What is Bobtail Liability Insurance?

Bobtail liability insurance is an insurance policy that covers only liabilities, it is used by owners or operators of semi truck. This insurance policy provides vehicle liability coverage and can be used for trucks or trailers that are not presently used for commercial purposes. Bobtail liability is often purchased when the driver of a semi truck is no longer under the coverage of a company’s insurance policy. This type of vehicle insurance liability provides coverage for drivers of trucks when driving the semi truck or when returning to the terminal after delivering a cargo.

How do Bobtail Insurance Policies Work? 

When a truck has no trailer attached to it, it is a bobtail. If it also has a trailer attacked but empty without any cargo, it is bobtail. This is essential for the understanding of the types of vehicles that are covered under a bobtail liability insurance. This means that the driver of a trailer filed with a cargo and being taken for delivery is not covered by a bobtail insurance policy but once the cargo is delivered and the trailer is empty, he is covered by the bobtail policy. Drivers or owners of trucks purchase the bobtail liability coverage to provide coverage for them when they are no longer under the coverage of the company’s liability insurance policy. A bobtail is only effective if a truck is without trailer or is with trailer but empty. A driver is protected by this policy when not hauling a trailer or hauling an empty trailer. Whether the truck is being used for business purpose or not does not determine the coverage of the bobtail policy, only the absence of a trailer or presence of a trailer without cargo does. Semi-trucks that are not hauling any trailer are covered by this policy, even if the drivers are traveling for business purposes. Non-trucking liability insurance on the other hand provides liability coverage for owners of operators of trucks whether the trucks are attached with trailer filled with cargo (load) or not.