Both individuals nominated by the American Rental Association (ARA) and the ARA of California have been selected as members of the new Off-Road Implementation Advisory Group (ORIAG) for the California Air Resources Board (CARB). (
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Sunbelt Rentals launches new Web site
Sunbelt Rentals, Fort Mill, S.C., launched a state-of-the-art Web site on April 30 that the company says will set a new standard in the rental industry. (More)
Ontario event rental operation to open new, larger facility this month
Affair Rentals, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, one of the leading full-service event rental companies in Southern Ontario, last week announced its acquisition of a $4 million, 40,000-sq.-ft. facility located in Mississauga. The new facility, which is currently undergoing comprehensive renovation to provide purpose-built, state-of-the-art support to the industry leading product offerings, will more than double the company’s operational capacity. (More)
Volvo Rents opens new rental center in Rockford, Ill.
Jack Moser, president and CEO of McAllister Equipment Co., has opened a Volvo Rents franchise in Rockford, Ill. (More)
Sunbelt Rentals announces Champaign, Ill., grand opening celebration
Sunbelt Rentals, Fort Mill, S.C., will celebrate the grand opening of its newest full-service rental branch at 1401 North Mattis Ave. in Champaign, Ill., on May 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (More)
Safety after storms and floods
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a warning to those affected by floods, reminding people to never use portable generators inside the home, in an attached garage or in any other partially enclosed space when there is a power outage. (More)
DeWalt recalls table saws
DeWalt Industrial Tool Co., Towson, Md., in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C., has voluntary recalled DeWalt DW744 Jobsite table saws because of a laceration hazard. (
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Safety tip: A few ways to prevent costly electrical accidents
- Metal jewelry conducts electricity and should not be worn around live wires or electrical circuits.
- Unless you have been trained in the use and handling of electricity, you should stay at least 10 ft. away from any live power line.
- The best way to prevent electrical fires is to dispose of oily rags, paper, sawdust and other flammable materials promptly. In addition, don’t let grease, dust or dirt build up on machinery.
Source: Injury Prevention & Cost Control Alert, March 2006.
This safety tip is provided by ARA Insurance Services, Kansas City, Mo., to help those in the rental industry better manage their risk. (
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Ri$k happens: Jolted volts
The trailer was noticeably damaged when the renter returned it. When asked what happened, the renter said he didn’t know. The rental store had the trailer repaired and sent the renter a bill, but he never paid it, so it went to collections. (
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Clair Tromsness
Clair Tromsness, 72, of Quapaw, Okla., died April 29 when the plane he was piloting crashed. Tromsness was the founder of Miami Missionary Tent Co., Miami, Okla. The company manufactures heavy-duty vinyl tents used for revivals as well as the rental industry for weddings and parties. (More)
Financial Reports
United Rentals announces first-quarter results and slightly downgrades full-year outlook
United Rentals, Greenwich, Conn., announced first-quarter continuing operations diluted earnings per share of $0.34, an increase of 13.3 percent compared with $0.30 for the first quarter 2007. Income from continuing operations for the first quarter 2008 increased 18.8 percent to $38 million from $32 million for the first quarter 2007, reflecting the beneficial impact of the company’s renewed focus on its core rental business and ongoing initiatives to reduce operating costs. (More)
Oshkosh Corp. reports higher second-quarter EPS
Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., last week reported that, for its second quarter of fiscal 2008, earnings per share (EPS) was $0.97, on sales of $1.8 billion and net income of $72.6 million. These results compare with EPS of $0.68 on sales of $1.7 billion and net income of $50.9 million for same period last year. (More)
Toro downgrades earnings outlook
The Toro Co., Bloomington, Minn., said last week that it now expects net earnings per share for its fiscal second quarter ending May 2 to range from $1.55 to $1.60 compared to its previous guidance for the period of $1.87 to $1.93. In the comparable fiscal 2007 period, the company reported net earnings per share of $1.77. (More)
Ritchie Bros. first-quarter auction revenues up 19 percent
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, reported gross auction proceeds of $782 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, 12 percent higher than the first quarter of 2007. Auction revenues were up 19 percent to $81.4 million for the quarter and the company’s auction revenue rate was 10.4 percent. (
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IronPlanet gross auction sales up 135 percent
IronPlanet, Pleasanton, Calif., set a company record in the first quarter with $77.6 million in gross auction sales, up 135 percent over the first quarter of 2007. (
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Volvo Construction Equipment reports 38 percent increase in sales and income
Volvo Construction Equipment, Brussels, Belgium, reported a 38-percent increase in both sales and income in the first quarter of 2008. Net sales in the first quarter were MSEK 15,140 (US$2.527 billion), up from MSEK 11,002 (US$1.836 billion) in the first quarter of 2007. Operating income increased to MSEK 1,301 (US$217.2 million). (
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Wacker Corp. has a new name: Wacker Neuson Corp.
Wacker Corp., Menomonee Falls, Wis., has entered a name change in the Wisconsin Dept. of Financial Institutions and is now known as Wacker Neuson Corp. The move is aligned with plans by Wacker Construction Equipment, AG in Munich to change the name and legal form of the parent company in June to Wacker Neuson SE. (
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People on the Move
JLG promotes Alton to vice president and general manager for Caterpillar Alliance Group
Rick Alton was promoted to the position of vice president and general manager for JLG’s Caterpillar Alliance Group (CAG) for JLG Industries, McConnellsburg, Pa., an Oshkosh Corp. company and a leading manufacturer of aerial work platforms and telescopic material handlers. (
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Association News
Save money with May's Product of the Month: ARA's Forms and Resource Manuals enhance efficiency by streamling operations
Rachel Kidder, human resources manager with Orbit Party Rentals in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., wishes she had purchased the American Rental Association’s
Tent Forms and Resource Manual before her company had its canopy incident. (
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Alert: ARA does not give out contact information to non-member companies
An American Rental Association (ARA) member said he was recently contacted by USA Grant Team, Las Vegas, a company that claims to, for a fee, find government grants for companies. USA Grant Team also claimed to have received the contact information for the member from the ARA. “The ARA has not given this company contact information of its members, nor do we give out any contact information of our members to non-member companies,” said Kathy Schwartz, ARA’s vice president of operations. (More)
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