FDOT & Transportation Equipment Rentals Across Tampa Bay, FL
SBE-Certified Equipment Rentals for FDOT & Transportation Projects
Hilltide Rentals is a qualified Small Business Enterprise (SBE). The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) requires Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation on federally funded road, bridge, and highway construction projects. These requirements are tied to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding and are enforced through FDOT’s Equal Opportunity Office.
As an SBE-certified equipment rental company, Hilltide Rentals helps general contractors and prime contractors working on FDOT projects meet their SBE participation requirements. Equipment rental spend with Hilltide counts toward your SBE compliance goals — without sacrificing fleet quality, availability, or reliability.
Whether your project is funded through the FDOT Work Program, federal transportation funding, or local transportation improvement programs, adding Hilltide Rentals to your team strengthens your SBE compliance while giving you access to a modern, well-maintained fleet and dedicated project support.
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Equipment for FDOT & Transportation Projects
Equipment Details for Transportation Projects
Available models: 19' Scissor Lift | 20' Scissor Lift | 26' Scissor Lift | 32' Scissor Lift | 40' Scissor Lift
Transportation applications:
- Bridge inspection access and underside work
- Toll plaza construction and maintenance
- Highway signage installation and replacement
- Overpass interior inspection and repair
- Interchange lighting installation and maintenance
- Sound wall installation
- Toll gantry and electronic sign maintenance
Available models: 40' Straight Boom | 60' Straight Boom | 86' Straight Boom | 120' Straight Boom | 135' Straight Boom | 45' Articulating Boom | 60' Articulating Boom | 85' Articulating Boom
Transportation applications:
- Bridge construction, inspection, and repair
- Overhead sign structure installation and maintenance
- Interchange lighting and high-mast light pole work
- Overpass and flyover construction
- Elevated highway inspection and rehabilitation
- Structural steel erection on bridge projects
- Cable-stayed and suspension bridge component access
Available models: 5,000 lb Telehandler | 6,000 lb Telehandler | 8,000 lb Telehandler | 10,000 lb Telehandler | 12,000 lb Telehandler | 16,000 lb Telehandler
Transportation applications:
- Barrier wall and jersey barrier placement
- Precast concrete segment and component handling
- Material staging within active work zones
- Structural component handling for bridge construction
- Guardrail and cable rail material distribution
- Bridge deck form placement
- Mechanical equipment positioning at toll plazas
Available models: 2,000 lb Mini Excavator | 9,000 lb Excavator | 12,000 lb Excavator | 33,000 lb Excavator | 50,000 lb Excavator | 72,000 lb Long Arm Excavator | 116,000 lb Excavator
Transportation applications:
- Road excavation, grading, and earthwork
- Drainage ditch construction and clearing
- Utility relocation (water, sewer, electric, fiber, gas)
- Bridge foundation and pile cap excavation
- Retention and detention pond construction
- Culvert installation and replacement
- Demolition of existing road structures and pavement
- Stormwater management infrastructure
Available models: 1,000 lb Mini Track Loader | 1,350 lb Track Loader | 1,400 lb Track Loader | 1,840 lb Track Loader | 2,300 lb Track Loader | 2,750 lb Track Loader | 2,900 lb Track Loader | 3,900 lb Track Loader
Transportation applications:
- Road shoulder work and grading
- Material spreading and distribution
- Vegetation clearing along rights-of-way
- Debris removal from work zones
- Final grade preparation for paving
- Sidewalk and multi-use path subgrade work
- Attachment versatility: buckets, augers, trenchers, sweepers, brush cutters
Available models: Jumping Jack Rammer (145-165 lbs) | 20" Reversible Vibratory Plate Compactor (7,000-8,600 lbs) | 22" Reversible Vibratory Plate Compactor (9,000-10,000 lbs)
Transportation applications:
- Road base and sub-base compaction
- Trench backfill compaction for utility relocation
- Embankment and fill compaction
- Shoulder compaction and stabilization
- Parking area and staging area construction
- Sidewalk and path base preparation
- Pipe zone backfill for drainage structures
Available models: Utility Vehicle 4x4 Crew Cab | Utility Vehicle 4x4 Single Cab
Transportation applications:
- Work zone crew transport along corridor projects
- Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) setup support
- Site inspection and supervisor mobility on long-corridor projects
- Survey and engineering support
- Material and tool transport between work zone segments
Major FDOT & Transportation Projects Across Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay's interstate and highway system carries millions of vehicle trips daily and requires constant expansion and maintenance. Transportation construction projects on these corridors range from lane additions and interchange reconstruction to full corridor rebuilds.
