Confirm Your Crusher Hire Details
Before signing a crusher hire agreement, confirm the machine type, capacity, hire period, delivery and pickup dates, and jobsite location. Make sure the crusher can handle your material and feed size, produce the required output, and run on the power available at the site.
Check the delivery route, access clearance, ground conditions, and space needed to set up and operate the machine. Tight access or poor ground can delay delivery and create unsafe moves.
Agree in writing who’s responsible for maintenance, which inspections your crew must perform, and how to report faults. Follow the supplier’s operating instructions and safety procedures for guarding, isolation, and emergency stops.
Before any inspection or maintenance, isolate the equipment and follow the required lockout procedures. Confirm that the designated operator is trained and authorized to run the crusher.
Check Crusher Hire Rates and Fees
Once the crusher and site arrangements are confirmed, compare quotes line by line. Check whether the rate is hourly, per shift, daily, or weekly, and confirm the minimum hire period, overtime charges, and standby fees. Ask whether fuel, wear parts, operator support, and routine maintenance are included or billed separately.
Read the rental agreement before signing. Pay particular attention to excess-use charges, damage liability, and payment deadlines. Compare the total expected cost, not just the headline rate, and match the hire period to your production schedule.
Budget for required inspections and servicing rather than assuming they’re included. Have qualified personnel complete inspections and maintenance, follow the machine’s safety procedures, and isolate it before work begins.
Clarify Delivery and Collection Costs
Confirm delivery and collection charges before booking. Check whether the quoted costs include loading, permits, site access, and any required escorts.
Agree who arranges return transport and who pays if the crusher isn’t ready for collection or the carrier can’t access the site as scheduled.
Put these terms in writing so there’s no confusion over extra charges, responsibilities, or safe handling.
Delivery Charges
How much will delivery and pickup add to the rental cost? Check whether the quoted charge is fixed or based on distance, load size, site access, or transport time.
Confirm the delivery address, entry requirements, and any restrictions that could lead to extra charges. If the crusher’s size or weight requires permits, escorts, or specialized vehicles, make sure the agreement states who arranges and pays for them.
Review the pricing structure and payment schedule so you know when transport charges are due and whether they’re included on the rental invoice. Get the rates in writing before you sign, and confirm that unloading arrangements meet site safety requirements.
Collection Fees
Collection fees may be separate from delivery charges. Check whether the hire quote includes pickup or lists it as a separate service. Confirm how the fee is calculated—by a fixed charge, travel distance, or machine size—and ask about extra charges for waiting time or restricted access.
Agree on who’ll arrange collection and what the site must provide, including a clear, safe route for loading. Keep the crusher accessible without blocking haul roads or disrupting other work.
Ask whether cleaning, maintenance, or damage assessments could affect the collection charge. Before signing, get all fees and responsibilities in writing so you can plan the return without surprises.
Follow the supplier’s safety procedures, and keep people clear of the machine during loading and collection.
Return Transport Terms
Before you sign, confirm whether the rental price includes return transport or bills it separately from delivery. Establish who books and pays for the carrier, and whether the charge varies with distance, load size, site access, or waiting time. Poor access, a delayed loadout, or a truck arriving before the crusher is ready can add costs and disrupt the next move.
Ask what preparation is required before pickup. The supplier may require the crusher to be cleaned, secured, or positioned for loading. Confirm who handles isolation and lifting, and follow the supplier’s safety procedures. Never inspect, clean, or prepare equipment until it’s safely isolated; use qualified personnel for lifting and other hazardous work.
Agree in writing on the return date, collection responsibilities, equipment condition standards, and any additional charges. Clarify who carries the risk while the crusher is in transit and what happens if the site isn’t ready when the carrier arrives. Keep maintenance records available if the supplier requires them.
Check Who Handles Repairs and Breakdowns
If the crusher breaks down, check that the hire agreement clearly assigns responsibility for arranging and paying for repairs, handling callouts, and reporting faults.
Confirm who must stop the plant and isolate the machine, and agree on response times for urgent failures.
