What are Caltrans equipment rental rates?
Checked 2026-11-04
Caltrans publishes an hourly rental rate for each piece of construction equipment, listed by class, make and model. The 2026-2027 file has 2,166 rows, and 2,164 of them expire on March 31, 2027 (two rows leave the date blank). A Caterpillar 977L crawler loader, for example, is listed at $135.28 per hour.
The rates are on Caltrans' "Equipment Rental Rates and Labor Surcharge" page as a CSV file. Omnicost has loaded 1,196 of those rows so far, and we checked the examples below against the CSV on November 4, 2026.
What a row looks like
LDRCL,CAT,'5185,3/31/2027,135.28,0.11,0.9,"LOADERS, CRAWLER",CATERPILLAR,'977L 14X serial
| Column | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| CLASS | LDRCL | Equipment class code (crawler loaders) |
| MAKE | CAT | Make code |
| MODEL | 5185 | Model code |
| EXPIRE_DATE | 3/31/2027 | Date the rate expires |
| RENTAL_RATE | 135.28 | Dollars per hour |
| RW_DELAY | 0.11 | Factor published with the rate |
| OVERTIME | 0.9 | Factor published with the rate |
| CLASS_DESC, MAKE_DESC, MODEL_DESC | Loaders, crawler; Caterpillar; 977L 14X serial | Readable names |
For how RW_DELAY and OVERTIME apply, follow Caltrans' own instructions on the same page.
Examples: loaders
| Machine | Class | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Caterpillar 931 LGP | Loaders, crawler | $41.08/h |
| Case 580 Super L 4WD w/ backhoe | Loaders, rubber tire | $60.08/h |
| Case 621 | Loaders, rubber tire | $85.09/h |
| Caterpillar 977L 14X serial | Loaders, crawler | $135.28/h |
Source: Caltrans 2026-2027 equipment rental rates CSV.
Classes with the most entries
| Class | Rows |
|---|---|
| Hydraulic cranes & excavators | 558 |
| Loaders | 387 |
| Rollers | 301 |
| Tractors | 158 |
| Hammers | 79 |
When to use them
Caltrans rates are a public, model-level reference for equipment cost per hour. They are useful when you need to justify an hourly equipment cost on a public job, or to check a quote against a published number. Always cite the file year and the expiration date.
Sources
| Source | Observed date | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Caltrans, Equipment Rental Rates and Labor Surcharge | 2026-11-04 | https://dot.ca.gov/programs/construction/equipment-rental-rates-and-labor-surcharge |
| Caltrans 2026-2027 equipment rental rates (CSV) | 2026-11-04 | https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/construction/documents/equipment-rental-rates-and-labor-surcharge/2026_2027.csv |
How to cite this
Caltrans equipment rental rates 2026-2027: how to read them. Omnicost (Ipita LLC). Checked 2026-11-04. /en/guides/caltrans-equipment-rental-rates-2026-2027. Sources: Caltrans, Equipment Rental Rates and Labor Surcharge; Caltrans 2026-2027 equipment rental rates (CSV).
Frequently asked questions
What are Caltrans equipment rental rates?
Hourly rates Caltrans publishes for construction equipment, listed by class, make and model. The 2026-2027 file has 2,166 rows, and 2,164 of them expire on March 31, 2027.
How much is a Caterpillar 977L crawler loader per hour?
$135.28 per hour in the 2026-2027 file (class LDRCL, model 977L 14X serial).
How much is a backhoe loader per hour?
A Case 580 Super L 4WD with backhoe is listed at $60.08 per hour.
What are the RW_DELAY and OVERTIME columns?
Two factors that Caltrans publishes for each machine next to the rental rate. Check Caltrans' instructions on the same page for how to apply them.
Which equipment classes have the most entries?
Hydraulic cranes and excavators (558 rows), loaders (387) and rollers (301).