6 Trends Shaping the Access Industry in 2025

After over three years of hyper-demand, fleet utilization will stabilize in 2025, and equipment cycles will return to pre-COVID patterns. As we move through the year, we anticipate six key topics will dominate equipment conversations in the access industry this year, including connectivity, autonomy, productivity and efficiency improvements, labor shortages, safety and standards compliance.

Here’s a breakdown of the critical issues impacting these topics:

1. Connectivity

As smart construction technologies evolve, access equipment will become more integrated with the broader digital ecosystem on job sites. Rental companies and contractors will increasingly rely on advanced fleet management systems to become more efficient in their daily operations by optimizing equipment availability, scheduling and servicing. This trend will be enhanced by cloud-based platforms that enable owners to access data and manage fleets remotely, driving down costs and increasing utilization.

• Remote Troubleshooting Over-the-air troubleshooting, machine updates, and other wireless capabilities through apps or cloud-based platforms like JLG’s ClearSky Smart Fleet™ mean that service tech can make fewer trips to the job site to get a machine up and running.
• Data Analytics: ClearSky Smart Fleet’s Internet of Things (IoT) technology, which includes telematics capabilities, enables real-time data about machine usage, location, diagnostics and maintenance. Equipment monitoring allows rental companies to track usage, manage maintenance schedules and predict equipment failures before they occur. In 2025, IoT-driven data will help companies optimize fleet management, reduce downtime, increase asset utilization and improve customer satisfaction.
• Fleet Monitoring: As part of the broader trend toward digitalization, more access equipment will come with remote monitoring capabilities. Fleet managers can monitor performance via smartphones, tablets or desktop computers with access to cloud-based platforms.
• Digital Tools: The increased use of digital tools like JLG’s Augmented Reality app will help rental companies and their customers more accurately plan projects and manage onsite equipment.

2. Autonomy

Integrating autonomous access equipment on construction sites is coming. Although we don’t see common use of these machines yet in 2025, contractors will begin to consider different ways that machines that can navigate job sites and/or position themselves with minimal human intervention could be used on their sites in the future.

In anticipation of this impending demand, access equipment manufacturers will look for new ways to collaborate with other players in the construction ecosystem this coming year — including general contractors, equipment rental companies and other technology developers to create more integrated, efficient and productive work environments. JLG continuously evaluates partners to ensure we’re on the cutting edge of what is coming.

• Moments of Autonomy: While full autonomy is still a few years away, semi-autonomous features like variable tilt technology in JLG scissor lifts, remote driving or booming capabilities and precision placement will likely become more common.

• Improved Positioning and Navigation: Access equipment may feature more advanced GPS systems and automated positioning, like JLG SmartLoad Technology for telehandlers, to help operators position the machine more efficiently and safely in tight or crowded job sites and enhance machine control.
• Assisted by Robotics: Using robotics in highly repetitive applications, such as bricklaying and installing panels, will likely increase demand for these technologies in the rental market this year. Rental companies will need to adapt by offering these cutting-edge machines to customers looking to stay ahead of industry trends.

3. Productivity and Efficiency Increases

Non-residential construction work has shifted over the last four years. Pre-COVID, office building construction and fit-out jobs were the major drivers for renting certain types of access equipment. Today, work on mega sites, data centers and large-scale projects is more prevalent, largely due to the influx of investments from the recent Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure spending bill, raising fleet utilization as money enters the economy. This has resulted in changes in what machines are needed on-site, a shift that has led to a change in rental fleet mixes and increased utilization rates for different sizes and categories of access equipment.

As these applications continue to grow, the need for MEWPs and telehandlers designed to work in space-restricted areas will also rise, and we see equipment capable of helping workers access work in difficult-to-reach locations (e.g., narrow aisleways or alleys between buildings) will be in high demand in the coming year.

4. Labor Shortages

The rental industry continues to face challenges related to skilled labor shortages. Companies have had to invest in more training programs, automation of manual tasks and better retention strategies to increase their workforce’s skills. New technologies and options, like the ClearSky Smart Fleet IOT platform, virtual simulators and partnering with industry organizations can help bridge the gap caused by labor shortages and unskilled tradespeople.

