Bobtail Liability Policy Feature Checklist
What to confirm in a bobtail liability policy — what's standard, what's often limited, and what to add if needed — plus the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current bobtail policy and your lease, and check the box next to each feature you can confirm — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor.
Tick each feature you can confirm your policy includes — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Confirm? | Policy feature | What to confirm | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobtail Liability | Covers the tractor when driven without a trailer attached. | Standard | |
| True Bobtail Form (Any Purpose) | Confirm it covers bobtail trips under dispatch, not only personal use. | Standard | |
| Limit Required by the Lease or Carrier | Confirm the limit matches the lease or contract. | Standard | |
| Business-Use Exclusion | Many policies sold as bobtail exclude business use — the most common gap. | Often limited | |
| Drop-and-Hook & Power-Only Moves | Running between trailers may be treated as dispatch and excluded. | Often limited | |
| Trips To and From the Terminal | Driving to pick up a load is often business use — confirm who covers it. | Often limited | |
| Coordination with Carrier's Policy | Confirm the carrier's insurer and your insurer agree on who covers bobtail miles. | If needed | |
| Physical Damage | Covers the tractor itself — lenders usually require it. | If needed | |
| Occupational Accident | Covers your own injuries when you are not on workers' comp. | If needed |
The gap most often missed in this coverage
The gap most often missed with bobtail coverage is buying a non-trucking policy that is only called bobtail. A true bobtail form covers the tractor without a trailer regardless of trip purpose, but many policies sold under that name exclude any business use — so the drive to the terminal or between drop-and-hook trailers may not be covered. Read the business-use wording, and confirm with the carrier's insurer who covers bobtail miles under dispatch.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your bobtail liability coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Bobtail Insurance · Bobtail Liability Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What should a bobtail liability policy include?
Standard features to confirm in a bobtail liability policy include Bobtail Liability, True Bobtail Form (Any Purpose), Limit Required by the Lease or Carrier. This checklist also flags the features that are often limited or sublimited and the ones to add if needed, with a plain-English note on each.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my bobtail liability coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.