Construction Equipment Needed for Road Work
Bierschbach Equipment & Supply
If your crew is bidding on road construction projects, whether that's a municipal repaving job or new road building from the ground up, you need equipment that matches the scope of the work. Road construction sites move fast, and having the right equipment on hand keeps a project on schedule instead of stalled behind a rental delay.
Construction Equipment Needed for Road Work
Road construction breaks down into distinct phases, and each one calls for different heavy construction equipment. A crew working a full road construction project needs machines for site preparation, milling, paving, and compaction, often on the same job.
Site Preparation and Earthmoving
Before paving starts, the site needs to be cleared, graded, and set to proper drainage specs. Skid steer loaders and compact track loaders move material, clear debris, and handle grading work in areas too tight for larger machines. Loaders handle bulk material handling and loading materials onto trucks for haul-off or delivery.
Concrete Placement & Finishing Equipment
From the first pour to the final finish, Bierschbach Equipment & Supply has the equipment and tools contractors rely on to keep concrete projects moving efficiently. Our lineup includes track concrete buggies for transporting concrete across challenging job sites with minimal ground disturbance, concrete saws for accurate cutting and joint work, power trowels that deliver smooth, professional finishes, and durable concrete forms.
Compaction Equipment
Compaction locks the base material into place. Rollers compact large sections and give the surface the density it needs to hold up under traffic. Soil compactors handle the base and subgrade work before paving starts, and they matter just as much to the finished road as the rollers that come after.
Drainage and Grading Support
Proper drainage gets built in during site preparation and grading, using the same skid steer and compactor that shapes the roadbed. Skipping this step in the construction process is one of the most common reasons road projects need costly rework later.
Buy vs Rent Road Construction Equipment
Not sure if you should invest in dedicated equipment or rent it? The answer depends as much on your current situation and needs as it depends on your available capital. And that answer also changes from one piece of machinery to the next.
Buying New or Used Equipment: Higher Investment for Long-Term Needs
If your company runs road construction projects year-round, owning core equipment like skid steers, loaders, and compactors usually pays off. New or used equipment that stays busy across multiple job sites earns back its cost faster than equipment that sits idle between projects.
Buy new or used road construction equipment when:
- Your projects will use the equipment 60-70% of the time (around 3-4 days per week on average)
- Your projects are consistent in size and scope, avoiding idle time
- Your rental cost per project exceeds the payments and tax benefits for ownership
Renting for Road Construction Equipment Needs: Better for Step-Up Needs
Not every project calls for a full fleet. Renting gives contractors access to specialized paving equipment, like track concrete buggies, concrete saws, power trowels, and durable concrete forms, without the cost of owning equipment that only sees use on certain road projects. It's also the right move when a job requires more equipment than your current fleet has on hand. Renting lets a growing business take on larger road construction sites without tying up capital in equipment that won't run every week.
Rent equipment when:
- Your current workload would utilize the equipment in rare occasions (large or unique projects)
- Buying equipment would tie up capital that would be better used for other business needs
- A contract has specific equipment needs that do not cross over to multiple projects
- Rental costs are lower than payments and tax benefits
Road Work Equipment Rentals
Bierschbach Equipment & Supply provides road construction equipment rentals across the Midwest, with locations built to support contractors close to their job sites. Whether you need a skid steer for a week or a compactor for a full season, our rental fleet covers the construction equipment used across every phase of road building.
Each location carries road building equipment suited to regional job conditions, from asphalt pavers to soil compactors. Contact us to check availability or get help matching the right equipment to your next road construction project.
FAQs
How do you decide which equipment to use on a road construction project?
Most contractors base equipment selection on the phase of work and the site conditions. Site prep calls for skid steers and track loaders. Paving calls for milling machines, cold planers, and asphalt pavers. Matching the machine to the phase keeps production on pace and avoids wear on equipment that isn't built for the task.
What slows down road construction jobs on-site?
Running the wrong equipment for the phase of work is one of the biggest culprits. So is poor site preparation that leaves drainage or grading issues unresolved before paving starts. Limited access to the right compaction equipment can also stall a job in tighter areas of the site.
When does it make more sense to rent road construction equipment instead of owning it?
Renting works well for specialized paving equipment used only on certain projects, or when a job needs more capacity than your current fleet provides. It lets contractors take on a wider range of road construction sites without buying machines that won't stay busy year-round.