Corridors include but are not limited to:
- Interstate 275 (I-275) — The primary north-south interstate through Tampa and St. Petersburg, including the Howard Frankland Bridge crossing Tampa Bay
- Interstate 75 (I-75) — Major north-south corridor through eastern Hillsborough County
- Interstate 4 (I-4) — East-west corridor connecting Tampa Bay to Orlando
- State Road 60 (SR-60) — Key east-west arterial connecting Clearwater, Tampa, and Brandon
- Veterans Expressway / Suncoast Parkway — Northwest corridor through Hillsborough and Pasco counties
- Selmon Expressway — Elevated toll road through central Tampa and Brandon
- US Highway 19 — Major north-south route through Pinellas and Pasco counties
- US Highway 41 — North-south corridor through Hillsborough, Manatee, and surrounding counties
Tampa Bay's bridges and interchanges are critical infrastructure connecting communities across the region's waterways and highway systems. Bridge construction and rehabilitation projects require specialized aerial access equipment, heavy earthmoving machinery, and material handling solutions.
Projects include but are not limited to work on:
- Howard Frankland Bridge — I-275 crossing between Tampa and St. Petersburg
- Gandy Bridge — Gandy Boulevard crossing between Tampa and St. Petersburg
- Courtney Campbell Causeway — SR-60 crossing between Tampa and Clearwater
- Sunshine Skyway Bridge approaches — I-275 south of St. Petersburg
- Interstate interchange construction and reconstruction projects throughout the region
- Highway overpass and flyover construction
Beyond the interstate system, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Polk, and Hardee counties maintain thousands of miles of local roads and arterials that require continuous improvement.
Projects include but are not limited to:
- County road widening and reconstruction
- Arterial road capacity improvements
- Intersection modernization and roundabout construction
- Complete streets and road diet projects
- Rural road improvements
- Collector road construction in new developments
The Tampa Bay region continues to invest in transit and multi-modal transportation infrastructure to support population growth and improve mobility options.
Projects include but are not limited to:
- Bus rapid transit corridor construction
- Multi-use trail and greenway construction
- Pedestrian bridge and overpass construction
- Transit center and park-and-ride facility construction
- Bicycle infrastructure and protected lane installation
- Sidewalk construction and ADA compliance improvements
Get Your Rentals in 3 Easy Steps
We Deliver to Your Transportation Job Site
Transportation construction presents unique delivery logistics. Active roadway projects involve work zones with Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plans, lane closures, and restricted access windows. Hilltide Rentals understands these challenges and works with your team to coordinate equipment delivery and pickup around your project’s operational requirements.
We accommodate off-peak and overnight delivery scheduling to minimize disruption to traffic flow and comply with FDOT work zone restrictions. Whether your project is on an active interstate corridor, a bridge over Tampa Bay, or a county road widening in a residential area, we deliver equipment directly to your designated staging area or work zone.
Our central location in Riverview, FL positions us to reach transportation job sites throughout our 6-county service area efficiently. From I-275 corridor work in downtown Tampa to county road improvements in Pasco or Polk County, we get equipment where you need it, when you need it.
Our FDOT & Transportation Service Area
FDOT and transportation construction projects span entire corridors that often cross multiple county lines. Hilltide Rentals delivers equipment to transportation job sites throughout the Greater Tampa Bay Area, including Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Pasco County, Manatee County, Polk County, & Hardee County.
If your transportation project is located within any of these six counties, we can deliver equipment to you.
