What is bobtail insurance?
Bobtail insurance is liability coverage for a truck driven without a trailer, and the name means different things at different insurers. Some sell it as non-trucking liability, which covers only trips off dispatch; OOIDA's OOSI offers bobtail liability that applies whether dispatched or not. It covers injury and damage you cause to others, not damage to your own truck or the freight; insurers differ on extras such as medical payments and uninsured motorist. The federal leasing rule, 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1), does not require it; it makes the lease say who provides it, and the lease and the carrier's written requirements set the terms.
Updated . Written by Andre Beukers, principal at Redoubt, a commercial insurance agency in Salt Lake City, not a government office.
What does bobtail mean in trucking, and how does bobtail insurance work?
Bobtailing is driving a tractor with no trailer attached. The endorsement Landstar requires spells it out: "Bobtail refers to the covered equipment being operated without a trailer attached. Deadheading is defined as operating with an attached trailer which does not contain or carry freight." Progressive uses the same picture: "Bobtail insurance covers you when driving your truck without a trailer behind it."
On a leased truck, two policies sit side by side. Under 49 CFR 376.12(c)(1) the carrier gets "exclusive possession, control, and use of the equipment for the duration of the lease," and 376.12(j)(1) makes the lease state the carrier's obligation to keep insurance "for the protection of the public." Progressive says carriers often require owner-operators to carry NTL "because their primary liability coverage doesn't include the personal use of your truck." Landstar goes further and requires its contractors to buy unladen liability for bobtailing and for running with a trailer while "not hauling freight."
Is bobtail insurance the same as non-trucking liability?
Not at every insurer, and the difference decides whether the policy responds while you are under dispatch. Cover Whale and NITIC use the two names for one off-dispatch product. The Hartford and GEICO keep them apart, and OOSI lists bobtail and unladen liability that apply whether dispatched or not. GEICO says its NTL "does not cover you when you are driving for work, like when you are on your way to pick up a load."
ISO's non-trucking endorsement, CA 23 09, draws the line by use, not by trailer. It adds two exclusions: "This insurance does not apply to: a. A covered 'auto' while used to carry property in any business. b. A covered 'auto' while used in the business of anyone to whom the 'auto' is rented." A lease under 49 CFR 376.2 grants a carrier the use of the truck for compensation, so ask the insurer two things: which form it uses, and whether it reads a leased tractor running for its carrier as used in the business of the party it is rented to. The product name will not answer either.
| Insurer | What it sells | While working or under dispatch |
|---|---|---|
| OOSI (OOIDA) | Bobtail liability with no trailer; unladen liability with an empty trailer or none | Applies, "whether dispatched or not" |
| The Hartford | Bobtail and non-trucking liability as separate coverages | Bobtail applies "for work purposes"; NTL does not |
| GEICO | Unladen liability and non-trucking liability as separate coverages | Unladen applies; NTL does not |
| Progressive | NTL; bobtail and deadhead are "not always part of" it | NTL does not apply |
| Cover Whale | NTL, "also known as" bobtail insurance | Does not apply |
| NITIC | Bobtail insurance, listed as non-trucking liability | Off-dispatch only |
Is bobtail insurance required?
Not by the federal rule itself. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1) names bobtail insurance only to put it in the lease, which "shall further specify who is responsible for providing any other insurance coverage for the operation of the leased equipment, such as bobtail insurance." The coverage that paragraph makes the carrier keep is its own, for the protection of the public. The rule's definition of equipment in 376.2(b) names a straight truck as well as a tractor, so a leased box truck raises the same question.
The requirement comes from the carrier you lease to, and Landstar's is a clear example. Its program page says "Your Independent Contractor Operating Agreement (ICOA) with Landstar requires you procure at your expense Unladen liability insurance." A contractor who brings a policy instead of joining Landstar's program needs at least $1,000,000 combined single limit, Landstar named as additional insured in set words, 30 days' notice of nonpayment, cancellation or non-renewal, and a certificate stating the insurance is primary while bobtailing or deadheading. Another carrier's terms are in its own lease and written requirements.
Is bobtail insurance the same as physical damage, and does it cover theft?
