Renting industrial equipment is a great solution for temporarily replacing equipment, adjusting to seasonal needs, or balancing an unexpected increase in demand. Before you make that call, here’s the top 8 questions.
Before you make that call, here’s the top 8 questions you should ask before you rent industrial equipment. This will save you time and hassle when it comes to making a decision.
Rental Equipment Solution
Renting industrial equipment is a great solution for temporarily replacing broken equipment, adjusting to seasonal needs, or balancing an unexpected increase in demand. Equipment can be rented by the day, week, or month – whatever suits your needs best. Any rental dealer should be able to assist you with equipment selection and planning your rental needs.
1. What kind of machine will I need and what are the rates?
For instance, if you’re looking for a forklift which will be run indoors, you’ll want a model with cushion tires. If you’re primarily operating outdoors, a pneumatic model would be your best bet. Other options to consider are forklift length, collapsed height, electric or lpg, etc.
If you’re not certain which equipment to choose for your application, ask to speak to a rental manager. You can tell them everything about your project and they’ll be able to steer you to the correct equipment including current rates that apply. Fairchild Equipment representatives are extremely knowledgeable about every application you could think of and they’re ready to answer any questions you may have.
2. How large is the rental equipment fleet and what brands are offered?
If fast turnaround is important and you need the equipment on demand, it’s important that you get what you need when you need it. Typically, you can get the equipment delivered within an hour to a week of the request. If the equipment you need is in high demand, it could take longer to get it so having a good understanding of inventory and availability may be important for planning.
We have a large rental fleet of varied industrial, construction and agricultural equipment. Top notch Hyster/Yale are the bulk of our equipment but we also carry additional brands such as Advance sweepers/scrubbers, Capacity yard spotters, Cushman and Taylor Dunn warehouse vehicles.
3. What is the amount of time I’ll need to use the equipment?
It’s important to establish whether you’ll need to rent on a short or long term plan. Our most common contracts are on a week-to-week or month-to-month basis. But we also rent a minimum of one day with no maximum rental term length. Again, if you’re not certain what you will need, our rental specialists will assist you with that.
4. Will I need training and is this something the rental dealer can supply?
Safety first! Before you can use the equipment, it’s important that you know how to operate it. With some equipment and insurance provisions, you will need a trained operator running the equipment.
With our full-time, on-staff trainers, we can provide any equipment training you may need along with your rental which will get you behind the wheel and your job done faster. If you’re operator is not certified to run the equipment, don’t forget to ask about our operator training classes.
5. Is maintenance and servicing included in the rental fee?
Make sure you have a good understanding of the maintenance liability. Who is responsible for what? What can you expect if the equipment needs to be serviced? What is the response time to equipment that’s not running properly? What type of daily maintenance are you required to perform?
At Fairchild Equipment, we cover all equipment maintenance except for watering batteries. Watering the battery is quick and easy to do and only needs to be performed roughly once every other week. If you’re renting short term, you usually don’t need to worry about this.
If you need immediate servicing, we can send a tech out to take care of the issue immediately. If the unit needs to be returned, we’ll make sure you get what you need right away to replace the machine. We understand your time is valuable.
6. Delivery expectations.
Need your equipment delivered or will you pick it up? Having the service of equipment delivered right to your job site is usually the most convenient and standard option. Most people don’t have the time or capability to arrange the transportation. We’ll be happy to take care of that for you. Just let us know.
7. Equipment inspection.
Before you accept any delivery, just as you’d inspect a rental car, make sure you look over the equipment with the driver to take note of any damage to the body. In addition to checking for damage, inspect any safety features and make sure they’re in good working condition. Ensure the engine is running smoothly. As with all rentals, you will be responsible for any undocumented damage or issues found upon return.
8. What are your policies for returns?
What if your equipment does not suit your needs? Knowing how this will be handled will eliminate the surprise factor if anything unexpected happens and you need to make an adjustment. We’re happy to help if this situation arises, but with a good understanding of your needs and application first, this is something that’s preventable.
Finding a good rental equipment resource is about establishing a relationship with reliable, helpful people. We want to be your go-to-resource for the short-term and ultimately the long-term. You can count on us for all your rental equipment needs.
Next Steps
- To speak with us directly – Call (844) 432-4724
- For answers to your questions – Get in touch with a rental manager today
- Keep your equipment running – Sign up for a Preventative Maintenance Plan
- For updates on equipment promos and news – Subscribe to our newsletter
Co-authored by Ryan Martens, Rental Manager at Fairchild Equipment for the Stevens Point, WI location.
