Bobtail Insurance

Bobtail insurance is a pivotal form of commercial trucking insurance for independent owner/operators.

The trucking industry is extremely diverse and trucking insurance is built to match that diversity among specialty vehicles and their applications.

This is done by tailoring trucking liability insurance and physical damage coverage to a variety of employment situations and trucking applications.

The commercial truck insurance that motor carriers purchase covers their employees for the most part, but it’s important to recognize that about 315,000 truck drivers on the road in the U.S. are independent contractors.

Truckinginfo.net estimates that there are about 3.5 million truck drivers employed in the United States and a solid 9% of them are independent owner/operators that need their own commercial truck insurance policies.  

While independent drivers can be added to motor carrier’s primary liability insurance, a 1099 means having your own commercial trucking insurance for all the times you’re not commissioned—these are the drivers bobtail insurance is designed for.

Non-Trucking Liability

Bobtail insurance, also known as non-trucking liability or deadhead insurance, is primary liability truck insurance for independent contractors, covering them only during the times they are not on dispatch and covered by a trucking company’s primary liability.

Bobtail insurance covers damage that might occur in an accident while using your truck recreationally, off the job site, at the service station or any other application when you’re not operating under a trucking company’s authority.

What Bobtail Insurance Doesn’t Cover
Bobtail insurance is usually a limited version of primary liability trucking insurance, intended to cover you only at times when you aren’t on the job.  If an accident occurs while on dispatch, either to or from the jobsite, it’s important to make a claim with your contracting company’s commercial truck insurance.

Bobtail insurance also usually needs other complimentary forms of truck insurance to protect against damage to your own vehicle in many instances.  

Other Policies to Purchase with Bobtail Insurance
Generally bobtail insurance with physical damage or comprehensive insurance will be sufficient trucking insurance for an independent driver’s needs year round.

Talking to an agent can help you determine if trailer insurance or cargo insurance will be beneficial to you based on the gear you own and your employment situation.

Talk to an agent for more information on bobtail insurance and to receive free commercial truck insurance quotes!