No to both. Bobtail and NTL pay for injury and damage you cause to others. Progressive says its NTL won't cover accidents under dispatch, the cargo you transport or damage to the truck itself, and that the physical damage gap "still exists, even if you get non-trucking liability insurance."
Theft of the truck, a collision that damages it, fire and vandalism are physical damage losses. OOSI's physical damage "covers loss or damage to an insured vehicle caused by collision, fire, theft or vandalism on an actual cash value basis," and Progressive says physical damage "pays for repairs to your truck after events like collisions, theft, and natural disasters." It is a separate coverage, bought alongside bobtail or NTL, not inside it.
Insurers differ on the coverages that protect you rather than others. GEICO says its NTL "does not provide coverage for uninsured, underinsured motorist, medical payments, and personal injury protection," while The Hartford lists uninsured and underinsured motorist, medical payments and personal injury protection among the NTL coverages it makes available. Ask which ones your policy carries.
How much does bobtail insurance cost?
No published figure: none of the pages we read on October 3, 2026 (Progressive, GEICO, The Hartford, Cover Whale, OOSI, Landstar's program) prints a bobtail or NTL rate. Progressive says its rate turns on "your business type, truck, driving history, and location"; GEICO points to a personalized quote. Landstar says its program cost "is dependent on vehicle type" and comes out of your settlement check.
If you buy it through the carrier, the lease has to show the number: 376.12(j)(1) says the lease "shall specify the amount which will be charged-back to the lessor," and under 376.12(j)(2) each certificate must show "the cost to the lessor for each type of coverage" and the deductible. Compare that figure with a quote for a policy in your own name.
Can you buy bobtail insurance for a day?
The day policies we found are short-term liability to move a truck, not bobtail in the lease sense. NITIC (National Independent Truckers Insurance Company, RRG) says it writes "1 to 4 day policies" to move a truck "from point of purchase to home or take a truck for repairs." On its page read October 3, 2026, NITIC lists $140 for 24 hours up to $440 for 96, and says "This policy may not be used for any type of hauling."
Landstar's lease runs on a longer clock: it enrolls every contractor in its program "at the time of the execution of the ICOA" unless it approves comparable coverage in writing, and the coverage cancels when the ICOA ends.
How do you get bobtail insurance, and which companies write it?
Start with the lease, not the insurer. Find the insurance paragraph 376.12(j)(1) requires, then the carrier's written requirements: the limit, the additional insured wording, whether the coverage must be primary, and the notice period. Then choose where to buy it.
The Hartford says "Typically, you can add bobtail insurance coverage to your commercial auto insurance policy as an endorsement." Progressive says NTL "isn't available if" you need a federal or state filing, are actively driving a truck for another company, or are in a trailer interchange agreement. When we shopped a leased-on tractor on September 28, 2026, a wholesaler wrote that adding another policy "doesn’t really make sense" for a unit already insured under another carrier's authority with bobtail or NTL in place.
- The carrier's own program: the Gallagher page for Landstar's program says the coverage is provided by Zurich Insurance Company
- OOIDA's OOSI, which lists bobtail and unladen liability for leased owner-operators
- An insurer that quotes direct: Progressive offers an online NTL quote
- An agency, for insurers that sell only through agents: Cover Whale says it "is exclusively available through licensed insurance agents"
What to send for a bobtail or NTL quote
The lease decides the coverage, so the quote starts from it.
- 1.The insurance section of your lease or ICOA, including any charge-back amount
- 2.The carrier's written requirements: limit, additional insured wording, primary wording, notice days
- 3.Year, make, VIN and weight rating of the tractor or straight truck, and of any trailer you own
- 4.Your driver's license and the tickets and accidents on your record
- 5.Where the truck is parked when it is not working
- 6.Whether you also need physical damage, and the lender's name if the truck is financed
- 7.The certificate holder's exact name and address
Who pays for bobtail insurance, me or the carrier?
The lease says. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1) requires it to name who provides the coverage and any amount charged back to you. Landstar's contract puts it on the contractor, "at your expense."
Is there bobtail insurance for a box truck?
