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Serving the Canadian rental industry for 45 years.
12 STABILITY AND CHANGE
Dave Runnalls found 16 years of success by meeting customer needs where he found them.
4
EDITORIAL
The Great Rogers Outage of July 8 makes us wonder how ready we are for the next one.
26
HEAT SHOWCASE
20 SLICK APPLICATIONS
Our specialty trailer item focuses on custom trailers for the oilfields.
10 AT YOUR SERVICE
How to manage servicedelivery changes with the right care. By Russ Dantu.
We’re helping you get ready for fall with our favourite construction heat products. 30 HOPE IS NOT A PLAN
Who says business owners can’t have a healthy work/life balance? By Adam Snook.
22 RENTAL MART REFRESHED
The Rental Mart returns with a new date, new programs and new names joining the party.
18 WHAT WENT HONG
Wearable technology improves ergonomics with data. By James Hong.
www.canadianrentalservice.com
Offline thinking
by Patrick Flannery
An internet outage prompts reflection on our readiness for trouble.
I’m writing this in the middle of the Great Rogers Outage of July 8. No Wi-Fi, no cell service and basic cable TV only. It’s unclear to me how such a broad failure across different systems can occur, but then again I’m no telecommunications engineer. I hope this isn’t some kind of Russian cyberattack. I suppose the causes will be made clear in time.
People are out talking to each other on my street. Feels a bit like the early days of COVID. The Tim Hortons Wi-Fi connects but you can’t do anything online, probably because their system is overwhelmed. I can do some things (like write this) offline but, were this situation to persist, I’d be unable to really do my job at all without some major adjustments to how and where I work.
Maybe it’s time we took steps to guarantee reliable internet access.
As if it wasn’t clear before, our economy is now almost as dependant on internet access as it is on any other basic service like electricity, roads and fuel delivery. Data is the most valuable commodity in the world if you think about the market price less the cost of acquisition. We fight wars, write laws and contort public policy in order to protect oil supply. Maybe it’s time we take steps to guarantee reliable internet access to everyone and at least provide some kind of backstop when private companies fail? Providing broadband to remote areas would seem to be an important step in this direction.
More broadly, both this experience and the COVID-related supply chain shortages we are all facing have underlined a principle of business that I think has been neglected for at least the last 25 years: contingency planning. Corporations used
to be very concerned with insulating themselves against any threats to their ability to deliver their products. Legal, financial, infrastructure, supply chain, personnel, governance, succession –companies would spend significant organizational capital ensuring some level of redundancy or alternatives in all these systems to minimize their exposure to risk. The great waste-cutting initiatives of the late ‘80s and ‘90s (think just-intime manufacturing) eroded these efforts. Then, when they seemed to be broadly successful, reduced them to an afterthought in many companies.
Like my work-from-home situation, just-intime is great when everything is working properly. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned over the past three years, things don’t always work properly. Like insurance, contingency planning is something that costs you a little but seems to to deliver no benefit most of the time. Until it spares you huge costs when the black swan lands on your doorstep.
There’s even an example of just-in-time gone wrong in this issue. Dave Runnels at Camrose explains that he ran into difficulties when he sold an aging skid steer without buying another first on the assumption that a replacement would always be readily available. The post-pandemic manufacturing world had other ideas.
Side note: As I left to go try the Wi-Fi at Tim Hortons this morning, I left my sleeping teenage daughter a note telling her where I was going and why. I ended with, “Books still work. Read something LOL.” One thing that won’t become unavailable in an internet outage – or even a power outage – is your print issue of this magazine. Call it your contingency for critical industry information in the event of a total war on our information space. LOL...kind of. CRS
INDUSTRY NEWS
ARA PROMOTING INSURANCE PRODUCT IN CANADA
The American Rental Association held it’s first in-person meeting in Canada on June 22 in Richmond, B.C. About 40 ARA members and prospective members attended. Attendees heard from James Auerbach and Angie Venekamp about ARA’s offering for Canadian members, workforce development, the new insurance program for Canadians, women in rental, young professionals, ARA and Toro Foundation’s Community Impact project in Region 10, and more. The meeting was held at Cooper Equipment Rental’s location. ARA has partnered with Westland Insurance to offer an insurance solution for rental stores who are members of ARA’s Region 10 (Canada). This is a more traditional program covering theft by conversion, losses due to cyber crime, equipment damage and other threats of specific concern to the rental industry. Auerbach and Venekamp also explained that the ARA Foundation and the Toro Foundation are committed to executing a community
impact project in each of the ARA’s 10 North American regions. The project will identify local not-for-profit organizations and coordinate support for those organizations with member rental stores and staff. These projects have refurbished baseball fields, built trails and gardens and outdoor classrooms for schools.
“The meeting had a great turnout of rental industry members in western Canada with members and prospective members alike,” Venekamp said. “We hope it is the first of many over the
BOSCH REXROTH ACQUIRES HYDRAFORCE
HydraForce plans to join Bosch Rexroth’s growing portfolio of compact hydraulics products, expanding reach and support for customers. Bosch Rexroth, a subsidiary of Bosch, based in Lohr am Main, Germany, is a growing leader in mobile and industrial hydraulics products. Bosch Rexroth and HydraForce signed a contract on July 15 with terms not disclosed.
“With Bosch Rexroth, we found a great partner who values and shares similar views on innovation, customer focus, application expertise, and culture. I believe the new ownership will create great opportunities for our customers, partners and employees and lead to sustained growth,” says Mike Terzich, president and CEO of HydraForce.
“With its diversified portfolio and
international setup, Bosch Rexroth has a strong foundation. The acquisition of HydraForce expands our global market access through indirect sales channels. Sales partners and system integrators will become important target groups. In these challenging times, we are also helping to stabilize regional supply chains so that we can support our customers even better,” says Frank Hess, vice-president of the compact hydraulics business unit of Bosch Rexroth.
HydraForce’s extensive portfolio of products complements the existing product portfolio of Bosch Rexroth’s compact hydraulic business unit. Within Bosch Rexroth, the business unit designs, manufactures and markets compact hydraulic components for applications such as earth
coming months and years.”
The ARA is forming a Region 10 task force with representation from across Canada to plan future events and initiatives. The ARA’s next planned meeting in Canada will take place at the Canadian Rental Mart, Sept. 27 and 28 in Mississauga, Ont.
