Run a smarter rental yard
Reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency by rethinking how you handle attachments. Sometimes, this means implementing sweeping changes and the devil is in the details.
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| With the right racks in place, it is easy for yard workers to put their hands on any attachment at a moment’s notice. |
Here are four ways to run your yard smarter by paying attention to how you manage attachments, including storage, safety, selection and more, according to attachment experts at Star Industries Attachments.
1. Prioritize proper attachment storage for efficiency
Are attachments cluttering up the rental yard? While attachments appear orderly in the computer system, in the real world, it might be a mess with buckets, forks, and augers everywhere.
Operations will be more efficient by using storage solutions. With the right racks in place, it is easy for yard workers to put their hands on any attachment at a moment’s notice. Attachment racking will:
- Increase available space
- Fulfill orders faster
- Reduce clutter
- Boost storage capacity
- Reduce accident risks
- Make maintenance easier
- Improve inventory visibility
Display attachments prominently in the rental yard so contractors become aware of all the additional options available. Better visibility can lead to increased demand since attachments make it possible for renters’ crews to use the same piece of equipment for multiple tasks on the job site.
For example, a rental yard in Texas reduced lost rigging equipment by 80 percent after installing rigging storage racks.
2. Stock attachments that improve utilization and reduce downtime
Trash hoppers, grapples, brush cutters and brooms are all helpful attachments to have on hand for customers. However, consider adding these popular attachments that can drive the revenue for equipment rental companies:
Buckets: Buckets are the backbone of job site versatility. Built for high wear and easy attachment, they turn a skid steer or telehandler into a do-it-all tool for digging, lifting, grading and hauling. With rugged construction and universal compatibility, rental customers can use the same machine across multiple trades and project phases, keeping equipment out longer and increasing utilization.
Forks: Whether it’s lifting pallets, loading materials or staging supplies, forks help machines move from site prep to material handling with ease. Quick-switch fork attachments reduce machine downtime and eliminate the need to rent specialized forklifts, allowing customers to squeeze more tasks out of a single rental.
Truss and jib booms: Perfect for lifting heavy or bulky loads, booms increase the vertical reach and precision of telehandlers and cranes. By transforming a telehandler into a light-duty crane, rental branches expand machine capabilities without expanding their fleet, reducing idle time and boosting ROI.
Concrete hoppers: Hoppers let crews pour concrete exactly where they need it without a separate pump truck. Mounted to telehandlers, these attachments are a game-changer for small pours and hard-to-reach spots, helping your customers complete concrete work faster while keeping machines busy.
Augers: From fencing to footings, augers add drilling power that can handle everything from hard rock to frozen ground. These attachments allow crews to handle earthwork tasks efficiently with equipment they already have rented, increasing the value of every hour on the job.
Rental centers and their customers will realize fewer idle machines, more rental days per asset, and in the end, happier customers. Having the right attachments on hand greatly improves the odds that you’ll land a rental deal where the customer is requesting a specific attachment with the equipment.
3. Look for built-in safety for lower liability
Nothing slows down work and hurts morale more than a safety accident, whether it happens at the rental yard or a customer’s job site. Here’s what to prioritize when selecting attachments to reduce risks:
- Falls from a height are a common cause of fatalities on job sites. OSHA compliance should be built into the attachments—especially work platforms, safety cages and rigging racks.
- Safety isn’t just about how attachments are used. It’s also about how much safety is engineered into the product. Check for design features like load-tested forks, headache racks, reinforced buckets and easy visibility of key parts for daily inspections.
Fewer safety incidents, easier to train customers on proper use, and more confident shop teams during handling.
4. Invest in durability to minimize downtime
Rented attachments must be designed to take a real beating. Rental centers are far too familiar with what happens to equipment that comes back to the yard after a job!
Here are some signs that an attachment will stand up to challenging conditions.
- Heavy-duty, American-built steel components that are top-of-the-line. Buying U.S. attachments also makes it much easier to get replacement parts and service if needed. Avoid attachments where corners have been cut to deliver a cheaper product. The service life will be shorter and the warranty may not offer sufficient coverage for problems with craftsmanship or materials. By buying quality attachments, rental centers can ensure maximum ROI and end up with an attachment that’s easy to sell when its time in rotation is over.
- Powder-coated finishes and reinforced stress points are quality details to notice. Protecting the surface and the key functions of an attachment mean it will be less susceptible to corrosion and damage in challenging environments. These features extend product life and lower total cost of ownership.
- Attachments should be designed and improved based on feedback from real rental customers. Look for a supplier who continuously improves its products. It will result in less time in the repair bay and more time in the field getting the job done.
A little effort goes a long way
Making changes in attachment inventory management adds up to better utilization, more profitable rentals and a more efficient yard. Start with a review of your current inventory to determine what to stock and how to store it.
Editor’s note:
Star Industries is a Fort Worth-based manufacturer specializing in high-quality attachments and jobsite equipment built for rental, construction, and industrial markets.
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