Renting Heavy Equipment: 3 Common Myths Exposed
Posted on: 12 May 2015
If you are planning to rent heavy equipment for the first time in order to complete an upcoming home improvement project, you should know that there are several common myths surrounding the use of this equipment. All too often, these myths cause homeowners to encounter unexpected expenses or delays. Below, three of these myths are exposed and the truth revealed so that you can ensure you have all the facts before visiting your local equipment rental company.
Myth #1: One Day's Rental Is Equal To 24 Hours
Most people simply assume that if they rent a piece of equipment for one day, that they will have the use of this equipment throughout the entire 24 hour period. However, this is rarely the case. In most cases, heavy equipment is rented on what is known as a metered basis. This means that a meter is attached to the equipment's motor in order to monitor how long the equipment is in use.
When renting metered equipment, a single day's rental will be equal to a single work day rather than a full 24 hour period. In most cases, this work day will consist of eight hours. If you exceed this allowed usage, you could be charged for additional days even though you returned the equipment within 24 hours.
The reason that most equipment rental companies choose to offer heavy equipment as metered equipment is that the life of this machinery is often measured in hours rather than day or years.
Myth #2: You Don't Need A Special License Or Certification To Operate Rented Equipment
Just because heavy equipment is made available to the public via equipment rental companies does not mean that all individuals will be eligible to rent or use this equipment. If a special license or operating certificate is required to use this equipment in the workforce, these same credentials will be required when renting the equipment for private use. For instance, you must have an operator's license if you wish to rent a forklift.
Myth #3: You Are Not Responsible For Any Repairs To The Equipment
This is perhaps the most common myth surrounding the rental of heavy equipment. While it is true that the rental company will retain the responsibility for maintaining all of their equipment, any damage that is done to the equipment while it is in your possession will be your responsibility. In some cases, you may be able to purchase insurance coverage in order to protect you against any liability. However, in the absence of this insurance coverage, the credit card or other funding source you used as a deposit will be charged in the amount of the damage after you have returned the equipment.
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