Is bobtail insurance worth it?

Better to have it when you need it than not to have it trying to save a dollar when totaling out a 50,000 dollar vehicle.

 

Is the question more, "Is it legally required?" ?

Is any insurance worth it if you never make a claim...?

 

Many people don't understand what really Bobtail insurance does.........
I actually haven't heard that term in about 10 years or so.

Used to be if John Doe was Leased on to a carrier- He Needed his "OWN" insurance in case of an accident while not under a physical dispatch of authority involving a claim/accident.What they called "Bobtail" insurance

if You own your own Truck/trailer and Not leased on to anybody- bobtail certificate is NOT required.

 

And you can thank the "Megas" for deriving a Policy like that. Too Many Idiots with the megas Name on the side of the truck smashing into people while Bobtailin' around.

Dummies

 

No. As @stayinback said, bobtail is for when you are not moving the truck under dispatch. When you are the carrier, your liability covers it.

 

More than likely if you are leased to a motor carrier and don't have it, you won't have any problem with dot. If their authority is active, that's proof of insurance in itself. I've never had them say "ok, now let me see your proof of bobtail insurance."

 

Yes. You are covered by your auto liability. The bobtail is needed when you are leased on to someone else and drive not under their dispatch e.g. PC going home or to a repair shop on your own and the company has nothing to do with it. You don't need bobtail insurance when you operate under your own authority. You still need Cargo and may need Physical Damage and General Liability in addition to Auto liability but it has nothing to do with bobtail insurance.

 

Bobtail insurance is really an outdated term, the proper term is "non trucking liability" this covers you any time you are not under dispatch, whether you're pulling a trailer or not.

Persons with their own authority are covered under their insurance policy.

The only catch is to make sure that any trailer that you pull is covered, this especially true with persons leased to a carrier.












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