impacted by their work. Navigating insurance can be highly nuanced and it can be difficult to understand how much coverage is needed. When negotiating a policy, make sure your bookkeeping is organized and can provide easy answers to insurance un- derwriters. Try to integrate new tech- nologies and solutions when possible, and commit to hiring and training safe drivers and workers. At the same time, tree care companies should screen prospective insurance companies by asking questions and en- sure they are familiar with insurance terms. Being precise with language is key to getting what you need. Ultimately, taking the time to build a strong relationship with your insurance provider will help ensure the safety of your workers and your business.
“The right agent will be one that has an understanding of the tree care in- dustry, is willing to spend time with the client to get a clear picture of their operation, and submit it to the correct carriers,” Blackman says. Cheaper is not always better when it comes to insurance. A tree care compa- ny needs to weigh out bottom-line costs with the coverages they include, as not all are created equal. “You may find cheaper options, but it is important to stick with carriers that have provided coverage to the tree care industry for years,” Black- man says. “They won’t always be the least expensive, but they will be staffed by people that understand the
FINDING THE RIGHT CARRIER Insurance in the tree care industry needs to be carefully examined for cost, coverage, and relevancy. Cover- age should be specific to the tree care industry and not just landscape work, which uses lighter equipment and presents fewer risks. “There are many carriers that will write tree care operations, but they don’t all provide the same coverage,” says Jeff Blackman, program manager at ArborMAX . “The insurance customer can’t make an informed choice just by looking at the premium alone. Limits and industry specific coverages need to be considered as well.” Blackman suggests asking about ar- borist professional liability and cover- age for chemical applications, as these are good indicators of industry-specific needs. Failure to cover heavy equip- ment could be a cautionary flag as well, he adds.
work you do.” CONCLUSION
Tree care work presents a precarious business, and insurance is vital to en- sure the safety of workers and others
THE ONLY INSURANCE PROGRAM ENDORSED BY OVER 15 YEARS ARBORMAX HAS BEEN PROVIDING COVERAGE FOR
FOR SOME OF THE MOST COMPLEX RISKS IN TREE MANAGEMENT
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