Archived Issue from 3/1/2009

The Rental Show
 You can still register for The Rental Show in Atlanta
On-site registration for The Rental Show is now available at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Registration opens daily at 7 a.m. and is located on level one in Hall B, between Party/Special Event and Light Construction/General Tool, with Satellite Registration in the entrance lobby of Hall C. Note that Registration in Hall B will be in a new location from past years.
For those who have pre-registered, express badge pick-up is available in both Halls B and C.
Tickets for The Rental Show events also will be available for purchase on site.
 Plan ahead now for Orlando 2010
Get a jumpstart on planning for The Rental Show 2010 in Orlando, Fla., while you’re in Atlanta by booking your hotel room. There are 15 hotels in ARA’s housing block for next year, representing a wide variety of options, services and prices.
Many of the hotels have been recently renovated. Included in the hotel block are two properties built since the last time The Rental Show was in Orlando in 2006. The Hilton Orlando Convention Center is scheduled to open in September 2009, next to the North-South Building of the convention center (which is where the 2006 show was and 2010 will be). The Westin Imagine opened in April 2008, also near the North-South Building. For more information on the available hotel properties or to reserve rooms, stop by the Travel Planners booth in Registration (Building B) during this year’s show.
The Rental Show 2010 is Feb. 8-11.
ARA News
 Pick up a CODB survey at The Rental Show and learn how to increase your profits
If you are like most rental operators, you are trying to find ways to increase your profits, cash flow and productivity. Going to The Rental Show and visiting the ARA membership booths are two important ways to help you accomplish all of that and more.
On Monday, March 2, attend the “Break-Even Analysis: Measuring and Managing Key Profit Drivers” seminar offered by Carl Forssen, senior vice president of Business Resource Services (BRS), the Seattle-based financial management firm that, along with Profit Planning Group (PPG), compiles the Cost of Doing Business (CODB) Report for the American Rental Association. During this session, Forssen will highlight ways to gauge the present and drive profits higher in the future, as well as manage and control costs and use your income statement as a management decision-making tool.
Then, when the trade show floor opens Tuesday, be sure to stop by one of the ARA membership booths (No. 1953 on the main floor between Party/Special Event and Light Construction/General Tool or No. 6331 in the Heavy Construction area). There you will find CODB surveys to take home and fill out, if you haven’t completed one already. You’ll also discover how this survey and the follow-up report can help you compare your operation to the industry standard, see where problems might exist and provide solution-based strategies.
All ARA-member rental stores in the United States and Canada are eligible to participate in the CODB survey. Doing so offers so many benefits. For instance:
  • All who participate will receive the follow-up CODB Report for free — a $325 value.
  • If you return your completed survey by March 31, will have a chance to win the early bird drawing of $1,000.
  • If you participate by April 30, you can:
    • Receive an automatic entry for a trip to The Rental Show in Orlando, Fla., in 2010. 
    • Gain the chance for your state or provincial association to help your region win “speaker bucks” worth $2,500 for RenTechs or other educational programs.
    • Order the optional company consulting report for only $195.(After April 30, it is $295.)
Now is the time to do all you can to help your business not only survive but also thrive in this challenging economy and prepare for better days ahead. So, attend the seminar and participate in the CODB survey. You’ll be glad you did.
For more information on the survey, go to www.ARArental.org and click on the CODB survey graphic on the right side of the home page. You also may call ARA Member Services at 800-334-2177.
Preparing for Better Days in the March issue of Rental Management
Your business may be feeling the effects of the current economic downturn, but most certainly, this recession will pass. And, when it does, will you be ready for what the future holds?
 
Here is a glimpse of what you can expect from this jam packed issue:
  • Take a look at what you can be doing now to prepare your business for post-recession success.
  • Learn some survival tactics essential to dealing with the tough economy.
  • Read about dealing with the credit crunch.
  • Find available ARA resources to help you manage through the economic downturn.
  • See what’s new at www.ARArental.org.
  • Seek new opportunities to expand your revenue stream.
  • Get an overview of the 2008 State of the Equipment Rental Industry report.
  • Special lawn and garden equipment section.
