Logging & Forestry Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a logging & forestry business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for logging contractors, log haulers, and forestry service contractors. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual operations and terrain.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers fallers and crews — logging is the deadliest U.S. occupation. | Core | |
| General Liability | Covers damage to neighbors' property, roads, and utilities. | Core | |
| Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine) | Covers feller-bunchers, skidders, and processors against fire, theft, and rollover. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto / Log Trucks | Covers log trucks and crew vehicles on public roads. | Core | |
| Timber Trespass / Property Damage to Timber | Covers cutting beyond boundaries — often excluded or limited in GL. | Prevalent | |
| Fire Suppression Costs / Wildfire Liability | Covers fire-fighting costs and damage from equipment-started fires. | Prevalent | |
| Motor Truck Cargo | Covers logs while hauled to the mill. | Situational | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers fuel and hydraulic spills in streams and wetlands. | Situational | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits landowners and agencies require. | Prevalent | |
| Occupational Accident (Owner-Operators) | Covers owner-operators not on workers' comp. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by loggers is cutting someone else's trees. Many general liability policies exclude or limit damage to timber you are working on, and timber trespass claims can carry double or triple damages in many states. Equipment-started wildfires can bring fire-fighting bills far above standard limits. Mark boundaries before cutting, confirm your policy covers timber trespass and fire suppression costs, and keep subcontract crews on their own insurance.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your logging & forestry coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Logging & Forestry Insurance · Logging & Forestry Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a logging & forestry business need?
The core coverages for a logging & forestry business are Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability, General Liability, Contractor's Equipment (Inland Marine), Commercial Auto / Log Trucks. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my logging & forestry coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.