"Construction equipment is expensive to hire and operate but careful management will reduce these costs." Most construction projects hire construction equipment. Sometimes these costs can form a significant portion of the project costs. Say a construction project’s equipment rental costs make up 40% of the project’s total costs then just saving 5% of these costs could translate to an additional 2% or more profit. That doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but many construction projects only make 10% profit so an extra 2% of profit means the project will make 12% profit which is an increase of 20%. Wouldn’t the bosses be pleased with that? But put some of these tips into practice and you could find the savings are even larger – resulting in even bigger profits. In this article I discuss some ways that you could save money on equipment rentals on your construction project. Pass these tips to your construction team. Ordering construction equipment
Construction equipment rental paperwork"The rental or hire agreement is a contract between you and the rental company. Understand what the contract says and read the fine print." Check the rental agreement and paperwork to ensure that:
When construction equipment arrives on the project siteIt is important to check construction equipment when it arrives on the project. This includes:
"Check construction equipment before it is off loaded on the project." Operating construction equipment efficiently
"Ensure your construction equipment is used productively. Equipment standing idle costs money." When the construction equipment has finished the task
"More valuable tips that will make your construction projects more profitable. These great books are available from Amazon and other stores." Make your construction project more profitableIt is important that the construction team understands the cost of equipment and ensure that it is properly looked after and operated by competent operators, that it is used productively and is put off hire when it is no longer required. Equipment costs contribute significantly to the overall cost of the construction project. Reducing these costs will improve your project’s profit. If you found this article useful please like it and share it with your team and connections. Please like and share this article. Learn more about Construction Project ManagementThis article is adapted from information in the author’s popular books: 'Successful Construction Project Management: The Practical Guide' and 'Building a Successful Construction Company: The Practical Guide'.
'Construction Claims: A Short Guide for Contractors' has just been published. These books are available on Amazon and other online book stores. Paul publishes articles regularly on LinkedIn and his website. Paul writes regular articles for other websites, gives lectures, mentors, and is available for podcasts and interviews. © 2016 This article is not to be reproduced for commercial purposes without written permission from the author. construction management construction project management
65 Comments
21/4/2017 10:52:05 pm
It makes sense to me that bigger is not always better when it comes to construction equipment. I feel like in many instances you might be working in a confined space or with limited mobility. It would also make sense to me to spend some time researching the company you are renting them from to make sure that they have a good reputation for maintaining their equipment.
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Paul
24/4/2017 09:31:55 am
Thanks Bradford.
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12/8/2017 06:56:57 am
Thanks for mentioning that less expensive models might the older ones and may not work as well as newer versions. My husband wants to rent contractor equipment for our home renovation and wants to get the best equipment for the best price. I think speaking to a professional rental company would help you decide the best and the cheapest models.
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Paul Netscher
27/10/2017 09:05:36 am
Hi Ridley, some hire companies can supply the machine with the operator - obviously they charge for this. The advantage to the hirer is that the operator is responsible for the machine. If they damage the machine the hire company is responsible. The disadvantages are the operator will only work that machine - they won't help out elsewhere when the machine isn't being used. They may also be reluctant to take orders from the hirer's supervisor. Of course I've also had some useless operators supplied by equipment hire companies and we've sent them back for replacements - so you can't assume you will be getting a good operator.
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14/11/2017 11:12:34 pm
Thanks for going over some things to think about when getting construction equipment. I'm glad that you mentioned that you should know exactly what the rental rate covers. Not only that, but it seems like a good way to know more about what to expect when you get the equipment, and the kind of maintenance you may have to perform.
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Paul
19/11/2017 09:52:45 am
Thanks Taylor, it's good to hear that this article was useful.
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20/2/2018 11:17:50 pm
I'm glad you mentioned to make sure the construction equipment is clean and in good condition. My dad is looking into buying used parts for a large home project. I appreciate the information on how you can save money on construction equipment.
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12/3/2018 10:49:51 pm
My wife and I are thinking about renting some construction equipment for when we landscape our yard this summer. I like your point about how, if a machine breaks down, you shouldn't use it until a professional inspects it. We'll be sure to have it serviced by the rental company if something happens during the job.
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20/7/2018 10:57:36 am
That's a great tip about checking what the rental rate covers since it can often be nearly as expensive as the rental cost. Construction companies that rent their equipment would benefit from this since they wouldn't want to be charged too much for the rental rate since the rental cost can already get expensive. This would also help them see which rental companies offer better deals and will actually work with them rather than try to get too much money from them.
