Class Code 3815
Truck, Truck Trailer Or Bus Mfg/Assembling; Truck Body Mfg
Class code 3815 applies to manufacturers and assemblers of trucks, truck trailers, buses and truck bodies in California. It covers shop-floor fabrication, welding, painting, assembly and final testing operations. The September 1, 2026 approved pure premium rate for this class is $5.569 per $100 of payroll.
What Class Code 3815 Covers
This classification captures employers whose primary operations are building, assembling or installing truck cabs, chassis, trailers, buses and aftermarket truck bodies. Covered operations include metal fabrication and cutting, structural welding and brazing, body assembly and installation, drivetrain and suspension installation, electrical harnessing, spray finishing/painting, abrasive blasting and vehicle testing. The code applies whether the work is done in a dedicated manufacturing facility, a contract assembly line, or an on-site body-up shop attached to a dealer. Work performed on prototype or production vehicles, plus finish and quality-control processes tied to manufacturing, are included — routine vehicle maintenance or commercial repair shops that only service vehicles generally fall under different codes.
Who It Applies To
- Truck and bus manufacturers with assembly lines
- Truck body and flatbed fabricators and installers
- Trailer manufacturers and trailer component assemblers
- Fabrication shops doing chassis, frame and cab welding
- Industrial painters and spray- booth operators in vehicle shops
Common Job Duties
- Cutting, shaping and welding structural steel and aluminum frames
- Installing engines, transmissions, drivetrains, axles and suspensions
- Mounting and wiring electrical systems, lighting and control harnesses
- Spray painting, sanding and abrasive blasting of bodies and parts
- Assembling cab interiors, seats, HVAC units and instrument panels
- Rigging and lifting heavy assemblies with cranes/forklifts for installation
- Final road/bench testing and inspection of completed vehicles
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $5.569 Rate
The pure premium rate of $5.569 per $100 of payroll represents the insurer's expected loss cost for claims and indemnity per $100 of payroll for workers in this class. Insurers use that pure premium as the basis for an employer's premium, then add expense, state assessments and company underwriting loads. An individual employer's final premium is affected by payroll accuracy, experience modification (E-mod), claim history, policy deductible choices, and safety or return-to-work programs.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly applicable include a written respiratory protection program for spray painting and blast operations, hazard communication (SDSs and labeling) for paints and solvents, machine guarding and lockout/tagout for presses and hoists, welding and hot work controls, and hearing conservation where noise exposures exceed limits. Employers must maintain training records, perform exposure monitoring when warranted, and implement engineering controls such as local exhaust ventilation in paint booths and abrasive blast areas.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 3815
A PEO like Key HR helps employers in class 3815 by ensuring correct payroll classification, centralizing workers' comp claims handling and providing coordinated return-to-work programs to reduce indemnity costs. Key HR can deliver tailored safety training (welding safety, respirator fit testing, HAZCOM, lockout/tagout), loss-control audits of fabrication and paint operations, and access to larger trust purchasing power that can lower premiums and improve claims outcomes.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does 3815 include vehicle repair shops that install truck bodies?
Class 3815 covers fabrication, assembly and body manufacturing; a repair shop that only services and repairs finished trucks typically falls under a repair/service classification. If the shop installs newly fabricated bodies or performs production assembly, 3815 applies.
What specific training reduces claims for this class code?
High-impact trainings include welding safety and fume control, respirator fit-testing and use, confined-space awareness for body tanks, forklift and crane operator certification, and lockout/tagout procedures for assembly machinery.
How can I lower my workers' comp cost for employees in this classification?
Document accurate payroll and job duties, implement engineering controls (booths, ventilation, hoists), run a formal modified-duty return-to-work program, maintain safety and training records, and work with a PEO or broker to improve claims handling and target mod-reducing interventions.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 3815
- Classification
- Truck, Truck Trailer Or Bus Mfg/Assembling; Truck Body Mfg
- Pure Premium Rate
- $5.569 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 3815?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.