FODS Trackout Mats vs. Steel Rumble Plates: Rent or Buy?

If you are searching for rumble plates to rent for a construction exit, there are two ways to solve the same problem: heavy steel plates you rent again and again, or a reusable mat you buy once. Here is an honest comparison.

What both do

Both a steel rumble plate and a FODS trackout control mat sit at the site exit and knock mud and rock off tires before vehicles reach public roads, which keeps you compliant with trackout and stormwater rules. The difference is the material and what it costs you over time.

Steel rumble plates

Steel plates are proven and rigid. They are also heavy, so they need a forklift or crane to place and move, they can damage pavement and themselves over repeated use, and on most jobs they are rented, which means paying again on the next site.

FODS reusable rumble plate mats

FODS mats are HDPE, so a two-person crew installs a full entrance by hand in about 30 minutes with no heavy equipment. They do not damage the road, they are reusable for years, and they ship anywhere. FODS is accepted as a stabilized construction entrance, including the Caltrans TC-1 designation in California, so it meets the same requirements a steel plate does.

Cost over time

Renting steel plates can pencil out for a single short job. Across several jobs, buying a reusable FODS system usually costs less than renting steel again and again, and you own it. If you would still rather rent, call and ask.

Which should you choose?

If you need rigid steel for one short job and have equipment to place it, rent steel. If you run multiple sites, want fast by-hand setup, cannot damage the pavement, or need it shipped to you, the reusable mat is the better buy. See the FODS trackout control mats, or call 949-954-6581 to buy or ask about rental. M Squared Safety ships across the U.S. and Canada.