Cost-Efficient Strategies in Equipment Rental for Municipal Projects

Renting equipment is an effective way to reduce costs, save time and boost productivity on municipal projects. Making your equipment rental processes more efficient further enhances these benefits, helping you complete more tasks while saving money.

The Importance of Rental Equipment and Efficiency

Construction equipment rentals are essential for a successful business. When you rent, you have the opportunity to try specialized equipment before making a significant investment. Renting also enables you to expand your services because you can rent specific equipment to perform jobs that are outside of your normal offerings.

To optimize equipment rentals to your advantage, efficiency is key. When you strategize and make your rental processes more efficient, you can benefit your company in the following ways:

• Cost savings: Renting the equipment you need only when you need it significantly reduces costs.
• Time and labor savings: Having the right equipment for each job makes task completion easier for your workers, and it can help them save time on certain tasks.
• Faster project completion: When your employees can save time and complete tasks easier, they are more likely to complete projects on time or early.

Cost-Efficient Equipment Rental Strategies

Consider the following cost-effective rental strategies and tips to optimize your equipment rental processes:

1. Consult With Subject Matter Experts

Empire Rental has subject matter experts who can guide you on each project's cost per ton. Depending on your specific type of project, you can consult with one of the following experts:

• Paving expert
• Aerial expert
• Government agency expert
• Large earth-moving expert
• Crushing expert
• Mining expert
• Attachment expert

2. Consider Your Project Requirements

If you submitted a proposal and won a government or municipal contract, examine it closely to determine the precise specifications, particularly in regard to compliance, materials, methods and equipment. Knowing the tasks you will need to complete and any challenges that may arise takes the guesswork out of the process and helps you approach each job proactively so you can rent the exact type of equipment you will need.

The team at Empire can help you determine what your project needs. Our experts can go over details with you and recommend the best equipment based on materials, tasks, worksite conditions and the desired completion date.

3. Choose the Right Equipment Based on Project Needs and Site Conditions

To choose equipment based on project needs, consider the following factors:

• Tasks: Listing the specific tasks you need to complete on a job site is an excellent start to planning your equipment rentals. Each piece of equipment is ideal for a specific purpose, so you should have a clear understanding of what you need to do on a job site before renting your equipment.
• Land: Different types of land require different equipment, so considering the surface you need to work on before renting equipment is essential. For example, a tracked excavator is ideal for soft land, while a wheeled excavator is better for paved surfaces. 
• Material: What type of materials do you have and how much weight do you need to move or work with? Similar to work surfaces, different types of equipment work well moving different material loads. For example, a backhoe is typically ideal for breaking up compact earth, while excavators are the best option for moving large, heavy material loads. If your project requires you to push material such as rocks, rubble or soil, a bulldozer contains the blade necessary to perform this task effectively.
• Heights: The height you need to work at is another crucial consideration. If you need to reach multi-level buildings or platforms, you must know the exact height you need to lift workers, tools and materials before renting equipment.

4. Determine Necessary Rental Duration

Limiting your rental duration can help you significantly reduce costs. Before renting equipment for a project, determine how quickly you expect your team to complete tasks and how long you will need each piece of equipment. Plan your schedule to begin using the equipment as soon as it arrives on your site so you can minimize the time you need it.

5. Optimize Equipment Operation and Utilization

You can get the most out of your rental when you utilize it for various purposes. For example, you may primarily rent a backhoe to dig trenches but also use it to uproot trees and move heavy debris. Similarly, you can use a bulldozer to condense loose material, loosen compacted land and move material across your job site. Optimizing your rentals boosts efficiency, enabling you to complete more tasks while reducing your equipment costs.

To best optimize your rental equipment for municipal projects, you should consider the contract requirements and schedule your rental equipment accordingly. While most projects require you to complete tasks in a certain order, you can consider where you can utilize equipment across multiple job sites. You may use a bulldozer to move material on one job site and then move it to another site for compaction purposes.

6. Consider Renting Specialized Equipment

Renting is the perfect opportunity to access specialized equipment you may not need for the majority of your projects. Government and municipal contracts often come with specific requirements that may include the type of equipment you use. You may have a better chance of winning your bid if the municipality sees you have access to specialized equipment that can expedite project completion.

Additionally, renting specialized equipment can help you solve unique challenges to maintain the municipality's trust that you can fulfill the bonding requirements.

7. Train Employees How to Use Rented Equipment Safely

Workers must operate equipment safely to prevent injuries and comply with industry regulations. Furthermore, many kinds of heavy equipment require special operator training and certification. It's essential that your employees understand how to safely use each piece of rented equipment before turning it on. Empire  offers complimentary training so you can operate safely and efficiently, increasing your cost savings. 

8. Choose a Company That Offers Fast, Reliable Delivery

Time is essential when you want to make your equipment rental process more efficient. Choosing a company that offers fast and reliable delivery optimizes your time. The faster you receive your equipment, the sooner you can start using it and stay on track with your project schedules. When you rent from Empire, you can expect fast delivery and the following advantages:

• Yearly, monthly, weekly and daily rental duration options
• Preventative maintenance at no cost to you
• Time-saving delivery options
• 99% uptime guarantee
• Technology featuring the latest Trimble 3D GPS solutions
• Telematics including hours, location and fault codes available on 90% of our fleet
• 24-hour emergency service provided by certified technicians
• No-cost machine replacement if your rental isn't at peak performance

9. Inspect the Equipment

Inspect each piece of rental equipment before use and notify the rental company if you notice any wear or damage. This helps you avoid potential complications and ensure accountability, protecting you as a renter.

Equipment rental companies are responsible for routine maintenance and repairs, so you should take pictures and request a new piece of equipment if you notice any type of damage or operational deficiency in your rented equipment.

Empire thoroughly inspects each machine before renting it, and our 24-hour emergency service ensures your rented equipment is always reliable, EPA-compliant and work-ready. Empire's low-hours equipment features the latest technology to help you boost productivity and efficiency, and telematics systems are available to help you identify maintenance needs and contact our technicians if necessary.

Rent High-Quality Equipment From Empire

Renting equipment can significantly reduce your equipment costs, save you time and help you complete projects faster. It's an excellent way to try new equipment before you purchase or expand your services.

Empire offers a wide variety of exceptional construction equipment to meet your needs. We use our expertise to help you maintain efficiency, compliance and worker safety. In addition to offering equipment with low hours and the latest technology, we provide complete rental flexibility. Whether you need to rent a machine for a day, a week or an entire year, we can develop a solution that will fit your requirements. We even offer 24/7 emergency services to help you minimize downtime. Browse our selection of quality equipment, and request a quote to start the rental process.