Logging and Forestry Insurance
Protection that grows with your business.
Protection that grows with your business.
Logging insurance is uniquely designed to cover a range of risks and exposures within the forestry and logging industry. While the amount and types of coverage will vary depending on your lumber company’s specific needs and priorities, your insurance broker or agent can advise you on how to maximize your investment.
With the right logging insurance coverage, you can have greater peace of mind knowing that your logging business is protected against unforeseen events.
Navigating the intricacies of commercial insurance, especially in a field as complex as logging and forestry, can be a daunting task. But, with Higginbotham as your partner, you don’t have to face it alone. With our carrier relationships and industry expertise, we’ll help find timber insurance coverage that provides the protection you need.
At Higginbotham, we understand that the forestry industry is vast and diverse. From commercial logging operations to paper product manufacturers, each business has its own specific insurance needs. Our experience extends to a wide range of forestry businesses, including:
Lumbering Operations
Sawmills
Wood Chipping Operations
Planing Mills
Woodyards
Specialty Forest Products Manufacturers
Land Clearing Operations
Molding and Wood Flooring Producers
Pulp and Paper Mills
Commercial Logging Operations
Paper Product Manufacturers
Wood Drying and Treating Plants
Furniture and Cabinet Manufacturers
Pallet Manufacturers and Recyclers
Lumber Yards
Building Materials Dealers
Wood and Wood Product Manufacturers
Woodworking Operations
Mulch Manufacturers
Roof and Floor Truss Manufacturers
As one of the nation’s largest independent insurance, financial and HR services firms, we represent a wide range of insurance carriers, and we leverage our market access to negotiate better terms and pricing for our clients. With us, you’ll get assistance to help you make the most of your insurance dollars without sacrificing coverage.
And, that’s not all you get – we understand the importance of risk management and loss control in the forestry industry, and that’s why we offer value-adding services like claims advocacy, compliance support and certificate validation.
That’s the Higginbotham difference: personalized, year-round support from a dedicated team that not only secures insurance coverage, but maximizes its value.
Logging operations face a multitude of risks, and in order to mitigate these exposures, forestry businesses may consider a variety of insurance coverages, such as:
General liability insurance provides financial protection for businesses against claims of bodily injury, property damage and personal injury that are caused by the business or its employees. General liability coverage can assist with legal fees, medical expenses and property damage repairs, helping your business remain financially secure in the face of a covered event.
Workers’ compensation insurance is an essential coverage for logging businesses. It provides financial protection in the event of work-related injuries or illnesses by helping to cover medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and lost wages for injured workers. Workers’ compensation can help logging businesses minimize their liabilities, avoid potential lawsuits and comply with legal requirements.
Commercial property insurance protects your lumber business’s physical assets, such as buildings, equipment and inventory, against risks like fire, theft and vandalism. And, with additional coverage options like standing timber insurance, which helps timber growers and farm owners to protect the value of their standing timber, you can help safeguard your valuable forestry assets and keep your business operational in the face of unexpected events.
Forestry and logging equipment insurance helps to protect the valuable machines and tools used in the lumber industry, such as delimbers, feller bunchers, wood chippers, log loaders, saw mills, planers and forwarders. As a form of equipment breakdown insurance, this industry-specific policy helps to reduce the impact of repairing or replacing damaged equipment used in day-to-day operations, making it essential in protecting your valuable assets and allowing your operations to continue without major disruptions.
If your forestry business relies on the use of automobiles to transport products, commercial auto coverage is an essential form of insurance, providing protection for physical damage to vehicles, medical expenses from driver or passenger injuries and third-party property damage. And, specialized commercial auto policies for the forestry industry, such as log truck insurance, can offer protection that’s tailored to the needs of your lumber business. Having commercial auto insurance in place helps protect your business from potential liabilities while keeping your employees safe on the road.
Commercial umbrella insurance provides an additional layer of protection for your logging business by covering costs that exceed the limits of other policies. This type of insurance is particularly important for businesses in the forestry and logging industry, as they often face high levels of risk and liability and may encounter events that are not covered by or that exceed the limits of their current coverage.