For an in-depth discussion of the ARA’s new Canadian insurance initiative, download CounterTalks Episode 37 with Josh Nickell of the ARA and Brock Pennel of Westland Insurance.
moving, cranes, aerial platforms, agricultural machinery and industrial applications at its four locations in China, the U.S., Germany and Italy. The business unit employs approximately 1,800 associates. HydraForce employs approximately 2,100 associates, most of which are located at six production locations in the U.S., Brazil, United Kingdom and China. The acquisition enhances regional customer support and additional sales channels. In addition to the complementary product portfolios, the regional sales structures of HydraForce and Bosch Rexroth complement each other as well. The combined activities are intended to create a well-balanced entity in North and South America and Europe and will also support further growth activities in the Asia Pacific region.
NAPOLEON INTRODUCES NEW PRESIDENT COMING EVENTS
Mike Tzimas, president, Napoleon
Napoleon has announced that Mike Tzimas has become president of the company. Tzimas succeeds Ron McArthur, who previously announced his intention to retire at the end of 2022. Tzimas most recently held the role of chief financial officer. He joined Napoleon in January of 2020 as vice-president of finance and was promoted to CFO in January of 2021. Prior to joining Napoleon, Tzimas held senior finance and manufacturing roles within the auto industry. He will report to co-CEO’s Chris Schroeter and Stephen Schroeter. Tzimas brings a strong background to the role as the architect of the five-year strategic plan for Napoleon and helped oversee a period of strong growth and expansion. At the forefront of Tzimas’ agenda will be long-term sustainable growth for Napoleon and its customers and to support product innovation and expand Napoleon’s global footprint.
“Mike demonstrates our core values, working and demonstrating to our associates and customers why Napoleon cares is at the very core of who we are,” said Stephen Schroeter.
“Taking the torch from Ron McArthur, Mike will leverage our rich past, strong foundation and entrepreneurial spirit to propel us into even greater achievements in the future,” added Chris Schroeter.
Tzimas will oversee all global operations of Napoleon and be based at the corporate head office in Barrie, Ont.
HARRIS TO LEAD GLOBAL SALES
Preston Harris, vicepresident of global sales, Point of Rental
Point of Rental
Software has named Preston Harris as the company’s vicepresident of global sales to continue the company’s recent growth.
“I am absolutely honoured to be supported by a team of rockstars that’s every bit as passionate as I am about driving growth and developing our craft here at Point of Rental,” said Harris. “We’re excited to show rental leaders throughout the world how they can reach their full potential with our software.”
Harris started working for the company in 2015 as a business development manager before heading the company’s Australian operations and establishing an office in Melbourne in 2016. After building the company’s footprint there, he returned to the U.S. to head up global revenue operations for the company before taking up his new role.
FEDERAL INCENTIVES AVAILABLE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The government of Canada has announced a $547.5-million funding program for the Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty ZeroEmission Vehicles (iMHZEV) program. The funding program started on July 11 and will give Canadian organizations, companies, provinces, territories and municipalities incentives to purchase or lease eligible MHZEVs. The government considers batteryelectric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles as zero-emission vehicles. The government has also released a searchable table to find eligible vehicles by eligible model year, make, model and trim, vehicle class, fuel type, battery capacity and the maximum available incentive for each vehicle (up to $200,000). Some of the eligible vehicles include certain zero-emission models from Demers, Ford and Volvo. Program details are available on the Transport Canada website.
Sept. 13
CRA Ontario Golf Guelph, Ont. craontario.org
Sept. 27
CRA Member Appreciation Baseball Night Toronto, Ont. crarental.org
Sept. 27 - 28
Canadian Rental Mart Mississauga, Ont. canadianrentalmart.com
Nov. 29 - 30
ARA Women In Rental Conference ararental.org
Nov. 29 - 30
ARA Young Professional Network Conference ararental.org
2023
Feb. 12
The ARA Show Orlando, Fla. arashow.org
March 14 - 18
ConExpo/ConAgg Las Vegas, Nev. conexpoconagg.com
April 20
IPAF Summit Berlin, Germany ipaf.org
For more industry news, check your inbox for the Canadian Rental Service e-newsletter, arriving every other Tuesday.
INDUSTRY NEWS
NEW LEADERSHIP AT KUBOTA
Kubota Canada has announced that Yannick Montagano has succeeded Bob Hickey as president of the company following Hickey’s retirement on June 30. A 25-year veteran of Canada’s industrial sector, Montagano stepped into the role from his former position as Kubota Canada’s vice-president of sales, marketing, service and engineering – a role he’s held since December 2018.
“Kubota Canada has cemented itself as one of the country’s premier tractor and compact equipment distributors during our proud 47-year history, and I am thrilled and honored to have been selected to lead this great company into the future,” said Montagano. “It
is crucial that we at Kubota Canada continue to honour our commitment to innovation and to our customers and dealers, both of which remain at the heart of our business. I look forward to working with the rest of the executive team as we continue to build on the exceptional growth Kubota Canada has seen under Bob’s guidance.”
Hickey’s retirement comes after a more than 40-year career with Kubota Canada, having first joined the company in 1981 as controller. He took on several leadership positions before stepping into the role of president in 2013. In this time, Hickey contributed to an unprecedented period of growth for Kubota Canada, leaving the company in a strong position, with over $1 billion in sales projected for 2022.
“I am very proud to have had a lifelong association with such a world-class organization,” said Hickey.
VR TRAINING GETS ANSI NOD
Edmonton-based Serious Labs, a VR heavy equipment and vehicle training simulator provider, has announced its new ANSI-compliant assessment scenario for VR operator training for articulated and telescopic boom lifts. Trainers using the Serious Labs simulator to deliver the ANSI-compliant scenario are no longer required to make those operators touch the actual equipment to finalize their training. If an operator completes and passes the Serious Labs ANSI-compliant assessment scenario with a minimum of 80 percent proficiency, they will have demonstrated sufficient skill, ability and awareness to be certified by the training entity. The simulator calculates this proficiency score based on dozens of data points aligned with industry testing standards.
“We have always known that our combination of VR and analytics is the best way to train MEWP operators, but now it’s official,” said Jim Colvin, CEO of Serious Labs. “Our team has worked hard over the past few years to refine our simulator training to meet ANSI’s strict requirements.”
The ANSI-compliant assessment scenario is custom-designed to verify the MEWP 3b ANSI A92.24 and ISO 18878:13-specified boom lift competencies. The simulated training features consequence-free obstacles and situations that would be difficult to set up in a real-life training space – the very reason traditional trainers struggle to meet the ANSI standards. In VR, these conditions can be replicated safely and reliably to train and certify operators to a higher level of proficiency than ever before possible. The simulator provides a data-based report of the operator’s techniques and behavior. The trainer is then able to focus specifically on areas for improvement in the operator’s skills, an aspect especially important for plant facility maintenance turnarounds and shutdowns where it is critical to understand the skills gaps for temporary workers who are operating equipment on location.
