Did you catch George and Lisa’s radio interview on May 21? George and Lisa Pogue returned to Chambersburg’s News Talk 103.7 FM (37 S. Main St.), and the 12-minute radio interview covered everything from what to expect when the Spotted Lanternfly inevitably reaches Franklin County, the value of being “fully” insured (as well as what that means and how to make sure a company has it), and the benefits of being a large company with deep local roots (that doesn’t work on commission).
You can listen to the full radio interview here, and we’ve included some highlights below.
Radio Interview Takeaways
1. Spotted Lanternfly Update
Because CVTS-L has a footprint that spans several counties, our crews servicing Cumberland and Dauphin Counties are already familiar with this invasive pest. But, so far, Franklin County has been missed and has remained an island free from Spotted Lanternfly…for now.
George then explained that companies working in counties that are already under quarantine are required to thoroughly inspect their vehicles, mulch, wood products and other plant material to ensure that they aren’t also transporting the Spotted Lanternfly.
Lisa then pointed out that something unique about the Spotted Lanternfly is that unlike hemlock wooly adelgid or emerald ash borer, it can feed on a wide variety of trees.
According to George, it’s only a matter of time until swarms of them – “thousands and thousands, millions” – are seen and felt in Franklin County, too. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot that Franklin County residents can do to prepare, but CVTS-L is already experienced and ready to act when the time comes.
Learn more about CVTS-L’s efforts to contain Spotted Lanternfly in the interview or here.
2. One-Stop Shop
While there are many Tree Care companies and there are many Landscaping companies, only CVTS-L offers both with the added benefit of a full-service Plant Health Care division.
We can property identify what is attacking the tree, whether it is an insect, disease or underground root issue, and treat it.
CVTS-L is able to for trees and plants from roots to canopy, from seed through removal, season after season (we’ve been doing this for more than forty years!).
3. Non-commissioned Sales Team
Our sales teams and estimators are non-commissioned. They get the same compensation whether they recommend repeated treatments, a single treatment or cutting the tree down.
This is fairly unique in our industry, and it means that you can trust us to only recommend what is best for your tree.
As we mentioned in the last point, we’ve been doing this for more than 40 years, and we’re positioning ourselves for the next forty. It doesn’t benefit us or our clients to sell unnecessary work up front. We’d rather be with you for the long haul.
4. Proof of Insurance
CVTS-L is fully insured. But what does that mean? How can customers find this information out? What should people who are accepting bids for tree work ask for from tree care companies? Why isn’t general liability insurance enough?
Workers’ compensation insurance is the number one most important insurance to ask about. Companies that lack workers’ compensation insurance put the risk (and the expense) on the homeowner if a crew member is injured on their property.
You have to see it and examine it. It only takes a few moments for the insurance company to e-mail a copy of it, so there is no excuse.
Additionally, you have to make sure that it is current and that it is specifically workers’ compensation insurance. If you only ask if they are insured – without specifying the type – they can say yes, flash their general liability insurance certificate and get to work while leaving you on the hook in the event of an accident.
And, as George reminds listeners in the interview, tree care is the third most dangerous job.
With CVTS-L, you don’t have to ask. We automatically include a copy of our proof of insurance with every estimate that we send out.
5. The “big guys” aren’t the bad guys
Over the past four decades, CVTS-L has certainly grown a lot. In that time, we’ve added vehicles, offices, staff and crews. Sometimes we encounter the misconception that the bigger a company gets, the more expensive and impersonal it becomes.
At CVTS-L it has been the opposite. As our team has grown, we’ve established deeper roots in our community and better equipment allows us to work more efficiently – sometimes shaving entire days off of a job.
We’ve always believed in working smarter, not harder, so we’ve been sure to always invest in the best equipment. This allows us to work cleaner, faster, safer and cheaper – protecting your property and your wallet.
Radio Interview Conclusion
Remember that CVTS-L is a fully insured, non-commissioned one-stop shop (from roots-to-canopy, season after season) who can help you with Spotted Lanternflies and Jelly Ear Fungus (but not scallywags because those aren’t real).
