Auto & transportation

Non-Trucking Liability Insurance

Liability for owner-operators leased to a motor carrier, for times the tractor is used for personal reasons that aren't part of anyone's business.

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When you are leased to a motor carrier, the carrier typically provides primary auto liability while your truck is being used in its business. Non-trucking liability (NTL) fills a narrower gap: it can respond when you use the tractor for personal reasons that aren't part of anyone's business, such as running a personal errand on a day off, with no load and no dispatch.

NTL is not a substitute for primary liability. It generally does not apply when you are hauling a load, driving to a pickup or otherwise working for the carrier. Those trips usually fall under the motor carrier's policy.

Most lease agreements require the owner-operator to carry NTL and to name the motor carrier as an additional insured. We help owner-operators match the policy to their lease and pair it with physical damage and occupational accident where needed.

When is a trip personal use?

Being off dispatch doesn't by itself make a trip personal. Bobtailing (driving without a trailer), driving empty, fueling, washing, taking the truck in for repairs or returning home may be treated as business use, depending on the wording.

The trip's purpose, your lease, the motor carrier's policy and the NTL policy wording decide which policy applies, so we review them with you.

What's typically included

Exact coverage depends on the policy form, endorsements and insurance company.

Liability for personal use

Can pay for injuries and property damage you cause to others while using your tractor for personal purposes that aren't part of anyone's business, up to the policy limit.

Bobtail vs. non-trucking

The terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not always the same. Bobtail traditionally refers to driving the tractor without a trailer; non-trucking liability usually turns on whether the trip is for business, trailer or not. Driving without a trailer can still be business use.

Additional insured for the motor carrier

Lease agreements commonly require the motor carrier to be named as an additional insured, with a certificate on file before your first dispatch.

Physical damage for your tractor

NTL does not repair your own truck. Physical damage (collision and comprehensive) is usually bought separately and can apply whether or not you are under dispatch.

Occupational accident

Many motor carriers require leased owner-operators to carry occupational accident insurance, which can pay medical and disability benefits if you are hurt working. It is not the same as workers' compensation.

What to watch for

Business trips are generally excluded. Driving to a pickup, hauling, or returning from a delivery for the carrier is usually business use and falls under the motor carrier's policy, not NTL.
Assuming "off dispatch" means personal use. Bobtailing, driving empty, fueling, repairs or heading home after a load may still be treated as business use, depending on the lease and the policy wording.
Hauling for anyone other than the carrier you are leased to. NTL typically excludes trips for another carrier, a private shipper or yourself; that work needs its own primary liability.
Assuming every form labeled bobtail or non-trucking works the same way. Some apply only with no trailer attached; others depend on whether the trip was for business. Read the definitions.
Gaps between leases. When a lease ends, the carrier's liability no longer applies, and NTL alone is not enough to haul under your own authority.
Lease requirements. Some leases set a specific limit, require the carrier as additional insured or ask for the certificate before your first load.

What affects price and eligibility

Driver age, CDL experience and motor vehicle record (MVR)
Tractor year, make and garaging address
Limit required by your lease
Prior insurance and loss history
How and where the tractor is used when it isn't running loads

Helpful information for a quote

Have what you can — we'll ask for anything else an insurance company needs. Starting a new business? You can begin without prior policies or loss runs.

Copy of your lease agreement with the motor carrier
Motor carrier name, address and USDOT number for the certificate and additional insured
Tractor year, make, model and VIN
Your CDL experience and driving history; CDL number and date of birth only if the insurance company needs to check your driving record
Prior insurance information or loss runs, if you've been insured before

Start with basic business information. If more detailed driver information is needed, we'll arrange an appropriate way to collect it.

Written by ALP Insurance

Who typically needs it

Owner-operators leased onto a motor carrier's authority
Drivers whose lease agreement requires non-trucking or bobtail liability
Owner-operators who sometimes use their tractor for personal errands
Lease-purchase drivers who own or are buying their tractor
Owner-operators moving from their own authority onto a carrier's lease

Talk it through with an agent

Not sure what you need? Start a request and choose "Not sure" — a licensed ALP agent will talk through the options with you.

Request a non-trucking liability quote

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Non-Trucking Liability FAQs

Does non-trucking liability apply on the way to pick up a load?

Usually not. Once you are under dispatch for the motor carrier, including driving to a pickup, the trip is generally treated as business use and falls under the carrier's primary liability.

Does NTL apply when I'm off dispatch or heading home?

Not automatically. Being off dispatch, driving empty or heading home doesn't by itself make a trip personal use, and those trips may be treated as business use under the motor carrier's policy. The lease and the policy wording decide, so we review both with you.

What is the difference between bobtail and non-trucking liability?

The names are often used interchangeably. Bobtail traditionally refers to driving the tractor without a trailer, while non-trucking liability is based on non-business use; the policy wording controls, so we review the form with you.

Does NTL pay to fix my truck?

No. NTL is liability only. Physical damage for your tractor is a separate coverage.

Do I need NTL if I have my own authority?

Generally not. A carrier running under its own authority needs primary auto liability with the required filings, which typically applies to both business and personal use of the listed units.

Can my motor carrier provide NTL for me?

Some carriers offer a program and deduct the cost from your settlement pay. Depending on the lease, you may be able to provide your own policy as long as it meets the lease requirements.