Customer Hire Policy & Dry Hire Terms

Effective date: 26 June 2026 Version: 1.1

Precision Digger Hire ABN 35 571 562 923 7B/3–5 Islander Road, Pialba QLD 4655 0457 032 189 | admin@precisiondiggerhire.com

1. About these Terms

These Customer Hire Policy & Dry Hire Terms apply to every hire of equipment from Precision Digger Hire ("PDH", "we", "us" or "our").

By accepting a quote, paying an invoice, collecting equipment, accepting delivery, signing a Dry Hire Agreement, or allowing equipment to be used, you ("Customer", "Hirer", "you" or "your") agree to these Terms.

Your Booking Confirmation sets out the commercial details of your hire, including the equipment, hire dates, hire rate, delivery arrangements and any approved attachments. These Terms form part of that Booking Confirmation and any signed Dry Hire Agreement.

Where there is any inconsistency, the Booking Confirmation will apply to the specific booking details, while these Terms apply to all other matters.

2. Dry Hire Only

All hires are dry hire only, unless PDH confirms otherwise in writing.

This means:

•no operator is supplied by PDH;
•PDH does not assess your operator's competence;
•PDH does not provide site-specific safety advice, supervision or training;
•you are responsible for deciding whether the equipment is suitable for your intended work and site conditions; and
•you are responsible for safe operation, compliance with all applicable work health and safety requirements, and the conduct of all persons using or near the equipment.

3. Operator Requirements

You warrant that every person who operates the equipment:

•is at least 25 years old;
•has at least two years' experience operating equivalent machinery;
•is competent, experienced and legally authorised to operate the equipment;
•holds any licence, competency or certification required by law;
•is not affected by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, illness or any other impairment; and
•will use the equipment safely and within its rated operating capacity.

You must not allow an unauthorised, inexperienced, impaired or unqualified person to operate the equipment.

If the equipment is operated by a person who does not meet these requirements, you remain liable for any additional insurance excess, uninsured loss, insurer declinature, damage, claim or other cost arising from that operation.

4. Payment, Hire Period and Time Held

Full payment must be received before equipment is released, collected or delivered, unless PDH agrees otherwise in writing.

Hire charges are based on time held, not machine operating hours. The hire period starts when the equipment is collected by you or delivered to your nominated site. It ends only when the equipment has been returned to PDH and accepted following inspection.

Standard hire hours are 7:00am to 4:00pm. Equipment returned outside these hours may be treated as a late return.

Late returns are charged at 1.5 times the applicable daily hire rate, unless otherwise agreed by PDH in writing.

Where weekend hire applies, the standard weekend period is from Friday 5:00pm to Sunday 5:00pm, based on time held.

PDH may charge additional amounts where applicable, including for cleaning, refuelling, damage, excess, recovery, downtime, late return, collection, repair, replacement, debt recovery and legal costs.

5. No Bond and Damage Waiver

PDH does not generally require a security bond unless specifically agreed in writing.

The absence of a bond does not reduce or limit your liability for the equipment. You remain responsible for all amounts payable under these Terms, including insurance excesses, damage, uninsured losses, downtime, recovery costs and legal or debt collection costs.

A mandatory damage waiver may be included in your hire charges. The damage waiver covers only:

•fair wear and tear; and
•minor accidental damage accepted by PDH as falling within the waiver.

The damage waiver is not comprehensive insurance and does not remove your responsibility for loss or damage that is excluded from the waiver.

The damage waiver does not cover, and you remain fully liable for:

•negligence, misuse, reckless operation, overloading or use beyond the equipment's rating;
•water ingress, submersion, flooding, tidal areas, drains, creeks or water exposure;
•underground works or below-ground operations;
•theft, attempted theft, unexplained disappearance, vandalism or loss of keys;
•loading, unloading, towing or transport damage, unless PDH has separately agreed in writing to provide transport;
•track or tyre damage caused by sharp objects, rubble, demolition waste, rebar or unsuitable site conditions;
•hydraulic damage caused by impact, over-extension or incorrect use;
•engine, electrical or mechanical damage caused by overheating, low oil, low coolant, incorrect fuel or contaminated fuel;
•continued operation after warning lights, alarms, leaks, smoke, abnormal noise or other signs of fault;
•prohibited use; or
•any loss not accepted by PDH as minor accidental damage or fair wear and tear.

6. Insurance, Excess and Customer Liability

The equipment may be insured under PDH's plant insurance policy at PDH's discretion. PDH may decide whether or not to lodge an insurance claim.

You assume the risk of theft, loss or damage to the equipment from collection or delivery until the equipment is returned to and accepted by PDH, except to the extent that loss is caused solely by PDH's proven negligence.

If an insurance claim is made, you are liable for:

•the applicable insurance excess;
•any uninsured portion of the loss;
•any depreciation, gap, shortfall or finance amount not covered by insurance;
•loss of use, downtime or continuing hire charges during repair or replacement, where applicable; and
•any other reasonable cost incurred by PDH as a result of the incident.

The standard excess is currently:

•$1,000 for plant equipment; and
•$1,000 for a trailer, where applicable.

If an event is not covered by insurance for any reason, including exclusions, prohibited use, negligence, breach of these Terms or insurer declinature, you remain fully liable for the resulting loss.

PDH's public and products liability insurance covers PDH's own business activities. It does not insure you, your business, your operators or your use of the equipment. You should maintain your own appropriate public liability and other insurance cover.

7. Security, Theft and Failure to Return

You must keep the equipment secure whenever it is not in use.

