Top Tips When Hiring Dry Cranes
Posted on: 16 February 2021
Dry hire cranes are ideal for developers and homeowners that need to hoist heavy items at their sites or homes. Hiring a dry crane can be quite challenging. Below is a guide discussing the considerations to make when hiring dry cranes.
Operator And Rigger Considerations
Dry hire cranes do not have an operator. Therefore, the hiring company expects you to have a licenced technician to operate the crane you intend to hire. For instance, they should have a non-slewing mobile crane licence (CN) if you will hire an articulated mobile crane. As a rule, the operator should have a high-risk work licence. You are also required to have crane riggers. They will help install the crane and assess hazards at the site.
Choose An Appropriate Crane
Below are some considerations to make when choosing a crane:
- Conduct some background research to ascertain that the model will not break down at the site. It should also have safety features such as overload sensors, collision prevention systems, stop limit switches and an automatic crane diagnostic system.
- Ask the hiring company to provide you with a crane servicing report. Alternatively, you could conduct a visual inspection to ensure that the crane is safe to use.
- The crane's boom should be long enough for your operation. Remember to assess the weight limits.
- Inquire about the fuel consumption of the crane and the required lubricants.
Understand The Terms Of Hire
Read and negotiate the terms of hire. For example, inquire whether the company will offer transport services to and from your site. For long-term hire, ask the company to provide free crane servicing. In most cases, the company will ask you to pay for repairs if you intentionally damage the crane or fail to observe the operation and safety protocol. Check the terms of contract termination and extension. Ideally, you should not incur a fine if you decide to return the crane earlier than the agreed date. Besides, the company should allow you to extend the hire period without increasing the daily charges.
Negotiate The Pricing
Compare the rates of a few companies to understand the current industry charges. If possible, negotiate for a fixed rate to avoid hidden costs. For instance, some companies will charge an installation fee or extra charges during the weekend. Check when the hiring period commences. You will incur additional costs if the period begins once the crane leaves the company's premises rather than when it arrives at your site.
When hiring a dry crane, have a licenced operator, choose an appropriate crane, understand the terms of hire and negotiate the company's pricing. If you have additional questions, contact a local dry hire crane service.
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