When truckers drive without a trailer, called bobtailing or deadheading, they must carry a special type of insurance that covers this. Without a load in a trailer to weigh down, the trailer becomes more dangerous to drive and increases the risk of an accident, hence the extra policy.
If you haul for a Jacksonville, FL company instead of independently, you might expect the trucking company to pay for the bobtail policy. Instead, the companies typically require drivers to purchase bobtail coverage through an insurer like 925 Partners. Independent truckers should carry this vital coverage even if the trucking company they contract with does not require it.
What is Bobtail Insurance?
The term bobtailing refers to a truck without a trailer attached driven by a truck driver under the authority of a third-party trucking company. Bobtail insurance adds liability coverage that protects the driver and company from financial loss in case of an accident. The insurance only kicks in when the driver has no trailer attached to the cab but operates the truck.
Why Buy Bobtail Insurance?
While a driver has a trailer attached with a load inside, they’re on the job, and the trucking company insurance covers property and liability. Once the truck driver drops off the load, they’re considered off work. The trucking company’s insurance stops covering them once they’re off the clock.
This creates a coverage gap that only bobtail insurance covers. Each truck driver purchases their own bobtail policy.
If you’re operating a truck with the help of someone else’s trucking authority, the insurance that your motor carrier or trucker’s liability only helps if you have a trailer in tow or if you are working on dispatch. For all other possible scenarios, it’s best to have coverage for yourself as an individual.
This differs from non-trucking insurance. Contact 925 Partners, serving Jacksonville, FL for more information on adding bobtail coverage to your trucking policy package.
