AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Rental Association held its third annual Texas Round Up July 15, 16, and 17 with more than 300 people in attendance. Rental stores from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mexico participated in the event, and more than 60 vendors and sponsors were on hand along with the staff of TRA and the American Rental Association.
Fort Worth police officers gave a presentation explaining how a $25,000 grant from TRA in February 2002 directly led to the recovery of more than $1.7 million in stolen equipment.
“The grant allowed us to do nothing but focus on stolen equipment on our days off and on weekends,” Detective D. Pearson told RER. “We were able to saturate areas of heavy equipment usage, such as construction sites, which led to the recoveries.”
According to Pearson, Texas leads the nation in equipment theft. Though the $25,000 grant was recently exhausted, TRA just provided a new $5,000 grant.
This year's Round Up also added a new twist that allowed attendees to come for just the day on Saturday at a reduced rate so that stores could get more of their staff involved. Additionally, an old timers reunion was coordinated that brought more than 40 attendees.
“This was by far the most successful Round Up we've seen,” said TRA executive director Leon Kothmann. Plans were announced for the next TRA Round Up for July 10, 11, and 12, 2005, in Galveston at the San Luis Resort Spa and Conference Center. There are also plans for a post conference cruise.
“This event was originally conceived as a social retreat,” says Musgrove. “But it has evolved into an educational few days with equipment displays and a lot of fun for the family all thrown in together. Being a second generation business owner this really brings back the feeling of the industry I knew years ago.”