Never inspect or repair a crusher until it’s stopped, isolated, and secured against unexpected movement or startup.
Only qualified technicians should carry out inspections or repairs, and chargeable work shouldn’t begin without your approval.
Review the maintenance schedule to see which inspections and servicing your crew must complete during the hire.
Follow the agreed procedures, and make sure operators are trained to spot and report developing faults.
Ask which spare parts are available and how long critical components may take to arrive.
Clear terms help control downtime and repair costs while keeping your crew safe.
Review Damage Liability and Insurance
Check the contract before the crusher arrives: who pays if it’s damaged, stolen, or lost, and exactly when your liability begins and ends? Read the liability clauses for exclusions, deductibles, and charges tied to misuse, poor site security, or unsafe operation.
Check whether the insurance covers theft and accidental damage, what limits and deductibles apply, and who must report an incident. Don’t assume the rental company’s policy protects you from every cost.
Get the coverage details in writing and confirm what you must do after an incident.
Record the crusher’s condition at delivery and return with dated photos and signed inspection reports. Before inspecting the machine, follow site lockout and isolation procedures; never check or photograph it from inside a danger zone.
Know Your Options if Hire Plans Change
Review the cancellation terms before signing, including fees and notice deadlines.
If the job schedule changes, confirm how to extend or shorten the hire period and coordinate the change with the site plan so equipment moves don’t disrupt safe operations.
Ask whether a suitable alternative machine is available, then compare its capability for the material and required throughput, along with the total hire and transport costs.
Cancellation Terms
Cancellation terms spell out what you owe—and what you must do—if your crushing equipment hire plans change. Check the required notice period, the approved cancellation method, and whether the supplier needs written confirmation. Keep a dated copy of every notice and acknowledgment; a phone call alone may not end your liability.
Review any charges for late notice, transport already booked, or equipment already dispatched. Check how deposits and prepaid hire fees are refunded, what deductions may apply, and when payment is due.
If the crusher has reached your site, confirm who’s responsible for safe shutdown, isolation, and access for collection. Follow the agreement’s process and document any costs or site arrangements.
Hire Period Changes
If the project schedule changes, your hire agreement may allow you to extend, shorten, or reschedule the hire period, but you’ll need the supplier’s approval. Check the notice requirements and confirm whether a change affects the hire rate, transport charges, or minimum hire period. Get the revised dates and total cost in writing before continuing to use the equipment.
For any extension, confirm who’s responsible for servicing and inspections, and make sure the equipment remains safe to operate. Follow the supplier’s instructions and applicable site procedures; don’t use equipment beyond its authorized hire period.
Safety reminder: Before returning equipment to service after an extension or schedule change, check that required inspections and maintenance are current, and report any defects.
If your needs change, discuss suitable equipment options and pricing flexibility with the supplier. Make sure any approved change is appropriate for site conditions, operator capability, and project safety requirements.
Alternative Equipment Options
A change in the work schedule can make a different crusher or screening unit a better fit. Before you sign the hire agreement, ask which alternatives are available if the feed material, required throughput, or site access changes.
Confirm availability, changeover and transport costs, and whether the revised hire period changes your rate.
Check that any replacement unit can meet your required output and work with your existing conveyors, screens, and power supply. Allow for changes to setup, site controls, and operator training.
Agree on who can approve the swap and how quickly the replacement can be delivered. A flexible hire arrangement can limit downtime, but only if the alternative suits the site, the process, and the budget.
Conclusion
Before signing a crushing equipment hire agreement, confirm the machine and attachments, hire period, rates, delivery and pickup arrangements, and who is responsible for repairs, routine maintenance, and damage. Check the insurance requirements and the process for reporting a breakdown, extending the hire, or canceling. Make sure the terms account for site access, operating conditions, and any delays that could affect the hire period.
Read the agreement before the equipment arrives, and get unclear terms clarified in writing. During inspection or maintenance, follow the supplier’s procedures, isolate the machine, and have qualified personnel do the work. Clear terms and a careful handover help control costs and keep the crew and site safer.
—David Renshaw, with more than 25 years in crushing and screening.
