Effective equipment management plays a critical role in remaining competitive as more firms vie for fewer jobs. Although equipment rentals typically make up 1% to 3% of total project costs, a non-functioning machine can cripple a jobsite. As a result, contractors are increasingly using turnkey rental services to reduce overhead and decrease downtime, improve safety and increase profitability. A managed equipment approach can be especially important on large, schedule-intensive projects.
The $8.7-billion CityCenter development in Las Vegas, for instance, used 800 buggy carts and 2,500 scissor lifts and employed 9,000 workers. The project called for building 18 million sq ft of enclosed space on 67 acres within three years. General contractor Tutor Perini Building Corp., a unit of Tutor Perini Corp., Sylmar, Calif., hired Las Vegas-based Ahern Rentals to supply, maintain and repair equipment around the clock.