By Doug Dougherty, CEO, Cooper Equipment Rentals. Published by Heavy Equipment Guide.

From sustainability to workforce solutions, rental strategies can help navigate big industry shifts in 2025

If the past couple of years have taught us anything, it’s that the construction industry is resilient.

After some turbulent times, last year was approached with a healthy dose of cautious optimism. And it was, as predicted, a bit underwhelming in terms of growth — but it was smooth sailing overall. Interest rates cooled the Canadian economy, and residential construction softened while infrastructure demand continued. Despite a changing landscape, contractors still faced everyday challenges like improving productivity, fuel costs, equipment utilization, accessing skilled labour, and keeping workers safe. Construction equipment rental continued to present an agile solution — allowing contractors to adapt project-specific needs without committing to long-term ownership.

As we make our way into 2025, I see a construction industry that will require adaptability and smart decision-making to meet evolving demands around sustainability, safety, labour, and operational efficiency. Rental equipment provides contractors with the agility to stay competitive while managing risk and protecting their bottom line. With more infrastructure spending projected, having reliable rental partners who can keep up with fleet optimization will be essential to success.

Rental as a sustainability strategy

We will see a shift toward better visibility and awareness around emissions and carbon footprints in 2025. Many larger construction companies are already working on ESG reporting and reducing emissions with electric equipment and alternative fuels. But how we can support smaller contractors in these endeavours is something to consider.