When hiring equipment for your next project it's important to consider all factors that may affect your bottom line, and making a decision between wet (meaning you require an operator with the machine) or dry hire (meaning you'll source your own operator) is a cruicial part of this process.

Reviewing the bottom line factors of your project can help make this decision easier and help you assess the pro's and con's of both wet and dry hire. Financial, quality, management and policy are some key factors to consider when making these project decisions as they can all have a direct impact on your bottom line. 

Financial considerations

Wet Hire

• Manpower fees are inclusive of the rates you receive for plant and equipment hire.
• Quotes can be negotiable based on operator experience

Dry Hire

• If you opt to use a third party operator they may offer freelance pricing at a reduced rate. 
• By using existing employees there will be one less person to pay, reducing overall cost. 

Quality

Wet Hire

• The operator will be more cautious, having a vested interest in the condition of their gear. As they are familiar with the machine you may reduce the possibility of user-caused onsite breakdowns, which will help keep your project on track.
• These operators are using the machinery on a frequent basis and therefore will be able to deliver quality more efficiently. 

Dry Hire

• If using your own employees, they will have a clearer understanding of the standard of work expections
• Your employees will have been working on this project and understand the scope and desired end product, adding to their ability to deliver quality work.          

Management

Wet Hire

• Minimises the screening and interviewing process and using operators who have been employed by the hire company will reduce onsite admin.

Dry Hire

• If you have the qualified manpower use them - the less people on site the easier personal management becomes.                                   

Policy

Regulations apply for both wet & dry hire, whereby: 

• Operators must have experience 
• Operators must be licensed to operate the machinery
• Licensing and experience will minimize on-site liability 

Keep these factors in mind when choosing between wet or dry hire, as the decisions you make will have an effect on your bottom line.

If you need to wet or dry hire equipment for an upcoming project, you can get quotes from Australia's largest online marketplace of local suppliers here. 

You can also download our free infograph on wet and dry hire to help determine the right hire type for your next project.