WET HIRE · APPLICATION
Bulk Earthworks & Site Cuts
Machine + Ticketed Operator
General small earthworks with an operator on the sticks — cut to level, form small pads, load out and remove spoil, and bring in fill. The efficient way to get a site to grade without finding your own operator.
Where This Comes Up
Getting the site to level
Most jobs start the same way: the ground isn’t where the plan says it should be. Bulk earthworks is the cut-and-level stage — stripping, cutting to design level, forming pads and moving material around or off the site.
With an operator supplied, a compact excavator or loader gets more done per hour than untrained hands, and gets to level first time so you’re not chasing over-dig later.
We supply the machine and the operator to run it to your plan; you or your supervisor set out the levels and direct the works. Operated plant hire — not contracting.
The Right Plant for High-Output Bulk Clearing
Executing clean site cuts and large-scale material shifts requires matching high-performance machinery to your site constraints:
- Compact Mini Excavators: Fitted with wide batter buckets and powerful breakout force, our mini excavators easily slice through tough clay, rock, and hardpack. They excel at cutting batters, benching sloped blocks, and digging out bulk soil in tight residential or restricted urban lots.
- Track Loaders (Posi-Tracks): Built with low ground pressure and high traction, our track loaders are the workhorses for bulk site leveling, pad trimming, topsoil stripping, and pushing large volumes of earth cleanly across soft or uneven ground.
- Agile Skid Steers: Highly mobile and fast-moving, our skid steers make light work of shifting stockpiles, trimming sub-bases, shaping driveways, and loading bulk spoil directly into tippers for rapid off-site removal.
What you're actually hiring
A machine is only as good as the operator running it:
- Cuts to level and grade first time — less rework
- Reads a site and works material efficiently
- Loads trucks cleanly for fast spoil removal
- Keeps the pad and batters tidy and to plan
THE RIGHT GEAR
Machines for earthworks & cuts
Matched to your volume and access, each supplied with an operator.
5t Excavator
Residential cuts, pads and general small earthworks with good reach and speed.
8–10t Excavator
Bigger cuts and volumes where reach and cycle time matter.
Track loader / skid steer
Push, spread, level and load in one machine on firm ground.
Tip truck
Spoil load-out and fill importation paired with the machine.
Applications
Typical earthworks jobs
Cut to level
Stripping and cutting a block or pad down to design level.
Small pads & building platforms
Forming level, compacted pads for sheds, extensions and structures.
Spoil load-out & removal
Digging, loading to truck and carting surplus material off site.
Fill importation & placement
Bringing in fill and placing it where the plan needs it.
Operated plant hire, not contracting: we supply the machine and a skilled operator to run it to your plan. You (or your site supervisor) direct the works.
Miniquip wet hire team in action
Operators and machines on real sites — bulk earthmoving in action.
RELATED WORK
Other environments our operators work
Rock & Limestone Breaking
Hit rock? Perth’s limestone shelf, caprock and hard clay stop a standard dig fast.
Trenching & drainage
Clean trenches to line and depth, run by an operator who works safely around live services.
Landscaping & Soil Shifting
Mulch and soil importation, material placement, levelling and spoil-away .
BOOK OPERATED Earthworks & Site Cuts
Need it cut? Let’s get it done.
Tell us the site and the job — we’ll match the right machine, breaker and operator, and get you a quote.
Common questions
Bulk Earthworks & Site Cuts FAQ's
Got questions about site cuts, benching sloped blocks, or bulk earthmoving? Getting your site levels, pad cuts, and subgrade preparation right from day one is critical to preventing costly over-digs and project delays down the line. Whether you are prepping a residential lot, carving out a building pad, or managing heavy spoil load-outs on a restricted urban site, our Miniquip Wet Hire team is here to help you navigate site access, equipment selection, and bulk clearing logistics with total confidence. Below, we’ve put together clear answers to the questions our clients ask us most about our wet hire capabilities, how our skilled operators handle site cuts with our fleet of mini excavators, track loaders, and skid steers, and what to expect during the bulk earthworks phase.
How do I know what size machine my cut needs?
It comes down to volume, access and timeframe. A tight residential cut is usually a 5t excavator; a larger platform or a job on the clock is faster on an 8–10t. If material has to be pushed and spread, a track loader may suit better. Give us the rough dimensions and access and we’ll recommend the most efficient match.
Can you supply a truck to cart the spoil away?
Yes. We can pair the operated machine with a tip truck so the dig, load and cartage all run together. You decide where the material goes; we can discuss disposal and clean-fill options with you.
Do you set out the levels, or do I?
You (or your site supervisor / surveyor) set out and confirm the design levels and boundaries — that’s the site controller’s role. Our operator works the machine to those marks efficiently and accurately. We supply operated plant, not the site engineering.
What's the advantage of wet hire over hiring the machine myself?
If you don’t have a competent operator, wet hire removes that gap entirely — you get the machine and a skilled operator in one booking, no ticket or experience needed at your end, and typically more work done per hour with less rework. If you do have an operator, dry hire is the cheaper path.
Can you import and place fill as well as cut?
Yes — we can cut and load out surplus, then bring in and place fill in the same scope. Sourcing and the type of fill are your call; the operator places and levels it to your plan.
Is there a minimum hire period for an operated machine?
Wet hire is quoted per job rather than off a flat rate card, because it includes the operator, machine and often cartage. Half-day and full-day rates are typical — tell us the job and we’ll quote it.