Protection when the rig is off the clock
Non-Trucking Liability (NTL), also known as Bobtail Liability, provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage when an insured truck is operated for personal or non-business purposes. For example, when dead-heading to a repair shop or driving home after the last delivery. It fills the gap where a motor carrier’s primary auto liability policy ends.
Coverage
Situation | How the policy responds |
|---|---|
Personal errands | Pays third-party claims if an accident occurs while the tractor is being driven off-dispatch (for fuel, food, or home). |
Dead-Head / No trailer | Covers liability while traveling bobtail to pick up the next load or returning to base without a trailer. |
Lease-required gap | Satisfies the lease clause that obligates an owner-operator to carry liability coverage whenever the carrier’s policy isn’t in force. |
Not covered: on-dispatch trips, freight hauling, or activities that generate business revenue. Those exposures remain under the motor carrier’s primary auto liability policy.
Who needs it
Who typically needs NTL / Bobtail Liability
Leased-on owner-operators driving under a motor carrier’s authority.
Lease-purchase drivers with tractors titled in personal or LLC name.
Power-only contractors moving between assignments without a trailer attached.
Drivers using the tractor for personal mileage (shop visits, family events).
Limits & costs
Lease requirement | Common limit | Typical annual premium* |
|---|---|---|
Large national carriers | $1 million CSL | $350 – $900 |
Regional carriers | $750,000 – $1 million | $300 – $800 |
Hazardous-material fleets | $1 million (often higher) | $800 – $1,400 |
*Premium varies by driving record, radius, state, and equipment class.
Cost explanation
Factors that influence rate
Driving history (MVR, PSP): Clean records lower the premium.
Garaging ZIP: Dense metropolitan areas tend to rate higher than rural locations.
Tractor age & value: Newer, more valuable units carry slightly higher rates.
Prior liability claims: Loss-free experience earns credits.
Our advantages
Lease-compliant certificates
faster onboarding with national and regional carriers
24/7 self-serve portal
print or email NTL certificates anytime, anywhere
Truck-only expertise
policies tailored specifically for owner-operators, not generic auto forms
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
1. Does the law require Non-Trucking Liability?
2. Does NTL replace Physical Damage or Cargo?
3. What’s the difference between Bobtail and NTL?
4. Does coverage apply when towing a personal RV or boat?
Blog
Stay informed with the GIA Group, LLC blog
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