SELECTION / SCOPE / HANDOVER
Before choosing the equipment
Describe the reach needed, material and proposed machine position. Ask the supplier or contractor to verify the chosen boom, arm and attachment combination against the intended task.
What belongs in the quote
The quote should separate specialist mobilisation and site preparation from the excavation itself. Ask how the work will be measured and how the machine position will be maintained throughout the job.
Think about the surrounding work
Start with the work envelope: access width, overhead restrictions, reach, digging depth and room for the machine to turn. Ask the contractor to explain the selected configuration and how delivery, ground conditions and supporting machines affect the plan. A machine class is a starting point, not a promise of lifting capacity or production.
Three questions for your contractor
- What configuration supports the required reach?
- Where will the machine work from?
- How are changing ground conditions handled?
Bring a useful project brief
Bring site photographs, access measurements, available drawings and a description of the finished result. Identify what is known about the ground and existing services, and distinguish confirmed information from assumptions. Ask for written inclusions, exclusions, change procedures and handover records before comparing totals.
Further reading
John Deere — construction equipment fleet guide ↗
Manufacturer reference for background, not a dealer relationship or recommendation of a particular model.
Keep the machine working
Repair and maintenance questions · Parts and attachment compatibility · Buying used equipment