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Lead Story
View from Washington, D.C.: Don't forget about card check
As many of us, including the American Rental Association (ARA), are starting to focus attention on health care reform — legislation that will affect you, your family, grandchildren and employees for decades to come — we can’t afford to forget about card check. (More)
ARA and Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare target Congress
The Small Business Coalition for Affordable Healthcare, which includes the American Rental Association (ARA) as one of more than 100 associations and companies as members, placed an ad last week in The Hill, a congressional newspaper published daily when congress is in session, asking whether Congress is listening to the concerns of small businesses when addressing health care issues. ( More)
Industry News
Hertz reveals plans to co-locate some equipment locations with Rent-A-Car locations
During an investor meeting last week, Hertz Corp., Park Ridge, N.J., revealed that it launched a pilot program on March 1 that co-located some off-airport Hertz Rent-A-Car branches with Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. (HERC) branches in North Carolina and Washington. The company indicated it will move forward with the program, which it says will leverage its sales force and bring increased cost savings through maximizing facilities and resources. ( More)
Maxim Crane acquires Barnhart Crane and Rigging assets
Maxim Crane Works, Pittsburgh, has acquired a fleet of large crawler cranes and certain related assets from Barnhart Crane and Rigging, a 20-location company with headquarters in Little Rock, Ark. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Maxim is owned by Platinum Equity. (More)
Grove rough terrain crane integral to office building remodel
A Grove RT875E rough-terrain crane is helping to renovate and upgrade a glass-sided bank and commercial office building in downtown Madison, Wis. The crane is being used to help erect the steel beams for the addition and also deliver building materials, such as pallets of glass panes to workers. (More)
Police recover stolen rental equipment in Texas
According to a report in The Police News (Galveston, Texas), construction equipment valued at more than $20,000 was recovered earlier this month in Jamaica Beach, a community on West Galveston Island, Texas. Jamaica Beach police said a tracked vehicle and trailer were both stolen earlier from United Rentals in League City, Texas. To read more, click here. (More)
Zilliant adds Sunbelt Rentals to customer advisory council
Sunbelt Rentals, Fort Mill, S.C., has been added to the customer advisory council for Zilliant, Austin, Texas, a leading provider of price optimization and management solutions for business-to-business manufacturers, distributors, high-tech and industrial service companies. Sunbelt Rentals is the first member of the council from the industrial services market, and will help to guide initiatives in this sector by sharing approaches, best practices and insights gained through their implementation of Zilliant’s pricing software. (More)
New durable goods orders up in May
New orders for durable goods jumped by 1.8 percent in May with broad-based strength across major industries, excluding automotive, according to a report from IHS Global Insight, Lexington, Mass. IHS Global Insight produces the State of the Equipment Rental Industry reports for the American Rental Association (ARA) and RENTAL MANAGEMENT. (More)
NER offers theft advisory and July 4th warning
Theft reports to the National Equipment Register (NER), New York, over the past few months show that organized criminal elements appear to be driving theft activity nationwide. In addition to typical isolated theft incidents, which increase seasonally, thefts targeting specific machines and specific areas indicate the organized criminal element is very active, and increasing their activity rather than decreasing in light of current economic conditions. As discussed in two specific alerts on the continued threat against commercial mowers and backhoe loaders, NER says theft prevention measures and the usual deterrents are not enough to stop these rings. (More)
Classic Party Rentals nominated for Big Apple Award
Classic Party Rentals, based in Los Angeles, was recently nominated to receive a Big Apple Award from the International Special Events Society (ISES) New York Metro Chapter for “Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative” for its Sustainable Applications for a Viable Environment (SAVE) program. ( More)
Ri$k Happens: Watch overhead
Rental store delivery drivers and other employees who operate company vehicles need to exercise caution when driving around town. Rental equipment, vehicles and trailers can suffer extensive damage when they are driven under a low overhang, bridge, awning or tree. Not only can the rental store’s own property be damaged in auto accidents involving low overheads, but if the store’s driver is at fault then the store could owe for damage to the property they hit. ( More)
Safety Tip: Watch your back!
Lots of jobs place demands on the back, but injuries can be prevented. It pays to be aware of the four factors most associated with back pain — repetition, posture, force and stress. To test your knowledge of good back management, answer True or False to the following statements, then check your answers below: ( More)
Financial Reports
RSC reports rental rates dropped 6.8 percent for April and May
RSC Equipment Rentals, Scottsdale, Ariz., reported last week that its rental rates for the two months ended May 31, 2009, were down 6.8 percent from the same period last year. The company expects its results of operations for the second quarter 2009 to be consistent with its previous guidance. ( More)
Kubota files annual report
Kubota Corp., Osaka, Japan, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2009. The report can be accessed by going to www.kubota.co.jp/ir/english/library/sec/index.html. (More)
Lavendon says its 'resilience against current economic climate has improved'
Lavendon Group plc, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, England, said the company’s “resilience against the current economic climate has been improved” during the previous six months. ( More)
The Rental Show
Have you signed up for The Rental Show registration alert?
Receive e-mail notification when registration is available for The Rental Show 2010 by signing up for a registration alert at www.TheRentalShow.com. Completing this short online form will allow rental business attendees and exhibitors to receive notification when registration opens in September. ( More)
People on the Move
Birch Equipment announces promotions, new hire
Birch Equipment, Bellingham, Wash., recently announced several promotions and the expansion of its communications team. The company said recent changes support preparations underway to implement a new inventory system this fall and the company’s continued focus on providing first-class customer service. ( More)
Angstrom Lighting adds online media director
Johnny Cho has been named director of online media for Angstrom Lighting, Hollywood, Calif. He will oversee the company's digital engagement strategy, from its Web site at www.angstromlighting.com to its participation in social media and other electronic communication avenues. ( More)
Association News
Know Marketing Tip: Does yellow make you bellow?
Yellow Pages advertising reaches customers who have decided to rent before they reach for the directory to find a rental store. According to the Yellow Pages Association (YPA) 2008 user study, 34 percent of active searchers don’t have a specific business in mind when they use Yellow Pages. You can be top of mind if you have a strong brand because customers will recognize you immediately, make positive associations and proceed to rent from you. However, with the prevalence of the Internet growing in recent years, it has spurred an interesting change in how consumers search for businesses. ( More)
California members: Find solutions at the July 28-29 'Managing in Today's Economy' round table discussions
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