RENTAL MANAGEMENT once again delivers you the most relevant industry information to help you manage your business. Enjoy your March issue!
In the News
 Aztec Tents buys manufacturing division of Anza Tents
Aztec Tents, Torrance, Calif., has acquired the manufacturing assets of Torrance, Calif.-based Anza Tents.
“The development of the relationship between our companies has grown to a point where we both can benefit from this acquisition,” said Ryan Choura, Anza Tents’ owner and CEO. “We are now both able to focus on what we do best, serving the customers in our respective markets.”
Along with its existing brands and product lines, Aztec will continue to support and service the family of products formerly offered by Anza Tents including traditional frame tents, Fast Top Tents, traditional pole tents, Pavilion Frame Tents, EZ-Trac Structures, and Prestige High Peak Pole Tents.
“This is an exciting time for the team at Aztec,” said Alex Kouzmanoff, Aztec Tents’ national sales manager. “We are embracing the changes that are occurring in our industry, and we look forward to earning the respect and business of the Anza clientele.”
Anza Event Rentals will continue developing its growing event rentals division, which serves greater Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif.
Aztec Tents will soon exhibit at The Rental Show March 2-5 in Atlanta.
 Multiquip becomes exclusive distributor for EZ Grout
Effective March 1, Multiquip, Carson, Calif., is now the exclusive distributor of equipment from EZ Grout, Beverly, Ohio, for the U.S. and Mexico. As part of the new agreement current Multiquip dealers will be able to offer the EZ Grout product line. All orders will be placed directly with Multiquip.
 Metrolift executive becomes president of IED
Rick Dahl, president of Metrolift, Sugar Grove, Ill., is now president of the Illinois Equipment Distributors (IED) for 2009. Dahl has been in the aerial lift business for 21 years, 16 of which he has served as president and CEO of Metrolift. Dahl served as the IED’s vice president in 2008 and treasurer in 2007.
 NER Heavy Equipment Theft Summit coming to Memphis
FBI-LEEDA and New York-based National Equipment Register (NER) invite those in the Memphis, Tenn., area to participate in a one-day regional summit designed to help law enforcement, equipment owners and insurers better combat heavy equipment theft. The summit will provide timely information that will assist participants in better dealing with and understanding the problem of heavy equipment theft and recovery.
You can attend the complimentary, one-day regional summit that will include educational training for equipment owners, managers and law enforcement agents on the best practices for protecting your fleet.
The event, hosted by the Memphis Police Department, will be held April 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Memphis Police Training Academy, 4371 O.K. Robertson Road, Memphis.
A general session will address the equipment theft problem, review prevention techniques and discuss the latest offerings in equipment-security technology. Breakout sessions for equipment owners and managers will take a more in-depth look at how to protect your assets.
Networking opportunities, including a catered lunch and breaks, will allow equipment owners and managers to meet one-on-one with law enforcement officials to exchange information and develop important relationships.
For more information or to register for this event, call NER at 866-663-7872 or send an e-mail providing your name, agency or company and contact details to info@NERusa.com. NER also will provide hotel information and directions.
NER is an ARA partner. As a benefit of membership, American Rental Association members can register 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment for free with NER. For more information, call ARA Member Services at 800-334-2177. 
 Ri$k happens: Keeping busy
Rental stores like to keep their employees busy while they are at work. If customers and equipment rentals are not keeping the employees busy enough, there is always maintenance or repair work that can be performed on equipment or even around the rental store itself.
One rental store employee was using a large piece of earthmoving equipment to distribute some dirt around the back of the store to improve drainage in the equipment yard. The employee had almost finished the job when he got too close to the wall of the equipment garage and pushed a pile of dirt into the wall. The concrete block wall suffered several large cracks in it, some running all the way to the roof of the building. The damage was too much for the rental store to repair on their own, so they turned in a claim to their insurance carrier.
The wall of the building was inspected and it was determined the concrete blocks would have to be torn out and replaced with new ones. The damage to the building wall was close to $20,000. The rental store had to pay their deductible and the rental store employee learned a costly lesson about operating heavy equipment close to buildings.
