Different areas of the country have different factors that cause equipment ownership costs to fluctuate. One of those factors is per capita income which reflects the economics of a city and state. The economics of a particular area can have a direct impact on factors like local mechanics wage, sales tax, and freight which can affect ownership costs as well as operating costs.
However, the most important factor in regional variation is the climate. Maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation are taken into consideration due to its effect on the average annual use hours. Extreme temperatures and precipitation shorten a working season which means ownership rates will be higher in order to recover fixed costs. Areas with volatile climates tend to have more downtime for both equipment and workers.
