Only if the policy was written to contemplate it. Policies written for bare rental operations may classify and price the exposure differently, and some may restrict coverage for operations performed by your employees at customer sites. Confirm in writing that operated service is contemplated, and review limits, because job site exposure usually calls for a higher primary limit and an umbrella.

Riggers liability covers damage to property you are lifting, rigging, or moving, which is excluded under general liability because the property is in your care, custody, or control. If your operated service includes any lifting, with a crane, a boom truck, or similar equipment, riggers liability is generally necessary and is one of the most commonly missing coverages in this line of work.

Legally that depends on state doctrines such as borrowed servant and special employment and on the facts of the arrangement, including who directs the work. It can affect workers compensation exclusive remedy and which liability policy responds. Because the answers vary by state and are frequently litigated, this should be confirmed with counsel in the states where you operate.

You should not. A bare rental agreement allocates responsibility for operation to the customer, which does not fit a transaction where your employee is operating the machine. Operated agreements need to define the scope of service, allocate responsibility for the work plan, specify what the customer must provide, and address damage to the load. Using one document for both is the most common contractual mistake in this business.

Usually, because classification follows the work performed. An operator running equipment on a construction site is generally classified differently from yard and delivery staff, and the rate reflects that exposure. Addressing it when you launch the service avoids a reclassification at year end audit, which is the more expensive way to find out.