“Kubota Canada has been such an important factor in my life, and it feels so good to be leaving with the company still at the top of its game. I look forward to watching Yannick and the executive leadership team steer Kubota Canada to continued growth and success.”
This leadership transition comes at a time of substantial investment for Kubota in Canada, including over $80 million for a new state-of-the-art corporate office and 500,000-squarefoot warehouse space in Pickering, Ont. A grand opening is planned for October 2022. Kubota also recently opened a new 280-acre research and development centre in the state of Georgia, built to meet the needs of Canadian and American customers. The facility represents an over US$85-million investment by Kubota and is 100 percent powered by renewable energy.
ROBERT ELIAS JOINS CANADIAN RENTAL SERVICE
Robert Elias has joined the Canadian Rental Service team as brand sales manager. In the role, he will spearhead all marketing aspects for Canadian Rental Service and Rental Mart, promote its presence and connect with industry professionals and associations.
Elias worked with the Daily Commercial News for 17 years and brings a background in the construction industry, having managed a team at the business publication, Construct Connect. He’s a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s managerial program, studied at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB Canada) and lives in Toronto.
“We’re excited to have Elias join the team. His experience in both media and the construction industry are an asset to us and will allow him to jump right in,” said Danielle Labrie, group publisher of Canadian Rental Service.
Yannick Montagano, president, Kubota
Robert Elias, brand sales manager
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AT YOUR SERVICE
Self disservice
by Russ Dantu
Changes to service delivery have to be managed with care.
I’m losing my religion when it comes to retail business customer service like banks, grocery stores and other facilities that believe they are increasing their customer service by installing more self-serve kiosks. It’s getting to the point where I am actually looking for different places to shop for certain items.
Case in point: I was at my local Shoppers Drug Mart store this past week to pick up a few things we needed at home. I obviously went on the wrong day, as every Thursday is seniors’ day so the place was packed with slow-moving people who apparently have lots of time on their hands. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m 55 so not far behind looking forward to Thursdays where seniors get 10 percent off all purchases that day.
I wasn’t pushy or impolite. I smiled and did my best to be patient…but places like Shoppers Drug Mart, the banks, grocery stores, Walmart and many others believe they are helping us out by installing these self-serve kiosks for checkouts when they may just be doing more damage than they think.
I don’t like the kiosks. Some people do. Plain and simple.
or maybe they were let go because of the self-serve kiosks and they don’t need as many employees any more.
Am I wrong in assuming that the retail places I have mentioned above are all making a pretty good profit? Every time I am in our local grocery store, there are lots of people buying groceries. The banks almost always have a lineup. Shoppers always has a full parking lot. Walmart…well, we all know how busy most Walmart’s are. Almost all are making a very decent profit each and every year.
So I’m waiting in this lineup to pay for my items and there are at least 10 people ahead of me. All are being forced to use the selfserve kiosks as there is no employee running the cash register on that day. They have one person running between each of the four kiosks helping people try to navigate through the screens to pay for their purchases. I can hear lots of complaining from the people at the kiosks and from others in front of me waiting to use a kiosk. Some seemed to be doing quite well but others were struggling. After five minutes and only two people finished at their kiosks. I put my stuff down, left and walked across to the grocery store where I know I can get my stuff. Even though they have four kiosks as well, I know they have a couple of cashiers also working. It wasn’t that busy and I got through fairly quickly and got to talk to one of my favorite cashiers who has been working there for several years.
I don’t like the kiosks. Some people do. Plain and simple.
Here’s my beef:
I know change is necessary and I speak on that subject but I believe many retailers are making a mistake with putting in too many of these kiosks. I used to look forward to going into Shoppers and saying hello and chatting with at least six employees there who I have gotten to know a little bit over the past several years. Three of them are no longer there. They may have just decided it was time for a change
1. Did anyone in management do a survey to find out what their customers actually want?
2. Did they take it too far by not having the option of a cashier for those who prefer to deal with a live human being?
3. Are they doing this all in search for more profit for their shareholders?
4. Do they get they might actually lose customers because of this?
Here’s the solution:
1. Understand that you have many demographics of customers you will serve, regardless of the business you are in. Some may like to do the self-serve and others want to interact with a live person and have someone else bag their goods. Setting yourself up so you serve everyone makes your customer service go up to the next level. Staying the same may upset those who prefer to get in and out without speaking to anyone. Changing for them is a good thing. Having real live people keeps the other demographic happy. When I bring on a new customer, I always ask them how they prefer to be communicated with. The younger generation usually say they prefer I text as much as possible. People in their 30s and 40s (in my world) like email. Some of my older customers always want me to pick up the phone and call them or stop by to see them. By accommodating all of the different demographics, I keep more of my customers happy.
2. Change has to happen…we all know that. Be gentle with those who are struggling with change. Sometimes a lot of handholding is needed. Sometimes an exception to your new rules are needed. Would you risk losing a $10,000, $50,000, $100,000 or $1,000,000 customer because you are trying to force them to do something they don’t want to do? Always remember that they are
the customer. They pay your bills and your employees’ salaries through supporting you.
3. When creating changes to your policies and procedures (and yes, I’ve said this before), please jump on the other side of the counter and see how it feels as a customer to be put through anything you change. It’s not about making things easier for you. It should always be about making things easier for the customer.
Thank goodness you are in the rental industry where you don’t have self-serve kiosks that may upset some of your customers. But please, do yourselves a favour and check in with your customers every now and then to make sure they are happy with the way they are treated and if they are happy with the way they have to deal with you to spend their hard-earned money.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and buy some more items at Shoppers. Or maybe I’ll go somewhere else where I might feel like a real customer.
Take care of yourselves, your employees and your customers! CRS
Russ Dantu is a 30-year veteran of the rental industry and has been delivering workshops, seminars and keynotes on customer service for over 15 years. Visit russdantu.com.
STABILITY AND CHANGE
Market needs drive Camrose Rental Shoppe.
Dave Runnalls has enjoyed helping customers find the right tools to tackle jobs for more than 20 years.
by ANDREW SNOOK
Dave and Kathy Runnalls have been working side-byside at Camrose since 2006. They saw opportunity in the 2006 oil boom economy.
His journey in the equipment rental sector began when he took a position at a small equipment rental store in 2000 in central Alberta. From there, Runnalls worked for a couple of companies in the Cold Lake and Bonnyville areas before moving south of Edmonton to take positions in Camrose and Leduc.
