RateWatch

There are roughly 46,302 local general-freight trucking establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 484110, 2023 Census County Business Patterns) — the drayage, last-mile, and intrastate carriers that move freight within a metro or region, distinct from the long-distance truckload segment. California leads with 9,580, well ahead of Illinois (4,635, Chicago's freight-hub role again), Florida (3,073), Texas (2,837), and New York (2,113) — with Pennsylvania (1,860), New Jersey (1,737), and Michigan (1,589) rounding out the top eight. Together these establishments employ about 284,100 people.

Why it matters for insurance: local trucking is a commercial-auto exposure first — frequent stops, urban traffic, and short-radius driving drive claim frequency, and commercial auto ran a 74.4% loss ratio in 2023, the worst of the major commercial lines (NAIC). See how that varies by state in our Commercial Auto Loss Ratios by State study, and compare the long-distance segment in our long-distance trucking counts.

There are roughly 1,631 nonscheduled passenger air-transportation establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 481211, 2023 Census County Business Patterns) — the charter, air-taxi, and on-demand operators flown under FAA Part 135. Florida leads with 238 (tourism plus a dense private-aviation market), followed by California (158) and Texas (156). The standout is Alaska at 91 — far above its population, because bush flying is essential transport where roads don't reach. New York (82), Colorado (50), Illinois (46), and Pennsylvania (45) round out the top eight. These operators employ about 41,900 people.

Why it matters for insurance: charter operators carry specialty aviation liability — aircraft hull plus passenger liability — well beyond a standard commercial general-liability policy, and their passenger-carrying exposure and Part 135 compliance are the main premium drivers.

There are roughly 3,227 vending-machine operator establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 445132, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). Florida leads with 305, followed by Texas (268), California (228), and New York (181) — a ranking that tracks population and dense commercial-property footprints where machines are placed. Illinois (163), Pennsylvania (145), North Carolina (140), and Ohio (140) complete the top eight. The segment employs about 40,900 people.

Why it matters for insurance: vending operators are a hybrid general-liability and product-liability exposure — their machines sit on other businesses' premises (third-party bodily-injury and property-damage risk) and dispense food and drink (product risk) — plus commercial auto for the restocking routes and inland-marine/equipment coverage for the machines themselves.

There are roughly 2,217 scenic and sightseeing water-transport establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 487210, 2023 Census County Business Patterns) — tour boats, harbor cruises, whale-watching, dinner cruises, and airboat operators. Florida dominates with 616 — more than a quarter of the national total — followed by California (242), Hawaii (175), and Alaska (152). Hawaii and Alaska punch far above their population, a direct reflection of tourism and coastline. New York (107), North Carolina (76), South Carolina (71), and Washington (71) round out the top eight. The segment employs about 14,900 people.

Why it matters for insurance: carrying paying passengers on the water is a serious liability exposure — passenger bodily-injury claims plus marine protection-and-indemnity (P&I) and hull coverage — and U.S. Coast Guard passenger-vessel requirements shape both operations and premiums.

There are roughly 8,843 "other social-advocacy" organization establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 813319, 2023 Census County Business Patterns) — the advocacy, civil-rights, environmental, and community-action nonprofits. California leads with 1,179, followed by New York (649) and Texas (456). The standout is Washington, D.C. at 412 — a tiny jurisdiction ranking fourth nationally because it is the country's advocacy capital. Florida (365), Washington (361), Pennsylvania (317), and Illinois (313) round out the top eight. These organizations employ about 74,500 people.

Why it matters for insurance: advocacy nonprofits carry general liability for their events and premises, but their defining exposures are directors-and-officers (D&O) and employment-practices (EPLI) coverage — governance decisions, volunteer management, and public-facing campaigns all create management-liability risk a standard GL policy does not address.

There are roughly 60,137 long-distance truckload trucking establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 484121, 2023 Census County Business Patterns), and they cluster in a handful of states. California leads with 7,792, but the surprise is second place: Illinois has 6,973 — ahead of Texas's 6,318 — a reflection of Chicago's role as the country's rail-and-road freight hub. Florida follows with 3,866, then Pennsylvania 2,160, Michigan 2,058, Georgia 1,967, and North Carolina 1,952.

