Excavation Contractor Insurance
Insurance built for excavation and earthmoving contractors working around heavy equipment, underground utilities, trenches, employees, trucks and active construction sites.
Excavation Work Comes With Heavy Equipment & Underground Risk
Excavation contractors work around trenches, heavy machinery, underground utilities, active jobsites and changing ground conditions every day.
A machine can strike an underground line, damage surrounding property, overturn on unstable ground or be involved in an accident while being transported between projects.
Excavation contractor insurance should reflect the actual work, equipment and jobsites your company handles.
Underground Utilities
Excavation work can create serious exposure when working near buried water, sewer, electrical, gas and communication lines.
Heavy Equipment
Excavators, skid steers, loaders, dozers and other equipment can represent a major investment in the business.
Employee Injuries
Trenches, moving equipment, unstable ground and active construction sites create significant employee injury exposures.
Property Damage
Excavation, grading and earthmoving can damage buildings, pavement, landscaping and neighboring property.
What Insurance Does an Excavation Contractor Need?
Excavation contractor insurance is typically built from multiple policies. The right program depends on the work performed, employees, vehicles, heavy equipment, project size and contract requirements.
General Liability
Helps protect against covered third-party bodily injury and property damage claims connected to excavation, grading, earthmoving and jobsite operations.
General Liability Insurance →Workers' Compensation
Helps provide benefits for covered work-related employee injuries and illnesses involving equipment operation, trenching, site work and other excavation duties.
Workers' Compensation →Commercial Auto
Coverage for pickups, work trucks and other vehicles used to transport crews, tools and materials between jobsites.
Commercial Auto Insurance →Contractors Equipment
Inland marine or contractors equipment coverage can help protect eligible excavators, skid steers, loaders and other mobile equipment against covered losses.
Commercial Umbrella
Provides additional liability limits over eligible underlying policies and may help satisfy larger insurance requirements on commercial construction projects.
Pollution Liability
Certain excavation and site-work operations may create fuel, hydraulic fluid, contaminated soil or other environmental exposures requiring specialized coverage.
Need a certificate before starting an excavation job?
We understand additional insured requirements, waivers of subrogation, primary and noncontributory wording and other insurance requirements common in construction contracts.
Underground Utility Damage Can Become Expensive Fast
One of the most important exposures for excavation contractors is working around infrastructure that cannot always be seen from the surface.
Accidentally damaging a buried gas line, water main, sewer line, electrical service or communication cable can create property damage, business interruption and other liability claims.
Coverage depends on the policy and circumstances, so excavation operations should be described accurately to the insurance company.
- Water and sewer lines
- Natural gas lines
- Electrical utilities
- Communication lines
- Surrounding property damage
- Commercial contract requirements
Insurance for Excavation, Grading & Site-Work Contractors
Insurance company appetite varies based on the depth of excavation, work performed, project type, equipment values and whether the contractor works near underground utilities.
Site Preparation
Contractors clearing, preparing and shaping construction sites before building work begins.
Grading Contractors
Businesses performing grading, leveling, drainage preparation and other earthmoving operations.
Foundation Excavation
Contractors digging foundations, footings, basements and related residential or commercial building excavations.
Trenching Contractors
Excavators performing trenching for drainage, utilities, piping and other underground construction.
Drainage & Utility Excavation
Contractors excavating for drainage systems, sewer lines, water lines and related underground work.
Land Clearing & Earthmoving
Contractors using heavy equipment for clearing, dirt work, earthmoving and larger site-preparation projects.
Heavy Equipment Is at the Center of the Business
Excavation companies often have substantial capital invested in mobile equipment that travels from project to project.
Equipment may be exposed to theft, collision, overturn, fire and other losses while being operated, transported or stored away from a permanent business location.
- Excavators
- Mini excavators
- Skid steers
- Loaders
- Dozers
- Compactors
- Trailers
- Portable tools and attachments
Commercial Excavation Jobs Often Have Insurance Requirements
Excavation subcontractors frequently work under contracts that specify liability limits, workers' compensation requirements, auto coverage and required endorsements before work begins.
- Additional insured status
- Primary and noncontributory wording
- Waiver of subrogation requirements
- Per-project aggregate requirements
- Commercial umbrella limits
- Certificate of insurance requirements
- Completed operations requirements
- General contractor requirements
How Much Does Excavation Contractor Insurance Cost?
Insurance premiums vary significantly because a small residential excavation company can have very different exposures from a larger site-work contractor with multiple crews and heavy equipment.
Insurance companies evaluate the work performed, equipment, payroll, revenue, project size, depth of excavation and loss history before determining eligibility and pricing.
The right insurance market depends on the actual excavation operation and the risks involved.
What We Need to Quote Your Excavation Business
Good information upfront helps us approach insurance companies that are a realistic fit for your excavation operation.
- Business name and location
- Years in business
- Description of excavation work
- Residential vs. commercial work
- Annual revenue
- Employee payroll
- Number of employees
- Subcontractor costs
- Maximum digging depth
- Work around utilities
- Vehicle information
- Driver information
- Equipment schedule and values
- Current insurance
- Prior loss runs
- States where you operate
Ready to Compare Coverage?
Tell us about your excavation operation and we'll help determine which insurance markets fit your business.
Start an Excavation Insurance QuoteInsurance Built Around Excavation Contractors
Excavation companies combine jobsite liability, heavy equipment, workers' compensation, commercial auto and underground exposures. We look at the entire operation instead of treating every contractor the same.
Multiple Insurance Markets
As an independent agency, we can compare available insurance markets and look for an underwriting fit for your excavation operation.
Heavy Equipment Experience
We understand excavators, skid steers, loaders, trailers and other equipment commonly used by excavation contractors.
Contractor Experience
We understand jobsites, certificates, underground exposures, employees, vehicles and construction contracts.
One Agency for the Business
Liability, commercial auto, workers' compensation, equipment and other business coverages can be coordinated through one agency.
Excavation Contractor Insurance FAQs
Common questions about excavating contractor insurance, liability, heavy equipment, workers' compensation, commercial auto and underground utility exposures.
What insurance does an excavation contractor need?
Do excavation contractors need general liability insurance?
Does excavation insurance cover underground utility damage?
Can excavators and skid steers be insured?
Do excavation contractors need workers' compensation?
Do excavation contractors need commercial auto insurance?
Does an excavation contractor need pollution liability?
How much does excavation contractor insurance cost?
Can Nelson insure excavation contractors outside South Dakota?
Protect the Excavation Business You've Built
Whether you handle residential foundation excavation, grading, trenching or larger commercial site work, we'll help you compare insurance options for your liability, employees, vehicles, heavy equipment and contract requirements.
