If you’re a NAWLA member in Arizona, you already know the value of belonging to the nation’s premier association for lumber and building material wholesalers. But here’s something many Arizona members don’t realize: NAWLA has an endorsed insurance carrier — Pennsylvania Lumbermen’s Mutual (PLM).
PLM is the only insurance company in the country exclusively dedicated to the wood niche. They understand the risks your business faces — combustible dust, product liability, transportation, fire exposure — in a way generalist carriers simply don’t. And through their partnership with NAWLA, they offer a dividend program that rewards members for maintaining strong safety and loss performance.
The best part? PLM is open brokerage, which means you don’t need to go through a large national broker to access the program. You can work directly with Wilson Insurance right here in Arizona to lock down competitive pricing and earn back a potential dividend.
Why NAWLA Endorses PLM
PLM has been insuring wood-related businesses for more than 125 years. They are not a generalist carrier dipping into multiple industries — wood is their only focus.
That’s why NAWLA endorses them for member insurance programs. PLM brings:
- Deep underwriting expertise in lumber, distribution, and manufacturing risks.
- Tailored coverage solutions including property, general liability, inland marine, auto, and workers’ compensation.
- Dedicated loss control resources designed specifically for wood wholesalers and building supply distributors.
When NAWLA members work with PLM, they’re not trying to educate an insurance company about what they do. They’re working with a carrier that already knows the business inside and out.
What Is the NAWLA Dividend Program?
One of the biggest advantages PLM offers NAWLA members is the dividend program.
Here’s how it works:
- As a NAWLA member, you join a group program underwritten by PLM.
- When the group maintains strong safety and low loss ratios, PLM shares the savings in the form of a dividend return. This can be anywhere from 0-10%.
- This dividend is paid back to participating members, directly reducing the true cost of insurance.
That means you’re not just getting competitive upfront pricing — you also have the opportunity to get a portion of your premium back based on your performance. It’s an incentive that reinforces a strong safety culture and rewards members for running tight operations.
Most carriers don’t offer anything like this. It’s a NAWLA-exclusive advantage.
Why Arizona NAWLA Members Are Missing Out
Here’s the reality: PLM is a relative outsider in Arizona.
Many local agents don’t know about the NAWLA/PLM partnership, much less how to access it. Because of that, plenty of Arizona NAWLA members are paying more than they should for generalist coverage — while leaving potential dividend dollars on the table.
There’s also a common misconception that only “big national brokers” can place business with PLM. That’s not true. Because PLM is open brokerage, Wilson Insurance can quote your business directly and connect you to the same program that wholesalers across the country are already benefiting from.
Why Work with Wilson Insurance?
At Wilson Insurance, we combine local presence with specialty wood industry experience.
- Based in Mesa, AZ — we’re right here in the East Valley, not across the country.
- Decades of experience insuring wood distributors, lumberyards, and manufacturers.
- Direct relationships with PLM underwriters.
- Ability to craft the kind of detailed submission narratives underwriters need to sharpen pricing.
- Proven results helping businesses with challenges like elevated EMODs, capacity issues, and claims history.
Most Arizona agents have never set foot in a lumberyard or building supply warehouse. We’ve toured hundreds. We understand your operations, and we know how to present them to carriers like PLM in a way that gets you the best terms available.
Don’t Leave Money on the Table
If you’re a NAWLA member in Arizona, there’s no reason not to see what PLM’s dividend program could do for your bottom line.
Through Wilson Insurance, you can:
- Access competitive pricing from a wood-only insurance carrier.
- Earn back a dividend for strong safety and loss performance.
- Gain the peace of mind that comes from working with a local specialist who speaks your industry’s language.
📞 Call Justin at 480-964-2400
📧 Email [email protected]
Stop overpaying for cookie-cutter coverage. Let’s put PLM’s NAWLA dividend program to work for your Arizona wholesale business.
