Excavation, Site Prep & Land Clearing Across Middle Tennessee

From a wooded hillside to a finished homesite, cleared, graded, driveway cut, septic installed, and ready for your foundation. JD Lee Excavating has been turning raw Tennessee land into buildable property since 2000.

If you’ve got the land and the plan, we’ve got the iron to make it happen. One contractor, one crew, every phase of site work, from the first tree that falls to the final grade. Call 615-445-5239 or request a quote below.

Residential and Commercial Excavation Services for Middle Tennessee

From the first cut into raw ground through final grading, we handle every phase of site work. We serve homeowners building on rural acreage, general contractors who need a reliable excavation sub, and developers putting up commercial sites across Humphreys, Dickson, Hickman, Perry, Montgomery, Maury, and Davidson counties.

Site Preparation

Grading, earthwork, and ground prep so your builder can break ground on schedule.

Land Clearing

Trees, brush, stumps, and undergrowth removed so your property is ready to develop

Building Pads

Level, compacted building pads graded to spec.

Roads & Drives

Gravel roads, private drives, and access lanes built to hold up under heavy use and Tennessee weather.

Retaining Walls

Structural retaining walls that manage slopes, control erosion, and protect your property.

Septic System Installation

Licensed septic installation, conventional and engineered systems.

Demolition

Tear-down and removal of structures, foundations, and debris.

Underground Utilities

Trenching and installation for water lines, sewer, electric, and other underground services.

Excavator bucket dropping dirt into an open trench.

Every Phase of Site Work, One Contractor, Start to Finish

Most raw-land projects need four or five different trades before a builder can break ground. Every handoff is a delay. Every new hire is another schedule to manage. We handle every phase under one contract. One crew, one mobilization, one point of contact from clearing to final grade.

Full-service site work on a single contract: Clearing, grading, and building, all handled by one crew with the equipment to do every phase correctly.

Heavy iron sized for the work: D61 dozers with rippers, excavators with 48″ and 54″ buckets, haul trucks, scrapers, and compaction rollers.

Licensed and bonded up: Tennessee contractor’s license, full bonding, liability and workers’ comp insurance. Documentation available on request.

GPS precision grading: Benchmark Base & Rover technology for certified grade accuracy, tighter tolerances, and less rework on every cut and fill.

Why Contractors and Landowners Choose JD Lee

A Fleet That Runs Phases in Parallel

On large projects, we run multiple machines on site simultaneously. That means your clearing, grading, and hauling happen in parallel instead of waiting in sequence. It cuts timelines by weeks and keeps downstream trades (your builder, your concrete crew, your plumber) on schedule.

Compaction Equipment Most Local Operators Don’t Own

Our padfoot compactor and smooth drum roller are the difference between a pond dam that holds water for decades and one that leaks within two years. Most excavation contractors in this area don’t carry compaction equipment. We own both types and use them on every job that calls for it.

GPS Grade Control on Every Cut and Fill

Benchmark Base & Rover system guides our grading operations to certified tolerances. For commercial clients, that means grade accuracy that passes inspection without callbacks. For residential clients, it means faster work, less material waste, and a finished grade that drains the way it should.

Fixed-Price Estimates With Specified Assumptions

Every estimate we write specifies the scope, the assumptions about soil and terrain conditions, and a firm number. If we hit rock where we expected clay, we stop and talk to you about it before we proceed, not after. We don’t low-ball to win the bid and make it up in change orders once the machines are on your property.

Where We Work

JD Lee Excavating is based in McEwen, Tennessee (Humphreys County), serving a wide radius across middle Tennessee’s growing western corridor.

We travel up to 100 miles for the right project, especially commercial site work, large-acreage land clearing, and subdivision development. For projects outside our core area, call us and we’ll tell you whether we’re the right fit.

Core Service Area:

McEwen & Humphreys County
Dickson & Dickson County
Centerville & Hickman County
Waverly
Perry County

Extended Service Radius:

Nashville (Davidson County)
Clarksville (Montgomery County)
Columbia (Maury County)
Franklin (Williamson County)
Murfreesboro (Rutherford County)
Lebanon (Wilson County)

The Equipment, Licensing, and Track Record Behind Every Project We Take On

JD Lee Excavating has been operating in middle Tennessee since 2000. Founded by Doug Lee, the company is based in McEwen, Humphreys County, and serves residential, commercial, and government clients across the western Nashville corridor. JD Lee holds a Tennessee contractor’s license for projects up to $3 million, carries full performance bonding, and maintains liability and workers’ compensation coverage across all active operations.

JD Excavating owns and operates a fleet built for heavy site work: D61 dozers with rippers, excavators with 48″ and 54″ bucket attachments, pans, scrapers, haul trucks, lowboys, and both padfoot and smooth drum compaction rollers. A Benchmark Base & Rover GPS system provides precision grade control on grading and earthwork operations. JD Lee bids actively through PlanHub and Dodge Network, and is currently pursuing federal contracting eligibility through the APEX Accelerator program and SAM registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

I just bought raw land and my builder says I need site work done before he can start. What does that actually involve?
It depends on the property, but a typical raw-land residential build needs land clearing, rough grading, a driveway or access road, a building pad graded to your foundation specs, septic installation, and drainage work. On hilly or heavily wooded acreage (which is most of what you’ll find in Humphreys, Dickson, and Hickman counties) the scope can also include retaining walls and underground utility trenching. We walk the property with you, review your house plans and your builder’s requirements, and put together a written estimate that covers every phase so there are no surprises once the machines show up.
Can you handle commercial site prep and subdivision work?
Yes. We have the licensing, bonding, fleet size, and crew capacity for commercial site preparation, subdivision development, and infrastructure earthwork. We bid actively on PlanHub and Dodge Network, and we’re pursuing government contracting through the APEX Accelerator program and SAM registration.
What does your equipment fleet look like?
Four dozers (including D61s with rippers), three excavators with 48″ and 54″ bucket attachments, pans and scrapers, haul trucks and lowboys, a padfoot compactor, and a smooth drum roller. We also run a Benchmark Base & Rover GPS system for precision grade control. Every machine is owned (no rentals) which means no scheduling delays waiting on equipment availability.
How far will you travel for a project?
Our shop is in McEwen. We handle work regularly across Humphreys, Dickson, Hickman, and Perry counties. For larger commercial projects, subdivision development, and land clearing jobs, we travel up to 100 miles, covering Nashville, Clarksville, Columbia, Franklin, Murfreesboro, and surrounding areas. The scope of the job determines whether the mobilization makes sense, and we’ll tell you straight on the first call.
Do you carry a contractor's license and bonding?
Tennessee contractor’s license for projects up to $3 million. Fully bonded. Full liability and workers’ compensation insurance. We can provide current documentation to any GC, developer, or property owner who requests it.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Tell us what you’re building, where the property is, and what the land looks like right now. We’ll get back to you with a straight answer and a realistic timeline.