Timber bonds, a kind of surety bond specific to the logging and forestry industry, may be required by private or government landowners in order to provide assurance that the buyer or logging company will fulfill the terms of the contract. Obtaining a bond demonstrates your logging business’s commitment to adhering to industry standards and regulations, helping to protect your reputation and safeguard your commercial success.
Transportation and inland marine insurance are two coverages that may be useful if your logging operation transports its products on the road or on the water. These forms of insurance can offer protection for forest products or pieces of equipment that are in transit, providing valuable coverage for your business. And, more specialized transport policies like forest products transportation insurance can offer additional protection for your products and equipment or liability for accidents or injuries that occur during transportation.
Finding the right insurance coverage for your forestry business can be difficult, but if you’re looking to simplify your insurance administration and potentially lower your premium cost, a commercial package policy is a great option to consider. With policies tailored to your business and the flexibility to add specialty coverage options, a commercial insurance package is highly customized to fit the needs of your business.
For example, a wood products insurance program is specifically designed to cover businesses involved in the production and distribution of wood products, such as wood manufacturers, furniture manufacturers, paper manufacturers and businesses in secondary wood product industries. A commercial insurance package for these businesses may include coverage for property, liability, auto, workers’ compensation, equipment and product liability.
At Higginbotham, we recognize the uniqueness of each forestry business. That’s why we offer commercial insurance services that are tailored to your needs and backed by our team’s insurance experience and industry knowledge.
Loggers face numerous risks in their daily operations, including equipment failure, accidents and environmental hazards. These risks have the potential to cause significant financial losses and operational disruptions, making it crucial for logging and forestry businesses to implement effective risk management and loss control strategies.
That’s why, at Higginbotham, we don’t just help you cover loss; we help you identify, prevent and minimize it. We assess your operations to identify vulnerabilities and create a risk management program that supports your business objectives, workplace safety goals, financial situation and risk tolerance.
Understanding and navigating the costs of forestry insurance is crucial for businesses in the industry. The cost of logging insurance is dependent upon a variety of factors, including:
Working with a logging insurance broker is one way of potentially minimizing the costs of your forestry insurance. A broker can guide you through the insurance process and help your business obtain the best possible coverage at a competitive rate.
At Higginbotham, our team of specialists is committed to helping you understand the costs associated with forestry insurance while providing you with the support and guidance you need to make informed decisions about your coverage.
Bill is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He has dedicated more than 32 years to the insurance industry, specializing in professional liability, risk management, property and casualty insurance, business development, employment practices liability and coverages for forestry businesses.
His credentials include Associate in Risk Management, Certified Risk Advisor and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter designations. As a managing director at Higginbotham, Bill helps lead our forestry and wood products insurance practice, using his extensive experience to drive meaningful results for clients.
Josh attended the University of Mississippi, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in insurance and risk management. After graduating, he worked as an underwriter and commercial marketing executive for a financial institution.
In 2005, he decided to enter the insurance industry, focused on providing personalized services to niche businesses, particularly those within the forestry and lumber industry. In 2022, Josh and his firm joined the Higginbotham family, further strengthening his ability to deliver risk management solutions to clients nationwide.
Josh and his wife, Sloane, live in Brookhaven, Mississippi, with their three children, Sara Rodgers, Hampton and Emmie.
Patrick has over 25 years of insurance experience, including specialized knowledge of logging contractors, forestry operations, general liability coverage, logging/forestry equipment insurance, workers’ compensation and logging/forestry auto coverage.
After graduating from East Central University, he entered the insurance industry, quickly becoming a forestry insurance specialist. Patrick is a member of many local and state forestry insurance associations and has helped build one of the largest forestry/logging insurance programs in the South. He also holds a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLSC) designation.
In his free time, Patrick enjoys hunting, coaching local softball teams and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
As a forestry business owner or manager, you understand the importance of protecting your business from the unique risks and challenges that you face in the industry. That’s why Higginbotham offers logging insurance solutions that are designed to help safeguard your business and mitigate the risks associated with logging operations, timber sales and other forestry activities.
Choosing Higginbotham as your broker gives you access to a team of dedicated insurance risk management professionals committed to understanding your business and delivering personalized solutions. Because we’re invested in your success – now and in the long run.