Transportation & Trucking workers compensation in Kentucky
Transportation & Trucking businesses in Kentucky pay a median rate of $1.38 per $100 of payroll, ranging from $0.140 to $6.97. The national median for Transportation & Trucking is $2.23, so Kentucky sits 38% below the national average. 55 unique NCCI class codes are filed in this state for Transportation & Trucking occupations. Verified 2026-05-09.
Top Transportation & Trucking class codes in Kentucky
The class codes most likely to apply to a Transportation & Trucking operation in Kentucky, sorted from cheapest to most expensive per $100 of payroll. Click into any code for the full state-by-state rate comparison.
| Code | Occupation | Rate per $100 | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7405 | Livery Service | $0.200 | HIGH |
| 7405 N | Livery Service | $0.260 | HIGH |
| 7394 | Trucking - Drivers | $0.590 | HIGH |
| 7016 | Local Trucking | $0.610 | HIGH |
| 7395 | Trucking - Drivers & Helpers | $0.660 | HIGH |
| 7024 | Long Haul Trucking | $0.680 | HIGH |
| 7333 | Railroad - Employees N.O.C. | $0.730 | HIGH |
| 7398 | Trucking - Owner Operators | $0.910 | HIGH |
| 7047 | City Bus Company | $0.940 | HIGH |
| 7046 | Interurban Bus Company | $1.00 | HIGH |
Kentucky compliance for Transportation & Trucking employers
Coverage threshold
Employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance.
1099 vs W-2 in Transportation & Trucking
Kentucky uses common law factors to determine if a worker is an employee or independent contractor; misclassification can lead to penalties.
Owner exclusion
Allowed in Kentucky. Sole proprietor self-coverage optional; LLC member self-coverage optional.
Max weekly benefit
$1,231 at 66.67% of average weekly wage, effective 2025-01-01.
Statute of limitations
2 years from injury date in Kentucky.
Cross-cite: full Kentucky workers comp overview · Transportation & Trucking cross-state rate comparison · Kentucky workers comp lawyer guide · Kentucky settlement chart
Estimate your Transportation & Trucking premium in Kentucky
Pre-filled to Transportation & Trucking and Kentucky. Adjust payroll to see a real premium range from filed rates.
Estimate your workers comp premium
Pick your industry, state, and annual payroll. Range comes from real rate filings.
Estimated annual premium for Transportation & Trucking in Kentucky
$700to$34,850
Median: $6,900 · Rate range $0.140 to $6.97 per $100 payroll
Industry median across all states
$11,125
Cheapest states for Transportation & Trucking
- Pennsylvania $0.877
- Washington $1.04
- Utah $1.04
Most expensive
- New Jersey $7.15
- Illinois $4.04
- Minnesota $3.94
Estimate based on 24 states of rate-filing data. Actual premium also reflects experience modifier, schedule credits, and carrier underwriting.
Filing checklist for Transportation & Trucking businesses in Kentucky
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Step 1, Confirm coverage threshold
Employers with one or more employees are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. For Transportation & Trucking operations, this typically applies once you make a first W-2 hire, even part-time.
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Step 2, Pick the right class code
Transportation & Trucking businesses typically use codes like 7405, 7016, 7024. The wrong code can cost 4 to 10x more or get reclassified at audit. In Kentucky, the cheapest code on this list is 7405 at $0.200 and the most expensive is 7046 at $1.00.
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Step 3, Get a quote
Kentucky Employers Mutual Insurance (KEMI) is one option in Kentucky; private carriers (Travelers, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, AmTrust) also write coverage. Schedule credits up to 25% are typical for low-loss accounts.
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Step 4, Document subcontractors
Principal contractors are generally liable for the workers' compensation coverage of their subcontractors' employees if the subcontractor does not carry their own coverage. Transportation & Trucking operators with crews of 1099s should keep certificates of insurance for every sub, otherwise the GC absorbs the sub liability at audit.
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Step 5, Annual audit
Carriers audit payroll within 90 days of policy expiration. Have payroll segregated by class code, job descriptions on file, and overtime properly excluded from rated payroll. Transportation & Trucking class allocation can shift if any worker spends more than 50% of time on a different code.
Transportation & Trucking workers comp FAQs in Kentucky
What is the typical workers comp rate for Transportation & Trucking in Kentucky?
Transportation & Trucking employers in Kentucky pay a median rate of $1.38 per $100 of payroll, with rates ranging from $0.140 to $6.97 depending on the specific class code. The national median across all states for Transportation & Trucking is $2.23, so Kentucky sits about 38% below the national average.
How many Transportation & Trucking class codes are filed in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 55 unique NCCI class codes filed for Transportation & Trucking occupations, drawn from 77 state-class code rate cells in our dataset. The most common codes include 7405 (Livery Service), 7016 (Local Trucking), 7024 (Long Haul Trucking).
Are Transportation & Trucking 1099 contractors covered by workers comp in Kentucky?
Kentucky uses common law factors to determine if a worker is an employee or independent contractor; misclassification can lead to penalties.
What is the maximum weekly benefit for an injured Transportation & Trucking worker in Kentucky?
Kentucky caps weekly workers comp benefits at $1,231 (effective 2025-01-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage. Transportation & Trucking workers are subject to the same statutory cap as workers in any other industry.
How long does a Transportation & Trucking worker have to file a comp claim in Kentucky?
The statute of limitations in Kentucky is 2 years from the date of injury. Most claims also require notice to the employer within 30 days. Transportation & Trucking workers should report any incident on the date it happens, even minor strains, because cumulative trauma claims can fail without contemporaneous documentation.
Can a Transportation & Trucking business owner exclude themselves from comp coverage in Kentucky?
Yes, Kentucky allows business owners (sole proprietors, partners, LLC members, corporate officers) to file an exclusion election. Transportation & Trucking owner-operators often elect out to keep premium below the minimum. Sole-proprietor self-coverage is not required, and LLC member self-coverage is not required.