How fleet rentals transform hauling operations

Waste and recycling haulers no longer view fleet rentals as quick fixes during crisis situations—they’re using them as strategic solutions for their operational needs. Whether a short-term solution while a truck is serviced or a long-term capital strategy as a company expands, haulers are shifting from crisis-driven rentals to making them a key part of their business.

Traditionally, the approach to fleet management has been full ownership, with haulers purchasing and maintaining their own fleets. However, as operations evolve, so do fleet strategies.

Fleet Rentals as a Strategic Financial Advantage

As a leading provider of capital, growth and operational fleet solutions across the U.S. and Canada, Tampa, Florida-based BTR is helping haulers optimize fleets through short-term rentals, long-term rentals and rent-to-purchase agreements. These flexible options provide haulers with a more practical and efficient way to keep operations running smoothly while reducing maintenance costs and minimizing downtime.

These service offerings also provide significant financial advantages, such as freeing up capital for growth and improving cash flow predictability. By preventing fleet-related large capital expenditures, haulers can focus on other areas of their businesses, such as expanding route coverage, integrating new fleet technologies or enhancing customer service offerings.

“Rentals play an important role in maintaining service capabilities and cost-effectiveness,” says Pete Hendrickson, vice president of environmental sales at BTR. “Historically, when a truck broke down, the solution was to repair an older truck and put it back on the road at all costs. Now, rentals provide haulers with a more affordable alternative that reduces the risks and costs associated with running older trucks more prone to breakdowns.”

Another key consideration of rentals is their impact on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).

While renting trucks can negatively impact EBITDA, in many cases, rental expenses can be added back to EBITDA at the time of sale, maximizing equity value and financial flexibility.

“There are multiple ways to offset rental costs,” explains Hendrickson. “For example, when working with both large and small haulers, rentals can help accelerate their conversion to automation, which increases route efficiency, reduces labor costs and improves safety.”

Customized Rental Solutions for Evolving Operations

With more than 20 years of experience, BTR understands that no two operations are the same, and each operation has different needs. This understanding led to BTR’s three core pillars—flexible, supportive and dependable—allowing the company to craft solutions that work for each customer.

“As we continue to work with our customers, uncover the pain points associated with full fleet ownership and identify more ways rentals can solve these problems, we continue to see rentals become a more accepted part of fleet and capital management strategies, just like in other industries,” says Hendrickson.

Through its consultative, customer- first approach, BTR will continue to help haulers overcome their fleet challenges, unlock the benefits of rentals and ultimately enhance their operations.

To learn more about BTR’s capital, growth and operational fleet solutions, please visit bigtruckrental.com or call 813-291-3275.