The question is the same as for a tractor. 49 CFR 376.2 counts a straight truck as equipment under the leasing rules, and Landstar prices its unladen program by vehicle type, straight trucks and panel vans included. Read whether the policy turns on dispatch or on carrying property.
Is bobtail insurance different in Texas or Florida?
The rule that puts bobtail in the lease, 49 CFR 376.12, is federal, and none of the carrier pages we read set bobtail terms by state. The state shows up in price: Progressive names location among the things its NTL rate turns on.
Can I insure my own authority with NTL while I am leased on?
Not with Progressive's NTL: Progressive says it is not available when you need a federal or state filing. Ask any other insurer the same question before counting on it.
Where these answers come from
Each entry carries the exact words of the source so you can check it yourself. Forms, rules and carrier pages change; read the current version before acting.
- 1. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1), lease requirements, insurance, eCFR
“The lease shall clearly specify the legal obligation of the authorized carrier to maintain insurance coverage for the protection of the public pursuant to FMCSA regulations under 49 U.S.C. 13906. The lease shall further specify who is responsible for providing any other insurance coverage for the operation of the leased equipment, such as bobtail insurance.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Pulled through the eCFR versioner API at the 2026-09-30 point in time; the section was last amended in 2018. - 2. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(1), charge-back of insurance to the lessor, eCFR
“If the authorized carrier will make a charge back to the lessor for any of this insurance, the lease shall specify the amount which will be charged-back to the lessor.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 3. 49 CFR 376.12(j)(2), certificate when the lessor buys insurance through the carrier, eCFR
“Each certificate of insurance shall include the name of the insurer, the policy number, the effective dates of the policy, the amounts and types of coverage, the cost to the lessor for each type of coverage, and the deductible amount for each type of coverage for which the lessor may be liable.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 4. 49 CFR 376.12(c)(1), exclusive possession and responsibilities, eCFR
“The lease shall provide that the authorized carrier lessee shall have exclusive possession, control, and use of the equipment for the duration of the lease. The lease shall further provide that the authorized carrier lessee shall assume complete responsibility for the operation of the equipment for the duration of the lease.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 5. 49 CFR 376.2(b) and (e), definitions of equipment and lease, eCFR
“A contract or arrangement in which the owner grants the use of equipment, with or without driver, for a specified period to an authorized carrier for use in the regulated transportation of property, in exchange for compensation.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026. Paragraph (e), the definition of lease. - 6. 49 CFR 376.2(b), definition of equipment, eCFR
“A motor vehicle, straight truck, tractor, semitrailer, full trailer, any combination of these and any other type of equipment used by authorized carriers in the transportation of property for hire.”
ecfr.gov, accessed October 3, 2026 - 7. ISO CA 23 09 10 13, Motor Carriers – Insurance For Non-Trucking Use, IIAT InfoCentral copy
“This insurance does not apply to: a. A covered "auto" while used to carry property in any business. b. A covered "auto" while used in the business of anyone to whom the "auto" is rented.”
