Umbrella / Excess Liability for grading contractors

It depends on your contracts and exposure. DOT and large developer work often requires $5M or more. We review your contracts, hauling exposure, and crew size, then size the umbrella to clear requirements and cover realistic worst-case claims — with the lowest practical premium.

An umbrella can drop down to cover claims not covered by underlying policies (broader). An excess policy simply adds limits on top of underlying coverage following the same terms. We place whichever structure fits your risk and budget, and explain the difference clearly.

Yes — when the at-fault liability from a dump truck or lowboy accident exceeds your commercial auto limits, the umbrella (which sits above auto) pays the excess. That's exactly why hauling contractors carry umbrella above commercial auto.

Cost is driven by crew size and payroll, equipment fleet value, number and type of hauling vehicles, scope of work, state, and loss history. We quote your actual operation in about 15 minutes — never a ballpark from a generic contractor form.

Yes. Contractors Choice Agency is licensed in all 50 states and writes programs nationwide — Phoenix, Dallas, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Boise, and everywhere grading operates.

Typically 15 minutes on a call. Larger programs, surety underwriting, or poor loss history may take a day or two to place with the right markets, but we move fast and set expectations up front.

Often yes. We have admitted and E&S markets for contractors declined over prior loss runs, a poor X-Mod, OSHA citations, or high-hazard class codes. Bring us your situation and we'll find a market.

Usually yes. A coordinated program closes gaps between policies and is typically cheaper than separate policies from separate carriers — and far easier to manage at claim and audit time.

A.M. Best ratings reflect a carrier's financial strength and ability to pay claims. We place coverage with A-rated (and A.M. Best A+ where possible) carriers so the coverage is there when an equipment theft, a haul-truck accident, or a trench-collapse claim hits.

Yes. Residential site prep, commercial pad building, road and highway grading, utility trenching, land clearing, and mass-grading operations all carry different exposure profiles. We tailor each program to the actual scope of work you perform.

Equipment scheduled at agreed value is paid the scheduled amount on a covered total loss — no depreciation argument. Equipment at actual cash value is depreciated, often heavily. Proper agreed-value scheduling is what ensures a fleet claim pays what the iron was actually worth.

Crew size and breakdown by role, equipment list with values (owned and rented), vehicle list (dump trucks, lowboys, pickups), scope of work and typical contract size, current coverage and limits, bonding needs, payroll, and loss history. The more detail, the more accurate the quote.

It can, with the right class codes and endorsements. Land clearing, demolition, and burning operations carry distinct liability and pollution exposure that standard GL may under-cover or exclude. Tell us your full scope and we'll add the right coverage.

Yes. Sole proprietors and owner-operators often have different workers' comp, auto, and equipment exposure than a multi-crew company — and may qualify for mono-line or owner-operator programs. We reflect how you actually run in the rating and coverage.

Equipment-floater claims are paid against the schedule — serial numbers, year, make, model, and value. Incomplete records mean delays and reduced payments. We help you document the fleet properly up front so a theft or damage claim is settled quickly and fully.

Yes. If you run multiple crews, mobilize across sites, or lease and rent equipment, we build one coordinated program covering owned, leased, and rental equipment and active projects with no gaps.

Yes. We build a bonding line — bid, performance, payment, and maintenance bonds — based on your work-in-progress and financials, so your surety capacity scales with the work you're chasing. That's how you qualify for bigger developer, municipal, and DOT contracts.

Additional insured status extends your general liability to cover the general contractor or developer for your operations on the project. Nearly every grading contract requires it (along with a waiver of subrogation and primary wording). We issue certificates and endorsements that clear the GC's contract review.