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Paul
6/8/2018 05:33:20 pm
Thanks Hazel for your comments. It is important to read the fine print of every hire contract and understand what you're paying for. Insurance can be as high as 20% - which could be a waste if your insurance will cover the item, or if you can get cheaper insurance. Then you need to understand all the other charges - you don't want a shock when you get the invoice at the end of the month or when the item is returned.
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One piece of advice I would like to add if its ok, is when hiring plant equipment do what you do when hiring a car, take a video around the machine or piece of equipment with your phone. This will ensure you are not liable for damage from a previous hire and lets the plant hire company know you are going to look after it.
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Paul
25/11/2018 12:30:41 pm
Thanks Gerry for that helpful and essential advice. I'm sure many have been caught by car hire firms charging for damage caused by the previous drivers. The same happens with construction equipment.
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16/11/2018 12:05:41 pm
I really like what you said about how construction firms should look into negotiating at least a 50% reduction on rental rates because of downtimes caused by inclement weather. One can really see how young and up and coming start-up construction companies will be able to benefit from this tip since they do not have a lot of resources at their disposal yet. Cutting costs will certainly come a long way for these types of businesses. This is a really interesting read about construction rental equipment.
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Paul
25/11/2018 12:32:58 pm
Thanks Kit. it definitely pays to negotiate the best rates and consider all the possible additional costs before signing the hire contract. Equally understand who is responsible for what.
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9/1/2019 05:40:13 pm
Yes absolutely right, we should read such useful articles before buying construction equipment. Because this equipment is of high rates and one should know properly about all the small things. Thank you for sharing and mentionioning the all important points in the blog keep sharing such informative articles!
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Paul
10/1/2019 10:57:09 am
Thanks Denis for your feedback. Regards, Paul
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15/1/2019 12:00:32 am
I like your tip to make sure it's the item we ordered before it's unloaded, since having to re-load it can add to the expense of the project. My husband and I want to rent a few pieces of construction equipment for a large-scale landscaping project we're doing. I'd hate to have to pay more for the incorrect piece of equipment, so thanks for sharing the tip to double check beforehand!
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Paul
15/1/2019 05:53:07 pm
Thanks Amy, glad I can help.
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1/2/2019 05:44:44 am
That is true that license operators should operate the equipment. Maybe it would be good to have an earthmoving contractor. Then they could use the equipment efficiently.
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Paul
1/2/2019 09:48:52 am
Thanks Dave, good point and it may be relevant to large projects. But often contractors require machines so they can do their work, whether that's concrete or earthmoving. Paying the extra overheads for another contractor to manage and do the work isn't always practical or feasible. But even earthmoving contractors hire equipment since they don't always have the right equipment available - their machines could be busy elsewhere or they simply don't own the item because it won't be kept fully utilised.
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8/2/2019 07:30:19 am
Thank you for suggesting that you should make sure the equipment you order is the right size. My husband and I are needing to get some earth moving done and need to get the right equipment. I'll have to look into finding the best place to get this equipment.
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Paul
8/2/2019 12:45:45 pm
Good luck with your project Ellie. Not sure the type of project and equipment you require, but do check you can operate the item and that where necessary you have the required licenses. Operating equipment incorrectly could result in accidents, injury and damage to the machine and other property.
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A lot of great points Paul, funnily enough your point when it comes to plant hire saying "Some items may be cheaper to buy than rent. " strikes a note with me as we kept hiring mini diggers for jobs think easy to get found out we could have bought one for the amount of times we rented one. Of course we have now, but hind-sight a great thing.
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Paul
21/2/2019 12:56:56 am
Thanks Connor, I'm sure we've all had similar experiences - as you say hindsight is a wonderful thing. Of course sometimes we think we only need an item for a few weeks, then before we know it the machine has been on the project for several months. Good planning and organisation will make decisions easier.
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20/2/2019 10:59:35 am
Thank you for pointing out that you should make sure the contractor you hire uses reliable equipment. I'm needing some earth moving done so I can build my house. I'll have to look into finding the best contractor in the area.
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Paul
21/2/2019 01:00:00 am
Hi Ellie, good luck with your project. Please see my book- 'Build and renovate your home with your eyes wide open', for tips on building and renovating your home and questions to ask when searching for a home building contractor.
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6/3/2019 02:51:02 am
Thanks for pointing out that it's important to make sure the equipment that's ordered is the right size for the job so we don't end up paying more than we need to on something bigger. My husband and I want to hire a construction manager to help us plan the construction of a retail building. I hadn't considered that the size of the equipment should fit the scale of the job, so I appreciate you sharing that tip!
