Non-Trucking Liability Insurance Explained

Non-Trucking Liability Insurance Explained

Commercial truckers need trucking insurance, which is a specific commercial auto insurance benefit. While it will protect truckers while they are on dispatch, there is often some gray area as to whether they still have coverage when they are using their truck in a non-official capacity.  

However, trucking insurers understand that trucks will be operated privately and off the clock in many cases, but that the operator will still need insurance coverage at this time. For such situations, they offer a benefit called non-trucking liability insurance. It applies to personal use of commercial trucks, and can help you instrumentally reduce your personal cost burdens if accidents ever occur. 

What’s Non-Trucking Liability Insurance?  

Liability insurance is often referred to as at-fault insurance. When an accident is your fault, you might have to pay for the damage done to other vehicles or property, along with injuries caused to other drivers, pedestrians or someone who wasn’t riding in the truck with you at the time of the accident. Liability insurance is the benefit that will help you make this remittance. 

Commercial trucking liability insurance is much more specific than the average commercial auto liability insurance. Though it works like other commercial auto liability benefits, it contains much higher limits on coverage, due to the extended risks associated with operating a truck. These higher limits are also usually required by both federal and state interstate trucking laws. 

However, as expansive as this coverage is, it often will not cover accidents that occur during the personal use of a commercial vehicle. Therefore, if you drive your truck while off the job, you might not have liability coverage under the most basic trucking insurance policy. 

Still, you can get that coverage by buying a non-trucking liability insurance. As soon as you get off dispatch, this coverage will kick in. So, if you hit another vehicle while driving from your dispatch center to your house, you will still have liability benefits available. 

If you self-insure, your trucking company will often require you to carry this coverage. Otherwise, they will usually provide it in their blanket trucking benefits. Businesses have an interest in your personal driving because even if you aren’t operating on dispatch, you are still a representative of your employer when driving your truck. 

Don’t Forget Bobtail Insurance 

Besides non-trucking liability insurance alone, you will probably need to see if your policy will include bobtail insurance. This coverage will apply if you ever drive your truck without a trailer attached (either on or off dispatch). Keep in mind, however, that bobtail coverage alone will not give you non-trucking liability insurance.   

All in all, your trucking liability insurance will need to include several pieces of liability coverage, each of which is unique. To ensure you have the right benefits, let your agent guide you through getting any mandatory benefits, and then help you expand them appropriately.