A Visit to Northern Wisconsin—With a Different Purpose
I recently traveled to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend making the trip, especially in the fall. The peaceful landscapes and winding roads usually offer a welcome escape. But this visit wasn’t for pleasure—it was a somber one.
I drove to Antigo, Wisconsin, to meet with a group of technicians who had just experienced a devastating shop fire. The building, the equipment, customer vehicles—everything was destroyed.
A Fire That Took Everything
The damage was overwhelming. Vehicles on lifts collapsed into ash as hydraulic cylinders exploded from the heat. Office equipment, tools, personal items—gone. Photos don’t even begin to capture the scale of the loss.
Thankfully, no lives were lost. But for these technicians, the fire took away something critical: their ability to work. Most of them had invested tens of thousands of dollars in personal tools, and only one had insurance—thanks to his wife, an insurance agent.
Brotherhood in a Time of Crisis
Despite the tragedy, the resilience and camaraderie among the techs was inspiring. Veteran techs looked out for the younger ones, and all of them were determined to stay in the industry.
J.J. Fay of Northwoods Tools—a Snap-On distributorship—organized our meeting and got the conversation going: “How many of you want to remain technicians?” Every one of them said yes.
A few experienced techs were exploring new ventures, including starting their own shop or shifting to towing. The younger ones waited to see what their former employer would do. Fortunately, the shop owner offered a smaller building to help them get back on their feet.
J.J. also launched a GoFundMe campaign. The veteran techs insisted that any funds go to the younger ones trying to rebuild. The support didn’t stop there—people across the industry stepped up.
VehicleServicePros.com and their partners helped gather tools to donate. Josh Carton of Curien joined the fundraising efforts. The outpouring of support showed just how strong our industry community can be.
🙏 A huge thank you to everyone who contributed.
What Happens Next?
As heartwarming as this story is, we can’t rely on GoFundMe pages and good fortune every time tragedy strikes. J.J. told me this was the third shop fire in his territory that month alone. That’s not just rare bad luck—it’s a wake-up call.
This experience made one thing clear: we must do a better job educating both shop owners and technicians about tool insurance.
Tool Insurance: What Technicians and Shops Need to Know
The average technician owns $25,000–$50,000 worth of tools—often accumulated over decades. This is more than just equipment. It’s how technicians make a living.
Do Shops Cover Tools?
Sometimes, but not always. Chad Paquette of PWA Insurance Group explains:
“There is an employee tool coverage shop owners can add to their policies to cover employee tools while they are employed.”
Cost depends on several factors like gross sales or liability limits, but a policy covering $25,000 in tools for one employee could cost less than $1,000/year.
If affordable, it’s a great employee benefit—but smaller independent shops may not be able to offer this.
What If the Shop Doesn’t Cover Tools?
Technicians should strongly consider their own coverage.
“Tools are not covered under homeowners insurance if they’re used for business,” Paquette says. “Employees would need to purchase their own policy if coverage isn’t included under the shop’s.”
One solution is an inland marine or small contractor package, which covers tools and liability. Expect to pay close to $1,000/year for $25,000 in coverage.
Is it expensive? Sure. But compare that to losing everything in a fire and having no way to earn income.
Final Thoughts: Learn From Antigo
No one expects a disaster. But every shop faces risks—from electrical fires to theft to accidents. This fire in Antigo was a harsh reminder: even the most skilled techs are vulnerable without tool insurance.
Whether you’re a shop owner or technician, take action:
- Review your insurance policies
- Ask about employee tool coverage
- Encourage your techs to get individual coverage if needed
We work in a high-risk environment. Protect the tools that power your livelihood—because once they’re gone, the path to recovery is long and costly.
Editor’s Note: Last updated June 2025. This article was originally published in November 2017 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehension.
