Do You Know the 80/20 Rule of Equipment Use?

Walk onto almost any construction site in Ontario and you’ll see it: a skid steer buzzing around, a forklift hauling pallets and maybe an excavator digging away. These machines are in near-constant motion and doing the heavy lifting of your crew.

But in the background, you might also notice a boom lift that hasn’t moved in days or a crane parked and waiting for a short window of use.

This is where the 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, comes in. Originally an economic observation, it says that 80% of results come from just 20% of efforts or resources. Applied to construction, it means something most contractors already know deep down: 20% of your equipment does 80% of the work. The rest is only needed occasionally, yet it costs you year-round if you own it.

The Hidden Drain of Idle Equipment

A machine that isn’t moving still eats away at your bottom line. Contractors often underestimate these costs, but they can easily add thousands of dollars per year per machine.

Storage Headaches

Machines take up valuable yard or warehouse space, sometimes even requiring rented storage lots.

Maintenance Obligations

Filters, fluids, tires and safety inspections don’t stop just because a machine is sitting still.

Insurance Premiums

You’re paying monthly to insure equipment that might only see 10 days of action a year.

Depreciation

From the moment you buy, the clock starts ticking on resale value, whether you use it or not.

Why Renting Equipment is the Answer

Renting from Bercon Rentals turns the 80/20 rule in your favour:

• Pay for what you actually use. Need a boom lift for 10 days? That’s all you’ll pay for.

• Stay project-ready. Whether it’s a glass lifter for delicate installs or a telehandler for material handling, you can bring in specialized equipment exactly when the job demands it.

• Keep your fleet lean. Focus your ownership dollars on the 20% of machines that truly run daily, while renting everything else.

Skip the hassle. Every piece of Bercon’s fleet is maintained, inspected, and delivered ready to work — no downtime, no surprises.

A Smarter Way to Build

The Pareto Principle isn’t just a theory; it’s a practical way to manage Ontario construction projects with less waste, fewer headaches and bigger profits. By recognizing that not every machine needs to be in your yard full-time, you can free up capital, reduce overhead and keep your projects nimble.

When you rent equipment strategically, you’re building smarter! Ready to put the 80/20 rule to work on your next project? Contact Bercon Rentals today to get the exact equipment you need, exactly when you need it.