• High-Efficiency Machines: As construction projects demand more productivity with fewer resources, access equipment manufacturers will continue to develop high-efficiency machines that require less power while offering greater lift height, capacity and reach. Machines with greater versatility (i.e., the ability to handle multiple tasks such as lifting, material handling or platform rotation) will become more common to help reduce costs and improve productivity, like JLG rotating telehandlers.
• Lightweight and Compact Models: In space-restricted environments, the trend toward smaller, more compact machines that can navigate tight spaces, lift higher and offer more versatility will increase. The industry will see more machines with smaller footprints, like JLG compact crawler boom lifts and low-level access lifts capable of carrying heavier payloads without compromising performance, stability or safety.

• Equipment Troubleshooting: Self-diagnosing machines will help reduce the need to send trained techs to the field to check on equipment issues. ClearSky Smart Fleet’s fleet monitoring technology provides insights into equipment maintenance by wirelessly connecting to JLG equipment, looking at everything from fuel and battery levels to hours, battery charge and fault codes, allowing for faster troubleshooting and diagnostics about machine use, uptime, maintenance history and more, from any phone, tablet or desktop computer.

• Online, Remote and Virtual Reality (VR) Training: Comprehensive operator training and certification will become more critical with the rising complexity of access equipment. As equipment becomes more sophisticated and automated, there will be greater demand for training programs delivered online, remotely and/or through VR. Resources like JLG University, JLG’s AccessReady Fusion XR^™ training simulator and JLG’s nationwide network of qualified trainers are valuable tools for training workers on safe equipment use and maintenance.
• Upskilling Through Training: With many industries still grappling with the impact of ongoing labor shortages, JLG is proactively addressing the growing demand for skilled craft professionals in the trades by teaching workers how to operate and care for MEWPs and telehandlers through the Elevating Trade Education Program at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chapters across the U.S. We’re not just creating training materials; we’re creating opportunities for experienced tradespersons and those new to the trades to go through training and become qualified to the current industry standards.

5. Focus on Safety

Safety is always at the top of the mind in an industry committed to putting people first. Working to keep operators safe at height means manufacturers like JLG develop integrated systems that actively protect equipment users and capabilities that help keep them out of harm’s way.

• Enhanced Control Panel Protection: Machines equipped with JLG’s SkyGuard^® enhanced control panel protection  helps decrease the likelihood of caught-between injuries while working at height
• Load-Sensing Systems: Helping operators stay within their machines' load capacities is critical to the safe use of access equipment. Modern load-sensing systems continuously monitor platform weight, alerting operators and disabling machine functions when capacity has been exceeded. JLG has incorporated proprietary load-sensing technology on its boom lifts and scissor lifts, and JLG telehandlers are equipped with an exclusive load stability indication (LSI) system.

6. Machine Selection Driven by ANSI Standards Compliance

In the updated Machine Design sections in the ANSI and CSA standards — ANSI A92.20 & CSA B354.6, respectively — today’s mobile elevating work platform (MEWPs) come equipped with new features that influence the machine’s operation and/or functionality, including:

• Load Sensing Systems (LSS) for boom lifts and scissor lifts
• Stability to include dynamic loading as well as wind loading
• Function cutouts and angle tilt sensors

Over the last several years, robust deliveries have made ANSI A92.20 machines much more common in fleets. With many rental fleets aging out over the past few years, these new MEWPs are now showing up on job sites. For end users, changes like load sensing require advanced planning of work at height to make sure that it’s possible to complete with compliant equipment. This means rental stores must carefully consider how their customers will use the equipment before renting a MEWP to match the job site’s needs to equipment specs.

All JLG machines manufactured after the standards went into effect in June 2020 meet the standards' requirements. Newly designed machines, like the JLG HC3 hi-capacity boom lifts which offer three capacity zones rated for up to three occupants and tools, can now carry more weight to height and alleviate challenges created by limiting load capacity in the machine platform.

Transforming the Industry for the Future

As the rental equipment market continues to shift and evolve in 2025, the demand for connectivity, autonomy, productivity, safety, labor challenges and compliance will shape the access industry's future. Integrating smart technologies like IoT and cloud-based fleet management systems will enhance operational efficiency and equipment utilization. Meanwhile, the gradual shift towards autonomous and semi-autonomous equipment will pave the way for safe, efficient construction practices. To address labor shortages, advancements in training tools and automation will become essential in maintaining a skilled workforce. Ensuring safety remains paramount, innovations in systems and technologies will provide enhanced protection for crews. As the industry adapts to machines built to the updated ANSI standards, the need for well-matched equipment to job site requirements will drive careful selection and planning.

By embracing these trends, the access industry is poised for a more connected, productive and safety-conscious future.

Learn more about JLG’s access equipment solutions and offerings at JLG.com