Although a licence is not required, operators must be experienced and competent & are required to comply with manufacturers guidelines on correct operation of the equipment. If you require a familiarisation or Verification of competency on our machines, please advise.
Yes – we use a pool of local regular transport contractors. It's totally up to you - We can add these delivery cost to your invoice so it’s all in the one payment for peace of mind. Alternatively - you're welcome to organise your own transport. Call for a quote or we can pass on suitable contact numbers for you to arrange directly.
We are flexible and will do our best to work around your needs, so pick up & drop off can be arranged anytime you need.
One important note - our yard is not attended full time, even during regular business hours, so please confirm pick up and drop off times upon booking so we can ensure someone is available at your specific pick up/drop off time.
If you’ve run into problems, call your service provider on 0431403303 and we will assist. Whether it's just a question we can answer over the phone, or a serious breakdown – were here to help so feel free to reach out. We understand that if our machines break down, this causes downtime for your business, so although we do our best to prevent breakdowns, in the unlikely event this occurs, we can send a service technician to site generally the same day. Please advise if machines used on shutdown type projects, we could have mechanics on standby as required by your business.
A drivers licence, relevant experience and a good attitude
Our machines are serviced and maintained to a high standard to ensure safe and reliable operation. As the hirer, you’re expected to return the machine in the same condition it was received — excluding reasonable fair wear and tear, as outlined in our [FWAT Guide].
If the machine is returned with damage outside of fair wear and tear, you may be charged the full cost of repairs or replacement. This includes but is not limited to dents, cracked panels, bent components, broken lights, hydraulic leaks, worn pins from misuse, or signs of overloading.
To avoid unnecessary charges:
Review the pre-hire inspection report carefully
Conduct your own walk-around and take photos before use
Note any existing damage and let us know before starting work
We understand accidents happen. That’s why we strongly recommend completing a basic risk assessment before starting each job or when the task changes. Need a template? Just ask.
We also advise:
Using only competent, experienced operators
Reviewing the operation and maintenance manual provided
Requesting a familiarisation session or Verification of Competency (VOC) if needed
Our FWAT (Fair Wear and Tear) Guide outlines what is considered acceptable versus chargeable — it’s designed to keep everything upfront and fair.
If you’re unsure about anything, give us a call. We’re here to help before it becomes a problem.
We believe in no hidden extras and a fair & reasonable approach to pricing. Where there are optional items or additional charges, we’ll make sure these are well understood before you hire.
Included is the equipment you hire and the standard attachments that go with that equipment.
Transport and non-standard attachments are an extra charge and will be itemised clearly on your invoice. Machines are to be returned full of diesel, in the event we need to re fuel the equipment – we will charge $3.50 p/l of diesel. Machines are also required to be returned in a clean manner, the same condition you received it in – if you don’t have the time, no problem – we charge a standard cleaning fee per machine - a basic clean, or a full clean depending on how long it takes. This is to ensure the machine is provided to the next hirer spic and span and ready to work.
As the operator you are responsible for the following:
Greasing ALL grease nipples every eight machine hours.
Daily fluid checks including, coolant, engine oil, hydraulic fluid.
Cleaning the air filter every 24 machine hours
Checking the track tension
Any damage that the machine incurs during your hire.
As the hirer, you must ensure the following is complete prior to return:
Re-fuel the plant and equipment to the same level it was delivered.
Clean the machine inside and out to the same standard you received it.
Remove all loose debris from tracks, buckets, and undercarriage. The machine must be safe for transport — if there is excess mud, rock, or spoil, the transport company may refuse pickup. If this happens, you may be charged for a second transport attempt.
Ensure all attachments are returned with the machine and secured. Buckets, augers, etc., must not be left behind.
Park the machine in a clear, accessible location for pickup — allow enough space for trucks and trailers to load without obstruction.
Remove all personal items from the cab or compartments. We are not responsible for any lost property.
Report any new damage to GC Plant Hire as soon as it happens on site. This gives us time to assess the damage, and source parts or repairs in advance.
If the machine is returned damaged and not hireable, you will be charged stand-down time until it is fully repaired and fit for hire again.
Returning the machine clean, fuelled, damage-reported, and ready helps avoid delays, keeps costs down, and supports a smooth operation for everyone involved.
If you hire a car, you know you’re expected to return it in the same condition you received it — fuelled, clean, and damage-free. Hiring an excavator or bobcat is no different.
The key thing to remember is: we need to rehire the plant you return. The next customer expects it to be clean, functional, and in good working order — just like you did. In some cases, the machine may need to go straight back out the gate the same day it returns, so letting us know about any damage as soon as it happens is essential. Early notice gives us time to assess and source parts, and helps avoid delays or stand-down charges.
If you plan your job the same way you’d treat a hire car — with care, attention, and a focus on returning the machine as it was — you’ll save yourself time, money, and stress.