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13/3/2019 07:54:01 am
One thing to always check when renting out heavy-duty construction equipment is that you're getting the right-sized equipment since size doesn't usually matter in this case! When it comes to selecting what kind of equipment to rent out it's always a good idea to shop around and look for the best value for your money so that you can get equipment that's reliable and still easy on the construction budget. If I had the chance to rent out heavy equipment, this is one of the things that I would really consider doing since construction firms want to get the most vale out of their money.
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16/3/2019 07:26:23 am
You make a good point to check what the rental rate covers since there could be extra charges for different features. This would be good if you need to find a earthmoving company that will also hire an operator so you don't have to learn the machine. It would be good to find a company that includes all of that in the rent rate so you won't be charged more.
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23/3/2019 02:19:50 am
I need to get an earthmoving contractor for my property. When I'm looking, I'll be sure to check what the rental rate covers. It makes sense that this would make a difference in the long run.
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11/4/2019 11:03:56 am
Even if you said that a cheaper equipment rental can turn out to be more expensive than buying it, I would like to add that renting heavy equipment, such as cranes, can help companies save money on having it maintained after the project is over. If I were to spearhead a downtown residential apartment job, I would look for a local service to rent one from. With their help, one can get enough help to lift heavy steel bars or concrete containers up stories high to get it done.
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30/5/2019 03:42:55 am
My uncle had mentioned his look for an earthmoving equipment rental service. Making sure that you are able to keep all the items together when you return them is a great idea. He would love knowing that you should be check costs.
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Shivika
9/7/2019 02:29:33 pm
Thanks for sharing the money saving tips for construction equipment rental have a look at
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14/8/2019 11:25:55 pm
It's true that most construction projects hire equipment. I think I'll confirm from my staff what the right size of the concrete tools that we'll use so that we can rent the proper ones that we need. I'll also make sure that we are getting reliable equipment so that we can finish the project as soon as possible.
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6/9/2019 02:09:43 am
I love how you said that only licensed operators should be working the heavy equipment. It can be really dangerous if you're trying to work the machinery without knowing how. My cousin works in construction and he says that he had to go through a lot of training just to be able to operate a forklift. It's important that you stay safe when doing a large project.
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17/10/2019 01:01:21 am
It was helpful when you said that you should make sure the company knows how long you're renting the equipment. My husband is needing to rent a crane for a project. I'll make sure to pass this information along to him for when he rents a crane.
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20/11/2019 01:08:04 am
I loved that you mentioned you need to rent reliable equipment for your project to prevent safety hazards. My husband is working on a remodeling project at my mother's house, and we are looking for advice to rent the proper equipment. I will let him know about the benefits of renting quality equipment to prevent accidents during this project.
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17/12/2019 09:37:14 am
I like that you highlighted the importance of purchasing the right size for the equipment that I need. My dad will be doing his very first construction project with the help of his former workmates from their previous company for my mom's new residential townhouses that will be up for rent. I'll make sure to offer assistance to my dad as his secretary, so that I could counter-check all of their tools and machinery equipment, including cranes and tractors, to avoid any unnecessary charges and to minimize errors.
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15/2/2020 07:43:50 pm
Renting Equipment can be a great thing when it comes to short term work but in the long run owning the right construction equipment can be helpful and beneficial for one
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12/3/2020 08:14:39 pm
Paper work is also important while choosing heavy equipment companies although you need to read all the terms and conditions of the company which are followed by them moreover to know more about their services you can ask few questions regarding to their services.
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16/5/2020 01:07:36 pm
I think you made a good point on checking whether the equipment you order is correct before it is being off-loaded at the project. My husband's friend was looking to start a construction project that requires a crane. I will definitely let him know about the dos and don'ts on renting a equipment for his project.
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22/8/2020 05:06:38 pm
Thanks a lot to you for sharing construction management blog don’t hire construction equipment before reading these money saving tips here, these kind of ideas are were much needed. I really appreciate that you have provided the data too, really appreciative and useful blog for us. Looking for more!!
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9/11/2020 05:01:58 pm
I totally agree when you mentioned it is important to ensure that the equipment has the proper insurance in case of any unwanted circumstances. We can never tell if any mishaps that could occur and you don't want to be responsible for something that is beyond your control. Therefore, I would like to think if a company needs to rent a crane, it should make sure that the equipment has been insured by the supplier.
