Unladen Liability Policy Feature Checklist
What to confirm in a unladen 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 unladen liability 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unladen Liability | Covers the tractor with an empty trailer or no trailer, whether or not under dispatch. | Standard | |
| Deadhead with Empty Trailer | Confirm empty-trailer miles are covered, not only bobtail miles. | Standard | |
| Under-Dispatch Empty Miles | Confirm empty legs to and from a load are covered, not just off-dispatch use. | Standard | |
| Trailers Owned by Others | Liability while pulling another company's empty trailer may need confirmation. | Often limited | |
| Trailer Interchange | Covers physical damage to trailers owned by others in your control — not included unless added. | Often limited | |
| Coordination with Carrier's Policy | Confirm the carrier's insurer agrees on who covers empty miles. | Often limited | |
| 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 | |
| Non-Trucking for Personal Use | Confirm personal errands off dispatch are also covered. | If needed |
The gap most often missed in this coverage
The gap most often missed with unladen coverage is the empty trailer. Unladen liability is meant to cover both bobtail and deadhead miles whether or not you are dispatched, but some policies sold as unladen only cover bobtailing, and damage to a trailer owned by someone else needs trailer interchange. Empty legs are also where the carrier's policy and yours most often disagree. Confirm empty-trailer miles are covered and get the carrier's agreement in writing.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your unladen liability coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Unladen Liability Insurance · Unladen Liability Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What should a unladen liability policy include?
Standard features to confirm in a unladen liability policy include Unladen Liability, Deadhead with Empty Trailer, Under-Dispatch Empty Miles. 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 unladen 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.