Fair Wear and Tear (FWAT) — What You May Be Charged For: While some wear is expected, damage outside fair wear and tear will be charged. This includes, but is not limited to:
Scuffs or scratches in the paint that can’t be buffed out
Bent or dented panels anywhere on the machine
Damaged or kinked hydraulic hoses or fittings
Tears or significant wear in tracks
Stains, burns, or rips in seats or cabin interior
Chips, cracks, or scratches in windows or glass
Broken or damaged controls
Protect Yourself — Take Photos We strongly recommend taking clear photos at the beginning and end of the hire to record the condition of the machine. This protects you in the event of a dispute and ensures everyone’s on the same page.
For a full breakdown of what is and isn’t considered reasonable wear, see our FWAT (Fair Wear and Tear) Guide.
You MUST make sure you have insurance for the duration of the hire period.
If you are using your own insurance, you must provide a certificate of currency which states that your policy covers hired in plant.
You are NOT covered by our insurance unless you have paid the damage waiver fee, this covers you for severe damage to the plant when the cost to repair damages exceeds $5,000.
Examples:
The excess to make a claim is $5,000 PER EVENT
If you break a window one day and severely damage a panel the next day, they are two separate incidents, if the window is $800 to repair and the panel is $2,200 to repair. As neither event is over the $5,000 threshold you will need to pay for those repairs in full without utilizing the Damage Waiver Fee.
If you roll the plant and the repairs for damages from that incident are $75,000, you will need to pay the $5,000 excess.
The insurance covers damages to the plant only, it does not cover things like public liability or personal loss or injury etc. These will be your responsibility to have these covered.
If you break a window one day (cost to repair $800), and the next day accidentally damage the machine causing $7,000 worth of damage to the plant — the damage waiver will apply. You will pay the $5,000 excess, and the remaining $2,000 will be covered. The broken window, however, is a separate event under $5,000 and will need to be paid in full.
Please read the Ts & Cs for up to date information on costs and responsibilities.
The hired plant and equipment must be returned to GC Plant Hire by close of business on the final day of hire.
Considerations you will need to be aware of:
- If your job is further away you will need to take the transport time into consideration when organizing transport.
- If the driver is delayed due to plant and equipment not being ready they will charge stand by rates at 15 minute intervals until the plant and equipment is able to be loaded.
- Truck drivers run on a log book and operate in normal business hours, if you need the plant and equipment transported after hours it needs to be arranged prior with the transport company and you will most likely need to pay after hours rates for the driver.
- If the plant and equipment has loose debris and therefore cannot be safely transported then the driver may refuse to transport the plant and equipment, in this case you may be charged even though the transport didn't take place.
-If the plant and equipment is not returned by COB on the final day of hire you may be charged another full days hire.
Here is an example scenario:
Bill hired an excavator for 3 days. His site was 40 km from GC Plant Hire. The excavator was picked up from our yard at 6:30 am and arrived on his site by 7:20 am. Over the three days, there was light rain, and mud began building up in the tracks.
On the final day of hire, Bill had transport booked for 3:15 pm. He was behind on the job but decided not to extend the hire. Instead, he kept using the excavator to squeeze in more work. At 2:45 pm, the driver called to confirm he was on his way. Bill told him he’d be ready.
At 3:10 pm, the truck arrived, but the excavator was still operating. The driver phoned Bill, who said he’d need 15 more minutes to finish. The driver reminded him that he needed to be back at his depot by 5:00 pm and couldn’t afford delays.
Bill stopped work and went to gather the buckets — which were scattered across the site. It took another 15 minutes to locate and bring them to the loading area. At 3:40 pm, the excavator was finally near the truck, but the driver noticed that the tracks were packed with heavy, wet mud and debris.
He told Bill he could not legally transport the machine in that condition, and that if it wasn’t cleaned properly, he’d have to refuse the job. Bill spent the next 45 minutes cleaning the tracks with a shovel and pressure hose until they were safe for transport.
At 4:25 pm, the machine was loaded. It arrived back at GC Plant Hire at 5:00 pm, and the driver reached his depot at 5:20 pm.
Bill had also not refuelled the excavator, and there was no time left in the day to clean the cab or exterior. The machine was returned in a dirty condition, with attachments unstrapped and loose.
Because of this, Bill was charged:
1 hour standby time
20 minutes after-hours return
75 litres of fuel at $3.50 per litre
1.5 hours cleaning at $88 per hour
Total additional charges: ~$650
Had the driver refused to transport the machine, Bill would have also faced:
A second full transport fee
An additional full day’s hire
The takeaway? Just like a hire car, your hire ends when the machine is returned to us, clean, refuelled, and ready for rehire. Leaving things to the last minute can get expensive — plan ahead and you’ll avoid unnecessary costs.