Sunbelt Rentals announced Friday that it has entered into a commercial agreement with SmartEquip to utilize its SE B2B Exchange beginning in the second quarter of 2007. Sunbelt also announced the expanded use of SmartEquip’s e-FleetPro technology at 50 Sunbelt rental locations across the country, starting in the next 30 days.

Both technologies are being implemented to provide transactional savings for both Sunbelt and its suppliers, as well as to increase fleet and service efficiency at Sunbelt rental stores.

SmartEquip’s newly launched SE B2B Exchange represents a technology platform for the rental and construction equipment industry, allowing for the electronic exchange of invoices, purchase orders, ship notices and other transactions-related documents between fleet owners and their suppliers. Sunbelt will initially utilize the platform to electronically exchange documents with JLG, soon to be followed by Multiquip and Wacker. Sunbelt will subsequently develop it as the standard for all of its preferred suppliers.

SmartEquip’s e-FleetPro platform also provides real-time connectivity between Sunbelt rental locations and the fleet and customer support systems of its suppliers, providing real-time, asset-specific service and fleet support to fleet operators. Fully integrated with a rental company’s business systems, e-FleetPro automates previously time-consuming and error-prone components of equipment service, inventory management, parts procurement and other processes.

e-FleetPro was already being deployed in phases at NationsRent stores prior to Sunbelt’s acquisition of NationsRent in August 2006. The present rollout will continue to expand the footprint to include both former NationsRent as well as original Sunbelt locations.

“We continue to look for means to drive the efficiency in our business model, increase the accuracy within the organization, and position Sunbelt to deliver efficient superior customer service while maintaining competitive rental rates,” said Bryan Rich, executive vice president and vice chairman of Sunbelt Rentals. “We believe the best way to achieve this is through the use of a technology-driven best-practice initiative. SmartEquip provides a highly interactive advanced solution that is simple to use, easy to implement and allows us to generate savings and efficiency gains not just for ourselves but also for our suppliers.”

SmartEquip is based in Norwalk, Conn. Sunbelt Rentals, No. 4 on the RER 100, is based in Charlotte, N.C.