You must:

•remove keys from the equipment;
•not leave keys in, on or near the equipment;
•store the equipment in a secure location;
•take reasonable steps to prevent theft, vandalism or unauthorised use; and
•notify PDH immediately if the equipment is stolen, damaged, missing or involved in an incident.

You are responsible for theft or loss where keys are left in or near the equipment, or where reasonable security measures have not been taken.

Theft by a hirer and failure to return equipment are not insured events.

Failure to return equipment at the end of the hire period is a material breach of these Terms. If equipment is not returned within 24 hours after the agreed end of hire, PDH may treat it as unauthorised retention or abandonment and may recover the equipment where lawful.

You will be liable for all resulting costs, including replacement value, recovery or repossession costs, hire charges, downtime, lost income, debt collection costs and legal costs.

8. Prohibited Use

The equipment must not be used for:

•work in water, flood-prone areas, tidal zones, drains, creeks or similar environments;
•underground works, tunnelling or below-ground operations;
•lifting people or suspended loads;
•use as a crane;
•demolition beyond the equipment's rated capability;
•work on unsafe slopes, unstable ground or unsuitable site conditions;
•removal, weakening or interference with support to land, buildings, retaining structures or other property;
•any illegal, unsafe or unauthorised purpose; or
•any use contrary to the manufacturer's operating instructions or PDH's directions.

You are responsible for identifying and managing site risks, including underground and overhead services, structures, access limitations, soft ground, unstable surfaces, hazards and obstructions.

9. Transport, Trailers and Delivery

Unless PDH has agreed in writing to deliver or collect the equipment, you are responsible for transport, loading, restraint, unloading and all associated risks.

Where a trailer is supplied, you warrant that:

•your towing vehicle is appropriately rated, registered, roadworthy and legally compliant;
•all towing, loading and restraint requirements are met;
•the trailer and equipment are properly secured; and
•only suitably qualified persons tow, load and unload the equipment.

All transport-related damage is your responsibility unless PDH transports the equipment under a separate written delivery arrangement.

Delivery and collection within the Hervey Bay area is generally charged at $50 each way. Delivery or collection outside the Hervey Bay area must be quoted and agreed in writing before dispatch.

If delivery or collection cannot be completed because of incorrect address details, unsuitable access, site conditions, absence of an authorised person or other circumstances within your control, you remain liable for the applicable delivery and collection charges.

10. Equipment Condition, Inspection and Evidence

Pre-hire and post-hire photos, videos, condition reports and notes form part of your hire agreement.

You must inspect the equipment at the start of hire. Unless you notify PDH in writing of an issue before operating the equipment, the equipment will be treated as accepted in good working order and in the condition recorded by PDH.

You must immediately stop using the equipment and notify PDH if you notice:

•warning lights or alarms;
•leaks, smoke or overheating;
•abnormal noise, vibration or operation;
•damage to tracks, tyres, hydraulics, attachments or controls; or
•any other fault or concern.

Continued operation after a warning, alarm, fault or abnormal condition may be treated as misuse or gross negligence, and you will be liable for any resulting damage.

PDH will inspect the equipment upon return. Post-hire photographs, condition reports and inspection findings may be used to assess cleaning, repair, damage, recovery and other applicable charges.

11. Cleaning, Fuel and Consumables

Equipment must be returned clean and refuelled to the same level as at the start of hire.

A minimum cleaning fee of $150 may apply where equipment is returned with excessive mud, clay, concrete, debris, rubbish or other contamination.

You are responsible for the cost of refuelling where fuel is not returned to the original level.

Damage caused by incorrect fuel, contaminated fuel, low oil, low coolant or failure to undertake basic checks is fully chargeable to you.

12. Incidents and Third-Party Claims

If an incident occurs involving the equipment, you must:

•stop work immediately where safe to do so;
•take reasonable steps to prevent further damage;
•contact PDH as soon as possible;
•take photographs and preserve relevant evidence where practical; and
•provide PDH with all information reasonably requested.

You must not admit liability, agree to pay a third party, make settlement offers, sign releases, or communicate with insurers, claimants or legal representatives about an incident without PDH's written consent.

Nothing in these Terms limits any lawful right of PDH's insurer to recover from you or another responsible party.

13. Indemnity, Recovery Costs and Liability

To the extent permitted by law, you indemnify PDH against claims, losses, damages, liabilities, penalties, fines, costs and expenses arising from:

•your possession, control, transport, storage or operation of the equipment;
•a breach of these Terms;
•injury, death, property damage or loss occurring during the hire period; or
•the acts or omissions of your operators, employees, contractors, agents or guests.

You must pay reasonable costs incurred by PDH in enforcing these Terms, including recovery costs, collection fees and legal costs.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, PDH is not liable for indirect or consequential loss, delay costs, loss of profit, loss of opportunity or business interruption arising from the hire of equipment.

14. Businesses, Companies and Personal Guarantees

If you hire equipment on behalf of a company, trust, partnership or other entity, the person signing or accepting these Terms personally guarantees the payment and performance of that entity's obligations under these Terms.

That person's liability is joint and several with the entity.

15. Privacy

You consent to PDH collecting, storing and using your personal information for purposes connected with your enquiry, booking, identification, payment, condition reports, insurance, incident management, debt recovery, legal compliance and customer service.

You also consent to PDH using photos, videos and condition-report records as evidence in connection with equipment condition, insurance claims, recovery action or disputes.

16. Australian Consumer Law

Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable law.

17. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Queensland, Australia.

Contact Us

For booking, equipment or hire-term enquiries, contact:

Precision Digger Hire 7B/3–5 Islander Road, Pialba QLD 4655 0457 032 189 admin@precisiondiggerhire.com