Bobtail & Non-Trucking Liability Insurance in Texas
When you are leased to a motor carrier, the carrier’s liability policy usually covers you only while you are working under its dispatch. Bobtail and non-trucking liability fill the gaps outside of that. Lavon Insurance helps Texas owner-operators compare both from multiple insurance companies.
- Built for owner-operators leased to a motor carrier
- Non-trucking liability: personal use while off dispatch
- Bobtail: work-related driving without a trailer
- Liability only, not your truck or cargo
- Often required by your lease agreement
Why Leased Owner-Operators Need Bobtail or NTL
When you lease your truck to a motor carrier, the carrier typically provides primary truck liability while you are hauling for it. Once you are off dispatch, or moving without a trailer between assignments, that coverage may not apply.
If you cause an accident during one of those gaps, you could be personally responsible for injuries and damage to others. Non-trucking liability and bobtail coverage are designed to protect you during those times.
Bobtail vs. Non-Trucking Liability
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they generally describe different situations: bobtail is about the truck’s setup, and non-trucking liability is about the purpose of the trip.
| Feature | Bobtail Liability | Non-Trucking Liability (NTL) |
|---|---|---|
| Trailer attached? | No, the tractor is running without a trailer | With or without a trailer |
| Purpose of the trip | Work-related movement, such as heading to the next pickup | Personal or non-business use |
| Dispatch status | Can apply under or off dispatch, depending on the policy | Off dispatch only |
| Deadheading between loads | Often covered when bobtailing | Generally not covered |
| What it pays for | Injury and damage you cause to others | Injury and damage you cause to others |
Some insurers sell only NTL, some sell bobtail, and some combine them. Before you buy, compare the policy’s actual wording with how you use your truck and what your lease requires.
Which Coverage Applies? Common Situations
Here is how typical owner-operator trips usually line up. The answer for your truck depends on your lease and policies.
| Situation | Coverage That Usually Applies |
|---|---|
| Hauling a load under the motor carrier’s dispatch | The motor carrier’s primary truck liability |
| Driving without a trailer to your next pickup | Bobtail liability, unless the carrier’s policy extends to it |
| Running a personal errand in your tractor on a day off | Non-trucking liability |
| Driving home for the weekend after you are released from dispatch | Often non-trucking liability, depending on policy wording |
| Hauling a load for a different company or under your own authority | Neither; you need your own primary truck liability |
What Bobtail and NTL Do Not Cover
Both are liability coverages. Owner-operators usually need other policies for these exposures.
Trailers You Don’t Own
Damage to a carrier’s or shipper’s trailer in your care.
Trailer Interchange →Business Use Under Dispatch
Hauling for the carrier is covered by the carrier’s primary liability, not NTL.
Commercial Truck Liability →Non-Auto Claims
Claims that don’t involve driving, such as premises or loading-dock incidents.
Trucking General Liability →What Your Motor Carrier Lease May Require
Most motor carriers spell out insurance responsibilities in the lease agreement. Many require leased owner-operators to carry non-trucking liability, often at a limit of $1,000,000, and to provide a certificate of insurance before they can be dispatched.
Some carriers offer NTL through their own program and deduct the cost from settlements. Buying your own policy can give you more control over price and coverage, as long as it meets the lease requirements.
What to Check in Your Lease
- Whether NTL, bobtail or both are required
- The minimum liability limit
- Whether the carrier must be named as additional insured
- When the carrier’s primary liability starts and ends
- Physical damage and occupational accident requirements
- Whether you can buy your own policy or must use the carrier’s program
Getting a Bobtail or NTL Quote
Lavon Insurance is an independent agency. We compare owner-operator coverage from multiple insurers.
Share Your Lease Details
Who you are leased to, what the lease requires and how you use your truck off dispatch.
We Compare Options
We match bobtail, NTL or both to your lease, along with physical damage and occupational accident if needed.
You Get Covered
We send the certificate to your motor carrier so you can get back on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bobtail and Non-Trucking Liability
What is non-trucking liability insurance?
Non-trucking liability, or NTL, covers injury and damage you cause to others while using your leased tractor for personal, non-business reasons when you are off dispatch and the motor carrier’s liability does not apply.
What is bobtail insurance?
Bobtail insurance is liability coverage for driving your tractor without a trailer, such as heading to your next pickup between loads, when the motor carrier’s policy does not cover that trip.
Are bobtail and non-trucking liability the same thing?
No, although the terms are often used interchangeably. Bobtail generally depends on driving without a trailer for work, while non-trucking liability depends on personal use off dispatch, with or without a trailer.
Does non-trucking liability cover deadheading?
Generally no. Deadheading between loads is business use, which non-trucking liability usually excludes. Bobtail coverage or the motor carrier’s policy is more likely to apply, depending on your lease.
Do I need bobtail or NTL if I have my own authority?
Usually not. Owner-operators with their own authority carry their own primary truck liability, which generally covers both business and personal use of the truck.
Is non-trucking liability required?
It is not generally required by law, but most motor carriers require leased owner-operators to carry it under the lease agreement, often with a $1,000,000 limit.
Does NTL cover damage to my truck?
No. Non-trucking liability only covers injury and damage you cause to others. Damage to your own truck is covered by truck physical damage insurance.
Can I buy my own NTL instead of using my carrier’s program?
Often yes, as long as your lease allows it and the policy meets the carrier’s limit and additional insured requirements.
What happens if I have an accident off dispatch without NTL?
If the motor carrier’s policy does not apply and you have no non-trucking liability, you could be personally responsible for injuries and damage you cause, and you may be in violation of your lease.
What do I need for a bobtail or NTL quote?
Plan to share your truck details, driver information, the motor carrier you are leased to, your lease insurance requirements, your operating area and your driving and claims history.
Coverage That Works With Bobtail and NTL
See how owner-operator coverage fits together in our guide to trucking insurance policies or our overview of trucking insurance in Texas.
Bobtail & NTL Insurance in Lavon & Throughout Texas
We help owner-operators across Texas, including these North Texas communities:
Close the Gaps in Your Owner-Operator Coverage
Tell us who you’re leased to and how you use your truck. We’ll compare bobtail and non-trucking liability options that meet your lease.
Insurance coverage, definitions, exclusions, conditions, pricing and availability vary by insurance carrier and policy. This page is general information and does not modify or replace the terms of any insurance policy, lease agreement or applicable law.