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Chinese manufacturers need to do a better job marketing themselves in Canada.
6 INDUSTRY NEWS CRA golf report, online aerial training, new location for Wacker, Cat making generators.... 14 ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Hank McInnis is set to bring some east coast “personable” to the national CRA board.
What to look for when buying and configuring service trucks. GETTING REAL ABOUT LASERS
The information technology you need to get an edge in business.
What to look for when buying construction lasers for your store.
Think safety is expensive? Try an accident. by Tim Ranson
WestJet sets an example for service by empowering employees. by Russ Dantu
SAFETY FIRST AND LAST
A supplier’s duty doesn’t end after the equipment delivery. by Jeff Thorne
Waiting for China
There was a story in the news the other day about the first ship going through the new section of the Panama Canal that has been widened and deepened to accept the new classes of super-sized container ships. The ship that went through carried over 9,400 shipping containers. It was returning to – you guessed it – China. In 2010, I took a trip to Shanghai. We approached the airport over the immense harbour on a clear day. Below, I could see the gigantic blue expanse of the Pacific ocean stretched out from horizon to horizon. And filling that space, lined up in a perfect grid on the surface (thanks to GPS positioning) were hundreds of container ships like the one above waiting to enter the harbour. It was the first of many experiences on that trip that brought home to me the incredible wealth and industry that passes through a country of a billion people, and the relative insignificance of our economy here. It seems inevitable that our rental stores will be carrying an ever-increasing amount of Chinese-made equipment going forward. Already, many of the components in the American and European equipment we buy are made in China. There’s an ongoing stigma about the supposed poor quality of Chinese equipment, but I don’t think it is entirely fair. After all, this is a country with intercontinental ballistic
Looking for the latest from your favourite suppliers, or new ideas for your store? Check out our product listings organized into convenient rental categories – listings updated weekly! Business
Can’t
by Patrick Flannery
missiles that has put astronauts into orbit. The technological and engineering expertise to make a superior skid steer certainly exists over there. The reason we get their cheap stuff is because that is what U.S. and Canadian-based manufacturers and distributors have elected to import and sell here. An anecdote I heard on my trip explains the phenomenon: in China, the answer is always, “Yes.” If a manufacturer approaches a Chinese company asking for widget X to be produced at price Y, the answer is “yes” no matter how low price Y is. But quality slides accordingly. The fault for poorly made Chinese products in this market lies not with Chinese manufacturers, who are just doing as they are asked, but with their OEM customers and/or North American distribution partners who choose to use them as cut-rate producers to absorb a larger mark-up. Chinese manufacturers can be engaged to make some of the highest quality and most advanced products on the market – look at Apple.
The lingering concern in dealing directly with Chinese exporters is level of support you can expect to receive. The language barrier is one problem, and waiting for parts to be shipped around the world is another. This is why you won’t find many products offered for direct sale by Chinese (and other overseas) companies featured in our product showcases, despite the frequent emails I receive to promote them. While I can’t guarantee the quality and support behind every individual product we feature, I can evaluate the manufacturer’s commitment to serving the Canadian market. Sending a free email from across the planet does not qualify, in my mind, as a strong investment in supporting Canadian rental stores. My rule of thumb is to insist that a manufacturer at least have Canadian representation in the form of sales staff or a distributor before passing along their information to your attention. I hope Chinese manufacturers learn to do a better job of producing, supporting and promoting their best products in our market. More choice and lower prices are better for everyone. CRS
ANYMORE! NOT JUST DIRECT
INDUSTRY NEWS
CRA TEES OFF ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Despite the tee off times being moved to include some of B.C.’s finest weather, the annual CRA B.C. golf tournament that was held in September was a huge success. Even though the rain was relentless throughout the tournament, the golfers fared well and played on. The driving of the golf carts was a different story however, and there may have been some fun had on the slick course. All fun aside, Steve Provost had the pleasure of golfing with the chairman of the board: Dave Mintenko, also known as “Dad” for the day. It was a good turnout despite the liquid sunshine and with over 50 golfers attending, the association managed to raise over $1,500 in the silent auction and toonie toss for the Special Olympics. Although the visibility in the rain was low, the new signs were a big hit with suppliers. The Redwoods Golf Course put on a great event and the food at the dinner was fantastic. Troy McDonald, Gord McCormack, Stef Chies and Nicole Novlan were behind the scenes making sure the
IPAF OFFERS ONLINE AERIAL TRAINING
CRA national managing director Nathalie McGregor enjoyed a fine day of golf in Hatchet Laker, N.S., with Jim Davis. The CRA Atlantic golf tournament had a record turnout.
