Bobtail Myths
Event Date: July 31, 2017
Author: Ben Droessler
Nearly every Trucking Company requires Owner Operators to have Non-Trucking Liability insurance. However, are these policies even worth requiring? The answer depends on the quality of the policy. Properly structured Non-Trucking Liability policies pay more claims and can lower a Trucking Company’s auto liability premiums.
Myth: Bobtail Liability and Non-Trucking Liability are the same.
FICTION! True Bobtail insurance applies when the truck is detached from a trailer. Non-Trucking Liability applies when the truck is operating for “personal use”. 95% of policies written today are Non-Trucking Liability. Unfortunately, very few circumstances fall into “personal use” and therefore standard Non-Trucking Liability pays very few claims.
Myth: Better Non-Trucking Liability insurance does not exist.
FICTION! Several insurance companies offer broader policies that pay more claims. For example, standard Non-Trucking Liability policies do not cover Owner Operator’s trips between home and your terminal or trips for regular maintenance. We can add coverage for these scenarios, typically for less than $2 per week.
Take action! If you offer Non-Trucking Liability through settlement deduction, ask your C&B representative for a Non-Trucking Liability coverage analysis. They can show you how to enhance Non-Trucking Liability coverage to pay more claims.
Questions?
Contact Ben Droessler with Cottingham & Butler’s Contractor Services Team.
Ben Droessler CIC
Vice President, Independent Contractor Risk
563.587.5248
bdroessler@cottinghambutler.com