While working as the manager of a rental store in Camrose, Runnalls and his colleague, Dwayne Bonnett, decided to branch off on their own and open up their own rental store – Camrose Rental Shoppe – which serves the general rental equipment market. The store served homeowners and a few contractors at
the beginning, but that changed quickly as they realized how much business was available serving the contractor market.
“We do everything from small hammers, barbecues and popcorn machines all the way to excavators, forklifts and skid steers,” Runnalls says. “We saw an opportunity to open up our own store in boom times in 2005 and 2006 in Alberta. You could’ve opened up a popsicle stand and sold popsicles all year-round at that time. Dwayne and I started up the business in January 2006, opened our doors and our business exploded in the first two to four years. We had far more business than we could ever dream of.”
Camrose has grown to have five full-time employees, like Ryan Olson, pictured here, who they treat like family.
Camrose Rental Shoppe moved not long after opening to accommodate the increased business.
“We expanded our business from one location to another because we outgrew it and couldn’t stuff anymore equipment into our small lot,” Runnalls says.
The company continued to grow until 2014, when the price of oil dropped drastically, spiraling the province into a recession. Runnalls currently operates one location: a 5,000-square-foot facility with a mezzanine for offices, a training centre, and an 8,000-square-foot lot for storing equipment.
“Then things started to slow down slightly. From 2014 on, we have maintained where we’ve been at or gone up and down a little,” Runnalls says.
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Since opening, the company has grown to have five fulltime employees and has expanded its reach to serve customers westward up to Wetaskiwin; eastward all the way to the Saskatchewan border, south of Lloydminster; and just south of Edmonton.
“We serve about 120,000 people in our trading area,” Runnalls says. “One of the interesting places we do service is a small, but very important, town in the oil and gas industry that is the hub for all the pipelines that go out of Canada – Hardisty, Alta.”
MATCH MAKER
Runnalls’ favourite aspects of working in the equipment rental industry are interacting with new people regularly and helping them solve their equipment questions.
“We meet new customers all the time. I like the challenge of trying to provide people with the right equipment for the right job – the satisfaction when you know that the job is done right for the customers and you can provide them the right equipment,” he says.
CHALLENGES
While Runnalls largely services contractors within the construction industry, rising-and-falling oil and gas prices still
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have an impact on his business.
“Although I don’t rely on oil and gas for my business, my customers rely on construction, and construction relies on the oil and gas industry,” he says. “So, 2014 to 2019 were some of our most restrictive years with the downgrade of our energy industry.”
Right when one could argue the economy couldn’t get much worse, enter the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the pandemic didn’t have the immediate negative impact on the Camrose Rental Shoppe that it had on so many other businesses.
“Two-thousand twenty was an interesting year, because we weren’t getting business from contractors, but the homeowners came to us because they couldn’t go anywhere ese. Homeowners replaced the business the contractors couldn’t do in 2020,” Runnalls recalls.
Fortunately, the contractor business started to stabilize in 2021 and 2022. That said, challenges remained. One of those challenges is finding qualified workers.
“It is getting harder and harder to find the right people for the job,” Runnalls says. “Rental companies, for the most part, pay higher than what the standard is out there, but even at that it’s hard to get qualified people for the positions you’re looking to fill.”
Another lingering challenge created by the pandemic is supply chain issues. Runnalls recalls getting caught off-guard initially when managing his skid steer fleet.
“I made a mistake at the beginning of the year, not realizing the supply chain issues,” he says. “When our skid steers get to 2,500 hours, we sell them off. This year I had
Abby Volkman and Cal Strauss stay up to speed on all the latest technology. Camrose brings in new products frequently as customer needs change.
one skid steer come up. In the past, I’ve never had to do research to get another one. I made the mistake of selling it before I went off looking for a new one. When I went to get my order in, I realized that there were no wheeled skid steers of the brand I needed to replace anywhere in Alberta. I was able to get one in a larger size, but not the size I was selling.”
Runnalls says that the longer wait times for parts have also been an issue. This has forced some equipment to be down for months at a time when it would normally be down for a few weeks.
FUTURE GOALS
While Runnalls isn’t far off from retirement, he still has goals he’d like to accomplish for expanding the services at Camrose Rental Shoppe.
“One of the long-term goals I have, and have been working on, is being able to do safety training for my company for people that do safety rentals – the man lifts, the forklifts,” he says. “Especially in the trading area that we cover.
COVER STORY
Companies that don’t want to offer the training are looking for it.”
When asked what advice he would offer to people that are considering opening up their own equipment rental stores, Runnalls says getting active in the various industry associations is important.
“They should always find an association to join, I recommend that for any type of business. Get as much information as you can out of that association,” he says.
Another important step is to do your homework before starting up.
“You need to find what equipment is required in your service area. If you’re starting a rental company, that’s what you need to do. What is required in Camrose may not be required in Wetaskiwin or in Ontario,” he says. “Where I started, in Bonnyville and Cold Lake, we needed different equipment than what we needed when we came down to Camrose. Some of it is the same, but not everything. For example, in Cold Lake they require shredders like crazy.”
Once you know the needs of the market in your area, it is equally important to stay on top of changing trends in customers’ needs.
“Markets change and it does not stay the same,” Runnalls says. “Years ago, customers would ask for a lot of flooring equipment. That is something that very few ask for now. You have to keep up on that. It’s really listening to what the customers are looking for and knowing what they’re after. You just never know.”
As trends in customer demands change, it doesn’t hurt to hold onto some of the previously popular items, if you have the space.
“We used to rent out welders like crazy. That changed, but things do come back, too. If you hold onto some equipment, it does seem to rotate and come back,” Runnalls says. CRS
Runnalls found out the hard way that supply chains aren’t what they used to be when he sold an old skid steer before buying a new one.
WHAT WENT HONG
Data drives safety
by James Hong Ergonomics
Ican be improved with wearable devices.
n April of 2021, I wrote about new technology on the horizon for keeping workers safe beyond the current regulated practices of personal protective equipment. It was a problematic research project because most of the companies were startups and either lost funding or closed shop due to the high cost of development and/or the lack of clients. New technology is expensive to develop and firstadopters always pay the price. I’m happy to report progress on the future of the safety tech frontier.
The company Soter Analytics, founded in 2015, has developed a system that includes a “wearable device which coaches workers to self-correct their movements in real-time to avoid ergonomic injuries.” The approach is a preventive proactive solution to reduce injury risk by automating ergonomic musculoskeletal safety using hazardous movement data. The system couples safety elements powered with AI-driven training programs in an easy-to-use plug-and-play setup to improve material handling techniques. In addition, by providing managers with a comprehensive ergonomic overview of their worksites, appropriate resources can be assigned to further reduce risks. The system works by capturing video of workers to assess tasks on the go and providing feedback and corrective actions when necessary. The company provides thorough training for every aspect of the technology to workers and management for using preventive measures, understanding and implementing the data collected.
