Non-Trucking Liability,
for the miles off dispatch.
Your motor carrier's policy covers you when you're under dispatch. It doesn't cover the drive home, the trip to the shop or the weekend errand in the truck. Non-trucking liability does — $1MM of liability for personal, off-dispatch use for around $1 per day, and it bills you monthly, like your favorite streaming service.
- $1MM liability limit
- ~$1/day per unit
- Monthly subscription, first month pro-rated
- Start online 24/7 — no agent hours
- Limit
- $1MM
- Premium
- ~$1 / day / unit
- Term
- Monthly, cancel anytime
- Covers
- Off-dispatch use
- Requires
- Permanent lease agreement
- Certificate
- Instant
What it is
What is non-trucking liability insurance?
Non-trucking liability (NTL) — often called bobtail insurance — is liability coverage for a leased owner-operator when the truck is being used for non-business purposes and is not under dispatch. Trucking liability, carried by the motor carrier you're leased to, is what covers you when you're hauling for hire; NTL picks up the rest.
CargoLabs sells NTL as a monthly subscription: ~$1/day per unit, a $1MM limit, first month pro-rated, renews monthly until you cancel. It's built for owner-operators operating under a permanent lease agreement — the same three acknowledgements you confirm during enrollment.
Why owner-operators use it
You only have coverage while under dispatch
The carrier's trucking liability policy responds when you're on their business. Personal use — driving home, to the shop, on the weekend — is a gap.
A small monthly line item, not an annual bill
~$1/day per unit, billed monthly and pro-rated for the first month, no annual policy to finance. Add it online and keep it as long as you're leased on.
How it works
NTL coverage in three steps
From quote to certificate in minutes, not days. Everything is self-service.
Quote
Enter the trip, equipment or driver details. You get a price in seconds — no paper application, no phone call.
Bind
Pick the limit or term you need and pay online. Coverage is bound instantly for exactly that period.
Get certified
Your compliant certificate of insurance is emailed immediately, ready to forward to the broker, shipper or rental company.
Who it's for
Who buys NTL through CargoLabs
Owner-operators leased to a motor carrier — and the carriers who require it in their lease.
Leased owner-operators
You operate under a permanent lease agreement with a motor carrier and want your own liability coverage for off-dispatch miles.
See carrier coverageMotor carriers looking for coverage home from the truck dealer
Just bought a truck? Bind liability coverage online and drive it home from the dealer the same day — no waiting on an agent.
Agencies serving owner-operators
Offer NTL alongside occ/acc and per-trip products from one platform, with certificates generated automatically.
See agency partnersCompare
NTL vs. trucking liability
They're not alternatives — a leased owner-operator typically needs both. Here's where each one applies.
| Non-trucking liability (yours) | Trucking liability (motor carrier's) | |
|---|---|---|
| Under dispatch, hauling for hire | No | Yes |
| Driving home or to the shop, off dispatch | Yes | No |
| Personal use of the truck | Yes | No |
| Who buys it | The owner-operator | The motor carrier |
| Term | Monthly, cancel anytime | Annual policy |
| Bought online in minutes | Yes | Via the carrier's agent |
More per-trip coverage
Every coverage a load can require
The same quote → bind → certificate flow works across the CargoLabs product line.
Excess Single Trip Cargo Insurance
Raise your Motor Truck Cargo limit up to $1MM for one load. Excess over your annual policy, bought per trip.
Learn morePer-Trip Excess Auto Liability Insurance
Add $1MM or $2MM of excess auto and general liability above your $1MM primary — for one trip, not a whole year.
Learn moreShort-Term Truck Physical Damage Insurance
Daily physical damage for a rental, substitute or interchanged unit. Certificate with year, make, VIN and stated value — in minutes, 24/7.
Learn moreOccupational Accident Insurance for Owner-Operators
Monthly occ/acc for 1099 owner-operators and contract drivers — accidental death, medical and disability benefits, with contingent liability included.
Learn moreTrailer Interchange Insurance
Coverage for non-owned trailers in your possession under an interchange agreement. Dedicated per-trip product in development — daily physical damage on non-owned trailers available today.
Learn moreDouble Brokering Protection
Protection for freight brokers and carriers against losses from double-brokered loads. In development.
Learn moreFAQ
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance, answered
- What is non-trucking liability (bobtail) insurance?
- It's liability coverage for a leased owner-operator when the truck is not under dispatch and is being used for non-business purposes. It fills the gap left by the motor carrier's trucking liability policy, which only responds while you're on their business.
- Who can buy NTL through CargoLabs?
- Owner-operators who are operating under a permanent lease agreement with a motor carrier. During enrollment you confirm that you understand NTL covers you when you are not running under dispatch, that trucking liability is needed when hauling for hire, and that you are operating under a permanent lease.
- What does NTL cost and what is the limit?
- About $1 per day per unit, billed monthly and pro-rated for the first month, with a $1,000,000 liability limit. The recurring price, including processing, is shown at checkout.
- Does NTL cover me while I'm hauling a load?
- No. When you are under dispatch or hauling for hire, the motor carrier's trucking liability policy is the coverage that applies. NTL is for the miles in between.
- How does billing work?
- It's a monthly subscription. Coverage is provided only after a successful payment for the coverage dates, becomes effective on the start date you select, and renews monthly until you cancel.
- Can I add more than one truck?
- Yes. Pricing is per unit per month, so each power unit you enroll is ~$1/day, billed monthly.
- Can I start NTL online, right now?
- Yes. The whole enrollment — acknowledgements, payment and certificate — is self-service and available 24/7.
Leased on and driving off-dispatch without coverage?
Start non-trucking liability online in minutes. ~$1/day per unit, $1MM limit, cancel anytime.