ServicesNon-Trucking Liability (Bobtail)
Non-Trucking Liability (Bobtail) Insurance in Roswell
If you're leased on to a motor carrier, their policy covers you under dispatch. Once you're off the clock, it usually doesn't. We set up non-trucking liability that fits your lease, explain where it starts and stops, and send your carrier the certificate they need.
Coverage for the Miles Your Carrier Doesn't Insure
Non-trucking liability protects an owner-operator when the truck is being driven for personal reasons and not under dispatch. Think of driving home after a delivery, heading to the shop for an oil change, or grabbing dinner with the tractor. If you cause an accident in those moments, your motor carrier's primary liability may not respond, and this policy is what answers for injuries and damage to others.
Most leases require it, and many name a minimum limit. The wording matters. Some policies are true non-trucking coverage, others are written as bobtail or unladen liability, and that difference decides if you're protected while pulling an empty trailer. We read your lease before we quote so the policy matches what your carrier actually asked for.
We've been in business 5 years and are licensed for property and casualty insurance, so you're talking with people who handle these lease questions every week, by phone, video or at our office.
What We Handle When We Set Up Your Policy
- A read of your lease agreement
- We look at the insurance section of your lease for the required limit, the type of coverage named and how the carrier wants to be listed. That keeps you from buying a policy your carrier rejects.
- The right policy wording
- We explain whether you need non-trucking, bobtail or unladen liability, and what each one covers. You'll know in plain terms which trips are protected.
- Certificate of insurance to your carrier
- We send the certificate of insurance to your motor carrier with their name and role listed exactly the way the lease spells it out. That way it doesn't get kicked back over a wording issue.
- A comparison with your carrier's program
- Some carriers offer NTL through settlement deductions. We'll show you what that program costs against a policy in your own name so you can decide.
- Help when you change carriers
- If you sign with a new motor carrier, we update the certificate and check that your coverage still meets the new lease.
Signs It's Time to Look at Your Non-Trucking Coverage
You just signed a lease
A new lease almost always comes with an insurance requirement and a deadline. We can get you set up so you're not sitting idle waiting on paperwork.
Your carrier rejected a certificate
Wrong limit, wrong name or wrong coverage type are the usual reasons. We find the gap and fix it.
You take the truck home or to personal errands
Any time the tractor moves without a dispatch, you're in non-trucking territory. If that's routine for you, the coverage needs to be solid.
You aren't sure what your deduction pays for
If a line on your settlement says NTL and you've never seen the policy, it's worth a look. You should know the limit and what it covers.
How Getting Covered Works
- 1
We talk through your setup
On the call we ask who you're leased to, how you use the truck off dispatch and whether you ever pull a trailer when you're not under a load. A copy of your lease helps a lot.
- 2
We gather the details for a quote
We'll need your truck's VIN, where it's parked, your driving record and the carrier's DOT number. Then we shop the coverage your lease calls for.
- 3
We walk you through the options
You'll hear the premium, the limit and exactly what each policy excludes. We'll point out anything in the wording that could leave you short.
- 4
We bind and send the certificate
Once you choose, we bind the policy and get the certificate of insurance to your carrier. We stay on hand for changes, renewals and lease switches.
What Shapes Your Non-Trucking Premium
Non-trucking liability is usually one of the smaller premiums an owner-operator pays, but it still varies from driver to driver. We'll explain which of these factors affect your quote most, so the price makes sense before you agree to it.
- The limit your lease requires
- Carriers set their own minimums. A higher required limit raises the premium.
- Your driving record
- Recent violations, accidents and years behind the wheel of a commercial truck all weigh on the rate.
- Coverage type
- Bobtail or unladen wording, which can extend to pulling an empty trailer, is priced differently than straight non-trucking coverage.
- Truck and garaging location
- The type of tractor and where it's parked overnight, whether in Roswell or out near Woodstock or Marietta, play a part in the rating.
Non-Trucking Liability Questions We Hear
Something not covered here? (770) 285-5789
Is bobtail insurance the same as non-trucking liability?
People use the names interchangeably, but policies can differ. Non-trucking liability covers you when you're not under dispatch. Bobtail coverage traditionally applies when you're driving without a trailer, and some versions apply even during business use. We'll match the wording to what your lease asks for.
Am I covered driving to pick up a dispatched load?
Usually that trip is business use, so your motor carrier's primary liability is expected to respond, not your non-trucking policy. Leases vary, though, and we'll read yours to confirm where the line falls.
Does non-trucking liability pay to fix my truck?
No. It covers injuries and damage you cause to other people and their property. For damage to your own tractor, look at our Physical Damage Insurance page.
I have my own MC authority. Do I need this?
Generally not. With your own authority you need primary auto liability, which covers you on and off dispatch. Our Primary Auto Liability Insurance and New Authority Truck Insurance pages cover that setup.
My carrier deducts NTL from my settlement. Should I buy my own?
Sometimes the carrier's program is a fair deal and sometimes it isn't. A policy in your own name can follow you if you change carriers. We'll compare both honestly and let you choose.
Let's Get Your Lease Requirement Settled
Have your lease and truck details handy, and we'll walk through what your carrier needs and what it will cost. You'll hang up knowing exactly what's covered.