The geographic tilt matters because trucking is one of the toughest commercial-auto risks to price, and the states with the most carriers tend to have the deepest insurance markets — more admitted and surplus-lines insurers writing the class, more filed rate options, and more room for an owner-operator to compare.

It is also one of the most demanding coverage stacks in commercial lines. Interstate carriers of general freight must carry a federal minimum of $750,000 in liability under FMCSA rules (49 CFR §387.9), and many shippers and freight brokers contractually require $1 million. Layered on top of primary liability are physical-damage coverage on the tractor and trailer, motor-truck cargo coverage, and non-trucking (bobtail) liability. And the line is under real pressure: commercial auto ran a 74.4% loss ratio in 2023 — the worst of the major commercial lines (NAIC) — which is why trucking premiums keep climbing. See how commercial-auto profitability varies by state on our market profitability pages, and how it compares with other lines in our loss ratios by line breakdown.

There are roughly 38,280 painting & wall-covering contractor establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 23832, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). California tops the list with 4,880, but the story is second place: Florida has 4,421 — nearly matching California and far ahead of Texas's 1,468 — a reflection of the state's heavy construction and repainting demand. New York is third with 2,579, followed by Washington 1,809, Illinois 1,505, Texas 1,468, Pennsylvania 1,168, and Oregon 1,091 — the Pacific Northwest punching well above its population.

Why it matters for insurance: painting is a general-liability-driven trade (overspray, property damage, ladder and fall exposure), and the states with the most painters also tend to have the deepest, most competitive insurance markets. See how general-liability profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

There are roughly 11,834 florist establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 459310, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). California leads with 1,203, and unlike most trades New York takes second with 962 — ahead of Texas's 818 — a sign florists concentrate in dense, walkable urban markets. Florida follows with 657, then Pennsylvania 535, Illinois 487, Ohio 435, and New Jersey 407.

Why it matters for insurance: florists are a general-liability trade (customer foot traffic, delivery vehicles, perishable-goods claims). See how GL profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

There are roughly 18,069 pool-service establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 561790, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). Unusually, Florida leads — not California — with 3,260, followed by California 2,198 and Texas 1,621. The tell is fourth place: Arizona at 879 punches well above its population — a clear sunbelt, year-round-pool effect. New York follows with 871, then New Jersey 577, North Carolina 575, and Pennsylvania 485.

Why it matters for insurance: pool service is a general-liability trade with real property-damage and chemical-handling exposure. See how GL profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

There are roughly 11,483 photography-studio establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 541921, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). California leads with 1,456, then Florida 1,007 and New York 873 — the creative and destination markets you'd expect. Texas follows with 790, then Illinois 501, North Carolina 377, Georgia 375, and Pennsylvania 353.

Why it matters for insurance: photographers carry general liability plus inland-marine (expensive, portable gear). See how GL profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

There are roughly 6,945 glass & glazing contractor establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 23815, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). The leaders track construction activity: California 1,030, Florida 733, and Texas 630. New York follows with 479, then North Carolina 248, Illinois 232, Georgia 217, and Colorado 187 — a Mountain-West market punching into the top 8.

Why it matters for insurance: glass & glazing is a contractor trade with general-liability and workers'-comp exposure (heights, breakage, property damage). See how GL profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

In workers' compensation, your class code sets your cost far more than your carrier does — and California's own numbers make the point. Across the advisory pure premium rates approved for California effective September 1, 2025 (WCIRB), the rate a clerical office pays is $0.20 per $100 of payroll (class 8810), while roofing runs all the way up to $21.22 (class 5552) — about a 106× spread, all before a carrier applies its own multiplier.

Across recognizable trades the climb is steady: barber shops & salons $1.16 (9586), full-service restaurants $2.53 (9080), retail stores $2.74 (8017), landscape gardening $5.30 (0042), trucking $6.12 (7219), and painting $8.49 (5474). California splits many construction trades into high- and low-wage tiers, so roofing is actually two classes — $13.60 high-wage (5553) and $21.22 low-wage (5552); the low-wage rate is higher because the same claim cost is spread over lower payroll.