Common construction worker training covers the very basics of lifting and handling materials. Even with that, correct posture and movement are not generally emphasized as preventive measures for injury. At most there may be a diagram to illustrate the right and wrong way to perform these tasks, however there is rarely, if ever, a real-life demonstration explaining the possible injuries caused by unsafe musculoskeletal movements or the possible effects. Construction workers spend their day largely performing repetitive motions: bending, kneeling, twisting, lifting and tool operation both manual and power. Over time, this
repetitive action behaviour can cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders which have the potential for serious career-affecting ramifications, such as low performance and long-term disabilities
The company’s client base includes over 100 companies in logistics, manufacturing, retail, and pharmaceutical industries. Soter’s solution targets manual handling workers in construction, warehousing, manufacturing and healthcare to prevent back and shoulder injuries. By implementing wearable devices, mobile apps and AI technology, they bring postural awareness and correction to workers. Something called SoterCoach provides corrective measures from a mobile app to reduce risk in the workplace. Another element, SoterTask, uses video to analyse and measure risks associated with a given task.
The Soter system provides safe material lifting techniques; training programs which include personalized guides; audible biofeedback through an earpiece; vibro tactile feedback through vibration touch; and visual data in real time to correct movements while worker’s work. The data suggests a 30- to 70-percent reduction in worker hazardous movements and a 65-percent more effective solution than in-class training or on-site ergonomics with training from an expert.
It’s easy to ignore proper manual labour techniques when one has a strong body unaffected by years of hard labour. More often than not we wait until it hurts before paying any attention to the possible causes. Let’s not wait until it hurts. Let’s use everything we have to stay safe and healthy. Many companies can’t afford high tech solutions but that doesn’t stop us from training our workers and keeping a watchful eye on possible problematic workplace activities.
You can find extensive information about WMSDs at the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety which explains the where, what, when and why of it and suggested treatments. Be safe. Be well. CRS
James Hong is an OHS consultant, writer & journalist
SPECIALTY TRAILERS
SLICK APPLICATIONS
The best tips on trailers built for oilfield and pipeline work.
by ANDREW SNOOK
While working with First Choice in Alberta, Adam Snook spent several years building customized combo-trailers for oilfield and pipeline applications and says there are some key items that these trailers often need including light towers, 1,000-litre fuel tanks, portable toilets and a heater, to name a few.
“Sometimes we had electric pumps mounted to them for pipeline jobs,” Snook says. “There were a lot of different configurations.”
As a rental house, he says the most important thing to do first is determine what market you’re going to pursue.
“I’ve seen them as simple as a portable toilet with a small garbage bin mounted on it. Trailers can also get elaborate and have things like two heated toilets with a 60-kilowatt generator, a huge light tower mast on it, electrical pumps and a 1,000-litre [fuel] tank on it with remote fuel hoses for fuelling other equipment. Those are generally for oilfield use and remote-work use, if you have a jobsite a long way away and they want access to big fuel to be able to fuel everything up on site.”
ON-SITE SECURITY
Another option that some customers like to have on remote job sites for oilfield projects and other applications is a security trailer with a remote camera that sends feedback to a monitoring station to help prevent theft. Of course, this only makes
Customized trailers are ideal for a variety of applications for work in a remote location. This is particularly true for oilfield and pipeline work.
sense for commercial sites that have enough valuable equipment on site to justify the cost of the trailer.
“If you’re on a site like that, you’re going to put a security trailer on. They’re generally built with a light tower, and you could mount them on a flat-deck trailer with a generator and a portable toilet –something that’s going to give you an edge over a guy just delivering a stand-alone toilet,” says Snook.
Although a flat deck trailer is a solid option, rental houses don’t have to be that elaborate or expensive.
“There are a couple companies that I’ve seen that have just taken a light tower and they’ve extended the frame of the trailer and they added a spot where they can put a three-inch submersible pump and another
spot where you can lay the discharge hose on it for pipeline jobs – you’re always having to pump out the trench,” Snook says. “You’re just giving the customers the convenience of having everything in one package and not having to come and pick up the pump and throw it in a box in a truck, and you can charge a premium for that.”
BE PREPARED
Pipeline companies are notoriously picky when it comes to safety, so you must make sure you meet all the local OH&S standards before the trailer is brought on site, Snook notes.
“There’s no point putting a bunch of money into something that’s going to get kicked off the site right away,” he says.
Trailers going to oilfields need to be able to withstand tough conditions including abuse, rough roads and freezing temperatures.
If you’re going to be chasing those longterm jobs where your equipment is going to be out for six to eight months at a time, make sure you’re buying the right amount of equipment for the trailer.
“If you’re going to be putting generators and light towers on, make sure you get something with a bigger oil sump on the engine so you can extend your oil-change life, because oilfield companies and pipeline companies don’t do their own maintenance on their own equipment half the time… never mind worrying about taking care of your equipment,” Snook says.
He also recommends purchasing GPS tracking technologies for trailers, since thieves hooking up to a
PHOTO: ADAM SNOOK
trailer and driving off is a common way theft can occur on a site. “If you’re going to have $30,000 or more tied up into a trailer, spending $75 to monitor it is pretty reasonable,” Snook says.
He also recommends wheel locks, if possible, or simply removing the tires if a trailer is going to be on a site for a long duration of time.
When planning out a trailer for a longterm job like this, it’s important to configure it for accessibility.
“You have to configure so they can set it up in three minutes and walk away from it, so they’re not spending half an hour turning things or flipping ramps down to get at things,” Snook says. “They don’t have a great reputation for taking care of things but if you send it out looking good it’ll come back a little better. Plus, it makes it easier to charge for damages. If we were doing major oilfield jobs, we’d take before pictures and then take pictures when they came back and put them in a file so we had a leg to stand on when we charged for damages, because there will be damages.”
Another way to try and prevent damage is to invest in a quality trailer.
“Don’t buy a cheap trailer. Don’t get something with two 3,500-pound axles when you can get something with two 5,000- or 7,000-pound axles just to save $1,000 or $1,500. For those types of jobs, especially pipeline jobs, a lot of the time you’re off-road, in the bush or in the middle of a field. There’s no paved roads where they’re going, so don’t buy junk,” Snook says.
CRS_Enerco_Oct21_.indd
Pipeline work in Canada also takes place throughout the winter, so make sure everything that goes out is fully winterized.
