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2010 RER 100 Ranked List

May 1, 2010 12:00 PM

*Denotes RER estimate based on regional economic conditions, industry sources and interviews by members of the RER staff. Other revenue figures are based on actual reported revenue for North American operations for 2009. Location data are as of April 25, 2010, to the best of the knowledge of the RER staff. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and thoroughness, omissions sometimes occur.

1 through 25
26 through 50
51 through 75
76 through 104

Alphabetical List

Rank	Company Name (Last year’s rank) Headquarters Top Officer Website	2009 Rental Volume in Millions	2009 Total Volume in Millions	Number of Outlets
1	UNITED RENTALS (1) Greenwich, Conn. Michael Kneeland www.ur.com	$1,830.0	2,358.0	562
A 25.8 percent rental volume decline comparable to industry averages; saved money on SG&A expenses, reduced debt and improved cash flow, aged fleet, reduced headcount and closed branches, increased emphasis on industrial business; continued to improve sharing of fleet between branches and grew percentage of revenues derived from national accounts. New technological advances include pricing optimization software to be fully deployed in ’10 in branches and salespeoples’ smartphones; asset-tagging processes with handheld computers to barcode all rental assets, a companywide deployment of handheld GPS devices and route-optimization and dispatching software; customer-service scorecards to improve service response time, on-time delivery, off-rent pick-up time, equipment availability and billing dispute resolution.
2	RSC EQUIPMENT RENTAL (2) Scottsdale, Ariz. Erik Olsson www.rscrental.com	$1,073.0	$1,283.0	457
Has become an industry leader in environmental initiatives, collaborating with vendors to provide sustainable solutions including an equipment refurbishment program, the use of environmentally friendly parts washers and solid tires, and a new equipment emissions tracking system, which calculates greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions from RSC equipment. Sustainability initiatives saved company more than $25 million in ’09. The company’s waste-oil recycling program alone diverts nearly half a million gallons of used oil per year from permanent disposal. Incorporating energy-saving features in its newly opened store locations. Continuing shift towards more industrial clientele.
3	SUNBELT RENTALS (3) Fort Mill, S.C. Joseph Phelan www.sunbeltrentals.com	$1,029.9	$1,149.4	395
Probably second-largest U.S. rental company because not active in Canada unlike other major national players. Expecting sequential improvement throughout the calendar year 2010, with more acceleration of that improvement in the back half. Improved sales-force effectiveness with iPhone technology, which gives salesperson pricing capability and customer account information. Continuing to expand pump & power and scaffolding specialty locations. Dramatically improved efficiencies in back-office operations, logistics, parts and service functions, parts and equipment procurement, preventive maintenance, warranty processing and service bulletins, with help from SmartEquip technology. New CEO Phelan, former DHL executive, has strong logistics background.
4	HERTZ EQUIPMENT RENTAL CORP. (4) Park Ridge, N.J. Gerry Plescia www.hertzequip.com	$891.0*	$1,149.4*	255
Numbers are for North America only, as company is growing its European footprint, with three branches in China and new joint venture in Middle East. Canadian business not hit as hard as U.S. Industrial and petrochemical business recovering much quicker than construction. Starting to see more municipal and state-funded work such as transportation terminals and water and sewer projects. Plans to add about 10 new branches this year as part of a companywide strategy to tap into markets emerging from the recession as well as to provide onsite support to key industries such as petrochemical.
5	HOME DEPOT RENTALS (5) Atlanta Gaven Gregory www.homedepotrents.com	$520.0*	n/a	1,200*
Homeowner business not hit as hard as contractor/commercial construction. Online Home Depot Tool School gives instructions on doing DIY projects.
6	MAXIM CRANE RENTAL CORP. (8) Bridgeville, Pa. Art Innamorato www.maximcrane.com	$275.5*	n/a	34
Not a boom time for crane rentals but backing of Platinum Equity should help company through until upturn begins. Considering acquisition possibilities with Platinum eager to invest and consolidate. Invested heavily in crawler-crane fleet as part of fleet-repositioning effort. Focusing more on more complicated projects in industrial and power sector. Recently sold $250 million of notes in private placement market.
7	AHERN RENTALS (7) Las Vegas Don Ahern www.ahernrentals.com	$250.1	$284.3	71
Controversial expansion into East and Southeast markets didn’t please competition but enabled company to re-deploy fleet idled after major slowdown in Las Vegas, particularly the completion of massive City Center project. With utilization improving in early ’10, expansion has pretty well stopped now. Formation of national accounts division in April ’09 has paid dividends, with more than 50 national account relationships established, about 15 percent of which serve the industrial sector. 24-percent decline in rental revenue and 25 in total revenue in line with national averages.
