Where To Hire A Self-Drive Excavator In Worcester UK?

Looking to hire a self-drive excavator in Worcester? It can be very tricky to decide which company to choose, especially if you are working on a strict time scale. The last thing you want to do is create problems, rather than increase your productivity.

There are multiple different online platforms where you can do your own research to compare customer experiences hiring a self-drive excavator in Worcester. The most popular being google maps or google my business.

Always take your time in choosing potential prospects that you may want to consider working with. Ask questions to make sure that you have all your needs met. Every single person or business’s needs are different, so take your time as it could cost you in the long run.

If you haven’t hired an excavator before and are not quite sure what size machine you may need, check out another one of our free resources “A guide to hiring the right size digger” here

To help take the first steps in the right direction you should consider the following factors: (These can be adopted no matter your location)

Things to consider when choosing a self-drive excavator in Worcester.

Location

The location of the supplier in regards to where you need the equipment is essential. As you will find in your research stage of choosing an excavator hire service, most plant hire companies will deliver. Which is a massive bonus! However, you need to bear in mind additional delivery costs to the overall price of hiring an excavator.

Alternatively, if you intend to collect the equipment, a local company could be very useful to get your hands on the machinery quickly. Using a local company will always keep the supply cost down. Nevertheless, this should not be the defining factor.

Equipment availability

What excavators are available? Excavator hire is popular! Especially in a fast-paced construction environment. Therefore, choosing a supplier that has a larger range of excavators will generally be a safer bet if you are looking to get your hands on a machine fast.

A larger fleet of machines gives you flexibility depending on the size of the project you are undertaking. This means that you don’t need to be looking for alternative prospects to fulfil the requirements of just one hire. Being able to have all your hire needs met from one location, removes unnecessary stresses, and avoids the loss of valuable time.

Planning is always key. As a rule of thumb, ensure you organise your excavator in good time before your project begins. But be assured that most hire companies offer a next day delivery service.

Reliability of equipment

When choosing your excavator hire prospect, a major factor that you need to take into consideration is the quality and reliability of the equipment. Poorly maintained, tired hire equipment increases the chances of breakdowns and costs time/money.

Unlike purchasing an excavator, (which you have full control of) hiring machinery is a completely different ball game. This type of equipment is used in different locations, by several non-identical operators, every day of the year. So, what does this mean for you?

Choosing a supplier that offers older machinery increases the chance of something going wrong. No matter how well-maintained machinery is kept, it all has a life expectancy.

Choosing a prospect that offers a young fleet of reliable, well-known manufactured equipment is a safer option. Furthermore, newer equipment also saves on running costs as it is far more fuel-efficient.

Get to know who you are working with

If you are hesitant to commit to a prospect, always visit them. Get to know the people that you could potentially be working with. View the equipment and make your own assessment. In a very fast-paced environment, it is important that you can trust the people you’re working with. Some projects that hang in the balance can be made or broken by suppliers.

Ask to see the quality of their equipment and share any concerns that you may have with them. This will help you determine if they are the right fit or not for you or your business. The more you know as a potential client, the better.

Cost

Probably one of the most defining factors that people will base their decisions on is cost. “The cheaper the equipment the better.” But is this really the case? No doubt it is a major factor as everyone has a budget to work to. Even so, shortcutting the equipment can lead to disastrous consequences.

Cheap excavator hire can lead to unnecessary time, hassle and cost that you may not have budgeted for. Always base your assumptions on if it is too good to be true… then it probably is. You should never overstep your budget, but choosing to work with a reasonably priced, fully transparent excavator hire specialist will guarantee the success of your project.

By considering all these factors, choosing a supplier for excavator hire in Worcester will be made far easier and stress-free.

Difference between self-drive and operated plant hire?

During your research of finding an excavator hire service in Worcester, a common issue you will find is that not all businesses will offer self-driven machinery. Which begs the question, what is the difference between to two?

