Rental machines make up more than 50% of contractor equipment fleets and with good reason. Rental cuts down on maintenance, storage and other costs while offering access to the best equipment for the job.

Equipment Rental Selection

Rental stores are the experts on their equipment, which aligns perfectly with the expertise of their customers. Consulting with the professionals at your rental store can ensure you have the best tools for your application.

You may choose to stick with a single rental company or multiple to meet your needs. Just keep in mind that not every rental store carries the same equipment. To find “equipment rental near me,” use the Rental Store Quick Locator at the top of this page. Construction and industrial rental equipment often includes the following.

• Backhoes and attachments
• Breakers and demolition hammers
• Compact track loaders
• Concrete buggies
• Concrete planers, grinders and scarifiers
• Concrete drills
• Concrete chainsaws
• Curb extruders, grunting machines
• Concrete trailers
• Drain and sewer cleaning machines
• Earth moving and excavation
• Jumping jacks, power tampers, compact rammers and rammer tampers
• Mini excavators
• Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)
• Plate compactors
• Power buggies
• Skid-steer loaders
• Steam cleaners
• Survey equipment
• Telescopic handlers
• Towable air compressors
• Towable generators
• Towable light towers
• Trenchers

Tool Rental Tips

Plan ahead. Reserve the equipment you need as early as possible to ensure you have access to the equipment when you need it. It’s also a great idea to try to align projects to use the equipment during a single rental period. There are often price breaks the longer the rental period.

When renters care for the equipment they’re using, renters help keep costs down for all. As part of the sharing economy, rental companies operate by splitting the equipment, maintenance and other costs among all renters. The more use a piece of equipment rental gets, the better it is for all.

Take the pressure off yourself. Every once in a while, there may be an issue with a piece of equipment. If that happens, call your rental company. They can help you problem solve and overcome any issues, often very quickly.

Take photos of the equipment when it arrives on site and when it’s time to return it. If any damage disputes come up, you’ll have the proper documentation to determine what damage happened when.

There are a lot of variables when it comes to equipment rental, and too much communication is always better than too little communication. Ask questions and keep track of the answers to ensure nothing is forgotten along the way.

Consult with Your Rental Store

While you know your project better than anyone, lean on the rental store to know the rental equipment better than anyone. Contractors and industrial professionals see the best results from their rental fleet when they talk through their needs and are open to suggestions and advice from the rental store.

Control Costs

While rental often has cost advantages over owning, it is still important to control costs.

• Rental period. The more accurate you are on your rental, the more likely you are to receive the best negotiated rental rate and maintain the best relationship with your rental provider.
• Accessories. Accessories are usually included with the equipment rental, but there may be times when accessories will need to be rented separately, which may have additional costs.
• Delivery. Communicate about delivery needs and costs, including any heavy equipment hauling fees. Take photos when equipment arrives and before it leaves.
• Fuel charges. To avoid fuel charges, fill the equipment with the same amount, or more, fuel.
• Damage waivers. Damage waivers cover accidental damage, which can help minimize unexpected costs. However, damage from abuse, misuse, or negligence is not covered.
• Meter usage. Meters are common on rental equipment to measure use. Your agreement may include a maximum use, which is often enough to cover eight hours of work a day. If you plan to use the rented equipment for additional shifts, be sure to communicate this with the rental store up front.
• Environmental fee. While not all rental companies charge this fee, it’s best to know in advance if you can expect it. The fee is related to the cost of complying with environmental regulations from disposal of waste to specialty washing systems to keep oil out of the wastewater.
• State/local tax. Find out the tax rates that will apply to your rental.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment is rented the most?

Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs) are one of the most commonly rented items, helping renters reach considerable heights on the jobsite. Your rental store may be trained and may offer training on MEWP operation.

Is it better to rent or buy equipment?

Whether it is better to rent or buy equipment depends primarily on how often the equipment will be used and the ability to maintain the equipment properly. The more often equipment is used, the more sense it makes to buy it but even then, a lack of maintenance capabilities may mean it is better to rent. More often than not, contractors and other professionals find the value of renting equipment outweighs that of buying.

What equipment can you rent?

There is a wide range of equipment available to rent, from small, handheld tools like a concrete drill to massive equipment such as an asphalt paver. Equipment offerings vary from rental store to rental store, so check around as needed.

Activate your rental fleet when you need it and accomplish more with the right tools for the job using equipment rental.

Contact your local, ARA-affiliated, rental store for information on available rental products to help you take care of your equipment rental needs. To find “equipment rental near me,” use the Rental Store Quick Locator above to find a local rental store with the items you need.