Contractors are balancing opportunity with caution, rethinking how they deploy capital, manage fleets, and respond to shifting project timelines. To better understand how those adjustments are taking shape, EquipmentWatch surveyed contractors nationwide and paired those insights with market intelligence in its State of the Construction Equipment Economy( SoCEE) report. The findings point to a clear shift in contractor behavior— one that equipment dealers should be paying close attention to.

Rental is no longer a stopgap solution: 66 % of contractors now use rental as a strategic lever to manage demand, risk, and capital. Used equipment is also gaining ground, with purchases up five points year over year as buyers seek faster availability and lower upfront costs. Fleets, meanwhile, are becoming more flexible, blending ownership, rental, and leasing rather than relying on a single model.

We’ ll explore these trends( and their implications for dealers) during our exclusive session at CONEXPO-CON / AGG 2026, where Equipment World Chief Editor, Jordanne Waldschmidt, will present key SoCEE findings and discuss what they mean for the year ahead.

Contractors are balancing opportunity with caution, rethinking how they deploy capital, manage fleets, and respond to shifting project timelines.

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF THE REPORT HERE …

STATE OF THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ECONOMY | EQUIPMENTWATCH

State of the Construction Equipment Economy

SEPTEMBER 2025

Every year, Fusable asks contractors to share whatʼs really happening in the field— not the polished version, but the day-to-day realities of running equipment in a market that never sits still. And every year, we listen.

For dealers navigating 2026, the message is clear: flexibility, timing, and data-backed insight matter more than ever. EDM

LISA DJAHED is a senior communications and content strategist at Fusable, where she leads industry research, market reports, and thought leadership across construction, equipment, and dealer-focused audiences. Her work centers on translating complex data into clear, practical insight to help dealers and contractors make better equipment decisions.

LISA DJAHED, Senior Content Specialist at Fusable.

20 EQUIPMENT DEALER MAGAZINE • U. S. EDITION