Loggers Broad Form

Loggers Broad Form is the shortened name for a type of insurance known officially as “Loggers Broad Form Third Party Liabiility” Insurance. This type of insurance is sometimes offered as a “packaged” policy with “larger accounts.” ( I will get into the “general” tiers of sizes and what “packaged” inferres to later. 

Today, in most of California and some parts of Oregon and Washington, the trend is for Prime Contractors, and their sub-contractors, woring with various Government Entities, require ths Loggers Broad Form Third Party Liability insurance in additon to other insurance coverages such as General Llaibility, Workers Compensation, Business Auto and sometimes more. 

There are various limits available. The most common limit is $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $1,000,000 aggregate. 

There are some prospects that will comment they only need $500,000 / $500,000.  We rarely see these types of policies issued because most carriers that offer a monoline policy will have what is termed a “minimum premium” issuance standard. Meaning, there may be times where we submit for $500,000 limits but the quote is returned with $1,000,000 becuase this limits falls within the “minimum premium.  This can also be stated in this way, “the insurance carriers minimum issuance will provide $1,000,000 of coverage. (remeber, these are generalizaiton concepts). 

Split limits are availble most of the time.  As an example, $1,000,000 per occurrence and a $2,000,000 aggregate. 

Finally, “excess liabilitiy” policies can be quoted for eligible accounts.  What is excess liability?  An excess liability policy provides liability coverage “after the underlying limit is exhaused.”  

As mentioned earlier, not all activities are acceptable to all insurance carriers. And, the “appetite” of operations/activies can an will vary from policy period to policy period. Why? As of today, 04/20/2025, We have seen several of the insurance carriers “declining” to quote (or to renew) operations/activies that perform Slash Burning, Mastication, Residential work, Tree Trimming and more. 

Whereas several years ago these activies were acceptable. Does this mean you cannot purchase insurance if perform this type of operation activies? Yes and No… possibly! 

There may be an insurance carrier that will still cover these activies but it will come at a significant cost increase! So, it is very important to ask yourself, “Is it financially profitible to perform some or all of these activies?”  

CAUTION – Be careful when “shopping” you shoot yourself in the foot!

 There are only a few insurance companies offering loggers broad form insurance. On their applications they have questions that ask “Do you perform any of the following activies?” If this application is filled out in such a way that it makes the account ineligible? Your done! “Door closed and do not reapply.”  

SIZE DOES MATTER

There are numerous factors used by insurance carriers. Just to mention a few. 

1. New venture
2. Three to five years proof of prior coverage
3. Gross Receipts (not profit)
4. Employee payroll
5. Activies (services you perform)
6. Sub-contract cost (must use insured contractors and have signed contracts)
7. Minimum premium (for some accounts mp starts at $3.500 for monoline LBF and for others MP begins at $150,000 where multiple lines of insurance can be used to meet mp. )
8. General Liability must be purchased at the same time or proof of existing coverage 
9. If insured prior, “loss runs” aka: “insurance history” letter is required for up to five years

This is only part of the eligibility so if you want a quote please request an application or click here for an online questionnaire. Note! Coverage cannot be bound by requesting a quote.  Also, as a service to you and as an option, you can register to utilize our “Save and Continue Later Service”

Save and Continue Later Service will allow you to begin your quote and allow you to return to “your secured” questionnaire” to finish up. This is a very useful option as not everyone has all information available all the time. For example, loss runs.  

And remember, we are only a phone call away. (209) 223-1870.