NULCA-certified · Hydroexcavation now available. Learn more →
About J1S Contracting

The boss still
shows up.

We started in 2019 with one dump truck and a skid steer. Seven years later, we're still owner-operated — and the founder still walks most sites before the first quote goes out.

Est. 2019
Our Story

How we
got here.

From a single dump truck and skid steer to an 8-person operation with a full equipment yard. The growth has been steady on purpose — we'd rather take fewer jobs and do them right than chase scale we can't deliver on.

2019

J1S Contracting founded

Started in Festus, MO with one excavator and a straightforward goal — show up on time, do it right, and stand behind the work. The first crew is one operator and one truck.

2021

Growing the fleet

Demand grows faster than expected. We add equipment, hire full-time operators, and build out the yard. We tighten fine grade tolerance to fractions of an inch.

2022

Commercial and developer work

First subdivision and commercial pad jobs — the work that turned us from a residential outfit into a contractor that takes larger commercial and developer scopes.

2026

Hydrovac in the fleet

After subbing out hydroexcavation work, we bring it in-house with a fully outfitted hydrovac truck and two NULCA-certified operators. New capability, same standards.

What We Believe

Four things
we don't compromise on.

Every contractor says they care about quality and safety. Here's what those words actually mean to us — in policies, in habits, and in the work we turn down because it would mean breaking one of them.

i.

Walk every site before quoting it.

No quotes from blueprints alone. Soil, access, neighbors, water, surprises — you find them by being there. That's why our quotes are accurate and our schedules don't slip.

ii.

Own the equipment, train the operators.

Our fleet is ours, our operators are full-time employees, and every one of them is licensed and certified on the equipment they run. No daily-rentals, no rotating contractors, no excuses.

iii.

Document everything you hand off.

Photos, measurements, compaction tests, manifests — every job ends with a clean record of what was done. Five years from now, you'll know exactly what's underground.

iv.

Say no when no is the right answer.

If a project's scope or timeline isn't realistic, we'll say so before we sign. A bid you can't deliver on isn't a win — it's a problem you're paying for later.

The Yard

What's in
our fleet.

We own everything we run. That means we set the maintenance schedule, we know the machines inside out, and we never pass rental markups onto your invoice. Here's a snapshot of the yard.

4
Excavators
From 8-ton mini to 36-ton long-reach. All CAT.
2
Skid Steers
Bobcat and CAT, with full attachment library.
2
High Lifts
Telescopic handlers for material placement and elevated work.
6
Dump Trucks
Quad-axle fleet for spoil removal and bulk material hauls.
1
End Dump Trailer
High-capacity end dump for large-volume material hauls.
1
Hydrovac Truck NEW
12-yd debris, 1,500-gal water, 2,000+ PSI heated, 320° boom.
2
Compactors
Vibratory rollers for fill and pad construction.
9
Support Vehicles
7 pickups and 2 service trucks for crew transport and field support.
Buckets & Attachments
From 12" trenchers to rock buckets to root rakes.
Where We Work

Regional reach,
local feel.

We're a 75-mile-radius operation. Close enough that we can make an emergency call within hours, far enough that we work across most of the metro region and surrounding communities.

Primary Service Area

We respond to inquiries within 24 hours and can typically have a quote walk-through scheduled within 3–5 business days. Active projects across:

  • Jefferson County
  • St. Louis County
  • South St. Louis County
  • Ste. Genevieve County
  • Hillsboro
  • Farmington
  • De Soto
  • Arnold

Outside this area? Reach out anyway — we take select large projects further afield.

Credentials & Licensing

Licensed. Bonded. Insured.

Every certification and membership we hold — for the projects and partners that need to verify before we mobilize.

Excavation
Class A Earthwork License
Bonded
$5M Bond Capacity
General Liability
$10M Coverage
Workers Comp
EMR 0.78 (Industry: 1.0)
OSHA
30-Hour Trained Crews
Hydrovac
NULCA Certified Operators
Accreditation
BBB Accredited
Drain Layer
Licensed · MSD Approved
Let's Talk

Seven years of
doing it right.

Ready to hire a contractor who walks the site before quoting it? Drop us a line and we'll come see your project.