Site Checklist Before the Backhoe Arrives
Seven things to have ready before the machine comes off the lorry — so day one is not spent waiting.
Published on July 26, 20261 min read
Why this checklist pays
The rental day starts when the machine arrives, not when work starts. An unprepared site can burn half a rental day before the first bucket goes into the ground.
Seven things to check
- Access width — measure the tightest point, gates and posts included.
- Entry permission — in guarded neighbourhoods, give notice so the low-loader is not turned away.
- Underground utilities — mark cables, water and gas lines before digging.
- Spoil space — decide where excavated soil will sit.
- Disposal — if soil has to leave, book the lorry alongside the machine.
- A site contact — someone who can point out the dig line and make decisions.
- Water and weather — waterlogged ground needs board tracks or a postponed date.
Common warning sign
If nobody can confirm dig depth or pipe positions, do not start. One burst pipe costs far more than postponing by a day.
After the work
Photograph the final condition before the machine leaves. It protects both sides in any dispute about the state of the site or the access road.
The day before delivery
Walk the site with this list and confirm access, spoil space and utility positions. Fifteen minutes of checking saves half a rental day.
Send a photo of the access to the supplier too. If there is a narrow gate or a tight turn we can switch to a machine that fits before the lorry leaves, not after it arrives.