Commercial Auto · Contractors
Contractor Insurance That Covers the Whole Operation
Contractors need more than one policy: general liability for the jobsite, commercial auto for the work trucks and trailers, inland marine for the tools and equipment that ride between sites, builder's risk for what you're putting up, and often a bond to win or keep the work. A standard policy covers maybe one of those. Flatland builds contractor programs across Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Iowa that cover the trucks, the tools, the jobsite, and the bond — one program, one agent, no gaps between carriers.
Who this is for
Who this is for
- General contractors and remodelers
- Specialty trades — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, concrete, framing
- Excavation, grading, and site-work contractors
- Painters, drywall, flooring, and finish trades
- Independent owner-operators with a truck, a trailer, and a crew
- Anyone bidding work that requires a license, a bond, or proof of insurance
Coverage
What insurance does a contractor actually need?
| Coverage | What it protects | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| General Liability | Jobsite injury & property damage claims | Nearly all |
| Commercial Auto | Work trucks, trailers, the gear on the move | Most |
| Inland Marine / Tools | Tools & equipment off-site or in your truck | Nearly all |
| Builder's Risk | The structure while it's under construction | Build/remodel |
| Surety Bonds | License, bid, performance & payment bonds | Bidders/licensed |
| Workers' Comp | Employee injuries (required with a crew) | Anyone w/ staff |
| Umbrella | Extra limits over the whole stack | Larger ops |
The distinction
Does general liability cover my stolen tools?
NO. General liability covers harm YOUR work causes to OTHER people or their property — someone tripping on your jobsite, or your crew damaging a client's wall. It does NOT cover your own tools, equipment, or materials being stolen or damaged. That's INLAND MARINE (often sold as “tools & equipment” coverage) — and tools stolen from a work truck is one of the most common small claims a contractor files. And neither one covers the building you're constructing while it's going up — that's BUILDER'S RISK.
Clean rule: GL = harm you cause others · inland marine = your tools & gear on the move · builder's risk = the project itself while it's being built. Three different coverages for three different exposures a contractor faces every day.
In the policy
What's typically in a contractor policy
- ● Commercial Auto (the work trucks & trailers) — Commercial Auto guide
- ● General Liability (jobsite claims) — General Liability guide
- ● Inland Marine / Tools & Equipment — guide
- ○ Builder's Risk (jobs under construction) — guide
- ○ Surety Bonds (to win/keep the work) — Construction Bonds
- ○ Workers' Comp, Umbrella — /learn entries
Legend: ● core/almost always · ○ common/situational.
What we build
Coverage we put together for contractors
GL sized to your trades, commercial auto for the trucks and trailers, inland marine for the tools and equipment that leave the shop, builder's risk for the jobs you've got under construction, workers' comp for the crew, and the bond to win the bid. One program, one agent, no gaps between carriers — and the bond question handled up front so paperwork never costs you a job.
The bond cross-sell
Need a bond? We ask before you have to.
Most contractors need a bond at some point — a license bond to get or keep a license, or a bid/performance/payment bond to win and deliver a job. We ask the bond question on every contractor quote, so you're never scrambling the day a bid requires one. We're appointed with surety markets (CNA Surety, Merchants Bonding) and write license, bid, performance, and payment bonds across all six states.
Full detail: Construction Bonds →Why Flatland
Why Flatland for contractor coverage?
We come from the commercial-vehicle world — we already know the trucks, the trailers, and the owner-operators who run them. A contractor is exactly that kind of operation: vehicles on the road, expensive tools in motion, crews on jobsites, and bonds on the line. We cover the moving parts most agents miss because they only see the GL policy. Licensed across MO, KS, OK, TX, CO, IA. An independent agency working with a wide variety of carriers and markets to fit each client's needs. Real claims people. Bilingual capability — strongest in Texas.
By Zachary J. Kramer, licensed insurance agent, 20+ years' experience, NPN 7570201, Baylor University BBA. Flatland Expeditions LLC, founded in 2022 — an independent agency/broker working with a wide variety of carriers and markets to fit each client's needs.
FAQ
Contractor insurance FAQs
- Does my general liability cover my stolen tools?
- No. GL covers harm you cause others; it doesn't cover your own tools being stolen or damaged. That's inland marine (tools & equipment) coverage — and tool theft from a truck is the most common contractor claim.
- Do I need builder's risk, or just general liability?
- Both, usually, if you're building. GL covers injury/damage you cause others; builder's risk covers the structure itself while it's under construction. A finished-building policy won't cover a project mid-build.
- Do I need a contractor bond?
- It depends on your trade, your city, your state, and the jobs you bid. Many trades need a license bond to operate, and public/commercial bids often require bid, performance, or payment bonds. Ask us and we'll tell you straight.
- Do I need commercial auto if I just use my own truck for the business?
- Usually yes. The moment a truck hauls tools, trailers, or materials for the business, a personal auto policy can deny the claim. Commercial auto covers it.
- How much does contractor insurance cost?
- It depends on your trades, payroll, vehicles, and the coverages you need. Fastest path to a real number is a quote.