Self-driven operated excavator

These are excavators that you can either collect or have delivered, to operate yourself. These machines specifically require short-term hire insurance, whilst in your possession. Whether you are using an excavator for a DIY project, or for business use the machine needs to be insured in case any accidents occur.

Not all business insurances cover plant hire, therefore, always check with your provider first. If you are looking for short-term hire cover for an excavator, we would highly recommend JCB insurance.

Upon arrival or collection, your supplier should give you a full tutorial on how to use the machinery if you require to do so. This will include safety features such as start-up procedures and or security codes that are required. Even if you already feel confident with operating the machinery, it is always best to ask if you haven’t used a certain manufacturer’s excavator before. This also applies to any featured attachments that you have ordered with your hire. Examples such as breakers, hydraulic quick hitches etc…

Here is a checklist you can use to find the right self-drive excavator in Worcester:

Self-drive excavator hire checklist

How old is their equipment?
Do they deliver to my area?
Do they service their own machinery? What is their support like?
Do they have the availability and variety I need?
Do they record and document testing their equipment?
Are there any other costs you need to be aware of?
Is there a minimum hire term?

After checking off all these questions, you need to know how much a self-drive excavator is going to cost. The average cost of hiring an excavator in Worcester based on an online survey conducted in Sept 2021 is £85+VAT per day. See more here. However, to obtain a more up to date cost always contact the supplier directly.

Operated excavator hire

Unlike self-driven machinery, operated plant hire involves the machinery AND someone to use it on your behalf. In short, you can contract someone to do the digging for you. For some who are inexperienced and working to a tight deadline, this can be an ideal solution. However, the quality of work produced is down to the competency of the driver and their machinery.

If you are thinking of using a self-drive excavator in Worcester, you need to be cautious of who you choose. Ask to see a portfolio of work they have produced before. Ensure that you are aware if there are any additional costs and invest your time, as it will only have a direct effect on your project.

Choosing an accredited operated excavator company to work with will give you peace of mind when it comes to your decision. To help, use the checklist below to guarantee you choose the right company to pair with:

Operated plant hire checklist

Are they accredited?
Can they produce CPCS certificates?
Can they produce risk assessments and method statements for the work you’re contracting them to do?
Are the operators capable of maintaining or fixing the equipment if something is to go wrong?
Can they produce valid insurance documents with enough cover for your project?
Is there a minimum hire term? (For single-day projects)

Once all these bases are covered, you will then want to determine the cost. Operated excavator hire is far more expensive than self-driven machinery. This is due to not only hiring the machine but the cost of an operator at the same time. The average salary for an excavator driver is £18.94 per hour according to Indeed. However, expect additional costs on top of this such as transport, machine maintenance, accommodation (if working from a distance) and more.

Operated excavator hire in Worcester UK

To help you discover the right excavator hire for you, here is a list of well-known, operated plant hire suppliers that you can find on google maps in the Worcester area.

Worcester JCB Hire

“We are a local Worcester business specialising in driver operated machinery for a wide range of uses.”

“Tim Weyman has been working within the construction industry for almost 20 years gathering the knowledge, skills and expertise to ensure that every job is carried out to the highest standard.”

“Based in Claines, Worcester, we are able to offer our JCB 3CX and mini digger with driver in any private or commercial setting, no matter how big or small, from simply moving a pallet of bricks to major excavations within Worcestershire, Hereford, Malvern, Kidderminster, Droitwich, Pershore, Evesham and anywhere within the West Midlands.”

Excavator Types: JCB 3CX Backhoe, Kubota mini digger

Areas covered: Worcestershire, West Midlands

MB Digger Hire

“A local Worcester based business with over 10 years experience in the industry, specialising in ‘Digger with Driver’ hire and all forms of groundwork. Our aim is to offer customers a cost effective service to suit all and any of their requirements.”

“We offer a range of ground work services including site clearances, ground levelling, digging ground excavations, digging footings, foundations and much more.”

