto policy, the workers’ compensation policy must also be bound.
Which construction accounts does the Arrowhead General commercial auto companion product target?
Target accounts include general contractors, artisan contractors, HVAC contractors and solar installers. Target workers’ compensation classes include carpentry, concrete, painting, plumbing and door and window installation.
What fleet sizes and vehicle weights can the program consider?
The program can quote 1-20 power units, with best pricing in the 5-10 vehicle range. The target gross vehicle weight is under 20,000 pounds, though exceptions may be considered following underwriter review and carrier referral.
Where is the commercial auto companion product available?
Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.
How many stops per day are allowed?
The team considers accounts making no more than three stops per day.
Can the program consider Symbol 1?
Yes, when contractually required, following underwriter review.
What is the target premium range?
The target total premium range is $2,500 to $50,000, though exceptions may be considered following underwriter review and carrier referral.
Can an existing Arrowhead General workers’ compensation client move commercial auto midterm?
Yes. Midterm moves may be considered with an active Arrowhead General workers’ compensation policy.
What are the submission requirements?
New and renewal submissions for the commercial auto companion product must include:
- Commercial auto ACORD applications 125, 127 and 137.
- Loss runs currently valued within 120 days of the proposed effective date.
- Supplemental underwriting questions completed in Arrowhead Exchange.
- Motor vehicle reports for all drivers, including employees using personal vehicles for company business, due at submission.
- An active Arrowhead General workers’ compensation policy or an eligible workers’ compensation submission.
How do I submit an application for the commercial auto companion product?
Submit through ArrowheadExchange.com.
Put the details to work
The next step may be a conversation with your clients about expectations behind the wheel or a closer look at how their vehicles are insured. Knowing more about the workday helps you make that follow-up specific and useful.
If you’re considering commercial auto companion coverage for a construction client, bring those details to your Arrowhead General workers’ compensation team. We can help you assess the account and work through what’s needed for a submission.
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This material has been prepared for general informational purposes only, is intended to apply generally rather than to any specific company and presumes appropriate discretion will be exercised regarding any particular situation.
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