Non-Trucking Liability (NTL) | Unladen Liability | and Bobtail Liability

A semi-tractor without a trailer, illustrating the key differences between bobtail, unladen, and non-trucking liability insurance.

Non-Trucking Liability (NTL), unladen liability, and bobtail coverage are all types of insurance for commercial trucks, but they differ in when and how they apply:

• Non-Trucking Liability (NTL)

  Covers you for personal use when the truck is not being operated for business or on behalf of a motor carrier. NTL is often required for owner-operators who are leased to a motor carrier.

• Unladen Liability

  Covers you when the truck is empty or being used with an empty trailer, regardless of whether you're using it for business or personal use. Unladen liability is broader in scope than NTL, but it can be more expensive.

• Bobtail Liability

  Covers you when a tractor is being driven without a trailer attached. Bobtail insurance is often added as an endorsement to your commercial truck insurance policy.

NTL is often referred to as bobtail insurance, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. However, NTL is not a commercial policy and cannot be used to cover your truck if you're using it to generate revenue.