Industry News
2026 Brings Another Increase in California Tree Care Work Comp Rates
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Pure premium rates are developed by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California (WCIRB) and reflect the expected cost of workers’ compensation claims for a particular class of business. Each year, the WCIRB evaluates loss and payroll data reported by insurance carriers throughout California and develops advisory pure premium rates that serve as an important benchmark for workers’ compensation pricing.
Fleet Safety is Evolving: How Telematics and AI Are Changing Fleet Risk
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Fleet safety technology is rapidly shifting from reactive to proactive. Modern telematics and artificial intelligence (AI) tools now give companies real-time visibility into driver behavior, helping identify and correct risky habits before they turn into accidents.
General Liability Classification for Tree Care Contractors: Ground Work Is Still Tree Work
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Many tree care contractors are familiar with the ability to split workers’ compensation payroll between tree care and landscape codes when specific conditions are met. This has led some contractors to believe the same approach applies to general liability, particularly when trimming small shrubs, fruit trees, or clearing small trees and brush from the ground. While this assumption is understandable, workers’ compensation and general liability are governed by different classification systems. Applying workers’ compensation logic to general liability classification is one of the most common reasons tree care contractors experience unexpected additional premium at audit.
Understanding the Three Deadliest Hazards in Tree Care
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Tree care remains one of the most hazardous professions in the country. Whether crews are pruning, removing hazardous trees, clearing storm damage, or performing routine maintenance, the work demands planning, precision, and strong safety practices. Despite ongoing improvements in training and equipment, three accident types continue to cause serious injuries and fatalities: falls, electrical contact, and struck by incidents.
Navigating the Hard Market in Tree Care Insurance: What Business Owners Need to Know
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The tree care industry has always carried a unique set of risks, but in today’s insurance climate, business owners are facing challenges unlike anything they have seen before. What used to be a straightforward cost of doing business has evolved into one of the more complex and expensive aspects of running a company. Nearly every major coverage line is feeling rate pressure, stricter underwriting standards, and fewer carriers willing to take on the exposure.
4 Ways Tree Care Companies Can Strengthen Their Insurance Profile
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
When it comes to insurance, your broker is responsible for representing your business to the marketplace. And, how your company is presented makes a real difference. There is a clear distinction between a submission that includes only the basics, an application and loss runs, and one that provides a full picture of your operations, safety practices, and credentials. Underwriters respond more favorably to businesses that take risk management seriously and can show it.
The Crucial Role of Third-Party EPLI Coverage for Tree Care Companies
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Operating a tree care business comes with numerous risks, from ensuring your team’s safety on the job to managing potential property damage. One crucial area of risk that is often overlooked is Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI), specifically third-party coverage. Third-party EPLI can help protect your business from expensive lawsuits, making it essential for businesses that regularly interact with the public.
Maximizing the Value of Your Next Loss Control Visit
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
There are a few different reasons for a carrier to schedule a loss control visit. Sometimes, a carrier may want to perform a loss control visit before they quote your insurance. However, for the purpose of this article, I’d like to focus on the loss control service offering provided directly from your current insurance carrier.
Trim the Risk: Professional Liability for Tree Care Companies
Author, Rory Anderson, Partner, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Whether you have a consulting arborist on staff or not, every tree care company has a professional liability exposure. Your general liability policy will likely exclude professional liability claims. A misdiagnosis of tree disease, damage to property, or an injury resulting from an error or miscalculation can be extremely costly. So, it is important to understand the risk, then make a decision on whether or not you would like to transfer that risk by purchasing a professional liability policy.
Understanding Insurance Options for Tree Care Vehicles with Permanently Mounted Equipment
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
The vehicles that tree care companies are using today have become more specialized and more mechanized than ever. These specialized vehicles contribute to the overall productivity, profitability, and safety of the tree care industry.
