Myth
My motor carrier's insurance covers me 24/7.
Truth
It covers you when dispatched. Bobtail home from a load, errands, weekend use — typically excluded. NTL fills that gap and is usually required by the lease agreement.
NTL Non-Trucking Liability
Liability when you're operating your truck outside the dispatched authority — bobtail home from a load, weekend errand. For owner-ops under lease only.
The exposure this line addresses.
Auto liability coverage for owner-operators leased to a motor carrier under a 49 CFR §376 lease, for periods when the operator is NOT under dispatch of the lessee carrier. Common terms: bobtail, deadhead, non-trucking use. The lessee carrier's AL policy typically does NOT cover these periods (the policy covers dispatch only), leaving a gap that NTL fills.
Triggers — when this line is required.
- Owner-operator under §376 lease to a motor carrier
- Lessee carrier's AL policy excludes bobtail / non-dispatch periods
- Operating the tractor outside dispatched loads (commute, errand, personal use)
What this line does NOT cover
- Use while under dispatch of the lessee carrier — that's the lessee's AL
- Use under another motor carrier's authority — that needs its own AL
- Cargo damage — MTC if you carry your own cargo coverage
Limits we recommend by segment.
These are public-facing baselines for typical risk profiles. The intake re-derives line-specific limits based on your actual operation, contract obligations, and loss profile.
Owner-operator
$1M CSL
Small fleet (2-10)
N/A — small fleets typically operate under their own authority, not leased
Mid-fleet (11-50)
N/A
Large account (51+)
N/A
Day-one carriers writing NTL.
From the panel that ranks top-3 per line for your risk profile. Each carrier clears the A.M. Best A- floor; final selection is made in the piece-out matrix at quote time.
Progressive Commercial
Preferred · Standard
Canal Insurance
Non-standard
Tivly MGA
MGA · Overflow
What rookie operators get wrong.
Myth
I don't need NTL if I have my own AL policy.
Truth
If you have your own MC authority, that's true — your AL covers you. But under a §376 lease, the leased carrier's AL controls during dispatch, and NTL controls outside it. You typically don't carry both your own AL and leased coverage simultaneously.
Myth
NTL covers commercial use.
Truth
Specifically the opposite — NTL is non-trucking-USE coverage. The moment you're under dispatch, the lessee's AL takes over. NTL is structured to be the off-duty backstop.
Frequently asked
Is NTL the same as bobtail insurance?
Functionally yes — bobtail is industry slang for the same coverage. NTL is the policy-language name.
Do I need NTL if I own my own MC?
No — your own AL policy covers you whether on dispatch or off. NTL only applies to owner-operators leased to another carrier under §376.
What's the typical NTL limit?
$1M CSL — usually matching the lessee carrier's AL minimum to ensure continuous public-protection coverage at the same level.
Does NTL include physical damage to my tractor?
No — NTL is liability-only. Physical damage during off-duty use needs its own APD policy (separate from any APD the lessee carrier provides).
If I switch motor carriers, does NTL transfer?
The policy continues — but the lease's specific terms reset. Read the lessee's required-coverage clause carefully on every new lease to confirm limits and definitions match.
Ready for a NTL quote?
One intake. Per-line submissions to your top 3 carriers. A coordinated binder.