This item, provided by ARA Insurance Services, Kansas City, Mo., is the story of a real-life insurance claim involving a rental store and is intended to help readers better understand and manage risk.
 Safety tip: Be prepared
No one knows how well people will respond in an emergency until they actually face one. You can help improve worker response, relieve anxiety and likely even save lives if your emergency preparedness training addresses these five key questions:
  1. Is there a means of reporting the emergency and accounting for people before and after an accident?
  2. Who is responsible for decision-making during an emergency?
  3. Do workers know the evacuation routes, including where to reassemble after evacuating?
  4. Who, if anyone, needs to be trained on specific procedures like chemical containment or firefighting?
  5. Do workers know where the emergency supplies are kept?
Practice makes perfect — there are some things you can’t take for granted when it comes to employee safety.
Supervisors Safety Bulletin, November 2008.
This safety tip is provided by ARA Insurance Services, Kansas City, Mo., to help those in the rental industry better manage their risk.
Rental Company News
 Ohio family buys back into equipment rental after 10-year break
The Gabriel family sold their equipment rental business to Nations Rent in 1997. Go to http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/02/23/smallb1.html?b=1235365200^1782116 to read C.J. Cross’s article from Columbus Business First online to find out more about the family that is making a go of it the second time around.
Stephenson's signs deal with Texada
Texada Software, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and Stephenson’s Rental Services, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, have entered into a three-year contract extending through 2011.
Stephenson’s utilizes Texada’s Systematic Rental Management application throughout their 20 Hub and Spoke Construction Equipment branches spanning Southern Ontario and has been a Texada customer for more than 10 years.
 Anchor signs agreement with American Canvas Co.
American Canvas Co. (ACC), Denver, a quality manufacturer of a full line of tents and other custom fabric coverings since 1890, has licensed its event tent manufacturing division in Denver to Anchor Industries, Evansville, Ind. Also, ACC has entered into an exclusive marketing relationship with Anchor.
ACC will become a sales channel for Anchor in 4 territories across 15 states and 1 Canadian province. ACC will represent Anchor’s Special Events division in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. ACC also will represent Anchor’s Custom division in Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.
 Fred's Tents profiled
Fred’s Tents, Stillwater, N.Y., was profiled by Kathy Bowen for The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, N.Y.). You can read the article online at http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/feb/22/0222_Tents/.
By the Numbers
 United Rentals announces fourth-quarter and full-year results
United Rentals, Greenwich, Conn., reported fourth-quarter total revenue of $791 million and rental revenue of $600 million, compared with $925 million and $681 million, respectively, for the fourth quarter of 2007. For full-year 2008, total revenue was $3.3 billion and rental revenue was $2.5 billion, compared with $3.7 billion and $2.6 billion, respectively, for full-year 2007.
Michael Kneeland, CEO of United Rentals, said, “Our 2008 performance reflects our ability to pull the key levers that are within our control, especially our cost structure, liquidity and fleet performance, to confront a challenging environment. Despite weak end markets as the year progressed, we succeeded in increasing our full year cash flow, pro forma EBITDA margin and SG&A ratio. These improvements are the result of a disciplined internal plan designed to ensure short-term stability and long-term growth.”
Kneeland also said the company had closed or consolidated 43 branches in the fourth quarter, 13 more than expected. For the year, the company closed 75 locations and reduced head count by about 1,000 positions.
The company also announced that it will suspend issuing formal guidance due to continued uncertainty in the macro-economy and the impact of the credit environment on the company’s customers.
RSC reports 2008 results
RSC Holdings, Scottsdale, Ariz., announced fourth-quarter rental revenues decreased 6.9 percent to $371 million from $399 million in last year’s fourth quarter. Total revenues were $427 million, down 6.7 percent from the $458 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2007.
Erik Olsson, RSC’s president and CEO, said, “When the U.S. economy and our end markets deteriorated late in the fourth quarter, RSC responded aggressively by reducing headcount, store locations, fleet size, and capital expenditures. As a result we generated a strong $78 million of free cash flow in the fourth quarter. Overall, our results re-affirmed our business model of maximizing free cash flow in times of difficult markets.”
