Renting the right equipment for a construction project can be a lengthy process, and there are many things you need to consider—from construction or project needs to equipment experience. There are many equipment options, and the rental company you utilize can help you through the process and guide you in choosing the right equipment for your project.
What Type of Project Is It?
There are a few broad categories of equipment, depending on the project. If you have a landscaping or general construction project, consider renting compact and versatile earthmoving equipment such as excavators, loaders, and dozers. If you’re doing an industrial construction or mining job, highway trucks or rugged machines will be the best option. Consider renting pipelayers, cold planers, and road pavers for infrastructure and civic works projects to maximize productivity. Due to the large variety of construction projects, ensuring that the equipment rental service you’re renting from has the correct machines for the projects you’re completing is crucial.
Do Employees Have Experience with the Equipment?
When choosing a piece of equipment to rent for a project, something else to consider is who will be operating the machine. For compact pieces of equipment such as skid steers, compact wheel or track loaders, and mini excavators, experience may not be necessary. Newer technology installed in recent models of these machines makes it much easier and safer to navigate with little experience. However, when working with more heavy-duty equipment, experience is crucial in making sure your work environment is safe, especially if the project is done in a high-risk area. In addition, training your employees to use the equipment properly should be considered, regardless of experience level, to make employees feel comfortable and safe when operating a large piece of machinery.
Try Before You Buy
Deciding to rent a piece of equipment is a great way to get a feel for the machine you’ll be using before deciding to buy one. Some machines operate differently, so renting equipment first helps you get a good feel for the specific machine you’ll be using. Renting before you buy also helps give you an idea of how a piece of equipment behaves on different terrains and job sites, as well as the required maintenance.
Is the Equipment Reliable?
A machine’s service report can be a good indicator of how reliable it will be. If you notice that the equipment requires a lot of repairs or has constant maintenance issues, it won’t be a machine you can safely rely on. Other red flags to look for when considering renting a piece of equipment include the following:
- Equipment looking poorly maintained or old
- Heavy equipment having low fluid levels
- Warning lights on the dashboard which could indicate system issues
- Stalling or difficulty when starting equipment
- Odd noises coming from gears
- Heavy exhaust fumes
Working with a reputable rental company that is upfront with you about the machine’s status and ability is crucial to ensuring you can complete your job successfully and safely.
Will the Equipment be Available?
Depending on how soon your project will start, you’ll need to plan to ensure the equipment you need will be available at the company you want to rent from. You’ll want to be specific with your rental company about what your project and machine needs will be and be prepared to give the following information:
- The scope of the project you’re working on
- The type of equipment you’ll need
- How long you will need the equipment
- Your rental budget
Providing this specific information to your rental company will help them better serve your equipment needs.
Five Star Rentals provides the necessary equipment for your building and demolition projects. Contact us to learn more about how we can assist with your specific project and rental needs!
Sources
What Contractors Look for In a Construction Equipment Rental Company (calgroverentals.com)\
5 Great Renting Construction Equipment Tips You Need To Try (gocodes.com)
6 Considerations When Renting Construction Equipment | The Cat Rental Store
