The size of the commercial construction industry will be increasing by about 2% in 2022. Contractors and developers are making up time that was lost in 2020 and 2021 due to a lingering pandemic, as well as material and labor shortages.
That means lots of big jobs are launching this year as the construction industry gets back into full swing.
Are you anticipating a big job? Then get prepared by figuring out what types of equipment you need, and which heavy equipment rental company you are going to work with.
It almost always makes more sense to rent rather than buy heavy equipment for projects. That way, you don’t have to worry about transportation, cleaning, or maintenance. You can simply use the tools when they’re needed, and have them picked up once you’re done.
But how do you choose between different heavy equipment rental dealer options? Keep reading below for tips on renting from the right company.
Know Your Project
Before you can rent any equipment, you will need to provide equipment dealers with information about your project. This will inform them of whether or not they can rent to you, and what types of equipment will be best for your needs.
For example, will the project be taking place indoors or outdoors by the time the rented equipment arrives on-site? Will you be working in cold, winter conditions or will it be the middle of summer?
You’ll want to know how heavy the loads will be that you plan on moving. You also need to know how deep you’re going to need the equipment to dig. And if operator certification is required, you’ll need to provide proof that members of your team can legally use the equipment.
And most importantly, how long will you need the equipment? This can be hard to predict in advance, but you need to have an accurate guess when booking your rental. When comparing equipment prices across multiple providers, you want to ensure you’re getting the best price for the duration you need it for.
Pick a Heavy Equipment Rental Company that Provides Advice
You might be an experienced contractor, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to know exactly what piece of machinery you’ll need for every single task. And quite frankly, you don’t need to.
You should be working with a rental company that can provide specific product recommendations. A rental provider should offer free consultations where you can describe your project in full as well as the individual tasks you expect to complete.
With the information you provide, they should be able to tell you exactly what pieces of equipment you’re going to need to rent, and why. They should be able to recommend exact models featuring the specifications that are right for your job site.
If a rental provider isn’t helping you choose your equipment, find one that will.
Delivery and Pickup
As a contractor, your job is to oversee your projects, making sure each task is completed properly. You don’t have time to drive around town, and in some cases, across the state, to pick up the rental equipment.
Moving heavy machinery is a specialized job in and of itself. Choose a rental provider that offers delivery and pickup for every piece of equipment. And make sure they can provide the equipment on the exact days that you need to start using it.
Certain rental providers may only operate in one local area. But others specialize in providing equipment to large regions, or an entire state. If your project is far outside the city limits, make sure the company you speak with can deliver and pick up without issue.
Onsite Training
Every piece of heavy machinery is different. Equipment can vary from model to model. A good rental company will give you time by providing onsite training to your crew.
In some instances, your operators may have experience with a certain type of machinery, such as an excavator. But if a different model comes than the one they are used to, they will need basic instructions on how to turn the unit on and operate the controls.
In other instances, in-depth training might be required to ensure your operators don’t cause damage or harm to anything on the job site. When sifting through rental companies, make sure to ask if training is offered upon delivery, and how thorough the training will be.
Ongoing Maintenance
Big jobs can take years to complete. Most medium-sized jobs will take months. Some of the equipment that you rent may need to stay on-site for weeks or months at a time.
If you’re using the equipment on a regular basis, there’s likely some cleaning and maintenance required to ensure functional and safe machinery.
Provide your anticipated timeline to rental providers and ask if any maintenance will be required during that time. You want to work with a company that will send technicians out to ensure your equipment is in an optimal condition at all times.
Your operators may know how to use the equipment, but knowing how to service it is outside of their job description.
Read Online Customer Reviews
Lastly, always check out the online reviews left by other contractors. Reviews will give you an idea of how well a rental company is run.
Did other contractors experience late equipment deliveries, faulty equipment, or equipment that wasn’t suitable for their work environment? When you are managing a job site, every delay is lost time and lost money.
You want to ensure the company you work with is efficient and punctual.
If there are negative reviews, see how the rental company responds to those. Do they offer to make it right, or do they ignore bad reviews? Negative reviews are fine so long as the company has taken steps to correct its failures.
Choosing the Right Rental Company
Choosing a heavy equipment rental company for your project is a big decision. If you choose the right company, you’ll get the right equipment in a timely manner, and your team will be trained on how to use it properly.
If you want to find reliable companies in your area, make sure to browse the most reliable heavy construction directory in the US.
Or are you a heavy equipment provider? If so, do you want to gain exposure to high-quality leads? Then list your company on WeberDex today to find new customers the easy way.