For the fourth quarter, rental volume, including the impact of currency, declined 4.8 percent from the prior year’s fourth quarter level. The company experienced a drop in equipment rental activity during the later part of the fourth quarter that was in excess of the normal seasonal drop off due to the prevailing business environment across the U.S. economy. Rental rates were down 1.7 percent on a sequential basis from the third quarter and down 2.1 percent on a year-over-year basis. Same store rental revenues were down 6.1 percent. The company’s industrial/non-construction revenues were down only 1 percent versus the fourth quarter of 2007 and surpassed 50 percent of total rental revenues.
Fleet utilization decreased to 67.8 percent from 72.3 percent in the third quarter of 2008 and from 72.0 percent in the year-ago quarter. Sales of used equipment were $39 million, sequentially $10 million higher than in the third quarter, in response to lower rental demand. Due to its relatively young and well-maintained fleet, the company was able to reduce the purchase of equipment. As a result, net capital expenditures were a cash inflow of $10 million compared to a net capital expenditure, or cash outflow, of $29 million a year ago.
The company has been taking actions to adjust to current business levels. To drive efficiencies and improve returns from its rental fleet the company consolidated or closed 14 locations and reduced headcount by 315 employees during the fourth quarter. The costs for these actions approximated $6 million and are included in the reported results. The company also opened eight new stores in the fourth quarter primarily in locations that presented industrial growth opportunities.
Hertz reports fourth-quarter and full-year results
Hertz Global Holdings, Park Ridge, N.J., reported fourth quarter 2008 worldwide revenues of $1.8 billion, a decrease of 16.4 percent, or $350 million, year-over-year. Revenues from worldwide equipment rental, through the company’s subsidiary Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. (HERC), were $370.7 million for the fourth quarter, down 20.8 percent from the fourth quarter of 2007.
HERC continued to achieve volume growth in Canada, especially in Western Canada, where oil industry-related rental activity remains relatively robust although the rate of growth has slowed. Also, HERC said it continues to improve diversification into industrial and fragmented sectors of the U.S. equipment rental market.
HERC’s adjusted pre-tax income for the fourth quarter of 2008 was $46.0 million, a 55.0 percent decrease over the prior year period, primarily attributable to the effects of reduced volume growth and pricing, partially offset by cost management initiatives.
The average acquisition cost of rental equipment operated during the fourth quarter of 2008 decreased by 11.0 percent year-over-year — compared with an 11.2 percent increase in the fourth quarter of 2007 over the fourth quarter of 2006 — to $3.1 billion, and net revenue earning equipment as of Dec. 31, 2008, was $2.2 billion, an 18.8 percent decrease from the amount as of Dec. 31, 2007.
The parent company took $94.3 million in restructuring and related charges in the fourth quarter, primarily attributable to costs associated with job reductions, the closure of rental locations and outsourcing/process reengineering.
IronPlanet reports record growth in 2008
IronPlanet, Pleasanton, Calif., reported 2008 gross auction sales of $337 million, an increase of 43 percent over 2007. Fourth-quarter gross auction sales totaled $96 million, up 26 percent over the third quarter and up 9 percent over the same period last year.
“I’m extremely pleased with our performance and year-over-year sales growth, especially given the unprecedented global market volatility,” said Gregory Owens, chairman and CEO of IronPlanet. “Our 2008 results are a testament to the power of our online auction model and the strength of our value proposition to both sellers and buyers of used equipment. Our ability to provide go-to-market cost efficiencies and market price performance through a global audience of buyers continues to generate the best results for our customers.”
In 2008, IronPlanet averaged more than 15,000 potential bidders per auction. The company’s continued global marketing emphasis and reach resulted in 27 percent of equipment sold to buyers outside of the United States in 2008.
Our guaranteed inspection reports and exclusive IronClad Assurance enable buyers to bid with a high degree of confidence. IronPlanet is backed by Accel Partners, Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Caterpillar, Komatsu and Volvo. For more information, visit www.ironplanet.com.
