Evaluating Rental Equipment Providers: Tips for Ensuring Quality

If you conduct a quick internet search for rental equipment providers in your area, you'll likely find several options. As with any industry, no two rental businesses are alike. You'll need to evaluate each company carefully to ensure the one you choose fits your needs. 

Quality is an area that demands close consideration. It's important to verify that the rentals will perform to your expectations in crucial areas like reliability, cost-effectiveness, and safety. 

What to Look for When Choosing a Rental Company

Consider the following criteria when choosing a provider to substantially improve your chances of getting quality equipment rentals. 

Fleet Size, Diversity, and Age

One of the top benefits of renting equipment is that it allows you to choose a machine that performs specific tasks at your jobsite. A rental provider with a large and diverse fleet is more likely to have the solutions you need for your projects.

You should also find out whether the company rents newer or older equipment. Newer machines typically provide higher reliability because they have logged fewer service hours and feature the most recent technological updates from the manufacturer. 

Trustworthy Brands

Some heavy equipment manufacturers stand out from the rest. For instance, when you hear the name Caterpillar, you can expect quality on a construction site. Additional brands are easily identifiable within other industries like Sullair air compressors, Genie boom lifts, and Allmand light towers. 

These and other recognizable brands are a safe choice due to their extensive track record of delivering quality results. If a rental provider you're reviewing doesn't offer them, it's probably better to find one that does. 

Reputation

You can learn a lot about a company by listening to what previous and current customers say about it. Ask your employees, customers, and industry associates if they've worked with a rental provider you're considering and whether their experience was positive or negative. 

You can also check the business's online reviews to get a consensus of customer opinions. If you find several complaints regarding equipment quality and condition, it's probably better to continue your search.

Maintenance Practices

Rentals have many users during their life span and can experience harsh treatment. Regular service is crucial for ensuring the equipment you depend on at your jobsite is safe and reliable.

When you're evaluating providers, ask questions or conduct some quick research to learn more about their preventive maintenance practices. Areas to explore include their frequency of equipment inspections and whether they have on-site service facilities and in-house technicians for maintenance.

On-Site Support

If you're completing a long-term project, you might need a rental for several weeks or longer. It's best to choose a rental provider that offers on-site support to maintain the equipment and ensure it remains in peak operating condition. 

Even a well-maintained machine can break down, so you should also choose a provider that offers around-the-clock emergency repair service. You'll have fewer concerns about lengthy delays resulting from mechanical failures.

Documentation

A rental provider that is genuinely committed to quality can provide accurate and up-to-date information about the equipment. Ask to review essential documentation, including the model's specs, maintenance records, compliance certificates, and safety reports. If the information appears incomplete or outdated, you may want to work with a different rental provider. 

Site Visit and Visual Inspection

Before finalizing your rental agreement, visit the facility and check out the operation and equipment in person. Does the business appear to be well-run? Do the people you interact with seem professional and knowledgeable? You should also inspect the equipment for visible signs of body damage, fluid leaks, or worn tires or treads. 

Get High-Quality Equipment at The Cat^® Rental Store

The Cat^® Rental Store near you is part of a global network of over 1,300 rental equipment providers with an unwavering commitment to quality. We're your one-stop headquarters for a wide assortment of machines, tools, and attachments for rent at competitive rates. 

Choose late-model, well-maintained earthmoving machines and other jobsite essentials from Caterpillar and more than 70 other trusted manufacturers. You can also take advantage of on-site repair and maintenance services to optimize equipment uptime and performance. 

Learn more about what sets us apart from the other rental equipment providers in your area. Call us at 1-800-RENT-CAT to speak to a representative about our products and services today. You can also request a quick online quote.