Jake Nystrom - I Can Dig It

06/30/2026

A few things I've notice about the most successful contractors I work with:

1. They want insurance for the total loss, not the day to day
2. They hire instead of outsource (think mechanical repairs)
3. They know when to lease or rent equipment and when to buy
4. They treat their business partners (insurance, vendors, etc...) the way they'd like to be treated

I'm talking $10MM+ contractors with balance sheets that look better than banks.

They make it so simple and treat people with respect while doing it.

What are some simple rules you follow that you could attribute to your successes?

06/17/2026

I watched a great excavation client lose two key operators in one month.

He called me, clearly stressed. Equipment was sitting idle, jobs were at risk of falling behind, and he was worried about keeping the rest of his crew from jumping ship too.

This isn’t uncommon right now, good operators are hard to find and even harder to keep in our area.

Here’s what we did:

-While he focused on recruiting and rebuilding his team, we made sure his business stayed protected.

-We reviewed and strengthened his workers’ comp, EPLI (Employment Practices Liability), and general liability coverages to handle the increased risks that come with a changing crew.

-We also updated his COIs so he could confidently bid on new work without insurance holding him back.

Most importantly, I reminded him that having the right insurance isn’t just about claims, it’s about giving yourself the stability to focus on what matters: running the business and taking care of your people.

If you’re dealing with labor shortages, turnover, or the stress of keeping your crew intact, you’re not alone.

06/03/2026

https://www.farnorthinsurance.com/blog/5-proven-tips-for-contractors-to-land-more-clients-a-practical-framework/

Discover 5 actionable tips to thrive in contracting. Enhance digital presence, leverage referrals, network locally, and create compelling content.

05/05/2026

Most contractors I talk to have the same problem.

They think their insurance is “fine”… until something happens.

Then they find out their policy has massive gaps:
- Underground property damage not covered
- Equipment in transit not properly insured
- Hauling and debris removal left out

I’ve seen good businesses get crushed by claims their agent said “would be covered.”

That’s why I only work with excavation, site prep, concrete, and heavy equipment contractors now.

If you want someone who actually understands what you do on a daily basis, not just checking boxes, message me.

I’ll give you a straight review of your current coverage. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just honest answers.

Who else is tired of the insurance runaround?

04/20/2026

You can't insure something you don't own. I ran into this issue with a road paving contractor last week. They let other's use their trailer for similar work and just ask that the others insure the trailer on their own policy.

This leaves grey areas and gaps. If the third party has no insurable interest in the trailer, why are they putting insurance on it?

1. The owner's insurance policy could deny the claim because "someone else insured it"?
2. What happens if the borrower's policy denies it because they have no real ownership?
3. Who actually has a valid claim if the trailer gets damaged or stolen?

The question is, how should this be handled?

Are you renting equipment as an additional revenue stream?

Do you have rented or leased equipment coverage on your policy?

04/16/2026

Site prep might be only one part of your business. You might also haul goods, move heavy equipment between jobs, transport materials, cart away debris, or more...

Most insurance agents wee 'excavation contractor' and only write a policy that covers the main exposure in your business.

Why could this hurt you?

Different types of work have different price structures associated to them.

Digging is going to have more exposure than washing windows (extreme example, but you get the idea).

One rollover, one piece of equipment damaged in transit...those are the claims that can shut you down.

I used to write everything (home, auto, life, umbrella) but have commited my time to making sure these things don't get missed for contractors in ND, MN, and SD.

If you're an excavation contractor and want someone who usderstands the whole picture, message me. I don't want to sell you anything, just want to have a conversation and get you answers.

04/13/2026

🚨 Contractors & trades; seen this one burn too many businesses...

Most owners think “I have commercial insurance, I’m good.”

The truth:

✅ Tools in your shop? Usually covered.
❌ Tools in your van, truck, or trailer? Almost never covered by your auto policy.
❌ Tools at a job site or in transit? Standard property insurance leaves them exposed.

Theft of tools from vehicles is super common, I get calls on this sort of thing all the time. Most have no idea tools in the shop are not covered the same way that tools in your mobile units are.

04/08/2026

It shocked me when I realized there was no defined language that covered property damage to buried lines. I was doing a policy review for a site prep contractor who had their general liability with a reputable regional carrier.

Sure, maybe it's covered because there isn't anything specifically excluded, but is it worth rolling the dice?

Wouldn't it make more sense to find a carrier who knows exactly what you do and can include coverage for the exact risks your exposed to on a daily basis?

The kicker? It saved them money switching to a carrier who understood the excavation busienss inside and out becuase the carrier was able to price the risk appropriately.