Trucking Insurance
Non-Trucking Liability & Bobtail
Liability coverage for leased owner-operators when they’re driving outside of dispatch.
What It Is
When an owner-operator is leased to a motor carrier, the carrier’s auto liability usually covers the truck while it’s under dispatch. Non-trucking liability covers the owner-operator’s liability when they aren’t working for the carrier, such as driving home or running personal errands. Bobtail coverage is related and refers to driving the tractor without a trailer. Insurers use these terms differently, so the policy wording is what matters.
What It Typically Covers
- Injuries and property damage to others caused while driving outside of dispatch
- Legal defense against covered claims
Common Gaps to Watch For
- It doesn’t apply under dispatch. While you’re working for the carrier, the carrier’s liability is usually primary.
- Hauling for anyone else typically isn’t covered.
- Your own truck needs physical damage coverage.
- Definitions vary. Bobtail and non-trucking policies don’t always mean the same thing from insurer to insurer.
Who Usually Needs It
Owner-operators leased to a motor carrier. Many carriers require it in their lease agreements.
What Underwriters Consider
- Driver experience and motor vehicle record
- The lease arrangement and the motor carrier
- Equipment type
- Where the truck is kept and how it’s used off-dispatch
Questions to Ask
- When exactly does my coverage apply, and when does the carrier’s apply?
- Does my policy cover me with a trailer attached, without one, or both?
- What limits does my lease require?
- Am I covered if I haul for someone other than my carrier?
All coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions, and exclusions.
Last reviewed: November 1, 2026
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Licensed in Illinois.