Avoid Audit Nightmares with Properly Classified Tree Care Industry Equipment and Vehicle Maintenance Operations
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Tree care companies use specialized vehicles and equipment to perform their work. These assets are vital to the success of the company. To maintain their effectiveness, the machines need routine maintenance and upkeep. Issues arise when they break down, so it’s important to repair them immediately to limit business interruptions such as decreased productivity and profitability. The maintenance of the machinery can be a full time job, and some tree care businesses are lucky enough to have an employee, or a team of employees, dedicated to shop maintenance.
Don’t Get Skunked: Properly Insuring Large Tree Care Equipment
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
These days, everything is more expensive. Between inflation and supply chain issues, the cost of equipment is steadily increasing. As the tree care industry becomes more mechanized, we see new technological advancements in machinery and equipment that are greatly improving the productivity, profitability, and safety of the industry. These big ticket equipment purchases are a major investment for a tree care business. It is important to make sure that your assets are insured correctly so you can rest easy knowing that if something were to happen to them, you are properly covered. This can provide financial protection and affirm business continuity.
Surviving the Blaze: Developing Asset Relocation Plans in Wildfire-Prone Regions
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
As a tree care company operating in wildfire-prone areas, the safety of your crew, equipment, and vehicles is paramount. Wildfires can be unpredictable and devastating, posing a significant threat to your valuable assets. To mitigate risk of potential losses, it is important to have an effective asset relocation plan in place. This plan ensures that in the event of a wildfire, your vehicles and equipment have a safe place, reducing the risk of damage or total loss. This safe relocation address should be in an urban area, surrounded by buildings – not rural vegetation. It can be a mall parking lot or any urban lot. Let’s explore the reasons why having an asset relocation plan is crucial for tree care companies.
Improving Safety with Mechanization in the Tree Care Industry
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Mechanization refers to the process of introducing machinery, equipment, or automated systems to replace human labor. Today, the tree care industry is becoming more mechanized with many technological advancements that are greatly improving the productivity, profitability, and safety of the industry. Let’s focus on safety.
Pollution Liability for Tree Care Companies
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Most tree care companies use pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other chemicals as a part of their operations. Even if the company does not offer plant health care, many tree care professionals still use hydraulic fluids, gasoline, and other fluids to operate or maintain equipment and vehicles. The use of heavy equipment and chemicals, while operating exclusively outdoors, opens the company up to environmental exposure.
All Licensed California Tree Care Companies Now Required to Carry Workers’ Comp. Insurance
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Within the last few weeks, all licensed tree care companies received a notice in the mail from the California State License Board (CSLB) stating that effective January 1, 2023, the CSLB is requiring that all companies with a D-49 Tree Service Contractor license must have workers’ compensation insurance, regardless of whether they have employees.
Rise in Pure Premium Rates Impacts Tree Care Industry
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Pure premium rates are determined by the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB). The rates reflect the amount of losses that an insurance carrier can expect to pay out in claims for that particular class of business. Every year, the WCIRB submits pure premium rates to the California Department of Insurance for approval. These pure premium rates are comprised of loss and payroll data submitted to the WCIRB by all the insurance companies in California.
Automobile Rental Reimbursement for Tree Care Companies
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
A tree care company’s auto fleet includes specialty vehicles like bucket and box trucks. These vehicles are important assets for the company and critical for completing jobs. Getting into an auto accident is already stressful, but what can add more grief is if the vehicle that gets damaged is vital for your business. In this case, you will be looking to rent a replacement vehicle during the repair window so that your business can maintain productivity and profitability. With this in mind, rental reimbursement coverage helps cover the rental cost incurred while your vehicle is repaired after a covered loss.
Hydraulics Safety in the Tree Care Industry
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Tree care professionals regularly work with equipment that utilizes hydraulics: aerial lifts, stump grinders, and chippers, just to name a few. Injuries from hydraulic fluid leaks are very serious and can result in amputation.
Top Five OSHA Citations the Tree Care Industry Should Avoid
Author, Rory Anderson, Account Executive, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.
Every year, Federal OSHA conducts hundreds of inspections and issues costly citations to tree care companies. Although the Occupational Health OSHA citations can be issued for many reasons, there are five specific citations that continually plague the tree care industry every year.