8	NES RENTALS (6) Deerfield, Ill. Andrew Studdert www.nesrentals.com	$240.3	$300.6	77
Continuing emphasis on safety keeps NES in the forefront in terms of aerial safety practices, offering training for customers and its own staff including management, setting up an IPAF training facility at one of its branches. Had 29.9-percent rental volume drop. Established program to give money to Wounded Warrior program for any NES machine found on a jobsite not current with inspections; giving donations despite ultra-high compliance record. Scoring high on customer-loyalty rating system.
9	AGGREKO NORTH AMERICA (10) Houston George Walker (president North America); Rupert Soames (CEO Aggreko plc) www.aggreko.com	$234.7	$307.7	58
Added new locations in Canada, Wyoming, Indianapolis and Long Island. Biggest strength was major international power projects such as Vancouver Winter Olympics and presidential inauguration. Internationally a record year for Aggreko in volume and profitability. Designs and builds most of its own fleet of generators, temperature control equipment and oil-free compressors at facilities in Scotland. Designed new high-temperature heater in past year.
10	FINNING (11) Edmonton, Alberta Gordon MacDougald www.finning.ca	$224.4	$2,386.6	32
Numbers reflect Canadian business, not including U.K. or South American operations. Revenues dropped 26 percent in Canada, 24 percent in rental, although product support in mining operations jumped 30 percent compared with 2008. Implemented customer-service commitment program, guaranteeing on-time completion. Strengthening commodity prices will boost mining and oil-sands business in 2010. Reduced cost structure and improved operational efficiencies will help company rebound.
11	H&E EQUIPMENT SERVICES (9) Baton Rouge, La. John Engquist www.he-equipment.com	$191.5	$679.7	69
A 35-percent rental volume drop bounced H&E out of the top 10, with 36-percent total revenue plunge. Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas accounted for majority of total revenue and gross profit, performing better because of H&E involvement in oil and gas and petrochemical markets. Intermountain region is company’s second-largest, and improved commodity pricing should improve demand in this region. Opened five new stores over the past six months to redeploy assets from existing stores operating in depressed market conditions with heavier exposure to non-residential construction. Opened branches in Sacramento, Nashville and Baltimore in ’09, Indianapolis, Louisville and Pasco, Wash., in early 2010.
12	ALL ERECTION & CRANE RENTAL CORP. (14) Cleveland Michael Liptak www.allcrane.com	$190.0*	n/a	34
Introduced a 3-D lift-planning and crane-selection application available on all onboard crane computers in company’s fleet, facilitating the planning of complex, multiple-crane operations, helping to plan around obstructions and improve safety and lift accuracy. Added two Canadian branches. Received awards for transportation safety performance from Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association. Placed cap on 49-foot-tall Coca-Cola bottle at Atlanta Braves’ Turner Field.
13	AMECO (16) Greenville, S.C. Gary Bernardez www.ameco.com	$188.0	n/a	30
Fleet management and site-services specialist reached an extraordinary 30 million work hours and nine consecutive years without a lost workday injury or illness. Jobsite services include providing equipment, planning and forecasting, preventive maintenance and repairs, parts inventory management, fueling and lubricating services, operator training, equipment disposal logistics and more.
14	SAFWAY SERVICES (15) Waukesha, Wis. Marc Wilson www.safway.com	$185.0*	n/a	85
Sold by ThyssenKrupp to Odyssey Partners, which has or had ownership interests in Neff Rentals, the tank rental division of NES Rentals, Williams Scotsman and United Site Services. After three years under ThyssenKrupp name, Safway returns to previous name and logo. With extensive experience in commercial, petrochemical, power, bridge and special events industries, Safway played major role in 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
15	AMQUIP CRANE CORP. (17) Travose, Pa. Frank Bardonaro www.amquip.com	$156.0	$156.0	14
A 16.6-percent revenue drop not bad in current environment. Brought in former Maxim senior executive Al Bove as COO, with Bardonaro promoted to president and CEO. Opened branches in Memphis, focusing on project and “bare” rentals, also added Edwardsport, Ind., facility. Developed excellent safety rating, and achieved platinum designation from Harvard Contractor Safety Assessment Program.
16	NEFF RENTAL (13) Miami Graham Hood www.neffcorp.com	$154.0	$192.0	63
A 31.5-percent rental volume plunge for Miami-based rental chain.
17	SUNSTATE EQUIPMENT CO. (12) Phoenix Mike Watts www.sunstateequip.com	$146.0*	n/a	55