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4/1/2021 10:15:25 pm
I'm glad you mentioned that it is important to order the right size of heavy construction equipment for the job at hand. We often think that if it's bigger, it's better, but it really depends on the nature of the job to do. Personally, I agree with you about consulting an expert before hiring the wrong size of equipment. You did a great job of enlisting ways to hire the right construction equipment.
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24/2/2021 03:11:52 pm
Great!!! Thanks for sharing this article about the benefits of renting construction equipment.
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2/3/2021 08:43:36 am
Thank you for the advice to always check any vehicle for damage before using it. The last thing I want is to be blamed for something I didn't do. However, I bet if I find a reputable service then they won't try to pull anything like that on me.
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4/3/2021 01:04:53 am
I need to get some earthmoving equipment so that I can build a retaining wall. It makes sense that getting the right equipment for this would be important! I'll be sure to get some that's the right size for this project so that it works out nicely.
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19/3/2021 07:19:20 am
I can see how a business could really benefit from getting the right cranes in order to be more effective. Making sure that they can get some help from a professional could allow them to be more productive. It was interesting to learn about how they should know what they are using the equipment for, and make sure that there isn't too much equipment on the project.
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22/6/2021 10:37:37 pm
I think ensuring all the equipment is the right size for the trucks and such would really hard. I'd need an expert to help me plan that far ahead. Specifically with large earthmoving machines.
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17/8/2021 05:59:39 am
Paul, I appreciate all of your tips and suggestions for saving money when renting construction equipment. I like how you said that it is essential to make sure the company you rent from has the proper insurance to protect you in case something happens to the equipment. I think it would also be important to make sure that they have a reliable reputation for quality equipment.
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21/3/2022 09:47:18 pm
Sometimes these costs can form a significant portion of the project costs. Say a project’s equipment rental costs make up 40% of the project’s total costs then just saving 5% of these costs could translate to an additional 2% or more profit. That doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but many projects only make 10% profit so an extra 2% of profit means the project will make 12% profit which is an increase of 20%.
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5/4/2022 11:21:39 am
It's great that this article talked about the importance of . Last night, my cousin who is looking for a construction equipment rental that will properly suit their upcoming commercial project, asked if I had any idea what is the best option to do. You did
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1/6/2022 09:33:55 am
I like your construction tips. I need to rent a bulldozer. I'll have to rent one through a contractor.
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18/7/2022 02:15:01 pm
I agreed when you stated that older machines that are inefficient may lead to lower production and an increased fuel bill. My friend told me that their project needs the use of a tower crane. I think it's best for them to opt for a tower crane rental that provides newer models.
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29/8/2022 04:10:32 am
I appreciate you mentioning it in order to make sure the terms and prices are as agreed upon and the agreement is in accordance with what you purchased. My brother is working on new building construction. He is seeking a crane service because his company does not provide a crane.
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28/9/2022 07:35:08 am
Thanks so much for the list of things to keep in mind while looking into renting construction equipment. My uncle is working on a large project in his yard and he needs to move some shipping containers to continue the project. He's been looking into crane rentals and how they work to see if that's the right move.
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11/4/2023 09:49:01 am
It helped when you mentioned that the right sizing is important to ensure appropriate function for your equipment needs. My uncle mentioned to me last night that his friend is looking for a heavy construction equipment rental for his upcoming project and asked if I have any idea what is the best option to do.g Thanks to this informative article and I'll be sure to tell him that they can consult a trusted heavy construction equipment rental company as they can provide information about their rental options.
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27/4/2023 02:55:45 am
It was helpful when you said to make sure you get the right size. My husband told e yesterday afternoon at lunch about how he needs to rent a crane for his office renovation project coming up in May. I'll pass these tips along to him once he starts searching for companies to rent construction equipment from for his project.
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26/9/2023 11:02:43 am
This blog post offers some valuable money-saving tips for those considering hiring construction equipment. The advice provided on understanding the specific equipment needs, evaluating the rental terms, and considering factors like transportation and maintenance costs is highly practical. It emphasizes the importance of thorough research and planning before making any equipment rental decisions, which can lead to significant cost savings in construction projects. Overall, this article is a useful resource for construction professionals and project managers looking to make informed and budget-conscious decisions when it comes to renting construction equipment.
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24/9/2024 12:41:49 am
Really appreciate the useful info on scaffolding! It’s always great to learn more about how these structures keep construction projects safe and on track.
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24/9/2024 01:14:27 am
Appreciate the great information on scaffolding! It really shows how much detail and care goes into making construction projects successful.
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