Rocket Rentals’ zero tailswing JCB fleet expansion: risk and access notes for civils
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on The Construction Index
30 Second Briefing
Rocket Rentals has ordered more than 55 new JCB machines, including 35 zero tailswing excavators spanning from 1‑tonne minis up to the new 15‑tonne 145XR models, to meet rising demand on constrained construction, civils and infrastructure sites. The Gloucester-based hirer is standardising on JCB 145XR, 90Z‑2, 50Z‑2 and 25Z‑1 excavators plus Loadall telehandlers and X Series tracked excavators to maximise slew clearance and reduce strike risk near live services and traffic. The deal also adds JCB’s new CT430 140 tandem roller, specified for high compaction performance on both asphalt and aggregate layers.
Technical Brief
- More than 55 new JCB units are being added in this single Rocket Rentals order.
- The package standardises on JCB 145XR, 90Z‑2, 50Z‑2 and 25Z‑1 models for core digging duties.
- New JCB CT430 140 tandem roller is specified for high compaction on both asphalt and unbound aggregates.
- Holt JCB’s dealer support and service coverage is cited as a key operational reliability factor for the expanded fleet.
Our Take
JCB features heavily across recent Infrastructure coverage, from Phil Layton’s new CECE presidency to the US$205m US Marine Corps loader contract, signalling that Rocket Rentals’ choice of JCB zero tailswing excavators in Gloucester aligns with a supplier currently consolidating influence in both civil and defence equipment markets.
The addition of more than 55 JCB machines, including 1–15 tonne zero-swing models, positions Rocket Rentals closer to large UK plant hirers like Flannery Plant Hire, which has been rotating significant capex into newer fleets, suggesting mid-sized regional players are upgrading kit aggressively rather than sweating older assets.
With JCB also pushing safety-focused redesigns such as the single-boom skid steer layout in another recent article, Rocket Rentals’ emphasis on compact, zero-tailswing units is likely to appeal to UK contractors facing tighter urban site constraints and stricter temporary works risk assessments on infrastructure projects.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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