tournament ran smoothly. The annual Canadian Rental Association Ontario golf tournament took place in Guelph at the Springfield Golf and Country Club on Sept. 13. Tournament chairman Gord Ellis, CRA Ontario Associate board member, explained that he paid a little extra to ensure perfect weather for the event. The temperature was a balmy 26 degrees with sun and a light breeze all day. At the registration table (canopy courtesy of Dean Nasato from Wacker Neuson)
IPAF is introducing state-of-the-art online training modules called New Generation eLearning, one of two major components required in compliant operator training. The self-paced, interactive and dynamic aerial operator training modules are currently available in English or Spanish for free until Dec. 31 to anyone in the United States or Canada. The modules are ideal for anyone wanting to participate in aerial operator training, or for existing operators who simply want to refresh their knowledge.
“There is an ongoing need for properly trained aerial operators and overall safety awareness in the United States and Canada,” said Tony Groat, International Powered Access Federation North America Manager. “Not only is it important for aerial operators to be working in a safe and productive manner at all times, it is also mandatory for companies to ensure they have trained workers on their jobsites every day. IPAF’s new eLearning modules are an important tool to help reach this objective. By offering these modules for free through 2016, we hope we can reach as many people as possible to take advantage of this great opportunity.”
all participants received a swag bag with multiple items. New this year was a shotgun starts where all 95 golfers teed off at noon. This ensured that everyone was finished at the same time and had an opportunity to mingle together before dinner. Dinner included steak, a baked potato and corn on the cob with chocolate cake for dessert. As usual, the prize table was well stocked and all golfers came away with an armful of prizes. Of special note, the Chairman’s Cup trophy on hole 15 featured a longest drive with a baseball bat. This made for some interesting moments - thanks to Colin Wilson for the idea. Other key holes included hole-in-one holes with sponsors Skyjack and National Event Supply. As has been the case previously, there were no winners on these holes. This year Nathalie McGregor, CRA managing director, lost her ladies longest drive honour to Wello Kase from Vulcan Demolition, however Wello did decline the prize. The event was a fantastic success with more rental operators, suppliers and sponsors than in previous years.
According to statistics provided by IPAF, there are over 50 fatal incidents in the United States and Canada each year, 24 reported through six months in 2016. According to research by IPAF, it can be argued that most fatal accidents involving aerial work platforms (AWPs), also known as mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), anywhere in the world could have been prevented through proper training. IPAF’s New Generation eLearning modules offer the highest technology in interactive tools. The modules engage trainees through games, quizzes, videos and simulations to help them retain the required knowledge and skills for their daily operations. The online training was developed over two years in the U.S. by members of the industry, including manufacturers and rental companies and provides a consistent message to trainees.
