On many multi-site fleets, one project is hiring extra excavators while another has two of its own parked for weeks. Nobody planned it that way. Work fronts shift, a machine waits for parts, or a site winds down and its equipment is simply forgotten. Every idle day still costs finance, insurance, operators and wear on the books. Tracking utilisation for each machine shows where equipment is underused, and a short weekly review turns that into smarter moves between sites. This guide explains how, and how teams track machine hours by site in HVI.
Equipment Sitting Idle on Site? Track Utilisation and Redeploy Smarter
Measure how much each machine really works, separate idle time from breakdowns, and move equipment to where it earns before hiring more.
Why Machines Sit Idle
Idle equipment is rarely a single decision. It builds up from a few common situations.
No work front
The machine waits for the next stage of work to open up.
Fix: plan moves with the work scheduleWaiting for parts
A small repair leaves the machine parked for days.
Fix: track open defects and parts ordersNo operator
The machine is fine but nobody is free to run it.
Fix: match operator plans to machinesForgotten on site
A site winds down and equipment stays behind.
Fix: review every site's list weeklyMeasuring Utilisation Properly
Utilisation is simple to work out, as long as hours are recorded reliably for every machine.
| Machine status | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Working | Running on productive work | Nothing, this is the goal |
| Idle, available | Fit to work but not being used | Find work or move it to another site |
| Down for repair | Not fit to work | Speed up the repair and parts |
| Planned service | Out for scheduled maintenance | Plan around the work programme |
Keep idle time and repair time apart. A machine that is down needs a workshop answer, while a machine that is idle needs a planning answer.
See Which Machines Are Working and Which Are Waiting
HVI records hour meter readings, daily checks and open defects for every machine at every site, so you can see where equipment is underused and which machines are down for repair.
A Weekly Redeployment Review
Fifteen minutes each week between site and plant teams can save a month of hire charges.
List low users
Find machines below your target utilisation.
Check the reason
Idle, down or waiting for an operator.
Match to needs
Compare with sites asking for machines or hiring.
Inspect and move
Check the machine before and after transfer.
Move, Keep or Let Go?
Low utilisation over months points to a bigger decision than a single move.
- Another site needs the same type of machine
- That site is hiring a similar machine
- Transport cost is small against the hire saved
- The machine passes its inspection
- Utilisation stays low across all sites
- Upcoming projects do not need that type
- Repair costs are rising on an underused machine
- Hiring as needed would cost less than owning
Utilisation by Site in HVI
A sample monthly view across three projects.
| Machine | Site | Utilisation | Main reason for lost hours | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EX-02 | Mine site B | 94% | Planned service only | Fully used |
| DT-08 | Plant C | 61% | Waiting for tyres | Speed up repair |
| EX-04 | Highway package A | 38% | No work front | Move to site B |
Equipment Utilisation FAQs
How is equipment utilisation calculated?
Divide the hours a machine worked by the hours it was available, such as shift hours in the period. For example, 99 hours worked out of 260 available is 38% utilisation.
What is a good utilisation figure?
It depends on the machine and the work, so set a target for each machine type based on your own projects and compare against it every month.
What is the difference between idle and down?
An idle machine is fit to work but not being used. A down machine cannot work until it is repaired. Each needs a different fix, so record them separately.
Do I need telematics to track utilisation?
No. Regular hour meter readings at daily checks give a reliable picture on any machine. Teams that record hours in HVI can compare machines across sites.
Can utilisation be compared across many sites?
Yes, as long as every site records hours and status the same way. Book a demo to see how HVI can show machine hours across your sites.
Put Every Machine to Work
Track hours for every machine, separate idle time from repairs, review utilisation weekly and move equipment where it is needed, with records kept in HVI. Fewer hire charges and better use of the fleet you own.
