Trackout Mats: Keep Job Sites Clean & Compliant

Trackout control mats can help you comply with the DOT and FHWA, have cleaner worksites and find a durable, cost-effective solution.

March 1, 2025

How to Use

Article Updated on: November 03, 2026

There’s no doubt about it: construction sites of all kinds can get messy, and limiting that mess is a tough job. From removing dirt and mud to keeping materials organized, the more you can avoid messes in the first place, the less cleanup you’ll ultimately have to do.

There are a lot of strategies you can employ to keep your project sites tidy, but there’s one simple step that can make a world of difference: using composite trackout control mats.

Using trackout mats has a lot of benefits, such as helping ensure the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) compliance and keeping your jobsite clean. The result is a more effective Best Management Practice (BMP) for containing sediment and erosion. The novel approach has been met with widespread demand from contractors who need a safer, more reliable and cost-effective technique.

What are trackout mats?

Trackout mats, also called trackout control mats, are portable, reusable mats that are placed at the entrances of construction, highway, power line, solar and wind project sites to remove dirt and debris from vehicles and heavy equipment as they enter and exit the site.

United Rentals' trackout control mat rentals have a textured surface that is made from durable composite materials to remove and collect debris from tires. These mats can be connected together to create a larger surface area for construction site entrances. They can also be anchored to the ground to minimize movement and can be installed on various types of surfaces, including grass, gravel and asphalt.

What are the benefits of using trackout control mats?

In many cases, you may be required to create a stabilized construction entrance that meets the requirements of your local jurisdiction. Trackout mat rentals can help you stay compliant and offer additional benefits, especially when compared to traditional solutions that require excavation or installation of erosion control fabric and aggregate, removal and restoration.

Compliance with DOT and FHWA requirements

Using trackout control mats helps ensure compliance with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The DOT and FHWA require project owners to implement measures that prevent material from getting on the roads where it could be kicked up by drivers and cause damage to vehicles.

One of the measures that is often deployed is using street sweepers in areas where debris is tracked out onto main roads. This is costly and inconvenient, so trackout mats can help reduce the need for this. You may still occasionally need to sweep the area, but trackout mats will help reduce the frequency because much less dirt reaches the road.

Cleaner worksites

Keep neighboring landowners, homeowners and community members happy by reducing the visual impact of your project. Trackout control mats remove excess mud and dirt as equipment and vehicles leave the site, helping to keep local roads cleaner. Additionally, when vehicles drive onto temporary roads via trackout mats, it keeps the other ground protection mats cleaner and helps them last longer.

A durable, cost-effective solution

Trackout mats have some key advantages over rock-stabilized entrances, including:

Rapid deployment: Installs in approximately 30 minutes without soil excavation or aggregate delivery
Reusability: Features a 10-year lifespan, eliminating recurring stone replenishment and post-job disposal
Relocation flexibility: Easily unpinned and shifted as construction gate locations change across project phases

Keep it simple with United Rentals

Our team not only has every type of ground protection mat you might need for your project, but we also offer installation and removal services to streamline your next project. Our trained crews can efficiently install temporary roads, stable work surfaces and trackout areas in virtually any environment. Whether you have to contend with mud, sand, swampy areas or other uneven terrain, we’ll help you get the right combination of mats in the right place at the right time.

Frequently asked questions

What are trackout mats used for?

Trackout mats sit at jobsite entrances and exits, where tires pick up the most mud and debris. As vehicles roll over the textured composite surface, dirt gets stripped off before it reaches public roads. This helps your team meet DOT and FHWA requirements, reduces the need for street sweeping and keeps neighboring roads cleaner.

How long do trackout mats last?

United Rentals' trackout mats are built from durable composite materials designed to hold up for 10 years of repeated use. Because they are reusable rather than disposable, your team can deploy them on project after project without replacing them each time.

Can trackout mats be installed on any surface?

Trackout mats can be installed on grass, gravel and asphalt, giving your team flexibility across different site conditions. Each mat anchors to the ground to minimize shifting under heavy vehicle and equipment traffic.

How quickly can trackout mats be installed?

Trackout mats can be deployed in about 30 minutes, which is considerably quicker than building a traditional rock-stabilized construction entrance. That speed matters on projects where entrance locations shift as work progresses, since mats are easier to relocate than excavated or aggregate-based solutions.