The American Rental Association (ARA), Moline, Ill., the leading trade group for the equipment rental industry, has forged a new alliance with True Value Co., Chicago, to expand rental services and member benefits to all of the hardware cooperative’s retailers who offer rental services through their local stores or stand-alone rental businesses.

The Grand Rental Station in Bloomfield, N.J., reported last week that thieves stole a customer’s 2004 gray Ford F-250 pickup and a rented equipment trailer loaded with a Bobcat S-175 skid-steer from in front of the customer’s residence in Nutley, N.J., between 4:30 a.m. and 6 a.m. on March 1.

H&E Equipment Services, Baton Rouge, La., last week announced a fourth-quarter loss of $12.3 million, compared to income of $8.5 million a year ago, on revenues that dropped 47.4 percent to $137.7 million. The company increased cash on hand by $36.6 million during the quarter.

Finning International, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, said the earthquake that struck Chile on Feb. 27, 2010, appears to have had minimal impact on its South American operations.

For the second year in a row, Event Source, Cleveland, has been named “Best Event Rental Company” at the Third Annual Connectors Choice Awards held March 3.