Regardless of whether you’re an owner-operator or independent contractor, it’s critical to have adequate truck insurance. Despite the safety measures and training requirements you’ve put in place, operating a commercial motor vehicle is considered a high-risk profession. Therefore, you must take proactive measures to safeguard your trucking business.
Understanding Truck Insurance
When you’re on the job, you’re covered by your employer’s insurance. But what happens in between assignments or when you’re not using your truck for business purposes? You should be aware that your employer’s business insurance won’t cover you in these situations. That’s why non-trucking liability and bobtail insurance are essential.
People frequently use the terms bobtail and non-trucking liability interchangeably, which is incorrect. These two insurance policies are vastly different and serve a distinct purpose. Failure to recognize the distinction can land you in a difficult and potentially costly situation.
This article will go over the key differences between non-trucking liability and bobtail insurance. Let’s get started!
Bobtail Insurance
Operating your semi without the trailer is referred to as bobtailing. Bobtail insurance will provide coverage in these instances when you aren’t hauling a load. This can happen quite frequently if you’ve dropped off a load and are heading to a different location for pickup or heading home.
The reason you need this added coverage is that bobtailing can be quite risky. Not only are semis not designed to be driven without their trailers, but they’re more difficult to operate and maneuver. Due to the risk, most trucking companies don’t want to bear the financial responsibility of bobtailing. Therefore, you’ll need bobtail insurance if you wish to be protected in these instances.
For more information on how much is insurance for a semi truck, refer to our recent blog.
It’s should be noted that bobtail insurance won’t extend coverage if you’re hauling an empty trailer and get into an accident.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance
Non-trucking liability insurance protects you if you’re operating your commercial vehicle for non-work-related reasons. For instance, running errands or going out to dinner would fall into this category.
What makes this insurance coverage different from bobtail insurance is that it doesn’t matter if your trailer is in tow or not. So, if you’re operating your truck for non-commercial purposes and aren’t under dispatch you’ll need non-trucking liability.
Bottom Line
To summarize, non-trucking liability protects you when you drive your truck for personal matters. Bobtail insurance protects you when you don’t have your trailer in tow. Again, this usually occurs when you’re en route to pick up a load or on your way home.
These insurance policies are vital to a trucking business and can shield you from costly lawsuits. Therefore, when you go to purchase coverage, take your time to read over and fully understand your policy. A designated truck insurance agent can guide you in the right direction. For a quote on car hauler insurance, dump truck insurance, and semi truck insurance, give us a call or fill out our online quote form today.