iiat.org, accessed October 3, 2026. © Insurance Services Office, Inc., 2011. The standard endorsement to the Business Auto Coverage Form; an insurer may file its own non-trucking wording instead. The form also removes from Who Is An Insured anyone in the for-hire trucking business who is liable for your conduct. - 8. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, required endorsement wording
“The insurance afforded by this policy applies when the equipment is bobtailing or deadheading. Bobtail refers to the covered equipment being operated without a trailer attached. Deadheading is defined as operating with an attached trailer which does not contain or carry freight.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Wording Landstar requires on a contractor's own policy in place of its program. - 9. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, the ICOA requirement
“Your Independent Contractor Operating Agreement (ICOA) with Landstar requires you procure at your expense Unladen liability insurance. Such insurance covers bodily injury and property damage to third parties while you are bobtailing or operating your power unit with a leased or owned trailer but are not hauling freight.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 10. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, required coverage, limit
“A minimum of $1,000,000 combined single limit for bodily injury and/or property damage.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The same list requires an additional insured clause in set words naming the Landstar System and its wholly owned subsidiaries. - 11. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, required coverage, notice
“Additional insured must be given a minimum of 30 days notice for nonpayment, cancellation or non-renewal on the specified equipment augmented to Landstar.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 12. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, required coverage, primary wording
“The certificate issued on your behalf must state that this insurance is primary when bobtailing or deadheading (as defined above), with respect to any insurance carried by the additional insured”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 13. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, automatic enrollment
“In accordance with the ICOA, all Independent Contractors are automatically covered under and charged for this program at the time of the execution of the ICOA. An exception will be made only after submission and written approval of comparable coverage”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 14. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, termination
“In the event your ICOA with Landstar is terminated for any reason, the Unladen liability insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage will cancel effective the date of the termination of your ICOA or the earliest date thereafter allowed by law.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 15. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, cost and consent to rate
“The cost to U.S. resident BCOs for obtaining coverage under the Unladen liability program is dependent on vehicle type, fifth wheel vehicles or straight trucks, panel vans, pickups and autos as specified in your ICOA with Landstar.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026. No dollar figure is printed; the page refers contractors to a Gallagher specialist for rates. - 16. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, settlement deduction
“In accordance with your ICOA, your cost for coverage under the Unladen liability program, as well as any charge in return for Landstar's indemnification, will be deducted from your settlement check.”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 17. Landstar / Gallagher Transportation Services, Unladen Liability, insurer
“The Unladen insurance coverage is provided by Zurich Insurance Company. The insurance coverage applies only to a power unit or trailer which, at the time of loss, is under a valid ICOA with Landstar”
landstar.ajg.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The same page says the program is provided through Gallagher Transportation Services; Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. - 18. OOIDA, For Leased Owner-Operators, OOSI bobtail liability
“Bobtail Liability provides liability coverage while the truck is being operated without a trailer attached, whether dispatched or not.”
ooida.com, accessed October 3, 2026. "Bobtail Liability" is the bold lead-in of the sentence on the page. Page modified 2026-03-24 per its metadata. - 19. OOIDA, For Leased Owner-Operators, OOSI unladen liability
“Unladen Liability provides liability coverage while the truck is being operated with an attached empty trailer, or without any trailer at all, whether dispatched or not.”
ooida.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 20. OOIDA, For Leased Owner-Operators, OOSI physical damage
“Physical Damage covers loss or damage to an insured vehicle caused by collision, fire, theft or vandalism on an actual cash value basis.”
ooida.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 21. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, bobtail
“Bobtail insurance covers you when driving your truck without a trailer behind it.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A carrier's description of its own product line. - 22. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, bobtail, deadhead and NTL
“Although bobtail and deadhead coverages are types of liability insurance, they're not always part of non-trucking liability policies.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 23. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, why motor carriers require it
“Motor carriers often require for-hire contractors to carry non-trucking liability because their primary liability coverage doesn't include the personal use of your truck.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Quoted as what Progressive says; "primary liability coverage" is a link on the page. - 24. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, what isn't covered
“Your NTL policy won't cover: Accidents under dispatch, like when you're hauling materials”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The list continues: "The cargo you transport" and "Damage to the truck itself". - 25. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, physical damage coverage
“While many motor carriers provide primary liability insurance for owner operators, they don't include physical damage coverage. This gap still exists, even if you get non-trucking liability insurance.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. "physical damage coverage" is a link on the page. - 26. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, physical damage coverage
“Physical damage insurance has no radius restrictions and pays for repairs to your truck after events like collisions, theft, and natural disasters.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 27. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, cost
“Your NTL insurance rate is determined by things like your business type, truck, driving history, and location.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. No rate is printed on the page. - 28. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, exceptions and restrictions
“Certain regulations limit the use of non-trucking liability. For example, NTL insurance isn't available if: You require a federal or state filing”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The list continues: "You're actively driving a truck for another company" and "You're part of a trailer interchange agreement". - 29. Progressive Commercial, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, online quote
“Give us a call to learn more about the truck insurance coverages we offer or start a non-trucking liability insurance quote online.”
progressivecommercial.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 30. The Hartford, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, bobtail vs. non-trucking liability
“Bobtail insurance helps protect you when you’re operating a truck for work purposes, whereas non-trucking liability insurance does not.”
