Porta Potty Forum
Log inAsk a question

Why is the monthly rental rate higher than the weekly rate times four?

Marcus B.asked 0 viewsCosts & Rental QuotesMonthly rentalLong term rentalService feeCost breakdown

I'm pricing a 6-month job for a 10-person crew on a residential gut rehab. The site is a city lot with gravel access for the vacuum truck. I need one standard portable toilet. The quotes I'm getting have a low weekly rate, but the monthly rate is more than four times that amount. It doesn't add up on the surface.

I understand the rental company has fixed costs per service visit like fuel and labor for the driver. A monthly rental means fewer service visits than four weekly ones, so I'd expect a discount, not a premium. The monthly invoice should show the rental rate and the service fee separately. Does the monthly rate include a built-in service fee that isn't itemized? Are they factoring in a longer commitment risk or administrative overhead for the contract? What is the actual reasoning behind this pricing structure?

1 answer

Sorted by votes
0
Nina R.Nashville, TN

The monthly rental rate is higher than the weekly rate times four because it bundles the cost of a fixed number of service visits into the rental rate, which the weekly rate does not. A weekly rental quote is typically just the rental fee for the standard unit itself, and each service visit is a separate line item billed per trip. For a month, the company includes several service trips in the flat monthly rate to simplify billing and guarantee revenue for the scheduled maintenance.

Your 10-person crew only requires one unit under OSHA 1926.51, since you have fewer than 20 workers. Weekly service is standard, but a long-term rental over six months means the company commits a unit and schedules regular driver time. The monthly rate reflects that commitment risk, administrative costs for the contract, and the fact that service cannot be skipped if the unit is blocked on a scheduled day, the trip is still billed. Ask the vendor to break out the rental fee and service fee in the quote so you see what you are paying for the unit versus the pumping.

Your answer

Log in or create a free account to answer this question.

Related questions