“The modules are engaging and diverse, making it an enjoyable way to test your skill and absorb important knowledge,” said Groat. “Because the multi-hour training is Internet-based, users have the flexibility to take the training anytime, stop and start conveniently at their own pace, anywhere they have internet access.” The 12-segment training may be completed within 30-day timeframe.
www.skyjack.com
OPENLOT OFFERS ONLINE RENTALS
WACKER RELOCATES
Wacker Neuson, a manufacturer of light construction and compact earth moving products, has announced that it has moved to a new expanded facility in Mississauga. The new location provides approximately three times the warehousing capacity of Wacker Neuson’s previous facility and offers a more efficient layout. The distribution centre is designed to provide for local inventory of compact wheel and track loaders, excavators, light towers, diesel generators, and ground heaters. The larger space and wider array of products will facilitate an enhanced level of service and delivery speed to both the GTA and eastern Canada dealers. Wacker Neuson’s new address is 3600 Ridgeway Drive, Unit 6, Mississauga, Ont.
Construction professionals and DIY’ers in the Greater Toronto Region can rent contractor-grade construction equipment online from many of the region’s leading equipment rental companies through a service offered by OpenLot. OpenLot’s online marketplace and smartphone apps make it possible to find, compare and book equipment anytime from anywhere. Designed for site supervisors and contractors but open to the general public, OpenLot makes equipment pricing and availability transparent. Both the apps and website let busy construction professionals browse and book equipment outside of regular business hours.
OpenLot says it recognizes that the right equipment must arrive at the right place at the right time, otherwise a day of work for an entire crew can be lost and a project delayed. To ensure the quality of equipment and timely delivery, all equipment listed on OpenLot is owned and maintained by high quality rental operators.
“When I talk with site supers, project managers and contractors, they don’t understand why they can’t easily compare and book professional-grade equipment online,” says OpenLot CEO Chris Brennan. “OpenLot addresses a clear need across the construction industry to be able to compare prices and availability without having to make multiple phone
WESGROUP NOW CARRYING DOOSAN
Doosan has expanded its dealer network with the addition of three new locations through Wesgroup Equipment, an authorized sales, service, parts and rental provider of Doosan equipment in British Columbia. Wesgroup Equipment is the parent company of Williams Machinery and Westerra Equipment. The dealership’s three new locations are Westerra Equipment in Nanaimo, Westerra Equipment in Kamloops and Williams Machinery in Prince George. Wesgroup Equipment distributes Doosan articulated dump trucks, crawler excavators, wheel excavators, log loaders, material handlers and wheel loaders throughout the province. Wesgroup Equipment is now a one-stop shop, with Doosan equipment complementing the dealership’s existing Bobcat equipment offerings. With decades of proven success, Wesgroup Equipment prides itself on the commitment and experience of its employees, some of whom have been with the company for more than 20 years. Wesgroup Equipment president and CEO Dhar Dhaliwal says offering Doosan equipment throughout its network of stores provides a full solution to customers. The dealerships serve customers in the construction, forestry, mining, and oil and gas markets, as well as government municipalities.
calls or depot visits during regular business hours.”
Hundreds of pieces of equipment are listed on OpenLot, ranging from booms and lifts to excavators and generators. OpenLot has secured a partnership with a leading multinational rental company to ensure a wide range of high quality equipment is available. Local, independent equipment rental companies in the GTA also list inventory on OpenLot. Current suppliers include Leal Rental, Rent Source, Exim Machinery Corporation, Expert Tools Rental and York Region Equipment. A number of other independent rental companies across Ontario are also in the process of listing equipment on the marketplace.
CATERPILLAR ENTERS PORTABLE GENERATOR MARKET
Caterpillar has introduced the new RP Series line of portable power generators for the everyday customer. The heavyequipment manufacturer says they are built for power and durability in a compact, portable package. The RP Series launched in the U.S. and Canada this fall 2016 with four basic models ranging from 3.6 to 7.5 kilowatts, as well as California and Canada-specific models. Three models are scheduled to launch in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Spain in early 2017. Features of the generators include stable, allsteel construction and compact, outof-the-way wiring. The design focus is on portability, safety and reliability.
NEW OWNERSHIP FOR ALERT
Alert Management Systems has announced new corporate ownership. The company was purchased by two of its senior managers, who are also long-time board members. Mary Crosslin and Kara Lawrence will serve as co-presidents (COO and CEO, respectively), and are equal owners.
