Trailer Rental 101 — How to Rent a Trailer

Tags: Fleet management

There’s a lot to consider when renting a trailer. For example, do you want to rent a dry van, reefer, hopper bottom, or some other kind of trailer? Rentals are always a practical choice, whether you need a trailer for one day, on the road for work, or working on a short-term project.

There are a few things you should know before renting a trailer. For certain uses, there is a trailer that meets its needs. For example, heavy transport trailers, storage trailers, and mobile offices all have special trailer requirements; depending on how long you plan to keep the trailer, you can find many different options as well. Before exploring our trailer rental tips, let’s look at what you need to know.

Before Renting a Trailer

Picking the right type of trailer can help you manage operations and expenses more successfully. A flatbed trailer rental allows you to make fewer trips without sacrificing fleet space once you return the trailer. A lowboy trailer rental might make your life easier, as you won’t need to get extra permits.

Before renting a trailer, ask yourself some of these questions. 

• What will the trailer be used for? 
• What is your budget, and how much does it cost to rent a trailer?
• Is this a large or small project you’re involved in? 
• If it’s a small project, could it potentially need more support for additional trailers?

5 Trailer Rental Tips

Let’s walk through 5 tips to help you understand the rental process and how this could benefit your company. Learning how to rent a trailer isn’t as difficult as it sounds. If you refer to our tips, you will have a smooth process when considering renting a trailer.

Book Your Trailer Rentals in Advance

We recommend you book your trailer rentals in advance to get your preferred rates. You then have time to make your additional arrangements, like setting up pick-up and return times, as well as coordinating the jobs with your client. The trailer dealership near you will have the time to thoroughly check that your estimated load is compatible with the trailer and ensure it’s well cleaned and inspected before your rental period.

Find the Appropriate Insurance

When renting a trailer, anything might happen. Commercial truck insurance is essential in the event of unforeseen accidents or damages. Make sure your insurance is up to date and acceptable before selecting a trailer. This will help you safeguard your company’s budget and feel secure throughout the process.

Find Reputable Trailer Dealerships

Some companies that offer trailers specialize in either renting, leasing, or selling trailers. It makes sense to engage with a dealership that has extensive experience renting, leasing, and selling trailers from a variety of manufacturers like Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel.

Keep close ties with the dealership you know and trust. If you lease trailers the majority of the time but expect seasonal upticks from client demands, having this close relationship will help you accommodate your needs. This method is also useful for companies starting up who wish to rent trailers. If you are on the fence about purchasing a trailer, this could be a great transition into ownership.

Renting a Trailer Saves On Storage Space

Trailers occupy space, and depending on where you live, that can be a premium. Instead of attempting to store a trailer you own where you have limited space, you can pick it up and return it to the rental dealership if you’re renting a trailer to function as one of your mobile office trailers. However, storage container rentals entail giving up availability, which adds time to getting a trailer and shipping it back.

Rental Delivery and Inspection

Trailer rental dealers frequently provide pickup and delivery services to make the retrieval process as convenient as possible. Finding out what choices your local dealer has to offer can save time and money. If you’re in a rush to complete a job, delivery services could be a huge benefit.

You can spare yourself the hassle of having to go back to the dealership by inspecting your trailer rental before you depart. When you arrive to pick up your rental, go through and check for trailer-truck compatibility, test the electrical components and technology, and note any existing damage.

Frequently Asked Questions When Renting a Trailer

Are trailer rental prices negotiable?

In short, yes. Rates are dependent on more than the vehicle being used. Drop-off location, mileage, reefer engine hours, and other rates are accounted for. Since many factors go into negotiating for better freight rates, we want to make sure you have an informed perspective.

How does a trailer lease work?

When you lease a trailer, you agree to pay a certain amount in exchange for the right to use the trailer for the duration of the lease period. The trailer will be your responsibility for maintenance during the term, but it remains the dealer’s property. The time and distance you need the trailer for will mostly determine the cost, with some additional fees.

Is it better to lease or buy a trailer?

Working with a trailer provider that can meet your needs is key. To make sure you have an ideal experience, let’s look at the pros and cons of renting vs buying a trailer:

Renting a trailer:

Pros:

• Lower upfront costs
• Less commitment for short-term or seasonal needs
• Flexibility to regularly upgrade trailers

Cons:

• Binding of rental agreement
• No opportunity to sell or trade

Buying a trailer:

Pros:

• Growth in assets
• Readily available to you
• Cheaper investment over time

Cons:

• More money down upfront
• No flexibility to upgrade the trailer for special jobs

Rent with Hale Trailer

When renting a trailer from Hale Trailer, you receive equipment that has been carefully examined and will far exceed your expectations, not to mention the top-notch assistance when understanding how to rent a trailer. We’ll help you make the decision that makes the most sense for you.

Hale Trailer Brake & Wheel offers the necessary expertise to get you on the road in a trailer that’s in good condition, no matter how long you need to rent it. Our sizeable inventory and trailer experts will make the rental process as seamless as possible. We have a line-up of trailers ready for the road now, available to you for purchase or rent. Browse our vehicle line-up online or stop by one of trailer rental locations to learn more about working with us.