Have Paver, Will Travel
Equipment and maintenance costs are one thing, but how will the choice of a paver affect the rest of a contractor’s operation? As strange as it may sound, several paving contractors make their equipment decisions based on portability. This mostly relates to the smaller, entry-level contractors, but travel costs are an important consideration for any operation - regardless of size.

For instance, consider a contractor that chooses a larger, conveyor-fed commercial paver for his or her operation. Because of its size, this paver will require the use of a dedicated trailer and pickup to tow it to the job site. Another pickup and trailer will be needed to tow the supporting equipment. On the other hand, most gravity-fed pavers can fit on a trailer, along with a roller, skid steer and all the needed hand tools. In this case, the contractor has cut the operation’s travel expenses in half, towing all necessary equipment in one load.

It comes down to understanding one’s workload and goals, and choosing the best piece of equipment to cater to both.