While there are many things to consider when setting up a trailer for oilfield or pipeline work, the most important thing to remember is the value of the service you’re providing your client, Snook says.
“When you’re doing the customer a favour by having multiple pieces on one trailer, charge for it. Don’t give them a discount because they say they’re going to have it out there for a while. When you’re saving them money by having everything built into one, and they’re only having to go to one supplier, that should come at a premium,” Snook says. CRS
INDUSTRY EVENT
RENTAL MART REFRESHED
The 2022 Rental
Iby DANIEL REALE-CHIN
Interactive education sesssions, special association events, new exhibitors and a fall date make this year’s Rental Mart a can’t-miss. Let’s get together for the first time in a long time!
Mart includes a number of “firsts.”
t’s a whole new Rental Mart. The return of Canada’s trade expo for the equipment and event rental industry brings with it a refreshed and revised approach featuring many “firsts” never before done in the show’s 30-year history.
“Because of the biennial schedule for the Rental Mart, two years of COVID restrictions meant four years without a live show,” explains Robert Elias, show manager. “We saw that as an opportunity to really take a hard look at what we do and make some changes that we think will add excitement and novelty to the 2022 edition and future Rental Marts.”
One obvious first is the move to a fall date: Sept. 27 and 28. The 2022 Rental Mart was originally scheduled for its usual time in March, but the January Omicron surge in Ontario forced a rescheduling. But, depending how things go, the fall date may become a permanent shift. Spring is a busy time for rental shows because it’s the hot buying season for rental equipment. But a fall date may enable the Rental Mart to avoid scheduling conflicts with other shows, especially the ARA Show, while giving attendees a second chance to look at fleet ahead of winter and exhibitors a chance to showcase some of the
next springs’ offerings early. “We’ll be assessing response to the 2022 Rental Mart carefully to inform our decisions about future editions,” Elias says.
Next on the list of changes is a pumpedup focus on education and discussion with high-profile exclusive speakers. The Hon. Tony Clement, the former federal industry minister, will offer his thoughts on the supply chain issues facing us all in his keynote presentation followed by a Q&A session. His expertise in industry and labour led him to co-found Reshoring Canada, a group that advocates for Canadian supply chain modernization, and aims to bring manufacturing back to Canada. Join us at the Centre Stage at Rental Mart, where Clement will share insights and his recommendations for what our country and you can do to protect our access to needed equipment in the future.
In another first, Centre Stage will be located right on the show floor with a bar attached so
attendees can watch the presentations in a relaxed and comfortable environment. Thanks to Centre Stage sponsor, Western Global, for making this possible.
The Women in Rental panel will make its awaited return on the second day of Rental Mart 2022. It’s the first panel discussion ever held at a Rental Mart. We’ll be joined at Centre Stage by Angie Venekamp, the general manager of Rental Network and American Rental Association Region 10 director representing Canada on the ARA board of directors; Jule Elia, district sales manager at Herc Rentals; Rachael Caron, business creation manager at Crown Verity; Andrea Hetu, president of Equipements Brossard; and Debbie Mackie, branch manager at Cooper Equipment. Each of them brings their own experience in Canada’s rental industry and each of them will share lessons from years of expertise.
Angie Venekamp is the general manager of Rental Network, an equipment and event rental house in Squamish,
B.C. For over 15 years, Angie has been deeply involved in the B.C. and Canadian rental community. She currently sits on the ARA’s board of directors where she represents Canada and serves as Region 10 director for the association. She was honoured as the ARA Region 10 Person of
the Year in 2012 and as one of Canadian Rental Service’s Top 10 Under 40 in 2013.
Jule Elia builds businesses. She’s currently the district sales manager for Herc Rentals, but prior to that, she has a 40-plus year tenure in the Canadian rental industry. She started in the wonderful world of equipment in 1978 when she joined A1 Equipment Rentals in Toronto. A rising star, she quickly moved through the ranks from sales positions to vice-president of the company. Since then, Elia has helped turn small companies into attractive buys and guided teams at A1 and Rapid Equipment Rental through acquisitions by Stephenson’s Rental Services and Herc.
Rachael Caron found her rental calling later in her career. She has a background in social services and worked in that field for over 20 years. As the business creation manager, Caron now brings her care and problem-solving abilities to Crown Verity. She’s served the needs of the rental community for over six years
The Hon. Tony Clement
PHOTO:RESHORING CANADA
INDUSTRY EVENT
through her role at Crown Verity and is also part of the Crane Association of Ontario’s board.
Andrea Hetu grew up in the rental industry and has experienced nearly every role at the family business. In January, Hetu took over as president of Equipements Brossard when her father stepped down. In her current role, she’s applying three years of experience as co-president and a degree in administration and business management to the role.
Debbie Mackie started her career in rental as a rental coordinator in 2003. Using her customer service background, Mackie became the first female branch manager at SMS Rents in 2012. During her time with SMS, Mackie managed multiple branches at the same time until the company was acquired by Cooper Equipment Rentals in 2015. Now, Mackie is a branch manager at Cooper, and is excited to share insights from over 20 years in the industry.
These strong ladies are prime examples of what women can do in business. On
RENTAL MART 2022 AT A GLANCE
DATES: Sept. 27 and 28
REGISTRATION: canadianrentalmart.com or at the registration desk at the show
TIMES:
• 10 a.m. Show floor opens
• 4 p.m. Sept. 27 and 6 p.m. Sept. 28 Show floor closes
• 1:45 p.m. Centre Stage bar opens
• 2 p.m. Centre Stage sessions begin
• Sept. 27 Hon. Tony Clement, former industry minister
• Sept. 28 Women in Rental Panel
• 3 p.m. Sept. 27 ARA Open Meeting
LOCATION: International Centre, Mississauga, Ont.
PARKING: Free on site
HOTEL: No designated show hotel
Angie Venekamp, general manager, Rental Network
Debbie Mackie, branch manager, Cooper Equipment Rentals
Rachael Caron, business creation manager, Crown Verity
Andrea Hetu, president, Equipements Brossard
Jule Elia, district sales manager, Herc Rentals
COME SEE THE LATEST IN RENTAL EQUIPMENT FROM*:
• Ahern Canada
• Alert Rental Software
• Arsenault Sales Group
• Axiom Equipment Group
• Cavalier Industries
• Construction Equipment Solutions
• Cisolift
• CM
• CRD Creighton
• Diamond Products
• Doosan
• Echo
• Five Bo
• Frost Fighter
• G.C. Duke Equipment
• Heat King
• Hilti
*Confirmed exhibitors at press time.
