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Operated plant hire in South and West Wales
On an operated hire the machine comes with its own operator. You decide what gets dug, moved or levelled. The operator runs the machine for the days you book and looks after it on site.
What the hire includes
The quote lists each of these for your job, so you can see what is covered before you book.
A digger or dumper sized to the access and the work, with the buckets the job needs.
Drives the machine for the booked days, holding a CPCS or NPORS card for that machine type.
Delivered on our own transport and collected when the hire ends.
Included in the day rate, or charged on use. To confirm.
The operator checks the machine each morning before it starts work.
Operator card, hire terms and insurance certificate sent with the quote when your site asks for them.
Who does what
Most questions on an operated hire come down to who is responsible for each part of the job. This is how it splits.
| Task | Copperworks | You or your site lead |
|---|---|---|
| Drive, check and secure the machine | Yes | No |
| Decide what gets dug, where and how deep | No | Yes |
| Mark out lines and levels | No | Yes |
| Find underground pipes and cables before digging | To confirm | To confirm |
| Arrange the skip or muck-away lorry | On request | Usually |
| Site access, parking and any induction | No | Yes |
Choose a machine
Each service page covers the jobs that machine suits, the sizes, and what happens on the day. Not sure which you need? Describe the job on the quote form and we will suggest one.
| Service | Sizes | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Mini digger with operator | 0.8–3 tonne | Footings, drainage trenches, patio and driveway dig-outs, garden work |
| Excavator with operator | 5–8 tonne | Plot strips, reduced-level digs, deep drainage, loading lorries |
| Dumper with operator | 0.5–3 tonne | Spoil to the skip, stone and sand to the work, backfilling |
| Groundworks support | Digger and dumper together | Clearance, foundations, drainage runs and levelling on building sites |
Questions about operated hire
The hire terms set out the detail.
How long is a day's hire?
Hours on site to confirm, for example 8 hours between 08:00 and 17:00.
Do I need to be on site?
Someone who can direct the work needs to be there when the operator starts, to show where to dig, how deep, and where the spoil goes.
What if the job takes longer than booked?
Policy to confirm: how extra days are booked and charged.
Can I drive the machine myself?
No. Copperworks only hires machines with an operator.
Request a quote
Describe the job and we reply with the machine, the operator, the number of days and the price.