Class Insurance Agency, an affiliated office of AIC Insurance
Non-trucking liability, bobtail and unladen coverage
If you’re an owner-operator leased to a motor carrier, the carrier’s insurance covers you while you’re working for it. Your own policy has to cover the rest of the time you drive your truck. The names get mixed up, and the difference decides whether a claim gets paid.
Call 360-450-2211 or start a quote online. We work in English, Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian.
Three terms that aren’t the same
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bobtail | Driving a tractor without a trailer.[1] Deadheading means running with an empty trailer.[2] |
| Non-trucking liability (often sold as “bobtail insurance”) | Covers the owner-operator when the truck isn’t being used in the carrier’s business, for example after a load is delivered. It’s usually written on ISO endorsement CA 23 09.[3][4] |
| Unladen liability | Covers bobtail and deadhead miles whether or not you’re under dispatch.[5] |
Non-trucking liability normally excludes the truck while it carries property in any business, or while it’s used in the business of the carrier it’s leased to.[6] The policy’s wording controls, not what it’s called.
What courts decided
When there’s a crash, the question is whether the truck was being used in the carrier’s business. Courts have looked at whether the driver was free to go anywhere, was paid for the trip, was under dispatch or on standby, and whether the trip was personal.[6]
- Non-trucking policy applied: driving home after the day’s deliveries, off dispatch and unpaid for the trip; and driving home after being told there was no load.[6]
- Carrier’s policy applied instead: bobtailing to a motel while on standby for the next day’s load; bobtailing for an oil change while the trailer was being loaded; and returning to pick up a trailer.[6]
- Deadheading under dispatch: in Clarendon v. Medina, an owner-operator’s “bobtail” policy excluded an accident while deadheading under dispatch to pick up a second load, and the carrier’s $1,000,000 policy paid.[7]
What your lease must say
Federal leasing rules give the carrier exclusive possession, control and use of your truck for the length of the lease, and complete responsibility for its operation.[8] The lease must also spell out:[8]
- The carrier’s duty to insure the public, and who provides other insurance “such as bobtail insurance,” including any amount charged back to you
- Every chargeback, itemized
- If you buy insurance through the carrier, your right to a copy of the policy and a certificate showing the insurer, cost and deductible
Leases differ. In the Clarendon case, the lease required non-trucking or bobtail coverage of at least $750,000.[7] Landstar requires its leased owner-operators to carry unladen liability.[9] Read your lease before you buy, and send it to us with your quote request.
Getting your own authority?
Non-trucking liability doesn’t meet the $750,000 primary liability requirement for running under your own authority.[10] See new authority truck insurance and owner-operator truck insurance.
What to have ready for a quote
- A copy of your lease, especially the insurance section
- The carrier you’re leased to and how dispatch works
- Where you park the truck when you’re off duty
- Your truck’s year, make, VIN and value, if you also want physical damage coverage
- Your license number and driving history
Frequently asked questions
Does non-trucking liability cover me driving home after I’m released from dispatch?
Usually yes, when you’re off dispatch and not paid for the trip. Being on standby or resting before a reload can count as the carrier’s business instead.[6]
Does non-trucking liability cover deadheading under dispatch?
Usually not. In Clarendon v. Medina, a “bobtail” policy excluded a dispatched deadhead trip. Check whether your lease requires unladen coverage.[7][5]
Is bobtail insurance the same as non-trucking liability?
The names are often used for the same product, but unladen liability is different: it covers bobtail and deadhead miles even under dispatch. The policy’s exclusions decide.[3][5]
Can my carrier charge me for this insurance?
Yes, if the lease states the amount. You’re entitled to a copy of the policy on request.[8]
Does non-trucking liability work if I get my own authority?
No. Under your own authority you need primary liability that meets the $750,000 federal minimum.[10]
Get a non-trucking liability quote
Call 360-450-2211 or start your quote. We quote trucking operations in the 48 contiguous states from our office in Vancouver, Washington, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific.
Related coverage
Sources
- [1] IRMI: Bobtail
- [2] IRMI: Deadheading
- [3] IRMI: Bobtail liability
- [4] Rough Notes: Truckers, insurance for non-trucking use (CA 23 09)
- [5] IRMI: Unladen liability
- [6] Fifth Circuit: Mahaffey (2008) opinion
- [7] Seventh Circuit: Clarendon National Insurance v. Medina, No. 10-1943 (2011)
- [8] 49 CFR 376.12: lease requirements
- [9] Landstar: Owner-operator FAQs
- [10] 49 CFR 387.303: federal minimums
General information only, checked September 2026. Rules change; confirm with the agency that issues your permits. Coverage availability, terms and filings depend on underwriting and the policy issued; a quote request does not bind insurance.