Water truck hire rates in Australia: A comprehensive guide

As construction and mining activities continue to ramp up across Australia, hire rates for plant and equipment are also getting more competitive – which is a good indication that the economy is also recovering pre-COVID. 

Similar to excavators, water trucks or water carts are also affected by the fluctuation in hire rates and there are several factors that contribute to this. 

Based on research and insights from experts within the Felix team, we have gathered the different factors that will affect the hire rates of water trucks. 

Factors that affect water truck hire rates 

• Type and size 
• Wet hire or dry hire 
• Location and availability, transportation 
• Additional features and attachments 
• Hire duration and time 

Before we delve into the factors that affect the hire rates of a water truck, let us take a moment to get to know this versatile piece of equipment. 

Water trucks are specialised vehicles that have several applications including dust suppression, road or soil compaction, farming as well as carrying water for drinking, firefighting or crowd control. 

The main components of a water truck include the cab, the tanker and a pumping or spraying system. Most, if not all, water trucks also have the capacity to accommodate different attachments to make it more efficient and effective in distributing water. 

Type and size 

Just like other pieces of plant and equipment, water trucks have several types you can choose from depending on the job at hand. 

Water trucks have different size tankers that can carry water up to thousands of litres at a time. Depending on the capacity of the tanker, the hire rate for a water truck could range from $180 to $550 a day in Queensland. 

In a similar manner, hire rates for the different types of water truck will also vary. 

Now, let us look at the different water trucks for hire through the Felix Vendor Marketplace. 

Articulated water truck – this vehicle has a water tank on the rear section that is connected by a flexible joint or articulated joint to the front cab of the truck. The entire section where the tank sits can be removed as needed. Each part of the truck – cab and tanker – can be maneouvered independently, which makes it easier to navigate around tight spaces and turns or off-road terrains. 

Rigid water truck – this type of water truck has a cab and tanker sitting on a single chassis or supporting frame. Rigid trucks are usually road registered vehicles, which means they can be driven on paved roads. Due to the build of rigid trucks where weight is evenly distributed throughout the entire body of the truck, it makes this kind of heavy machinery ideal for long distance travel. 

Water tanker – similar in build to a fuel tanker, this purpose-built trailer attached to road registered trucks. The water tanker can transport large quantities of water and can travel long distances, making it ideal to use in remote project sites where water supply is scarce. 

Scraper water truck – this is a type of truck or tractor mounted tanker, specifically one mounted on a scraper. This type of water truck is built lower to the ground, and it is commonly used in agriculture 

Dinosaur water truck – similar to scraper water trucks, the dinosaur water truck is mainly used in agriculture. It is designed to transport water across difficult terrains – such as soft or uneven ground or off-road sites – that normal water trucks would have a hard time moving on. 

Wet hire or dry hire 

When hiring a water cart for the job, one thing to consider is if you need to hire an operator with it or not – wet hire or dry hire. 

If you already have someone who has the necessary requirements to operate a water truck in your employment, then dry hiring would be the best option – and the cheaper option as well. However, you need to make sure that your employee is fully capable of operating the water truck 

According to SEEK, you will need the following before becoming a water cart operator: a driver’s licence, a Medium Rigid (MR) heavy vehicle licence and Water Truck licence, an induction card (White Card) to enter a construction site, ample experience in driving a truck, and a completed drug and alcohol screening (as required). 

Note: Certifications and licences can be acquired by completing short courses at Registered Training Organisation (RTO). 

Location, availability and transportation 

The law of supply and demand also applies to water trucks and hire rates are affected by the availability of water trucks in your area. 

To refresh your memory, the law of supply and demand states that when the supply of a product or service exceeds demand, prices will be lower. Likewise, when the demand is higher than supply, prices will rise. 

Simply put, when there is an oversupply of water trucks or their substitutes in your state/region/area, hire rates will be lower compared to, for example, in the next state/region/area where the number of available water trucks for hire is less. 

The supply of water trucks will also depend on the number of competitive equipment hire companies within a particular area or region. 

In cases where there is an undersupply of water trucks in your area, you might have to resort to hiring one from a supplier from outside your region. This means that the water truck needs to be transported a longer distance, which will incur transportation costs. 

Additional features and attachments 

Water trucks are equipped with a pumping or spray system that enables it to dispense or disperse water. 

Additional attachments and features can also be installed onto the water truck to make it more efficient in doing its job. This could include pumps, hose, water cannons, etc depending on what the water truck is needed for. 

Added attachments and features will, of course, add to the cost of hiring a water truck. 

Hire duration and time 

Hire rates for a water truck are also affected by the duration of hire – whether you need to hire a water truck for a few hours to water your crops or a few days to serve as a water supply for a remote project location. 

Suppliers will either provide you with an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly rate depending on your specific requirements. 

Some suppliers can also provide you with a discount if you are hiring a water truck long-term, but this is subject to the supplier’s financial capabilities. 

There will also be different rates if you are wet hiring the water truck overnight or during a holiday. If you exceed the number of hours for your hire, overtime charges will also be included in your final invoice. There will also be cases where suppliers will have a different rate for daytime hire and nighttime hire. 

Taken from Felix Vendor Marketplace data, different wet hire rates for an 11,000-20,000 litre water truck in Queensland range between $120 an hour, $145 an hour at night, $135 an hour overtime, and $137 an hour during public holidays.

Tips and tricks to get relevant hire rates 

Provide detailed information 

To get the most relevant hire rates, you need to provide detailed information about your project and your needs for the water truck when requesting for quotes. 

Provide an accurate or updated timeline of when you will need the water truck as well as specific details about your project location. This will help the supplier gauge any fluctuations in hire rates based on the location and enable them to check whether access to your project site will have any restrictions or difficulties. 

Also make sure that you indicate any additional requirements such as specific attachments or features that you need the water truck to have. 

Be specific with your timeline and schedule 

When submitting a request for quotes, make sure that you provide a detailed timeline that includes the start and end dates of your project as well as periods when the water truck is not needed on site. 

Project delays due to unforeseen events are inevitable. If there are any delays in your timeline, make sure that you keep your supplier in the loop so they can adjust your hire duration accordingly to avoid incurring any penalties. 

Ask for a rates breakdown 

A good and trustworthy supplier is transparent with their clients, so it won’t be an issue if you ask them for a detailed breakdown of the hire rates. 

Ask for specifics such as fuel charges, maintenance and repair costs, transportation/mobilisation/demobilisation costs as well as fees for the installation of additional attachments or features to the water truck. 

Disclaimer: The hire rates data found in this post is a snapshot of the market and does not guarantee the same rates at present. For the most up to date water truck hire rates, it is best to submit a request for quotes. 

Being able to acquire the most accurate and relevant hire rates from suppliers will make the procurement process for any project size a breeze and Felix Vendor Marketplace can help. 

Felix Vendor Marketplace lists thousands of equipment suppliers and subcontractors across Australia. The platform will not only allow you to request for quotes from equipment suppliers or subcontractors near you, but also allow you to compare quotes from several vendors, giving you the choice of which equipment or service to hire depending on your specifications and budget. 

Our team aims to provide our readers and clients with industry knowledge that will be able to help them get relevant quotes for plant and equipment hire or subcontractor service. If you find this article helpful, please do subscribe to our blog for the latest project news and industry insights.