Crane rental can be an excellent solution to any number of construction, transportation, or utility problems, and it’s especially popular in cases where the project requires heavy lifting.
If you need to lift something that weighs more than 1,500 pounds, renting a crane may save you time and money compared to other options like purchasing machinery or hiring extra labor.
However, a crane company comes with its own set of potential pitfalls, so you’ll want to make sure to avoid these 5 common mistakes when renting a crane.
1) Not knowing what type of crane you need
The first thing you need to understand when renting a crane is what you will be lifting. This is going to determine whether you need a tower crane, an excavator, or another type of crane.
Get it wrong and your project could be delayed for weeks as you wait for another rental. Have multiple jobs?
If so, take note—not all cranes are designed for heavy loads, meaning that you may have to rent more than one piece of equipment from different companies if your workload is too much for one crane.
2) Insurance
If you plan on operating a crane and don’t have your own insurance, you should make sure that both your rental company and crane are insured. Without proper insurance in place, you may be liable for damages if there is an accident during work or personal time.
The same thing goes for your rental company, so make sure that they have enough coverage for their equipment as well. Insurance comes with any service, and it’s important to keep things protected from start to finish.
3) Not requesting your rental contract early enough
If you’re in need of a crane rental, don’t wait until a day or two before you need it. Get your rental contract well in advance so that you can read through everything carefully and ensure that there aren’t any hidden costs.
Some companies charge customers for fuel surcharges or service fees on top of their base prices—this shouldn’t be an issue if you order your contract early enough.
4) Failure to plan
If you’re thinking about renting a crane or hiring an operator, you’ll want to make sure you have everything ready on your end. You should always know what it is that you are planning on moving and how far it will be going. Prepare a list of all the things you’ll need to accomplish while it’s in your possession
If there are any intricate pieces of machinery involved, think about what your crew needs to move these pieces and make sure everything is in order for your crane company when they arrive.
5) Not considering travel times and traffic patterns
You might think getting your crane rental delivered on time is easy. But you’d be surprised at how easy it can be to underestimate travel times and traffic patterns, especially if you’re dealing with rush hour in a major city.
If you can plan your project accordingly, we recommend taking into account all factors that could affect the delivery of your crane rental—and avoiding falling behind schedule.
Conclusion
Whether you’re just starting out or have experience with crane rentals, it’s important to understand your responsibilities and the dangers involved. We’ve put together this list of common mistakes to help you avoid accidents and get the most out of your rental.