Types of Transportation Projects We Support
Hilltide Rentals provides equipment for a wide range of FDOT and transportation construction projects. The following are some of the most common project types we support — but our capabilities are not limited to this list. If your transportation project requires heavy equipment, we can help.
- Road Construction & Widening — New road construction, lane additions, median modifications, and corridor capacity improvements. Earthwork, grading, base preparation, and paving operations.
- Bridge Construction & Rehabilitation — New bridge construction, bridge deck replacement, structural rehabilitation, substructure repair, and bridge widening projects.
- Interstate Interchange Construction — New interchange construction, interchange reconstruction and modernization, ramp realignment, and diverging diamond interchange conversions.
- Highway Resurfacing & Reconstruction — Milling and resurfacing, full-depth reclamation, pavement reconstruction, and concrete pavement restoration on state and federal highways.
- Drainage & Stormwater Infrastructure — Storm sewer installation, retention and detention pond construction, culvert installation and replacement, French drain systems, and outfall construction.
- Utility Relocation — Relocation of water, sewer, gas, electric, and telecommunications infrastructure to accommodate road widening and new construction. Trenching, boring, and backfill operations.
- Guardrail & Barrier Installation — Metal beam guardrail, cable barrier, concrete barrier wall, and end terminal installation along highways and interchanges.
- Signage & Overhead Structure Installation — Highway signage, overhead sign structures, electronic message signs, and high-mast lighting installation along FDOT corridors.
- Sidewalk & Multi-Use Path Construction — Concrete sidewalk construction, asphalt multi-use trail construction, ADA ramp installation, and pedestrian infrastructure improvements.
- Intersection Improvements — Intersection widening, turn lane additions, roundabout construction, traffic signal foundation work, and intersection realignment.
- Retention Pond Construction — Stormwater retention and detention pond excavation, grading, and construction for transportation drainage management.
- Emergency Road Repair — Rapid-response equipment deployment for sinkhole repair, storm damage, flooding, washout repair, and other emergency transportation infrastructure needs.
Have a project type not listed here? If it involves transportation construction and requires heavy equipment, chances are we can support it. Contact us to discuss your specific needs.
Why Rent Equipment for Transportation Projects?
FDOT and transportation construction projects are large-scale, multi-phase operations that demand different equipment at each stage. Road construction alone moves from clearing and grubbing through earthwork, utility installation, base preparation, paving, and final compaction — each phase requiring distinct equipment types and sizes. Purchasing every machine needed across all phases ties up capital that could be deployed elsewhere on the project.
Renting gives you the right equipment for each phase without the burden of ownership.
Advantages of Renting for Transportation Projects:
- Eliminate Capital Outlay — Access heavy equipment without the substantial cost of purchasing. Preserve your capital for materials, labor, bonding, and other project-critical expenses that directly impact your bottom line.
- Phase-Matched Flexibility — Transportation projects move through distinct phases: clearing, earthwork, drainage, utility relocation, base construction, paving, and finishing. Rent the right equipment for each phase and return it when that work is complete.
- Zero Maintenance Responsibility — Hilltide handles all equipment maintenance, repair, and fleet management. Your crew focuses on building the project, not troubleshooting equipment issues in the field.
- Access to Modern Fleet — Our equipment is regularly updated with current-generation models. Newer machines deliver better fuel efficiency, lower emissions, improved safety features, and greater productivity on the job site.
- SBE Compliance Support — Partnering with Hilltide Rentals as your equipment rental provider helps meet Small Business Enterprise participation requirements on federally funded FDOT projects. Our SBE certification counts toward your compliance goals — making equipment rental a straightforward path to meeting SBE participation targets.
Why Choose Hilltide Rentals?
FDOT and transportation construction require an equipment rental partner who understands the demands of highway, bridge, and road work. Here is what sets Hilltide Rentals apart:
- SBE Certified — Hilltide Rentals is a qualified Small Business Enterprise. On federally funded FDOT projects where SBE/DBE participation is required, partnering with Hilltide helps contractors meet those goals. Equipment rental spend with Hilltide counts toward your SBE compliance targets.
