Successful equipment rental experiences generally require that managers go beyond the traditional business transaction with the rental company and view the experience as a partnership, where both parties discuss the project in-depth to determine the best course of action. The relationship can even extend beyond the company's showroom to the actual job site.
"Sometimes, we'll bring them out to the area where we need the piece of equipment to see the application in which it's going to be used," Arnold says. "Then they can give us some recommendations. We also want to know that if something were to break down, is there another piece of equipment available?"
Hubbell advises managers to come to such discussions prepared with as much information as possible about the project.
"The other part of the equation, now that you've told (the rental company) the application, is the environment," he says. "You might have told the rental person that you want this, this and this (type of equipment), but you forgot to tell him that it's got to fit through a 4- by 8-foot door. And some of these places need to be dust-proof and things like that. Or the equipment might need tire socks so it doesn't leave any marks on the floor." Such information is crucial to ensuring technicians end up with the most appropriate piece of equipment.
Managers must be attentive when taking delivery of a piece of equipment to ensure the rental agent and the operator discuss the equipment features and functions. They also need to pay attention to the rental company's approach to equipment maintenance.
"The way one firm maintains the equipment it offers is very important," Turner says. "Equipment from some firms just seems to perform better with fewer down days. I suspect that those firms inspect and maintain their equipment better. I never minded a rental company performing a thorough inspection on a piece of equipment I rented, and making me pay for any damage from abuse or overuse. I figured that if they did that on the equipment I rented, they did it on all the returned equipment, and I was getting better quality and more reliable equipment from them."
Equipment Rental: Partnering for Success
When Specifying Rental Equipment, Focus on Nature of Facility
Successful Equipment Rental Experiences go Beyond Simple Business Transaction