With Phoenix and southern California being major Sunstate markets, company was hard hit by the recession but remained profitable and attracted the interest of Sumitomo Corp., which acquired a minority interest in the company after 18 months of conversations, providing company with increased liquidity. Founder and chairman Watts and management team remain intact. Opened branches in Killeen, Texas, and Tulsa, Okla. Watts inducted into ARA Hall of Fame in February 2010.
18	VOLVO RENTS (19) Asheville, N.C Barry Natwick www.volvorents.com	$135.0	$213.0	79
18.6-percent rental volume decline was comparatively modest. Brought in two new franchisees in ’09, while a few investors held back because of recessionary concerns. Comedy nights in various markets helped raise money for food banks, while contribution programs to support overseas troops shined positive focus on equipment rental community. “Color for a Cause” program, where stores painted selected units the color of a chosen charity and donated its rental proceeds to that charity is another popular Volvo Rents program. Beginning to see rate stability.
19	RING POWER (20) Jacksonville, Fla. Randy Ringhaver www.ringpower.com	$96.0*	n/a	14
A roughly 20-percent decrease not bad for Florida and a hopeful sign. A slightly more stable rate environment is another sign of hope for one of industry’s top Caterpillar dealership rental programs. Recently named Terex Hydra Platform distributor, offering sales, rental and product support for the Hydra Platform product throughout Florida.
20	EQUIPMENT DEPOT (21) Houston David Turner www.eqdepot.com	$93.3	$312.7	40
Founder and 43-year industry veteran Don Moes retired, place taken by Turner, now responsible for Pon operations in U.S. and Europe. Moved international headquarters to Houston. Has hopes of expanding to new markets in next 18 months. Pon Material Handling Group comprises five Equipment Depot material handling companies of Pon North America group, also includes several European rental and material handling companies (listed revenues are North America only). Equipment Depot of Illinois recently became authorized Nissan Forklift dealer.
21	BATTLEFIELD EQUIPMENT RENTALS (24) Stoney Creek, Ontario Randy Casson www.battlefieldequipment.ca	$86.0	$170.0	36
Put in motion environmental initiative to prevent pollution; minimize energy, materials usage and production of waste; and implement effective and responsible waste management and disposal. Cat rental specialist, strong in Genie, Skyjack and general rentals. Ontario’s largest rental player with 28 branches, plus two in Manitoba and rest in Newfoundland and Labrador.
22	BRIGGS EQUIPMENT (22) Dallas David Bratton www.briggsequipment.com	$81.0	n/a	21
U.K. has taken over as Briggs’ top rental revenue producer with $67 million (not included on RER 100 revenues), with $52.1 million in U.S. and an impressive $28.9 million in Mexico out of four branches. Currently the largest company in Sammons Enterprises, Briggs dates its existence to 1896 as part of Briggs-Weaver Machinery Co., which provided service for pump installations, lift trucks and material handling equipment. Briggs closed its construction equipment business, which was primarily a Case dealership in Florida, North and South Carolina. Forklift business still open in Atlanta, and throughout Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Mexico.
23	RED-D-ARC WELDERENTALS (25) Austell, Ga. Mitch Imielinski www.red-d-arc.com	$78.0	$100.0*	43
A 20.4-percent rental volume drop for industry’s leading welding rental specialist, whose product lines include a varied inventory of more than 50,000 welders, weld-positioning equipment, diesel-powered electric generators, induction-heating equipment and new introduction of Cold Jet dry-ice blasting equipment. Opened new operations in Le Havre, France, in February 2010, complementing U.K., France and Netherlands operation (revenue is North America only). Has developed welding fleet management and leasing as part of its services.
24	HOLT CAT (23) San Antonio Allyn Archer www.holtcat.com	$66.5	n/a	18
38.9-percent rental volume drop for major Texas Caterpillar dealership. CEO Peter Holt told a “Start Me Up USA” rally that local equipment dealers experienced a 70-percent drop in new machine sales from 2008 levels, and that Holt Cat let go 25 percent of its staff. Holt expansion plans were put on hold pending economic improvement. Expects highway construction and housing starts to improve during second half of ’10 and Texas to be one of the first to improve because employment didn’t drop as dramatically as most other areas.
25	FABICK RENTS (27) Fenton, Mo. Doug Fabick www.fabickcat.com	$66.0	n/a	12
Only dropped $800,000 in rental volume, a great performance for 2009. Has huge range of construction and power systems equipment, one of the larger Cat dealers around. Strong parts presence, with classic parts for old Caterpillar machines as well as competitive units. Makes hydraulic hoses for all makes, with special order fittings within 24 hours.

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The Hardest Year
Virtually everyone on the RER 100 agrees 2009 was a year they'd like to forget. But it may take time to get over this perfect storm.
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