Washington Forestry & Logging Contractor Insurance
General liability, workers’ comp, equipment and log truck coverage for Washington logging, thinning, tree planting and wildfire fuel reduction contractors. Licensed broker, specialty markets, same-day binding in most cases. Call (509) 355-9480.
Who insures forestry contractors in Washington?
Hard Hat Insurance partners with specialty insurance carriers to place coverage for forestry contractors in Washington: logging and timber harvesting, pre-commercial and commercial thinning, tree planting and reforestation crews, brush clearing, wildfire fuel reduction and defensible-space work, mastication and firebreak crews, and log hauling. Licensed broker Jesus Galvan places general liability, workers’ comp, contractor’s equipment, commercial auto and labor contractor bonds through Bearstar Insurance Services and a specialty forestry market, and in most cases can bind coverage the same day. Price depends on your payroll by type of work, your equipment, your sales and contracts, and your claims history.
Call Washington line: (509) 355-9480 · Se habla español.
What insurance does a forestry contractor need?
Most forestry contractors need general liability with fire suppression expense coverage, workers’ comp for every crew member, contractor’s equipment (inland marine) for skidders, feller bunchers, processors, masticators and chippers, commercial auto for crew vans, pickups and log trucks, and a labor contractor bond where the state requires one. Federal, state and utility contracts usually spell out exact limits, and many require additional insured and waiver of subrogation wording.
Most agencies won’t write forestry at all. Hard Hat Insurance, the marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services, partners with specialty insurance carriers that want logging, thinning and fuel reduction work and reads the fire, timber trespass and equipment terms with you before you sign.
Forestry General Liability
Forestry General Liability
General liability pays when your operation damages someone else’s property or injures someone who isn’t your employee. In forestry the big exposures are fires that start from equipment or slash burning, trees felled onto roads, power lines or neighboring property, timber cut past a boundary line, and damage to roads and landings.
Fire suppression expense coverage, so a fire bill from the state or landowner isn’t on you.
Additional insured and waiver of subrogation for agency, landowner and utility contracts.
Labor Contractor Bonds
Labor Contractor & License Bonds
Crews that plant, thin or clear brush for landowners and agencies are often licensed as farm or forest labor contractors, which can require a surety bond and proof of workers’ comp. We can often issue bonds the same day.
Labor contractor, license and contract bonds.
Bad credit programs available.
Forestry and logging workers’ comp carries some of the highest rates of any industry, so classification is everything: hand fallers, mechanized logging, tree planting, thinning and fuel reduction are rated very differently, and office or shop payroll belongs in its own code. Guest workers on H-2B visas are employees and must be covered like everyone else. We compare state funds and private options and set up pay-as-you-go so the premium follows your seasonal payroll.
Pay-as-you-go to match seasonal crews.
Waivers of subrogation for agency and landowner contracts.
Workers’ Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Crew Vans, Pickups & Log Trucks
Crew transportation is one of the biggest risks in forestry: long drives on logging roads with a full van. Commercial auto covers crew vans, pickups, lowboys and log trucks, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Contractor’s Equipment
Skidders, Feller Bunchers & Masticators
Inland marine covers your own and rented equipment against fire, theft, rollover and damage on the job, including equipment parked on remote landings. General liability does not cover your own machines.
Scheduled or blanket coverage for owned and rented equipment.
Saws, chippers and hand tools.
Fire suppression expense: pays firefighting costs billed to you if a fire starts from your operation.
Contractor’s pollution: fuel and hydraulic spills near streams and wetlands.
Excess liability (umbrella): when an agency, utility or landowner contract requires higher limits.
And More
Washington Forestry Requirements
Workers’ comp: In Washington, workers’ comp for forestry comes only from L&I, and forestry and logging classes carry some of the highest L&I rates. You can’t buy it from a private insurer, but you still need GL, equipment and auto from us.
Forest practices: Timber harvests and many forest operations need an approved forest practices application from DNR before work starts.
Stop gap coverage: Because L&I doesn’t include employer’s liability, Washington forestry contractors should carry stop gap coverage with their general liability.
Contractor registration: If you also build roads or do excavation for others, you may need to register with L&I as a contractor. See Washington contractor insurance.
Federal, state and utility contracts: DNR, Forest Service and utility vegetation contracts list required limits. Send us the contract and we’ll match it.
Washington line: (509) 355-9480
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker serving contractors in all 50 states. Se habla español.
Need a COI Today?
Agencies, landowners and utilities usually want a certificate showing general liability, auto, workers’ comp (or proof of L&I coverage) and equipment coverage, often with additional insured and waiver of subrogation. Send us the contract and in most cases we can bind and send certificates the same day.
5 Forestry Insurance Gaps That Can Sink a Season
1. No fire suppression expense coverage
If a fire starts from your saw, equipment or burn pile, the state or landowner can bill you for the cost of fighting it. Without this coverage, that bill can be bigger than your whole year.
2. Timber trespass and boundary cutting
Cutting trees past a property line can bring claims for several times the timber’s value. Some policies exclude it. Ask how yours handles it.
3. Care, custody and control
Damage to the landowner’s timber, roads or equipment you are working with can be excluded. Check the wording before you take the job.
4. Equipment not listed
A skidder or masticator that isn’t on the schedule, or rented equipment with no coverage, means a total loss comes out of your pocket.
5. Crew vans on personal policies
Driving a crew to the unit in a van insured on a personal policy can lead to a denied claim. Crew transport needs commercial auto.
Washington Forestry Contractor Insurance FAQ
What insurance do forestry contractors need?
General liability with fire suppression expense, workers’ comp for every crew member, contractor’s equipment for your machines, commercial auto for crew vans and trucks, and a labor contractor bond where required.
Does general liability cover a wildfire my crew starts?
It can cover damage to other people’s property if the policy doesn’t exclude it. Firefighting costs billed to you usually need separate fire suppression expense coverage.
Can I buy forestry workers’ comp from a private insurer in Washington?
No. In Washington, workers’ comp comes only from L&I. We help with everything else: general liability with stop gap, equipment, auto and bonds.
Can you place coverage for tree planting, thinning and fuel reduction crews?
Yes. We partner with specialty insurance carriers that write logging, thinning, tree planting and fuel reduction contractors, including new businesses.
How fast can I get coverage?
In most cases we can bind the same day once we have your application, equipment list and contract requirements, and send certificates right away.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker serving contractors in all 50 states. California License #4291921 · NPN #20617222.
Coverage is placed through Bearstar Insurance Services or partner brokerages and carriers. Availability varies by state.
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