Plant Hire Problems That Are Costing You Thousands – And How To Fix Them

Done correctly, plant hire offers construction firms a compelling value proposition: access the best high-quality equipment for each job at a reduced cost, then return it once the project is finished. When we put it like that, it sounds quite straightforward. Unfortunately, it isn’t all smooth sailing; here are some common challenges to look out for when hiring.

Hidden Costs

Although there are plenty of well-run sites that squeeze every last bit out of every hired machine, others suffer from inefficiencies that quietly drain profits. Whether you’re a huge, multinational firm or just a smaller landscaping business, dealing with a fleet of dumpers or a single heavy duty hedge trimmer, you’re still losing out on potential gains if you forget to switch them off or order unnecessary equipment ‘just in case’.

Furthermore, if you aren’t paying closer attention to the hires you’ve made or failing to return your hires promptly, you’re running the risk of stacking up preventable hidden costs.

Other Common Pitfalls

The Wrong Equipment

Whether it’s too small, too large, or just plain wrong, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re not only unable to complete the task at hand, you’re massively in the red before you’ve even started. Before hiring, always discuss your requirements with plant hire specialists.

Inefficient Transport and Logistics

Lugging plant and other equipment between sites is essential. Still, if poorly coordinated, it can lead to machines being delivered too early and gathering dust for days on end, or even worse, arriving too late and delaying work. In each instance, fuel costs and lost time on site will pile up. Aligning plant movements with project milestones and using real-time tracking systems can eliminate most of this waste.

Neglecting Maintenance Checks

If the equipment itself isn’t up to the job, it’s better to find out sooner rather than later. Hire from an established, reputable plant hire organisation which carries out regular maintenance checks, and complete your own checks as soon as the plant is delivered.

Take Control

If you find yourself in a situation where you’re haemorrhaging money due to plant hire costs, there are a few easy fixes you can incorporate that should help plug those gaps.

• If you set hire review checkpoints throughout your project, you’re carving out time for you and your teams to evaluate the state of play and assess whether any changes are needed.
• If you authorise your site managers to sign off on off-hires, you’ll speed up the process and avoid paying for equipment that’s no longer needed, rather than incurring unnecessary delays that wind up costing you.
• Embrace technology and use digital planning systems that centralise plant booking across teams to avoid duplication.

Conclusion

Plant hire is becoming increasingly popular among construction businesses for its convenience factor and cost-saving potential. So it’s a shame that occasionally, not everything goes to plan. If you’re hiring at the moment and it’s costing you, we hope this article will help you identify hidden costs and prepare for potential inefficiencies.