Renting construction equipment is a cost-saving way of increasing the type of jobs your company can provide. It allows you to work on a diverse variety of jobs without investing in expanding your fleet. You can tailor the equipment you use to suit the jobs you are currently working on.
Follow these equipment selection tips and renting guidelines to ensure you always use the right type of heavy equipment.
Assessing Your Project Needs
Before knowing which equipment to rent, you must consider your project’s requirements. Look at what equipment your project needs — consider your project’s size, complexity and scope before committing to any rental decisions. The best way to do this is to break down your project and objectives into their simplest elements.
The first thing to look at is your project’s scope. Simplify your main objectives into a short description of only a few words. Then, determine what kind of equipment is needed to complete each objective. Next, consider the size of your project. You know what you need. Now, figure out how much of it you need. You can significantly reduce your budget by only renting what you need.
Other considerations include the type of material you are working with. The equipment you need for moving soil differs from the equipment used to move lots of rock or rubble. The size of your team and their skill levels are another important factor. Make sure you have equipment that your team can operate. For example, a team with many newcomers may have difficulties operating more technical equipment veterans use.
Sticking to your budget is the most important part of planning construction equipment rental.
Consulting With Experts
When in doubt, consult an industry expert for guidance and planning. Nobody knows our equipment like us and we are always willing to help you rent construction equipment. Once you have properly summarized your project’s scope, objectives and fine details, we will use our expertise to help you rent the necessary equipment.
Let us help you find budget-friendly equipment rentals that get the job done while keeping costs down to a minimum. Our insight and years of experience make us your best bet at finding everything you need at the prices you want.
Matching Equipment to Your Project
Choosing the right equipment for your project ensures maximum efficiency. You should carefully consider your requirements and needs, and understand your options. To make this decision, you need to be familiar with different types of equipment, including:
- Earthmoving equipment: Earthmoving equipment will help you transport and clear large amounts of rock, soil, sand, rubble, gravel and more. Use them to move heavy obstacles and equip them with attachments that help with certain tasks. The most popular earthmoving equipment rentals include dozers, backhoe loaders, excavators and skid steer loaders.
- Aerial equipment: Different types of aerial lifts help workers reach heights safely. Boom lifts, scissor lifts, material lifts and vertical personnel lifts are common machinery used for projects involving large structures and sites with varying heights.
- Material handling equipment: This kind of equipment will help you transport materials with ease. Forklifts, telehandlers and material handlers are the most popular examples of material handling equipment. Having access to the right material handling equipment can greatly improve productivity.
Considering Equipment Specifications
Choosing the right type of machinery is a big part of efficient project equipment rental planning, but you also need to ensure you are using equipment with the right specifications for your project. Power, size and additional features are important considerations.
Power is an important factor when looking at tools like drills and compactors to make sure they can get the job done. Power also affects the noise your equipment generates, which is something to remember when working in urban areas. You also need to focus on the power of vehicle attachments like augers and trenchers.
Ensuring your equipment’s specifications match your project is a vital part of maximizing efficiency. When you have a certain task to do, you need to know that you have exactly what you need to get it done properly and conveniently. Equipment that is too large for your work site or does not have the power to perform its function is why you need to pay close attention to equipment specifications.
Rental Terms and Conditions
Understanding the rental agreements and terms is vital when renting construction machinery and equipment. Understanding the rental rates, duration and responsibilities as a renter is as important as knowing which machines you need to use. Knowing your rental duration will help you avoid late fees, which can add up quickly.
You can negotiate the terms with a broker, but you have to know what is up for negotiation and how to prepare. Having a clear idea of your project’s needs is invaluable when trying to get a better deal. You must research the machines you are interested in to know what is necessary.
Knowing all the technical aspects of the terms and conditions means you know how to change them within reason. Your authority in the negotiation relies on your knowledge of the topic.
Communication is key. You must get everything approved in writing via emails, documents, recorded calls and images. Be sure to follow up and make sure your changes are understood and implemented before agreeing to your new deal.
Equipment Inspection and Maintenance
A lot of people use rental equipment. The rental company will promise your equipment will be in good condition when they hand it over, but it’s still a good idea to inspect the equipment yourself. Do this upon delivery so you can act immediately should you need a replacement.
It is best to create a checklist for your inspections. This is an effective way of making sure your project equipment needs will be met, and it’s also helpful when you need to return the equipment.
As a renter, you perform all routine maintenance your rented equipment requires. Your responsibilities also include maintaining fluid levels, keeping the equipment in safe operating condition and performing preventative maintenance as stipulated by the manufacturer’s maintenance manual.
Keeping to your rental duration is the key to maintaining a healthy working relationship with a rental company and avoiding expensive late fees. It is a good idea to notify the company well in advance should you need to extend the rental time.
Cleaning the equipment is necessary, even though it may sound time-consuming. It ensures the best performance from your machines and it is good renter etiquette to return clean equipment. Cleaning equipment is good for temperature control, improving product life span, optimizing performance and is less likely to result in damage or failures.
Rent the Equipment Your Project Needs with Stowers Machinery Corporation
Stowers Machinery Corporation has been dedicated to providing high-quality rental equipment to East Tennessee since 1960. With decades of expertise and an extensive fleet of machinery, attachments and equipment, we can give you the services and apparatus you need for any construction job. Consult our experts at one of our many locations for the best rental deals for you, your team and your job.
To find out more, contact us online today and explore the excellent equipment and deals we offer.