Mixed fleet challenges

13 January 2022

Shortages and supply disruptions amongst certain equipment types against a background of ongoing strong demand mean that some hirers are having to adopt a pick-and-mix approach and looking more widely for their fleet requirements. 

“You can’t be so choosy about what brand you go for if you want a machine quickly,” one hirer tells me. “We’re having to be flexible and buy what we can get, rather than perhaps what we would like. 

“For example, we wanted a post hole borer from our usual supplier but there was an eight-month waiting time. So we had to go for a different brand or lose the hire enquiry. 

“We try and run what we have established already in our fleet to keep it easy for everybody and give customers what they are familiar with, but sometimes we’re not able to because of supply issues. And like everything in hire, people want equipment yesterday so you just can’t wait.” 

And this has brings a number of challenges. Workshop personnel must become familiar with different machines, more spare parts have to be obtained and stored, and the alternative models might not be favoured by some users. 

Another tool hirer told me that a customer had been in desperate need of a 110V mixer. “My supplier only had a 240V model available but I said I’d take it. We can hire it to domestic users and free up a 110V machine for contractors. It’s not what we’d normally have in the fleet but we’re taking anything we can get at the moment.” 

Looking ahead, if a hirer eventually chooses to sell off any machines that are non-core or not their preferred brand, they’ll need to time it wisely carefully when second-hand or trade-in values remain high, as they are at the moment. 

Again, the pandemic has brought unexpected challenges in its wake that require careful and flexible management to solve. 

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