Terex amends credit agreement
Terex Corp., Westport, Conn., has entered into an amendment of its existing credit agreement to ease the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant during 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. As previously disclosed, the company sought the amendment from its bank group because it anticipated a risk of not complying with this covenant as early as the end of the first quarter of 2009.
Phil Widman, Terex senior vice president and chief financial officer, said, “We are pleased with the support demonstrated by our bank group regarding the amendment to our credit agreement. We believe the amendment helps to address the short-term concern with our fixed charge coverage ratio covenant and provides the flexibility needed to manage the company during these challenging times.”
Top Stories
 The Rental Show opens in Atlanta this week, more than 150 exhibitors offer Show-Only Specials
The Rental Show 2009 opens this week with the Welcome Breakfast on Monday, March 2, followed by a full day of educational seminars, regional lunches and Dessert with ARA. The exhibit floor at the Georgia World Congress Center opens at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, and more than 150 companies are offering Show-Only Specials. Here is a complete list of exhibitors offering Show-Only Specials (the list is updated through Feb. 23):
 
Aadvantage Tent Fittings – booth 710
Accent Printed Products – booth 3018
Active International – booth 305
ADAPT/AirPac – booth 2044 & 4122
The Advance Metalworking Co. – booth 5453
Alan Manufacturing Co. – booth 3335
Alloyfold New Zealand – booth 1648
Alum-A-Pole Corp. – booth 4372
American Pneumatic Tools – booth 2621
Apex Fountain Sales – booth 935
Arrow Material Handling – booth 4838
B & C Mortensen – booth 1502
BCS America – booth 2559
BeeLine Stump Grinders by Sunrise Concepts – booth 4243
Benson's Tropical Sea Imports – booth 648
Best Trailer – booth 5954
Billy Goat Industries – booth 2943
Birchwood Products – booth 3942
BLS Enterprises – booth 6851
Boss Manufacturing – booth 844
Boxer Equipment – booth 7160
CalendarCompany.com – booth 7418
California Portable Dance Floor Co. – booth 1935
California Portable Party Sales – booth 2034
CAM Superline – booth 4065
Canycom Sales North America Canycom USA – booth 5027
Caravan Canopy International – booth 338
Carpet Dog – booth 3770
Carriage Creations – booth 1300
Cater 2 Cater – booth 526
Central Tent – booth 949
Charnecke Tents – booth 503
Clarke – booth 2515
Classen, Div. of Schiller-Pfeiffer – booth 3317
Clemco Industries Corp. – booth 3159
Cofair Products – booth 5560
Comet – booth 5347
Commercial Seating Products – booth 1500
Construction Accessories – booth 2040
Crown Industries – booth 1635
Cutter Diamond – booth 2658
Deal Associates– booth 919
Detmer Consulting – booth 2915
DITEQ Corp. – booth 4435
DPL America – booth 5444
Easy Cut – booth 6841
Economy Tent International – booth 907
EDCO — Equipment Development Co. – booth 2925
The Electric Guard Dog – booth 3762
Equipment Parts Wholesale – booth 6855
ERB Industries – booth 2880
Essex Silver-Line Corp. – booth 2361
Esta Corp. – booth 3872
Flagro USA – booth 1700
Fleet Business Products – booth 4548
Genisys Software – booth 4325
Granite Industries – booth 1511, 1525 & 3353
Haaga Great Lakes – booth 3611
Hawk Equipment Corp. – booth 3553
Hogan Co. – booth 834
Honda Power Equipment – booth 4035
Hudson Bros. Trailer Manufacturing – booth 4571
Husqvarna Professional Outdoor Products – booth 2521
Hydraflow Equipment Co. – booth 3253
Ideal Canopy, Tent & Structure – booth 1455
IHI/Compact Excavator Sales – booth 5239
INDECO North America – booth 7054
Intec – booth 3920
ITT Water & Wastewater U.S.A. – booth 3669
