Deadheading is similar to bobtailing, as the goods have been delivered. A deadhead situation, however, means that the trailer is still with the trucker. The trailer is empty of all goods at this point. Again, a large company prefers for this type of transit to be covered. In most cases with a popular company, the trailer belongs to the company. It is in their best interest to have deadhead coverage. The trucker may deadhead for only a short time while moving between customers, or may have a long trip back to the main business site.
Bobtail and deadhead coverage – many truckers work both for a company and independently. This allows them to make extra money on the side. This, however, falls into a self-employment category. Contract work severely limits coverage in many cases. A trucker that works for a company part time is covered when on the clock for that company only.
Independent trucking insurance is provided by the company that hires the trucker only for the duration of the delivery. This leaves a trucker uncovered during independent work when they are bobtailing or deadheading. A commercial truckers policy can provide coverage at all times, however, they are quite pricy. This causes a dual coverage situation if a trucker is covered at times from a company.
Coverage during a delivery is comprehensive and should take care of the merchandise, vehicle damage, and injury. It is important to ask the company, however, what they provide. Independent truckers may not be covered for anything by their client. Liability for the merchandise may be the only thing provided. Large corporations are usually in the habit of providing complete coverage. This means that a drive working for them can visit the doctor, take time off to recover, and the vehicle can be repaired.
The complication with bobtail and deadhead coverage becomes an issue of who is liable when an accident happens. The owner of the truck is usually the one that is expected to have coverage in most cases. Independent truckers are especially vulnerable when they are on the road without a load. Responsibility then concerns only the vehicle, the driver, and other drivers on the road./p>
A company may not want to extend their coverage to these extra miles, especially if it was a one-time hire. A commercial trucker’s policy must be executed to cover bobtailing and deadheading during these times. Otherwise, many drivers could be negatively affected.