According to Tom Ross, former Chairman/CEO, “Rob Ross [former President] and I are delighted to pass the reigns to our very capable successors, who will be able to maintain our commitments to our customers and to the industry with the highest level of integrity and competence.”
The Ross brothers will retire from the rental software industry, though Tom Ross will retain an advisory position on the Alert board of directors.
Lawrence is a native of Tulsa, Okla., and earned a degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University in 1996. She began her work with Alert Management Systems as a senior accountant in 2008, and has since been promoted to controller, then CFO. As a certified management accountant, Lawrence holds a position on the board of the Pikes Peak Institute of Management Accountants and is actively involved in advancing the profession. She is married to Lt. Col. Joseph Lawrence, USAF, and has two sons. In between her professional roles and family time, she enjoys traveling and has run three marathons.
Crosslin is a Stetson University graduate who started her career in the security software industry, where she gained experience in sales, project management and corporate training. Her desire to get out of a corporation of more than 4,000 employees and into a smaller company brought her to the Alert team in 1998. She led the consolidation of the company’s software support and installation teams in 1999, and joined the board of directors in 2005. So far,
her career with Alert has taken her all over North America, to Australia, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Crosslin considers the opportunity to see rental store operations in some of the most beautiful and interesting places on earth as one of the biggest perks of the job. In her off-time, she can be found hiking with her labs, skiing with husband Rick, starting home improvement
projects as an excuse to buy more power tools or using her frequent flier miles to travel for fun.
According to Lawrence, “The company is on a very positive sales and financial trajectory. Two new software support technicians have been added in the past month. We will continue to retain all other personnel and hope to add more in coming months.”
READY FOR RENTAL
Husqvarna’s line of small grinders are perfect for the rental industry. The PG 400 and PG 280 were created with not only the professional user, but also the do-it-yourself homeowner in mind. These machines are durable, flexible and easy to use thanks to great new features!
Features such as a chassis/frame that can be separated from the grinding head and folded to create two separate pieces that easily fit into the trunk of most vehicles. A self-adjusting floating cover enables dust to be collected for a cleaner environment. The machines have fixed speeds, which make it easy to use and there are no settings required.
To learn more, scan the QR code to watch a video on the machines or call your HusqvarnaCP rep!
MIDWEST ACQUIRES WESTPRO
Midwest Equipment has announced that it has acquired Westpro Power Systems, a manufacturer of Westinghouse portable power products. Through the acquisition, MWE adds portable generators and digital inverter generators to its product offerings that include compact equipment tracks and tires, undercarriage components and portable climate control systems. The Westinghouse Portable Generators will be sold through various distribution channels and through MWE as an offering to rental and equipment dealerships.
“We’re committed to expanding our product offerings in the primary industries we serve,” says James Cline, president of MWE. “Having offered Westinghouse products to customers of our ClimateRight portable climate systems for several years now, we saw an opportunity to bring those quality products under our roof. We also plan to offer the product line to our rental and equipment dealers. Also, Westpro Power Systems has a very talented team, and we are happy to have them continue to support the product line and join us.”
The Westinghouse Portable Power line includes a range of portable gas generators designed for customers and professional contractors, as well as a line of digital inverter generators for commercial, outdoor, and home use – anywhere that quick, lightweight temporary electricity is needed. The line is a compliment for MWE’s ClimateRight portable HVAC systems for use in pet houses, RVs, tents, cabins, HD trucks and small apartments or houses. The company also plans to begin to offer the products to its track and tire customers that include compact equipment owners, equipment dealers and rental stores.
