Stop wasting money on rental fees. Earthmoving MSU Equipment shows how buying and reselling a used CAT excavator can save you $85,000 in just one year.

CAT 320 Rentals Hit $9,600 Per Month: US Contractors Are Buying Pre-Owned Instead

Published dealer rate cards now show a CAT 320-class excavator rents for $9,592 per month in the US market, with rental pricing up 3.2% year-over-year according to HERC Holdings’ 2024 earnings release. On a four-month construction job, that adds up to $38,368 in fees with nothing to show at the end. Earthmoving MSU Equipment, a curated online retailer of 100 to 140 pre-owned machines, is reporting a 2026 surge in contractors who have reviewed the numbers and found that buying a comparable used machine — then selling it after the project — costs 40% to 60% less.

THE RENTAL RATE SQUEEZE

An industry review of 2025 rental market data from the American Rental Association shows US equipment rental revenues reached $83.7 billion in 2024, up 8% from 2023, and are projected to hit $87.5 billion in 2025. United Rentals reported 2025 revenue of $16.1 billion, a 4.9% increase. Sustained market growth has kept per-unit pricing elevated, and for contractors running multi-month jobs, the math has quietly flipped: a project lasting four months or more now generates rental invoices that approach the resale value of a comparable pre-owned machine.

THE BUY-VS-RENT MATH

Earthmoving MSU Equipment stocks pre-owned CAT 320-class excavators from 2019 to 2022 model years, listed on the US market for $90,000 to $130,000. A contractor who buys at $105,000, completes a twelve-month project, and sells for approximately $82,000 nets a holding cost of $23,000 — against $115,104 in rental fees.

• 4-month job: $38,368 in rental fees vs. approximately $20,000 net ownership cost
• 8-month job: $76,736 in rental fees vs. approximately $25,000 net ownership cost
• 12-month job: $115,104 in rental fees vs. approximately $30,000 net ownership cost
•  Full inspection review: Every machine includes a multi-point condition report with verified hour meters and hydraulic test data
•  Ready to ship: All 100 to 140 machines in inventory are inspected and available within 5 business days

“Most contractors do not realize they have been subsidizing rental company profits for years,” said Kevin Evans, Public Relations Chief at Earthmoving MSU Equipment. “When they review the rental invoices from their last project, they see it immediately: they paid more in fees than the machine is worth. Buying, using, and reselling is not a complex strategy — it is arithmetic.”

ABOUT Earthmoving MSU Equipment

Earthmoving MSU Equipment is an online heavy equipment retailer based in Mount Olive, NC that sells a curated fleet of 100 to 140 inspected, pre-owned machines to independent contractors, farmers, and small businesses across the United States. Every listing includes detailed inspection reports available for buyer review, transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and nationwide shipping coordination. Founded in 2011, the company serves buyers in all 48 contiguous states. Learn more at https://emsu-equipment.com.
 

Media Contact

Organization: Earthmoving MSU Equipment

Contact Person: Kevin Evans

Website: https://emsu-equipment.com

Email:
info@emsu-equipment.com

Contact Number: +13368503078

Country:United States

Release id:43645

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