thehartford.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 31. The Hartford, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, what the coverage includes
“Types of non-trucking liability insurance coverages that are available to small business owners include:”
thehartford.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The list that follows: Bodily Injury Liability Coverage, Property Damage Liability Coverage, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage, Medical Payments Coverage, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Coverage. - 32. The Hartford, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, how to get bobtail insurance
“Typically, you can add bobtail insurance coverage to your commercial auto insurance policy as an endorsement.”
thehartford.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Quoted as what The Hartford says about its own product. - 33. GEICO, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, what it is
“Non-trucking liability insurance does not cover you when you are driving for work, like when you are on your way to pick up a load, deliver a load, or while you're loading or unloading.”
geico.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 34. GEICO, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, FAQ on unladen liability
“Unladen liability covers your truck when you're driving without a load or trailer, even if you're under dispatch. Non-trucking liability, on the other hand, applies when you're using your truck for personal reasons outside of work.”
geico.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 35. GEICO, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, what is not covered
“Non-trucking liability provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage when using the vehicle for personal use, but it does not provide coverage for uninsured, underinsured motorist, medical payments, and personal injury protection.”
geico.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 36. GEICO, Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, FAQ on monthly cost
“The best way to get an accurate rate is to request a personalized quote that reflects your specific situation.”
geico.com, accessed October 3, 2026. Answer to the page's own question "How much is non-trucking liability insurance per month?"; no figure is given. - 37. Cover Whale, Non-Trucking Liability, what it is
“Non-Trucking Liability (NTL) insurance, also known as "bobtail insurance," provides liability coverage for owner-operators when they're not operating under the dispatch of a motor carrier.”
coverwhale.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 38. Cover Whale, Non-Trucking Liability, how it is sold
“Cover Whale is exclusively available through licensed insurance agents.”
coverwhale.com, accessed October 3, 2026 - 39. NITIC (National Independent Truckers Insurance Company, RRG), truck insurance coverages, bobtail
“Bobtail Insurance (Non-Trucking Liability) A kind of liability protection when you drive the truck without a shipment — the idle time between dropping off one load and picking up the next. Protects you when operating off-dispatch.”
truckinsurancenitic.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The heading and the two sentences under it on NITIC's coverages page. - 40. NITIC, Short Term Commercial Truck Insurance, what the policy is for
“We insure all types of commercial trucks and vehicles that require short term or temporary coverage to move from A to B with affordable 1 to 4 day policies. These policies are useful for those that need to move a truck from point of purchase to home or take a truck for repairs.”
shorttermpolicy.com, accessed October 3, 2026. The page adds: "Coverage is available for both short term primary liability and physical damage." - 41. NITIC, Short Term Commercial Truck Insurance, pricing and limits on use
“24 Hour Policy – $140.00 48 Hour Policy – $240.00 72 Hour Policy – $340.00 96 Hour Policy – $440.00 *State required minimum liability limits apply.*”
shorttermpolicy.com, accessed October 3, 2026. A vendor's own price list, as of the date read. The same page says "This policy may not be used for any type of hauling." and "You cannot register the vehicle with this policy." - 42. Redoubt placement record, wholesaler email on a leased-on tractor, September 28, 2026
“If the unit is already under insured under someone else’s authority and he has bobtail or Non-Trucking Liability in place adding another policy doesn’t really make sense.”
Redoubt agency records, accessed September 28, 2026. What one market told Redoubt about one placement; not a rule about any insurer.
An owner-operator is leasing onto a carrier or leasing a truck and the agreement sets the coverage
Landstar and other lease-ons: bobtail and non-trucking liability, what the lease assigns, and how to lease on.
Elsewhere on the site
Leasing onto a carrier and asked for bobtail or NTL?
Send Redoubt the insurance page of your lease or ICOA and the carrier's certificate requirements. We will go through which coverage the lease asks for, what the policy has to say, and what it still leaves uncovered on your truck.
This is general insurance information, not legal advice or a coverage determination. The policy forms, the endorsements the carrier issues, and the requirement in writing from whoever is asking control.