COMING EVENTS
Jan. 21
BC Regional Trade Show Langley, B.C. crarental.org
Jan. 10 - 12
Landscape Congress Toronto, Ont. locongress.com
Feb. 17
Atlantic Regional Trade Show Moncton, N.B. crarental.org
Feb. 26 - March 1
The Rental Show Orlando, Fla. threntalshow.com
March 7 - 11
ConExpo/Con-Agg Las Vegas, Nev. conexpoconagg.com
Feb. 27
CRA Annual General Meeting Orlando, Fla. crarental.org
March 10
Prairie Regional Trade Show Edmonton, Alta crarental.org
March 22
CRA Ontario Conference and Product Expo Guelph, Ont. craontario.org
March 28 - 29 Quebexpo Drummondville, Que. crarental.org
SLIGHT DECLINE IN CANADIAN RENTAL REVENUE
Canada experienced a 0.1 per cent decline in equipment rental revenue in 2016, but is expected to rebound with 4.2 per cent growth in 2017 to reach $5.1 billion, followed by growth rates of four per cent in 2018, 4.3 per cent in 2019 and four per cent in 2020 to total $5.8 billion, according to the American Rental Association’s Rental Market Monitor.
Scott Hazelton, managing director, IHS Markit, says political uncertainty, both domestically and abroad, is creating delayed recoveries in oil and commodity markets, which in turn delays investment decisions. “The result is a somewhat slower pace of economic activity, particularly in capital goods intensive markets, such as construction and energy exploration. However, the U.S. economy remains fundamentally solid and some domestic uncertainty will dissipate after the election. The result is a modest reduction in expected rental revenue growth. However, the outlook continues to be one of growth and growth that will outpace the broader economy,” Hazelton says.
The latest five-year forecast for the U.S. equipment rental industry remains positive, even as several economic factors point toward more modest increases over the next five years. ARA now projects equipment rental revenue reach $55.5 billion in the United States in 2020. The numbers in the forecast, updated at the end of October, reflect recent changes in the marketplace as the forecast calls for industry revenue to increase by 4.3 per cent in 2016 to a record $47.3 billion and to grow another 3.4 per cent in 2017 to reach $49 billion.
“While we are forecasting a gradual slowing in the growth of rental revenues in this quarterly update compared to our last quarter, we are still showing rental revenue growth in excess of the growth in the U.S. gross domestic product,” says John McClelland, ARA’s vice-president for government affairs and chief economist. “Our outlook for the equipment rental industry continues to be positive and our scenario analysis suggests that if a mild recession were to hit the U.S in 2017 — of which there is a 20 per cent chance — there would not be a significant impact on the equipment rental industry because the likely cause of such a recession would be a weakening in economic activity in Europe,” McClelland says.
CRA PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
PLANS PAY OFF
Avoiding accidents is good for the bottom line.
by TIM RANSON, CRA PRESIDENT
An interesting thing about injuries (it is incorrect to call them “accidents”) is that they never happen when it’s convenient and we seldom recognize the true cost to our businesses. This is particularly relevant in our rental world, as we tend to run our businesses with minimal staffing and often operate with very tight margins. As you know, general accounting principles do not allow a budget line for injury, time lost or loss of productivity due to injury. This would equate to the archaic practice of identifying how many employees will be injured or killed to meet our financial goals. Fortunately, in North America, we value the lives of our coworkers and employees far more than we did pre-1950’s.
But incidents and injuries do occur. Within our businesses, we anticipate each day will run smoothly. If all employees are on top of their games, we succeed. However, one momentary error in judgment, one shortcut taken could easily change the direction of you and your business for a day, a week or forever.
Consider this scenario. You are at work with your usual five employees and there are a couple of customers in the showroom. Suddenly you are interrupted on the phone by a panic call from the back yard: “Boss, Larry’s bleeding badly, he needs help!” What do you do now? Who deals with the customers? Do you run to the yard with the first aid kit? Do you have a plan? Then there is the trip to the hospital with you, the injured worker and a first-aid attendant leaving three grief-stricken employees to run the business, simultaneously worrying about the injured coworker. These are often panicstricken moments, but if you’re prepared and have coached your staff on this type of emergency, they each know their role and go into support mode immediately.
