Non-Trucking Liability (NTL)

Non-trucking liability insurance, also called NTL or deadhead insurance, provides liability coverage when you are using your commercial vehicle for personal purposes and are not under dispatch from a motor carrier. If you are an owner-operator leased to a carrier, the carrier's insurance only covers you while you are working under their dispatch. NTL covers everything else.

Common scenarios where NTL applies include driving home after completing a delivery, running personal errands in your truck, driving to a mechanic for maintenance, or any time you are using the truck and not hauling a load for your carrier. Without NTL, an accident during these times leaves you personally responsible for all damages and injuries.

NTL is one of the most affordable trucking coverages, typically costing a few hundred dollars per year. Despite the low cost, going without it is a significant financial risk. A single accident while not on dispatch could result in a lawsuit that threatens your personal assets and your business. Every owner-operator leased to a carrier should carry NTL as part of their insurance package.