Sept. 28, they’ll share insights on how to create a more inclusive industry and help women thrive in rental.
The 2022 Rental Mart marks the first time the American Rental Association will have a big presence at the show. Following Clement’s presentation on Sept. 27, the ARA will host a meeting open all where Venekamp, Josh Nickell (ARA equipment sector director) and James Auerbach (ARA event sector director) will talk about what the association
• Hy-Cor
• International Power Systems
• Industrial Rubber
• KYCS Locate
• Lind Equipment
• Makinex
• Mascoutech
• National Hose
is doing for its Canadian members. That discussion will be followed by some social time in the Centre Stage area.
In another first that is not actually part of the Rental Mart but still pretty cool, the Canadian Rental Association will be hosting a Member Appreciation tour to a Toronto Blue Jays game against the New York Yankees after Day One of the show. Contact the CRA for details.
Seeing the latest offerings from Canada’s top rental fleet suppliers is
• Pinnacle Climate Technologies
• Point of Rental
• Quipli
• Ruthmann Reachmaster
• Rentquip
• Skyjack
• Texada
• Thawzall
• Western Global
nothing new at the Rental Mart, but the 2022 edition will feature some new faces. See above to get familiar with some of the dynamic companies looking for your business.
The Rental Mart is back and it’s time for us all to get together again in person. Mark your calendars, register online, make your travel plans, have an employee man the counter and make your way to Mississauga Sept. 27 and 28. See you at the Rental Mart! CRS
It’s still hot out, but not as hot as these top heat products. Get ready for fall!
CONSTRUCTION HEAT SHOWCASE
CONSTANT HEAT
8 campoequipment.com
With capabilities of 3,250 maximum CFM, the EB30E from Campo Equipment provides up to 300 percent more air movement than popular competitors. The EB30 is 100 percent efficient, ductable to 50 feet and can
be used in recirculation mode, cutting energy costs for your rental customer. “Wet trade” customers such as painters, drywallers and coaters will benefit from the constant-on fan and remote thermostat, which circulates the air continually at the desired temperature.
The EB30E is also perfect for tents and occupied spaces. Faster air changes and three inches of static pressure will keep the inside areas fresh, pressurized and cut down on cool, permeating drafts. Guests will be comfortable with 100 percent efficient and dry heat. The EB30E incorporates two 15 kilowatt panels, which increases its versatility on the job site. It provides a full 102,450 BTU at 30 kilowatts and 51,225 BTU at 15 kilowatts. The EB30E provides a delta-T of 170 F. Other features of the EB30 include a wheelbarrow-style cart with oversized wheels and retractable handles for easy deployment on the jobsite. They are stackable, which will save storage space during the off season. The EB30E is available in three-phase, 480 or 600 volts.
FOUR-PASS CHAMBER
8 canthermheaters.com
Cantherm Distributors is the original North American distributor of Biemmedue Arcotherm heaters. For the past 30 years, they worked diligently to ensure that their heaters are designed to meet clients’ needs and expectations as a reliable source of heat across many industries. The Arcotherm indirect-fired
heaters are extremely portable due to their lower weight, wheels, lifting brackets, forklift pockets and handles, making them easy for clients to pick up for rent or move from one site to the next. Cantherm carries a full supply of high-efficiency heaters from 100,000-1,000,000 BTUs in nine different indirect-fired sizes and two radiant sizes. Cantherm has developed custom one-, two- and three-way adapters for each of the Phoen and EC (100,00- 412,000 BTU) models which provide better overall performance and versatility. The ducting options, available in various diameters ranging from six to 30 inches, are more efficient and durable. These features play key roles in ensuring the unobstructed conveyance of the heaters’ very high CFM ratings, which are critical for increased air-exchange capabilities. The innovation of the Italian portable forcedair heaters lies in their fourpass chamber heating design,
which captures as much heat as possible and exchanges it with the blown air to heat the environment.
This, combined with low static pressure and high BTU’s, gives users the highest efficiency and saves rental stores and clients money. These indirect-fired heaters will supply ductable, clean, heated air for any size of project. Biemmedue Arcotherm has proven itself in a multitude of industries across four continents. The units are designed to last for many years thanks to their Italian patented design.
TAILOR-MADE FOR RENTAL
8 sureflame.ca
The SE410 from Sure Flame is a 400,000-BTU enclosed-flame direct heater combining the efficiency and simplicity of a direct-fired heater with the safety of an indirect. Sure Flame’s exclusive monitoring technology keeps a constant eye on combustion quality, ensuring safe and clean discharge air. Tailormade for the rugged demands of the rental industry, the SE410 is easy to move, stackable and extremely serviceable. All Sure Flamemanufactured products are backed by knowledgeable customer support and a three-year limited warranty.
GROUND THAW SOLUTION
8 wackerneuson.com
Wacker Neuson offers surface heaters to keep projects on schedule and within budget with hydronic technology. Hydronic surface heaters are designed to quickly and economically thaw frozen ground, cure concrete, prevent frost and provide temporary heat during cold weather conditions. Wacker Neuson’s heaters have proven to effectively manage cold weather projects by significantly reducing project costs, delivering high quality and
CONSTRUCTION HEAT SHOWCASE
maintaining tight project schedules.
Wacker Neuson’s most popular model is the E3000. Engineered for reliable performance and troublefree starts, the E3000 will provide a maximum flow and ensure consistent heat delivery for thawing and curing applications. The E3000 thaws or cures up to 6,000 square feet and with accessories can manage up to
18,000 square feet or provide 535,000 cubic feet of dry heat at 83 percent efficiency.
THE RENTAL STORE’S FRIEND
8 ces-sales.com
Construction Equipment Solutions continues to provide quality heating products as well as service parts and technical assistance to the Canadian rental industry. CES carries a complete line of heating products for all heating applications and fuel choices, including propane, natural gas, electric and oil-fired units. As well, it supplies units that are direct-fired, indirect-fired and infrared as well as convection. The Val 6 heaters are designed with the highest quality and
dependability in mind. The Val 6 radiant heat is able to heat an object without heating the air and losing efficiency at the same time. Val 6 heaters are not affected by wind or cold ambient temperatures the same way forced air heaters are. Not only are Val 6 heaters ecofriendly, releasing only one to two parts per million of carbon monoxide, but they are able to convert almost
100 per cent of their fuel to energy. This makes the Val 6 a very efficient form of heating. CES also offers the full line of Marley Engineered heating products. The TBX series mobile warmer comes in two sizes. The mobile warmers have a thermostat with positive “off” and “fanonly” positions with a range from 40 to 100 F. Ten-inch wheels allow for easy rolling over obstacles on a job site to the spot where heat is required.