J & R Products – booth 3760
JET & WILTON – booth 3709
John Deere – booth 6563
Jomar Table Linens – booth 1403
Kaeser Compressors – booth 7254
Kenian Imports – booth 1718
Kestell Furniture Co. – booth 1429
Kuhns Power Equipment – booth 3982
Kwik-Covers – booth 635
L.B. White Co. – booth 1856
LaCrosse – booth 1516
LinenPro Designs – booth 1538
Little Wonder/Mantis, Div. of Schiller-Pfeiffer– booth 3313
Loegering – booth 6754
Marketeks– booth 311
Maxim Manufacturing Corp. – booth 3053
Maywood Furniture Corp. – booth 735
McCourt Manufacturing – booth 1411
Merry Tiller/MacKissic – booth 2814
MicroLogic a StarTrak Systems Business Unit – booth 5151
Midwest Tent Wall – booth 348
Mi-T-M Corp. – booth 3117
Morbark – booth 6146
MTA Distributors – booth 227, 1825 & 3435
Mulch Mule by Green Industry Innovators – booth 3005
New Holland Construction – booth 6208
Northland GPS Tracker – booth 7412
NTI Global – booth 1534
Nufurn – booth 509
Olympic Tent – booth 2025
Orion Software – booth 4059
Oztec Industries – booth 3745
Party Time Home of the TTC (Trash to Cash) System – booth 2048
PHP – booth 1243 & 2759
Pioneer Pump – booth 4073
Pioneer Supply Co. – booth 3211
PLE – booth 5254
Power Shifter™ by Nascent Design – booth 4268
Prairie Dog Boring Equipment – booth 4559
Pramac America – booth 3043
Primex Abrasives – booth 3337
Progressive Pro/Caterer’s Warehouse – booth 1611
Quebbie Music Systems – booth 617
ReachMaster – booth 4851
Region Welding of Missouri – booth 1634
RICE Hydro – booth 2953
RMI Corp. – booth 5707
RotaDairon Emrex – booth 7429
RSS Distributors – booth 1116
Ryan – booth 3325
Schaefer Ventilation Equipment – booth 1543
ScreenTech Imaging A Div. of Roeda Signs– booth 4053
Shindaiwa kWiet Power – booth 3647
Shipp Cleaning Systems – booth 1835
Sonco Worldwide – booth 1762
Sound-Craft Systems – booth 927
SourceOne – booth 3966
Special Products Co. (SpeeCo) – booth 4355
SPW Industries – booth 7208
Star Industries – booth 6138
Stone Construction Equipment – booth 2535
Subaru Robin America – booth 3459
Sumner Manufacturing Co. – booth 2653
Tablecloth Co. – booth 1526
TCM USA Holdings d/b/a TCM Forklift Trucks – booth 7308
Terex Construction – booth 6555
Thompson Pump & Manufacturing Co. – booth 3102
Tiger Equipment – booth 4242
TireSocks – booth 7218
Turf Teq – booth 3873
Universal Accounting Software – booth 958
Van Mark Products Corp. – booth 3434
Vision Furniture – booth 1656
WEHSCO – booth 1305
Wholesale Tape & Supply Co. – booth 1454
Winner International – booth 3652
Wynne Systems – booth 5509
Xtreme Manufacturing – booth 5425
YC Machinery & Equipment – booth 7309
Yellow Jacket, Div. Peterson Systems International – booth 1799
Yodock Wall Co. – booth 5247
Zilok.com: Rent Anything Online – booth 2046
 Special pre-order pricing for ARA's new 2008 State of the Equipment Rental Industry report available through March 5
American Rental Association (ARA) members can buy the newly published 2008 State of the Equipment Rental Industry report at the special pre-order price of $395, $100 off the regular member price, through Thursday, March 5. The nonmember price of the report is $1,195.
Those who participated in the ARA/IHS Global Insight survey, which was used in the development of the report, can buy the report at a special discount rate of $295 for ARA members and $995 for nonmember survey participants.
Those who buy the report also will receive two free written updates from IHS Global Insight and be invited by ARA to participate in two exclusive webcasts for report buyers conducted by IHS Global Insight in the late spring and fall 2009. These updates also will incorporate developments from the economic stimulus package evolving in Washington, D.C., and its impact on the rental industry.
