GLENDALE, Calif. — Laird Burns sold Glendale, Calif.-based Allied Equipment Rentals to Gary Darnell, owner of D&D Equipment Rentals, in a transaction that was finalized Sept. 20. Darnell, whose company is a one-location heavy equipment rental specialist in Long Beach, Calif., was looking to diversify, which made four-location Allied, which has a wide range of general rental equipment, a good fit.

Burns grew up in the equipment rental industry helping his father at his Idaho rental company, and later worked for industry pioneer Sam Greenberg for six years before acquiring B&H Rentals in 1991, changing the name later to Allied. In an RER cover story in October 1999, Burns said the name Allied was a reflection of his philosophy, that it took the united efforts of many people to make a company successful.

“I welcome the deal and I'm looking forward to good things for myself and for Allied Equipment as well,” Burns told RER. Burns said he hopes to continue in the rental industry in some capacity after taking some time off and looking around to see what opportunities might be available for him.

Burns said that although 2002 was a tough year for Allied, business had been stronger and more stable the past few months. “We weren't going backwards,” he said. Still, Burns said it was difficult to maintain margins given current industry conditions.

Allied was included on the RER 100 listing of the top 100 rental companies in North America for three years, from 1998 to 2000, falling slightly short the past two years.