FOR DEMANDING ENVIRONMENTS
8 allmand.com
Allmand has listened to customers and incorporated many innovations into its re-designed, self-contained heating solution for
The RotoRake from Reist Industries is a hydraulically driven power rake with features such as the dual motor design, 25° angle and 28° tilt, and bi-directional motor. With features like that, you can rest assured that the RotoRake will give you a quality result.
demanding environmental conditions: the Maxi Heat indirect-fired heater. Producing one million BTU with dual burners, the Maxi Heat is auto calibrated with increased efficiency, external operator controls and ease of use to provide the versatility job sites require. Applications include concrete curing, site and equipment warming, disaster-relief drying, special event HVAC and many more solutions. The new design incorporated air recirculation that returns heated air back to burner intake for less fuel consumption and increased efficiency. Fluid containment is accomplished with a 200 percent single tank or 150 percent multi-tank that meets CSA and Transport Canada regulations. The control system uses the iQ seven-inch external touchscreen eliminating the need to open the heater for operation. Both heaters may
be controlled on a single screen with a clear view of operating parameters on a colour display. The iQ system calculates the proper damper setting for the most efficient air/fuel mixture based on the jobsites ambient temperature and barometric pressure. Efficiency, target and outlet temperatures are displayed.
The Maxi Heat produces only 65 decibels with a 22 percent sound pressure decrease at seven meters.
INDIRECT OIL
8 flagro.ca
The FVO-400RC60 from Flagro is a 390,000-BTU indirect-fired oil heater with a recirculating hood. It uses proven Riello burner technology including a nozzle pre-heater for cold weather start up and an upgraded low-temperature fuel pump. Features a welded, 304 stainless steel heat exchanger. The powerful backward
blower provides ultra-quiet operation and low amperage. It’s ductable up to 150 feet. A smart power indicator control and volt meter verifies proper power supply to the heater. High-density flat-free wheels, a built-in 60-gallon fuel tank and forklift pockets give the unit the portability and convenience needed for rental applications.
GOING ELECTRIC
8 lbwhite.com
L.B. White has a history of manufacturing agricultural, horticultural, commercial and industrial heaters that spans 70 years. With the new Volt, L.B. White introduced a line-up of electric heaters. Electric heat is 100 percent efficient, so no carbon dioxide is released when using the heaters. The heaters are great for nonventilated areas or where you need heated air that’s clean. The Volt heaters are available in eight models and range from 1.5 kilowatts to 60 kilowatts. The easy-grip handles and wheels on larger
AD INDEX
units make them easy to transport. The units produce heat quickly, come equipped with heat protection at 104-degrees fahrenheit and can be controlled with the integrated ambient thermostat.
AIR-QUALITY CONTROL
8 ecopowerequip.com
Eco Power Equipment offers high-efficient indirect heating for construction with the IAQH-1000. The heater is perfect for temporaryheat- and humidity-control applications. Controlling air quality during construction can improve your project
efficiency. The IAQH-1000 offers reduced operating cost and emissions and a variable rate burner that gives you mechanical ventilation.
The heater has an output of 820,000 BTU per hour, an air-volume rating of 12,000 CFM and comes in a stainless steel design. CRS
You get the point. Summer is here! The best season to be a Canadian, aside from the mosquitoes. You want to go to the cabin and fish, head to the mountains, go help on the family farm. All things that make summer the most enjoyable time of year.
While it seems everyone else is out doing what we’re supposed to do this time of year, where are you? You’re stuck at the shop wishing you had the ability to tell your boss that you’re taking 10 days off to go to the lake with the family. The problem is, you’re the boss. When people want time off they come to you and you’re forced to move other people around to cover, or cover it yourself.
So where did we go wrong? We seemed to be living the dream. We own our business (or the bank does). We control our own destiny. We’re the envy of every nine-to-fiver. They all think we drive around in our Mercedes convertibles,
The reality is, most small operators are lucky to get a long weekend off.
can we do about it for next year and every summer after? The answer seems obvious, but is easier said than done. Work on the business, not in the business. Hire someone to start taking the day-to-day responsibilities of the business from you. We’re independent people in the rental business, so letting go of some control can be very hard. It’s likely going to take a long time to find a person you trust enough to hand over what we’ve worked so hard for. Make a plan to start looking soon, list your expectations, budget etc. Don’t let another year pass you by.
This is actually the perfect time in history to be taking a look at tweaking some things in order to enable yourself to get away. You probably have Wi-Fi if you are staying in something more elaborate than a tent. So you’re reachable in the event of an emergency that your staff can’t handle. And you can avoid that nagging feeling that the world is ending just beyond your line-of-sight by checking your email quickly in the mornings. COVID wasn’t good for much, but it did get many of us comfortable with video conferencing over Zoom and the like. You could be at the lake and still have morning meetings with the team back at the shop. Yes, the self-help people instruct us to fully disconnect in our down time but we business owners know that’s, shall we say, an “aspirational” goal.
coming into the office three hours a day and spending the rest on the golf course. Wintering in Mexico. The reality is that like most small operators, we’re lucky to get a long weekend off. Especially being that we make 80 percent of our revenue in the nicest 50 percent of the year. Well, we put ourselves into this situation by choosing an industry we love. It’s the sacrifice that comes with something worth doing.
This summer may be a lost cause, but what
Clearly not every business has the structure or resources to allow it. But, if you can make it work and start enjoying life outside of the shop or office, it’ll make you appreciate your business far more. You’ll have a new-found energy for focusing on growth and improvement. Plus, your kids might actually have some memories of you when they’re older.
As you’re looking back on your life I don’t think any of us will wish we spent more time stuck behind the counter. CRS
Adam Snook owns Just Bins, a Regina-based provider of waste disposal solutions.
XTRA POWER XTRA PORTABILITY XTRA PERFORMANCE
Mini-Rooter XP®
Get all the xtras with General’s Mini-Rooter XP.
Xtra Power from the variable speed automatic feed. It drives or retrieves the 50 ft. x 1/2" cable at up to 16 feet per minute.
Xtra Portability from the heavy-duty frame with roll bars to protect the motor when going up or down stairs, 8" semi-pneumatic wheels to easily roll to and from the job, and a fold-down handle to save space in the truck.
Xtra Performance comes from General’s Flexicore® cable. It has the ability to handle customer abuse without kinking or breaking. We coil high-grade wire tightly around 49-strand wire rope, making a functional core that dramatically increases cable strength and longevity.
For more information, visit drainbrain.com/rental, or call the Drain Brains ® at 800-245-6200.