“Economic information specific to the rental industry did not exist before ARA began to work with IHS Global Insight in 2004. Last year, we also added the updates and webcasts for report buyers in order to provide a continual flow of the latest and most accurate information throughout the year,” says Christine Wehrman, ARA’s executive vice president and CEO.
The ARA will release some of the key findings of the new report during the keynote session at The Rental Show 2009 in Atlanta on March 3. The association also plans to hold a press conference that day in Atlanta to discuss those findings and the release of the latest overview of the North American equipment rental industry.
“Our preliminary results show that 2008 was a challenging year. Although the rental industry performed better than the markets it serves, rental revenues for construction and industrial equipment and general tool contracted in 2008,” Wehrman says.
“We expect 2009 to be difficult and there also is the uncertainty of projections given today’s conditions. However, the market potential and opportunity for rental companies could improve if the fundamentals of the economic stimulus package, infrastructure spending and credit markets develop favorably,” she says.
The 2008 report is the third in a series of complete overviews of the North American rental industry produced by IHS Global Insight for ARA and RENTAL MANAGEMENT and explores how the economy is affecting the rental market, current and upcoming business trends and various factors shaping the industry.
The 2008 report includes:
  • Current and historical U.S. and Canadian equipment rental market size by segment — construction and industrial equipment, general tool, and party and event.
  • The five-year revenue forecast for each market segment.
  • An analysis of the financial indicators important to rental businesses.
  • An evaluation of historical, current and future U.S. inventory levels, along with an analysis of what factors increase or decrease investment.
  • Extended coverage of the top 10 rental products and emerging trends for each market segment.
For more information or to order the report, call ARA Member Services at 800-334-2177.
ARA enhances its online image
The American Rental Association (ARA) has re-launched its Web site, www.ARArental.org, with a fresh new look, streamlined navigation, enhanced features and an expanded “Members-Only” section.
“We fully realize the appreciation of electronic communication,” says Christine Wehrman, ARA’s executive vice president and CEO. “We are revamping and redesigning the Web site to be more interactive with membership and the industry, in addition to delivering more services electronically. These are important steps for making the site a key source of easily accessible, highly relevant information for ARA members and the equipment rental industry.”
The new home page includes a slide show depicting the personal side of the rental industry, top news items of the week, a main navigation bar and call-out boxes that address why someone should join ARA, information about The Rental Show, ARA Insurance Services and the ARA Foundation, as well as other association-related products and services such as RENTAL MANAGEMENT and the Cost of Doing Business survey.
“The new site offers streamlined navigation, more members-only resources and a platform on which to bring future Web 2.0 enhancements,” says Josh Carlson, ARA’s director of information services.
The navigation buttons at the top of the home page include:
  • ARA Members-Only. This area covers benefits; state, local and provincial programs; networking opportunities, business resources; advertising and marketing programs; education and training tools; and ARA newsletters.
  • Industry Resources. This section highlights links to everything from www.RentalHQ.com, www.RentalManagementMag.com, www.RentalPulse.com, www.RentalCareers.com and www.globalrentalalliance.com to ARA’s industry research initiatives and products, and the Canadian Rental Association (CRA).
  • Government Affairs. This area features ARA’s federal and state government affairs program, noting issues, policy positions and grassroots activity.
  • Shop ARA. This is the place to purchase ARA’s products and services.
  • About ARA. This section spotlights the organization of ARA, including volunteer member leaders such as the board of directors, committees and task forces; recognition programs with award winners; and a message from the CEO.
“We encourage ARA members to browse the site, explore and provide us with feedback,” Carlson says. “This is a dynamic site. As we move forward, we intend to add even more interactive features.” To offer comments or suggestions about the new www.ARArental.org, call Carlson at 800-334-2177, ext. 225, or e-mail josh.carlson@ararental.org.
 The Rental Show - RentalPulse Daily available Monday through Thursday
RentalPulse will bring you the latest news from The Rental Show Monday through Thursday this week. Check your e-mail each morning for information and schedules for each day’s events. If you wish to read articles from this issue of RentalPulse that no longer appear on the www.RentalPulse.com Web site, use the “Read entire article” links from this e-mail.