As a truck driver, you take on a lot of responsibility when you’re behind the wheel of your rig. You’re responsible for safely delivering your cargo, navigating the roads and highways, and taking care of your truck.
But did you know that there’s another responsibility you should consider – carrying bobtail insurance?
Bobtail insurance is a specialized form of coverage that protects you and your truck when you’re not hauling a trailer. In addition to covering a wide range of accidents and incidents, it also provides liability coverage, protecting you and your truck from costly lawsuits. With bobtail insurance, you can rest assured that you’ll be properly protected, no matter what.
It’s essential coverage for any truck driver, and we’ll explain why in this article.
What Is Bobtail Insurance?
The term “bobtail insurance” is a loose term for commercial truck insurance that covers the truck and equipment without the cargo.
Truckers refer to bobtails as “Fully Loaded” trucks that not only have a necessary liability policy but also with a trailer. Some insurance companies call bobtails “non-trucking operations” (NTOP) policies.
Like many other types of commercial truck insurance, a bobtail policy covers trucking operations, including but not limited to property damage, liability claims, occupational injuries on the job or while commuting to or from work, or cargo theft.
Types of Bobtail Insurance
There are two types of bobtail insurance available to truck drivers; an all-risk policy and a special policy.
An all-risk policy covers loss or damage to your truck and its contents and any injuries that occur while operating the vehicle, regardless of the cause. A special policy is more convenient if you’re bobtailing and have no need to transport any cargo on your truck.
Benefits of Having Bobtail Insurance
Protection from Liability
One of the main reasons to consider buying bobtail insurance is that it protects from liability in the event of an accident.
If your truck is in an accident while hauling a trailer, you have coverage from your liability policy to help cover medical bills, property damage, and other costs. However, if your truck is in an accident with no trailer attached, liability coverage won’t apply. This means you could be on the hook for all the costs associated with the accident.
However, if you have bobtail insurance, you’ll still have coverage from your policy. This can help you avoid incurring significant costs.
It Will Help You Save Money
Another huge benefit of bobtail insurance is that it can help you save money over time.
We’ve already discussed that liability coverage won’t apply if you’re bobtailing your truck. If you’re in an accident while bobtailing, you won’t have any coverage to help pay for medical bills or other costs.
However, if you were to buy bobtail insurance, you’d have coverage in these situations. Since you won’t be paying for these expenses, it can help you save money that you would otherwise spend out-of-pocket.
Conclusion: Why Every Truck Driver Should Have Bobtail Insurance
As a truck driver, you must carry a certain amount of commercial truck insurance. This insurance protects you, your truck, its passengers, and anyone else from loss and damage caused by your truck. But as a truck driver, you’re also responsible for protecting others from damage and loss caused by you. That’s where bobtail insurance comes in.
Bobtail insurance protects you from liability in the event of an accident, helps you save money over time, and helps you stay compliant with the law. If you’re a truck driver and don’t have bobtail insurance, now is the time to get it.
