Class Code 8745
News Agents Or Distributors Of Magazines/Periodicals
Class Code 8745 covers businesses engaged in selling or distributing newspapers, magazines and other periodicals in California. The September 1, 2026 pure premium for this class is $10.900 per $100 of payroll, a key input insurers use to price workers' compensation for these operations.
What Class Code 8745 Covers
This classification applies to businesses that buy, sell, store, sort and deliver newspapers, magazines and periodicals — from independent newsagents and newsstands to route distributors and subscription fulfillment centers. Operations include retail newsstand sales, stocking and replenishing vending boxes, sorting and bundling publications in a warehouse, and delivering bundles by foot, bicycle or light commercial vehicle to retailers, vending routes or subscribers. The code covers employees who handle inventory, operate dollies or hand trucks, load and unload vehicles, operate point-of-sale for newsstands, and drivers who perform local delivery routes. It generally excludes large-scale printing operations (press operators) and separate classes for long-haul trucking; it is specific to the front-end distribution and retailing of periodicals.
Who It Applies To
- Independent newsagents and corner newsstands selling periodicals
- Local route distributors who deliver magazines/newspapers to stores and vending boxes
- Magazine wholesalers and subscription fulfillment centers that sort and bundle publications
- Vending machine operators who stock periodical vending boxes and racks
- Drivers and helpers using vans, small trucks, bicycles or walking delivery routes
Common Job Duties
- Receiving, sorting and bundling magazines and newspapers in a warehouse or storefront
- Loading and unloading bundles into vans, trucks, or vending boxes
- Delivering and restocking periodicals at retail locations, racks and vending machines
- Operating hand trucks, dollies and pallet jacks to move stacked publications
- Handling cash sales and operating point-of-sale at a newsstand or kiosk
- Climbing steps or ladders to reach racks, changing signage, and cleaning stands
- Collecting unsold returns and preparing them for pickup or disposal
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $10.900 Rate
The pure premium rate of $10.900 per $100 of payroll is the dollar amount insurers estimate is needed to cover expected medical and indemnity losses for this class before expenses and profit. To estimate premium, multiply that rate by total payroll for employees assigned to Class 8745, divide by 100, then apply your insurer's expense loads, experience modification (X-mod), credits or debits and any policy-level endorsements. Final premium is affected by your loss history, payroll audits, state assessments, classification accuracy and company-specific risk controls.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Employers in this class must maintain a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) and comply with Cal/OSHA reporting rules for serious work-related injuries and hospitalizations. Outdoor route drivers and street vendors must follow California Heat Illness Prevention requirements during hot weather, and warehouse/stocking operations must ensure safe manual handling, housekeeping to prevent slip hazards, and proper powered industrial truck (forklift) operator training where forklifts are used. Employers should also enforce vehicle safety policies, conduct driver motor vehicle record checks, and provide PPE like high-visibility clothing when employees work near traffic.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 8745
A PEO like Key HR can help employers in Class 8745 by ensuring accurate classification and payroll reporting, centralizing workers' comp coverage, and managing claims to reduce prolonged indemnity costs. Key HR provides loss-control consulting, route- and retail-specific safety training (manual lifting, vehicle safety, robbery prevention), return-to-work programs to limit wage replacement costs, and dedicated claims advocates to speed medical management and closures.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class 8745 include employees who sell periodicals from a newsstand inside a store?
Yes. Retail newsstand attendants and clerks who sell and maintain periodical displays are typically assigned to 8745, provided their duties are primarily selling, stocking and handling magazines/newspapers rather than printing or unrelated retail tasks.
How can I reduce workers' comp costs for a magazine distribution business?
Control costs by improving safe lifting practices, using mechanical aids (dollies, hand trucks), enforcing vehicle safety and MVR checks, implementing a formal return-to-work plan, and reducing claim severity with fast medical triage and light-duty options. Good loss history will lower your experience mod and final premium.
Are drivers who use personal vehicles for deliveries covered under Class 8745?
Drivers using personal vehicles for business deliveries can be included under 8745 if the employer directs routes and pays for the work, but coverage and classification depend on how payroll and mileage reimbursements are reported. Accurately reporting payroll and any owner-operator arrangements to your insurer or PEO is essential.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 8745
- Classification
- News Agents Or Distributors Of Magazines/Periodicals
- Pure Premium Rate
- $10.900 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
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