- Work Zone Logistics Experience — Transportation projects operate within active work zones governed by MOT (Maintenance of Traffic) plans. We coordinate delivery and pickup around your work zone schedule, including off-peak and overnight windows to minimize traffic disruption.
- Local Knowledge of Tampa Bay’s Road Network — Headquartered in Riverview, FL, we know the Tampa Bay transportation network — the corridors, the interchanges, the bridges, and the access points. This local knowledge translates to efficient delivery routing and coordination with your field teams.
- Comprehensive Fleet — From 2,000 lb mini excavators to 116,000 lb excavators, from rammer compactors to 135′ boom lifts, we have the range to cover every phase of a transportation construction project with a single rental partner.
- Flexible Rental Terms — Daily, weekly, and monthly rental options designed to match FDOT project timelines. Multi-phase corridor projects can adjust equipment mix as the work progresses — add machines for earthwork, swap to compactors for base work, bring in boom lifts for bridge and sign structures.
- Dedicated Support — Single point of contact for your project. Questions, additions, swaps, or issues? One call: 813-904-6047.
Frequently Asked Questions About FDOT & Transportation Rental
Road construction typically requires excavators for earthwork and grading, track loaders for material spreading and final grading, compactors for base and sub-base compaction, and telehandlers for material handling. The specific sizes depend on the project scope — Hilltide offers excavators from 2,000 lbs to 116,000 lbs and compactors ranging from jumping jack rammers to large vibratory plate compactors. Call us at 813-904-6047 to discuss your specific project requirements.
Hilltide Rentals is a qualified Small Business Enterprise (SBE). FDOT requires DBE and SBE participation on federally funded transportation projects, enforced through FDOT's Equal Opportunity Office and tied to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funding requirements. When general contractors or prime contractors rent equipment from an SBE-certified company like Hilltide, that rental spend counts toward meeting SBE participation goals. Contact us to discuss how our certification can support your project's compliance needs.
Yes. We understand that transportation construction operates within active work zones with MOT (Maintenance of Traffic) plans and restricted access windows. We coordinate delivery and pickup with your team to work within your project's traffic management schedule, including off-peak and overnight delivery when required. Call us at 813-904-6047 to discuss delivery logistics for your specific work zone.
Bridge projects typically require boom lifts for overhead access (we offer 40' to 135' reach), excavators for foundation and substructure work, telehandlers for precast concrete and structural component handling, and compactors for approach embankment work. Our 135-foot straight boom lift and 85-foot articulating boom lift provide the height and reach needed for bridge deck, pier, and superstructure work.
We offer daily, weekly, and monthly rental rates with flexible terms designed for construction project timelines. FDOT projects often span many months or years — multi-phase projects can adjust their equipment mix as work progresses. Add excavators during earthwork, swap to compactors during base construction, bring in boom lifts for sign structures and bridge work. Contact us for custom quotes on long-term transportation projects.
We offer jumping jack rammers (145-165 lbs) for confined areas and trench backfill, 20" reversible vibratory plate compactors (7,000-8,600 lbs force), and 22" reversible vibratory plate compactors (9,000-10,000 lbs force) for road base, sub-base, and embankment compaction. The right compactor depends on your soil conditions and lift thickness — call us at 813-904-6047 to discuss your compaction requirements.
Yes. Utility relocation is a common component of road widening and reconstruction projects. Our excavators (2,000 lbs to 116,000 lbs) handle trenching, pipe installation, and backfill. Track loaders assist with material handling and site restoration. Compactors are used for trench backfill compaction to FDOT specifications. Mini excavators are particularly useful for utility work in tight spaces and near existing infrastructure.
Contact us by phone at 813-904-6047 or through our online quote form. Tell us what equipment you need, your project location and corridor, and your timeline. We will provide a quote, coordinate delivery around your work zone schedule, and have the equipment at your site when you need it. When you are finished, we pick it up.
Ready to Get Started?
Whether you are a general contractor working on an FDOT interstate widening project, a bridge builder on a Tampa Bay crossing, or a subcontractor handling utility relocation for a county road improvement, Hilltide Rentals has the equipment and the SBE certification to support your transportation construction project.