A bobtail truck does not have a trailer attached. Bobtailing, by definition, means driving a cargo-carrying truck (semi-truck) without a trailer. Bobtailing often happens when a contracted truck driver is first sent out from dispatch to their pick up site.
What Does Bobtailing Mean in Trucking? Additional Applications:
In trucking terminology, “bobtailing” also refers to a straight truck used for transporting propane gas, as specified by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Variations in Use:
- Bobtail, bobtailed
- Bobtail truck
- Running bobtail
Examples of Usage:
- After delivering her trailer to the client, Cynthia is bobtailed for the night at a comfortable truck stop.
- Jim only needs a small spot to park his bobtail for the evening.
- I lost my trailer in a poker match in Vegas, so I’ll be bobtailing it back home to Sacramento.
Trucker slang for bobtailing: Horse with no wagon
