Self-Serve or Full-Serve? When It Comes to Renting Traffic Control Devices and Services, the Choice Is Yours.

When renting traffic control is this: Do you rent just the devices or should you also “rent” the expertise these companies offer’ Companies will deliver and set up the devices on the job, maintain them throughout the life of the project, do all the switchovers when there’s a phase change and remove everything at the end of the job. It’s an opportunity for the prime contractor to turn over an entire set of responsibilities and liabilities. Perhaps the most important knowledge traffic control rental providers have is an understanding of what traffic control devices and plans are accepted on state and local levels. Because there’s such a wide gamut of devices and services available, make sure you have a clear understanding with your rental provider about what’s included in the price. In addition, make sure the devices are NHCRP 350 compliant, even if you are working for an owner that doesn’t require it. In order to give you what you need, your rental provider should also ask you several questions. They have to understand how you intend to build it. One technology gaining rapid acceptance is ITS, or intelligent traffic systems, which use computers to monitor and control traffic through work zones. Traffic control devices and their placement are governed by myriad regulations. On the federal side, the devices and traffic control plans must abide by the MUTCD, and all such devices must pass the crashworthiness standard set by the NHCRP Report 350. Fourteen states have currently adopted the MUTCD with a state supplement. Another five states have indicated that they plan to do the same. And four states said they’ll continue to use their own state version of the MUTCD. All of this promotes renting traffic control devices, whether or not you sub out all your traffic control needs. If renting from a local provider, they can quickly get you up to speed on the norms in the area.