There are many occasions when you’ll probably want to rent heavy equipment instead of buying them. If you just need it for one or two projects or if you can’t afford the expense of owning one, the best alternative is to temporarily rent. It can also be a more secure option. If something goes wrong, you’re not stuck with a lemon. You just send it back! Having said that, you want to get something that you can efficiently use without feeling like you’re getting scammed. That’s why, we’ve provided some key questions you’ll want to ask when renting heavy equipment.

Q1: Which Equipment Will Improve My Efficiency?

This can be a great question to ask the rental business. Even if they don’t have a lot of personal experience in the field, dealerships interact with customers all day. Over time, they pick up a thing or two and might just have the experience you need to find the right machines for your work.

Q2: What Are the Rental Rates and Billing Policies?

You’ll want to ask about the heavy equipment rental rate, which includes information such as upfront fees, additional charges, regular payments, and charges upon return. Knowing the billing policy beforehand can help avoid surprises that could lead to late fees. Make sure to clarify before the first payment goes through.

Q3: Who’s Responsible for What?

As with renting anything else, you’ll need to establish who’s responsible for what when the machine is with you. While the customer is usually not responsible for wear and tear, they can be liable for repairs that occur due to damage on the work site. Discuss this thoroughly with the dealer so you don’t end up with a bigger bill than you anticipated.

Several dealers offer to deliver the heavy equipment to your work site. This is good because their operators have more experience with these bulky machines. However, there may be a fee for the transportation and loading/unloading of the machine, so ask about that upfront.

Q4: What Training Do My Operators Need and What Do You Provide?

If you’ve never worked with heavy equipment before, you’ll want to ask about operator training, either for yourself or your workers. As the heavy equipment rental business owns the machines, they might have training programs (or places you can go to) to ensure the equipment will be used properly and safely.

These are just a few questions you can ask, but getting all the information before renting heavy equipment will help you get the most out of your investment. Call us or visit Alltrade Equipment Corp. in Pickering, ON, to learn about our rental options. We serve all our Ontario customers in greater Toronto and Oshawa.