Bobtail truck

In practice

Bobtailing is part of most power only work: you drop a loaded trailer at a receiver, then drive the tractor alone to the next yard to hook another one. It also happens on every trip home and every run to the shop.

Bobtail

Tractor only, no trailer

Deadhead

Empty trailer, or running empty toward a load

Loaded

Trailer with freight

Who pays the bobtail miles

You, unless the load includes them

EXAMPLE: drop to next hook

38 bobtail miles

Bobtail and deadhead miles both lower your all-in rate per mile.

Two things change when the trailer comes off:

• Handling. A tractor with no trailer has very little weight over the drive axles, so it can lose traction more easily on wet or icy roads and brake differently than when loaded. Give it more room to stop.
• The math. Every bobtail mile costs fuel, tires and time but earns nothing on its own. Count bobtail miles along with deadhead when you work out a load's real rate; see deadhead miles.

Bobtail insurance

"Bobtail insurance" usually means non-trucking liability: coverage for an owner-operator who is leased onto a carrier, for times the truck is used outside that carrier's dispatch, such as driving home. The carrier's policy generally covers the truck while it's under dispatch, including bobtailing to a pickup. Your lease says what you must carry. If you run under your own authority, your primary liability policy covers you whether or not a trailer is attached. More in commercial truck insurance.

Is bobtailing the same as deadheading?

Not quite. Bobtailing means no trailer at all. Deadheading usually means pulling an empty trailer, or driving empty toward the next load. Both are unpaid miles unless the load covers them.

Do power only loads pay for bobtail miles?

Sometimes. Some loads pay for repositioning or include it in the rate. Ask before you book if the trailer is far from where you'll drop the last one. Our power only trucking guide covers how those programs work.