Frequently Asked Questions About Plant Hire

Hiring a Machine

Common questions about our terms of hire and equipment

Do you hire just the machines or can you supply an operator too?

We hire our tracked excavators on both a self-drive and operated basis. Our wheeled excavator is hired on an operated basis only, based on a daily rate of charge. We also offer operators for our Dumpers and Dump trucks and 360??

Do you hire to the general public or just to companies?

We hire our plant and machinery to the general public, as well as the commercial and public sectors, providing you are competent to operate the machinery and have the required licence and insurance in place.

What size excavator do I need?

This will depend on the job; the type and quantity of material you are excavating and what depth you will need to excavate to. It will also depend upon any access or weight restrictions, the ground conditions and whether you are working in a confined space. Please contact the team to discuss your requirements and they will be able to advise you on the most appropriate size excavator to carry out the work.

Do you supply attachments for your excavators? (such as riddle buckets, or additional buckets)

Yes, Attachments, including breakers are available to hire for use with our excavators and telehandlers. Please see here for our full list of attachments and give our team a call to discuss prices.

Can I hire a digger for use in my garden?

The most common sized machine used would be a 0.8T Micro Digger and this will fit through a garden gate but please call the office if you have any specific requirements and we would be happy to discuss further.

Is there a minimum hire period?

The hire of a machine commences once the Plant has been delivered, unless alternative arrangements have been made to make an earlier drop.

A standard day is 7:30am – 5:00pm

A standard week is Monday – Friday 7:30am – 5:00pm

What areas are you able to deliver to?

We currently deliver plant throughout East Anglia. If you are outside this region, please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will see what we can do to help.

How quickly can you deliver plant to us?

We will always try our best to deliver your plant the next working day, depending on how busy we are.

But please always give us a call to discuss any urgent requirements.

Who pays for the cost of delivering the plant to site?

The hirer is responsible for the cost of transporting the Plant from, and returning to, the Holmes Plant & Construction depot. It is possible to arrange haulage for you, please enquire about pricing.

What are your payment terms?

All invoices must be paid within 30 days unless otherwise agreed.

What happens if a track comes off the excavator?

Please call us on 01473 890766 and select option 2 for Breakdowns, we will make arrangements for a one of our Mobile Fitters to attend site.

What if I get a puncture?

Please call us on 01473 890766 and select option 2 for Breakdowns, we will make arrangements for a Tyre Fitter to attend site.

What happens if we have a breakdown?

All our plant is regularly serviced but in the unlikely event of a breakdown, if the plant is not working as expected or incurs damage, you must notify Holmes Plant & Construction immediately. Our mobile fitter will attend as quickly as possible to rectify the problem and get you moving.

Do you need a special licence to operate the excavators?

There are no government issued licences for operating excavators or other plant machinery at a workplace. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; regulation 9 requires that operators must be given adequate training by their employer to ensure they are competent to operate the machinery they use. However, if you are required to drive machinery on a public highway you will require a valid road driving licence, must abide by the appropriate road traffic legislation and should ensure the vehicle is suitably insured and registered. If you are intending to drive on a public highway, it is advisable to check www.gov.uk for further information regarding your specific vehicle.

What is the minimum age at which I can operate plant?

There is no set minimum age for people operating plant, however lift-truck operators (telehandlers?) should be above minimum school leaving age or at least 18 years old if they are working at a Port. Visit hse.gov.uk for further information.

Who is responsible for fuel? (who pays for it?)

The hirer is responsible for all fuel costs, which can either be supplied by Holmes Plant & Construction (as per the agreed rate when signing the hire agreement), or by the hirer. Any fuel, fuel additives or power supply must meet the grade or type specified.

Who is responsible for insurance?

All plant hired out on a Self-Drive basis has to be cover by the customers own insurance.

If this is not something that you have already have in place, we would recommend using JCB Online Insurance Services, who specialise in short – term plant hire cover, sight of insurance documents is required prior to delivery.

Where can I see your terms and conditions?

We operate under CPA terms & conditions which can be viewed here.