For scale, the full California list ranges from $0.02 (computer programming, 8859) to $368.47 (volunteer firefighting, 7707). These are advisory pure premiums, not final rates — every carrier files its own multiplier on top. Class descriptions here are California's official phraseology (California uses its own classification system, not NCCI's). See how workers'-comp loss costs compare across states in our Workers' Comp Loss Costs by State study.

There are roughly 10,982 solid-waste-collection establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 562111, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). Unlike some trades, waste collection spreads fairly evenly with population and route density: California leads with 907, then Texas 786, with Florida and New York tied at 576. Pennsylvania follows with 540, then Ohio 421, North Carolina 393, and Illinois 389.

Why it matters for insurance: waste hauling is a heavy commercial-auto and workers'-comp risk (large trucks, hydraulic equipment, roadside exposure). See how commercial-auto profitability varies by state on our market profitability pages.

There are roughly 4,791 horse-stable and equine-support establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 115210, 2023 Census County Business Patterns). California leads with 517, then Florida 433 and Texas 337. New York follows with 261, then Washington 166 and Pennsylvania 160. The tell is the tie for seventh: Colorado and Kentucky both at 148 — Kentucky punching well above its population, exactly what you'd expect from the country's horse-country heartland.

Why it matters for insurance: stables carry serious general-liability exposure (riding injuries, boarding, animal-related claims) plus care-custody-and-control considerations. See how GL profitability varies by state in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

Not all commercial insurance lines are equally profitable — and the gap drives which lines see rate increases. In 2023 (NAIC), loss ratios across the major commercial lines ranged widely: commercial auto ran the worst at 74.4%, then commercial multiple peril (BOP) 62.6%, general liability 60.2%, medical professional liability 57.6%, product liability 49.3%, commercial property 46.0%, workers' comp 45.1%, and inland marine 45.0% — the most profitable. A higher loss ratio means insurers pay out more per premium dollar, which is the pressure behind rate increases; see the state-by-state detail on our market profitability pages.

General liability is the coverage almost every business carries, and it's the biggest commercial line in the country: about $94 billion in premiums in 2023 (NAIC). But the profitability behind those rates varies enormously — GL loss ratios run from roughly 30% in the best states to over 100% in the worst, which is exactly why a GL policy can cost very different amounts depending on where you operate. See the full state-by-state breakdown in our General Liability Loss Ratios by State study.

Where a roofing crew operates changes its workers'-comp cost dramatically. Across the states that publish an advisory loss cost for roofing (NCCI class 5551, same rate basis), it runs from $2.91/$100 of payroll in Indiana to $5.40 in Colorado, $5.75 in Oregon, $6.84 in North Carolina, and $10.14 in Missouri — a ~3.5× spread, all before a carrier applies its own loss-cost multiplier (typically 1.20–1.50).

Two administered-rate states run higher still — Wisconsin $13.18 and New Jersey $25.33 — but those are already-final manual rates (expense and profit included, no carrier multiplier), a different basis that isn't directly comparable to advisory loss costs. The takeaway: the same roofing payroll can cost several times more in comp depending purely on which state's rating system sets the rate.

The single biggest driver of a workers'-comp premium is the NCCI class code, and the spread is enormous. In Colorado's 2026 NCCI advisory-loss-cost filing, roofing (class 5551) is $5.40 per $100 of payroll while clerical office work (class 8810) is $0.05 — about a 108× difference for the same coverage. Carriers then apply their own loss-cost multiplier, and administered states run higher (New Jersey's 2026 roofing rate reaches $25.33/$100). The takeaway: your class code, not your carrier, is the first thing that sets your WC cost.

Per the NAIC's 2023 Report on Profitability by Line by State, commercial auto ran roughly a 74% loss ratio and posted an underwriting loss — the worst of the major commercial lines. That's the structural pressure behind the commercial-auto rate increases showing up in filings: when a line loses money on underwriting nationally, carriers file for rate. If you run vehicles, expect commercial-auto to be the line most likely to see increases at renewal.