Light-Construction Equipment: Key Considerations

This is Chris Matt, Associate Editor of Maintenance Solutions magazine. Today’s tip is asking the right questions when purchasing light-construction equipment.

Unlike mowers or utility vehicles, light-construction equipment generally is not something crews operate every day. Typically, managers specify these larger pieces of equipment for more complex projects that can last days, weeks or even months, depending on the scale of the job.

So when purchasing this type of equipment, managers first need to determine how often crews will use the machines and then identify the type of jobs that call for heavier-duty equipment.

Managers should ask four key questions during the decision-making process:

• What is the type and size of the job?
• What type of machine or machines would best serve the requirements of the job?
• What size machine is best suited for maneuvering on or around landscaped areas to perform the tasks efficiently?
• And what machines have the controls and features to make the operators as productive as possible?

Productivity also comes down to getting from Point A to Point B on a campus, for example, that can stretch hundreds of acres. So when trying to decide between different types of equipment and features, managers should think about the speed of equipment and the way crews will transport machines between jobs.

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