We have experienced drivers to operate and carry out tasks to your exact requirements and instruction on any sized project. MB Digger Hire is a small but well known, family business Based in Worcester making us flexible to your needs.”

Excavator types: Kubota micro digger, CAT mini digger.

Areas covered: Worcestershire, West Midlands

Self-drive excavator hire in Worcester UK

To help you discover the right excavator hire for you here a list of well-known, self-drive excavator hire suppliers that you can find on google maps in the Worcester area.

Ermin Hire Worcester

“Operating since 1966 we pride ourselves in our service and with over 50 years of experience in the industry we are well placed to offer you the very best advice. We have depots in Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Worcester and Ross-on-Wye. Whether it is a small DIY job or a large construction project we have everything to suit your needs. Our hire range includes cherry pickers, scissor lifts, alloy towers, ladders, garden machinery, woodchippers, sanders, excavators, dumpers, forklifts, telehandlers, rollers, compressors, saws and much more.”

“Ermin Plant & Tool Hire is a privately owned company and is dedicated to supplying a guaranteed knowledgeable, efficient and quality service”

“Our modern fleet of vehicles enable us to deliver equipment in a fast and timely manner, whilst our fleet of mobile service vans guarantee we can respond instantly to any unforeseen incident or requests.”

Excavator types: Kubota Micro – 8T Excavators

Areas covered: Worcestershire, Gloucestershire

Brandon Hire

“Brandon Hire Station Worcester supplies tools and equipment as per the HAE code of practice to Construction and Industry, Local Authorities, Entertainment Venues and Events and members of the public, servicing Worcester and surrounding areas.”

“Our Worcester hire centre has a range of tools and equipment ready for you to hire: Wacker Plates, Scaffold Towers, Carpet Cleaners, Cement Mixers, Coolers, Dehumidifiers, Concrete Breakers, Drills, Heaters, Cooling Equipment, Air Conditioning, Wood Chippers, Landscaping Equipment, Dumpers, Lighting, Generators, Floor Sanders and Wallpaper Steamers are just some products that we hire.”

Excavator type: JCB Micro, JCB Mini Digger. (Excavators not stocked in branch)

Areas covered: Worcestershire and nationwide.

WHC Hire Services Worcester/Tewkesbury

“WHC Hire Services began trading at Shrub Hill, Worcester back in 1997, hiring out small tools and small 1.5t diggers. In 2002 we purchased new premises at Bath Road, Worcester where we increased the fleet of small tools from cement mixers, cleaning equipment, pumps, breakers, heaters, dehumidifiers, drills, saws, and gardening equipment.”

“The company has a reputation for the excellent quality of its equipment and for its focus on health and safety. All equipment is maintained to the highest standard and is issued with relevant certification and service cards. This includes hand, arm and whole-body vibration level testing and reporting. Along with the testing of its own equipment, WHC offers a highly advanced vibration and noise testing service to businesses operating potentially hazardous workplace equipment.”

Today, WHC Hire Services offers the newest and largest range of self-drive excavators in Worcester ranging from micro to 28T. Supported by their local HQ depot in Tewkesbury, they can deliver the highest quality machinery on the market to their customers.

Excavator types: Kubota Micro, Mini, JCB 3T-28T Stage V Emissions

Areas covered: Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, Nationwide.

Where to plant hire in Worcester

All WHC Hire’s excavators are under 4 years old and are equipped with the latest technology to give you peace of mind when it comes to hiring self-driven plant equipment. With regular investments into the quality of our equipment, along with detailed in-house servicing and support, Worcester depot manager Jamie and the team can assure that you can get the job done.

If you are shopping around for excavator hire in Worcester, then feel free to have a look at our catalogue of mini and large excavators. Alternatively, feel free to pop by, or contact Jamie and the team at our Worcester Depot on 01905 356075

Excavator hire rates start from £75.00 + VAT per day or £210.00 + VAT per week. Enquire for more details.