Trucking / Bobtail / Wtf

[insurance1822]

So I came across an account where it's a 1 man 1 truck operation. He hauls building materials all over the country & he's with Progressive paying $2,800 per year only. His truck is 20k and trailer is 20k (this is a tractor trailer.) The liability says "NON TRUCKING LIABILITY" w/ 1 Million CSL.

What is non trucking liability? And why is this so cheap? He claims the company that subs to the work to him covers the main liability?

 

[myfakename]

So I came across an account where it's a 1 man 1 truck operation. He hauls building materials all over the country & he's with Progressive paying $2,800 per year only. His truck is 20k and trailer is 20k (this is a tractor trailer.) The liability says "NON TRUCKING LIABILITY" w/ 1 Million CSL.

What is non trucking liability? And why is this so cheap? He claims the company that subs to the work to him covers the main liability?

You answered your own question.

When he isnt "working" progressive picks up his liab. When he is working the company he contracts with picks it up.

 

[BigSteve]

So I came across an account where it's a 1 man 1 truck operation. He hauls building materials all over the country & he's with Progressive paying $2,800 per year only. His truck is 20k and trailer is 20k (this is a tractor trailer.) The liability says "NON TRUCKING LIABILITY" w/ 1 Million CSL.

What is non trucking liability? And why is this so cheap? He claims the company that subs to the work to him covers the main liability?

He's a contract carrier so he is covered by whatever company he is hauling for. He needs bobtail for when he is not hauling anything.

 

[insurance1822]

So if he owns the truck & is hauling goods under contract & slams into a minivan killing a family...that falls on the company who's subbing to him? Who the heck insures that company then? My god ?

And what exactly is bobtail? if it's for when he is "not hauling anything" then what exposure even exists there?

Your input is greatly appreciated so thank you all.

 

[BigSteve]

So if he owns the truck & is hauling goods under contract & slams into a minivan killing a family...that falls on the company who's subbing to him? Who the heck insures that company then? My god ? And what exactly is bobtail? if it's for when he is "not hauling anything" then what exposure even exists there? Your input is greatly appreciated so thank you all.

Yes. Those companies tend to have anywhere from hundreds to 10,000+ power units. Many of them are so large that they have safety and risk management departments and are often either in a risk retention group or have a self-insurance program, which may also include some form of outside insurance.

If he is not hauling anything and slams into the minivan killing somebody, that is his exposure. If he has no trailer, such as when travelling to and from the terminal, it is covered by bobtail. If he is using his truck for personal reasons, ie driving to the movies, then non-trucking would be the correct coverage for that situation.

 

[HomeService]

If you think about it bobtail means: cut the tail off an animal, so likewise it means cut the trailer off a semi and just drive the cab/truck around like a car.

However the bobtail hauling trucks, box trucks, are also called "bobtail trucks", which means there is no trailer and it's all one. It's "bobtail" as well, no trailer, no tail.

But that's confusing.

 

[sekigor]

The non trucking liability is coverage for the tractor/truck when is not under dispatch. Meaning, the same truck/tractor is covered under the motor carrier primary liability. The non trucking liability covers the tractor when the owner operator is without trailer and has an accident.

You can buy this coverage only when the owner operator has signed contract with the motor carrier.