4 Factors to Consider When Hiring A Mobile Crane for a Residential Construction Project

Mobile cranes have become popular in construction projects because you can easily transport them to the site without the need for assembling. For this reason, mobile cranes can be used for short-term projects then returned to the contractor, saving you money in the process. When hiring a mobile crane, however, you will need to consider several factors such as technology, insurance, and safety. Here are a few things you should bear in mind.   

Technology -- Crane modernisation can jerk up the price of renting a mobile crane, but there are inherent benefits to this new technology. Modernised cranes have eliminated obsolete parts and replaced them with cutting edge components. With added electrical systems, automated technology, control systems, and classy drives, you may pay more for a mobile crane but it will be worth the price. The state-of-the-art technology improves performance speed; thus, increasing productivity. 

Safety -- Even though a mobile crane is an efficient device, which can optimise production, it can also be dangerous when proper safety precautions are ignored. Have mitigation measures at the construction site to avoid any negligence issues that may lead to loss of property or lives. If you want to reduce the cost of hiring a crane, you can hire your own licensed operator. Doing this also guarantees the safety of the crane and that of workers.  

Insurance -- Many contractors will have a supervisor at the construction site to ensure proper use of the equipment. However, in most instances, contracts will make you liable for any damage to the mobile crane or property of third parties once the machine hits the nearest highway. Therefore, make sure that you have insurance that will cover loss or damage to the mobile crane, the public road that the crane will be moving on, and the materials that it will be lifting. In some cases you should have the insurance cover the potential injury to the crane operator and the revenue that you will lose while you repair or replace the materials being lifted.

Location and Duration of Use -- When estimating the initial cost of hiring a mobile crane, the contractor considers the distance to the project site. The longer the distance, the higher the cost of renting the equipment. Therefore, opt for rental companies in your locality to cut down on this cost. Also, if you are going to use the crane for a few hours in a one day, choose hourly rates as opposed to daily rates. Generally, you will significantly lower the cost of hiring a crane if you plan adequately and estimate the amount of time you will need to use the equipment.