The Heavy Equipment Expertise Gap: Why Carriers Turn to Specialists

In the insurance and transportation industries, not all claims are created equal.

Auto claims are predictable. Standardized. Processed by the thousands every day.

Heavy equipment claims are the opposite (complex, variable, and technically demanding). They involve unique machinery, specialized components, and operational downtime that can cost thousands per day.

And yet, many third-party administrators still treat both claim types the same.

That’s the expertise gap and it’s the reason so many carriers now partner with Veritas Claims.

The rise of the “auto-centric” TPA

Most large TPAs were built to handle personal and commercial auto claims at scale. Their systems, staff, and workflows are optimized for that environment.

That means:

• Appraisers trained primarily in auto damage, not machinery.

• Processes built for volume, not precision.

• Checklists designed for vehicles, not vocational assets.

When a bulldozer, crane, or refrigerated trailer lands in that pipeline, it doesn’t fit the mold.

What follows is predictable: missed damage, incomplete appraisals, excessive supplements, and unnecessary delays.

As one Veritas executive put it in your transcript:

“They’re very auto-centric, very property-centric. They don’t have the expertise in the heavy equipment field and they know it.”

Why heavy equipment requires a different skill set

Appraising a passenger car and a piece of heavy equipment are two completely different disciplines.

A skilled appraiser must understand:

• Mechanical systems: hydraulics, engines, powertrains, and custom attachments.

• Usage context: whether downtime affects construction schedules, shipping contracts, or agricultural cycles.

• Salvage potential: parts retain different value depending on industry and geography.

• Operational risk: whether continued use creates safety or liability exposure.

Without that insight, heavy equipment appraisals become guesswork and files become liabilities.

The impact of the expertise gap

When claims are handled by non-specialists, the consequences ripple across the entire file:

1. Missed damage leads to supplements

Appraisers who lack mechanical understanding underestimate total loss risk.
Shops discover hidden issues during teardown, triggering supplements and delays.

2. Extended cycle time

Non-specialists require more back-and-forth communication with repair facilities and clients to confirm details. Average turnaround increases by 30–40%.

3. Inflated total loss percentages

Without proper valuation data, equipment is written off prematurely, turning repairable assets into total losses.

4. Carrier frustration and client churn

Adjusters lose trust in appraisal accuracy. Clients question performance and escalate to competitors. These inefficiencies cost real money, but they also cost reputation.

Adjusters lose trust in appraisal accuracy. Clients question performance and escalate to competitors.
These inefficiencies cost real money, but they also cost reputation.

The Veritas difference: specialists first, generalists never

At Veritas Claims, heavy equipment isn’t a niche, it’s our core competency.

Every appraiser, adjuster, and tow negotiator on our team is trained specifically in commercial equipment, trucking, and specialty assets. Many have hands-on field experience, not just certifications.

That means we know:

• What equipment really costs to repair.

• How to distinguish legitimate charges from inflated invoices.

• How to negotiate fairly with tow yards, salvage buyers, and repair facilities.

• How to identify and manage potential recovery or subrogation opportunities.

This isn’t just about technical skil, it’s about fluency in the language of the industry.

As one Veritas leader described it:

“Our team is made up of people who have owned or operated tow yards, worked with heavy machinery, and lived this work firsthand. They speak the language. That’s why our negotiations are faster and fairer.”

How expertise improves performance

Expertise isn’t a marketing advantage, it’s a measurable one.

Across hundreds of claims, Veritas’ specialized approach delivers consistent results:

These outcomes don’t come from working faster, they come from knowing exactly what to look for.

Expertise across asset types

Our appraisers handle an exceptionally wide range of equipment types, including:

• Construction machinery (excavators, backhoes, cranes)

• Agricultural equipment (tractors, harvesters, sprayers)

• Transportation assets (tractors, trailers, reefers)

• Specialty vehicles (RVs, ATVs, boats)

• Industrial tools and custom machinery

Each category has its own valuation factors, regional markets, and regulatory nuances.

Where other TPAs struggle to assign the right person to the right file, Veritas already has a team member with direct experience in that asset class.

That’s the difference between handling a claim and understanding it.

Filling the talent shortage

As the industry evolves, the gap in heavy equipment expertise is widening.
Veteran appraisers are retiring faster than new ones are being trained.

Meanwhile, demand for specialized claim handling continues to rise; driven by growth in logistics, construction, and agriculture.

Veritas invests heavily in recruiting and developing specialists to fill that void.
We don’t just train on software or compliance; we train on mechanics, materials, and market value.

That ongoing investment ensures our clients never have to settle for “auto appraisers in a heavy equipment world.”

Real-world example: when expertise made the difference

A carrier approached Veritas after a competitor declared one of their cranes a total loss with a payout estimate exceeding $250,000.

Our team re-inspected the unit and discovered the damage was localized to the boom assembly, not structural.
We coordinated with a specialty repair vendor to rebuild the affected components for $72,000.

The result:

• The crane was repaired and operational within three weeks.

• The client saved over $175,000 in unnecessary loss.

That’s the tangible power of expertise; knowing when to question assumptions and when to act decisively.

Expertise builds trust

In claims handling, trust isn’t built by slogans. It’s built by results.

Carriers trust Veritas because our specialists speak with authority, not approximation.
Our reports stand up under audit.

Our recommendations hold weight with repair facilities and adjusters alike.

That credibility shortens conversations, speeds approvals, and eliminates backtracking.

When you know the work is done by people who know the work, everything moves faster and smoother.

Final thoughts

The expertise gap is real and it’s growing.

Generic TPAs will continue to struggle with heavy equipment claims because their systems, staff, and structure weren’t built for them.

Veritas Claims was.

We combine hands-on industry experience with rigorous process control to deliver appraisals, towing negotiations, and recoveries that are accurate, defensible, and efficient every time.

If you’re tired of paying for the learning curve of others, talk to Veritas.  We bridge the gap between complexity and control with specialists who’ve been there, done that, and deliver results you can count on.