Tim Ranson is Environment, Health and Safety manager at Finning (Canada) / The Cat Rental Store in Edmonton, Alta. He has worked in the rental industry for more than 20 years. Tim sat on the ARA Trade Show Committee and the ARA Risk Management Committee and helped start its Professional Driver Improvement Program. He was also a speaker/panelist over the past three years at the ARA Rental Show learning sessions.
But let’s return to the first question: what are the financial costs? In a simplified example where the injury is not life-threatening or disabling for the long term, the costs include the disruption of the day, your managers time, your workers’ loss of productivity, reduced capacity during the worker’s recovery, overtime and employees’ mental health time. Obviously, the more serious the event, the higher these auxiliary costs may be. Your province’s worker’s compensation board can give you an example based upon your industry group. The point is, an injury with no time lost but several impacts on the business could very easily set you back anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000.
In a far more serious injury where the worker is off work for days, weeks or longer, the true costs to the business over time can be expressed in tens of thousands. Notably, these losses come directly from your profit line. A few years ago, to demonstrate this point to our managers and line staff, I ran an example of the number of rental contracts we would need to transact to create the margin of profit to cover a $10,000 motor vehicle or injury loss. The surprise was clear – our staff did not realize what the impact of this type of loss was on the business. It was one component of awareness necessary to encourage each team member to do the steps necessary for a safe outcome, every time. The formula is pretty straightforward and you can plug the numbers in for your business to bring this to life. Simply divide $10,000 by your average rental profit per contract. In an efficiently run business, we might be talking about 15 to 25 contracts opened, delivered, successfully closed and the account paid before we see the revenues required to recoup the losses. Across Canada, compensation boards have partnered with various safety organizations to foster a safer workplace with incentives for employers who participate in a safety partnership program. There are also financial incentives in the form of rebates to the employer on their workplace insurance payments. These programs, along with positive employee engagement and an investment in training and leadership by us can provide significant benefits to your organization. If you are not engaged in a partnership program to improve your businesses approach to safety, you should consider it. Safety does pay. CRS
ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS
Meet the CRA’s next president, Hank McInnis
If you have not yet met Hank McInnis, now’s your opportunity to get to know him. Starting in February, McInnis will become the next president of the Canadian Rental Association, and take over a oneyear term to represent your organization’s best interests.
by LINDSEY MCCAFFERY
Hank McInnis
a comfortable home in the rental industry. The friendly and cooperative nature of the industry is his favourite part.
Currently, McInnis is assistant manager at Hewitt Rentals in Dartmouth, N.S. Born and raised in the area, he moved to rural Halifax 28 years ago and has been living there ever since. Four decades ago, he married his high school sweetheart and they have one daughter and two grandchildren.
McInnis joined the Canadian Rental Association about seven years ago, first starting out by volunteering with the local trade show. Over the next few years, his involvement evolved as he became a local vice-president, then president, then director... and on to the national vice-president.
Of course, there is much more to McInnis’s story. So we asked him a few questions about how he decided to enter the rental equipment industry after a lifetime in sales, his approach to customer service and his plans for the organization.
AN ENTIRELY NEW KIND OF CAREER
Prior to entering the equipment rental industry, McInnis spent 23 years in sales, several of which involved selling to big box stores including “the Walmarts and Loblaws of the world,” he says. McInnis’s sales career started off in general merchandise. Then, when the company he worked for was in the process of partnering with another, he became sales coordinator and liaison between the two companies. Following the sale of one company to another, McInnis took on the role of sales manager for the Maritimes. Then, in 2001, McInnis was let go due to downsizing.
has found
Not one to be deterred for too long, however, that experience was the perfect catalyst for McInnis to try something entirely new. “I decided I wanted to try something completely different in life,” McInnis recalls. “I had friends at Hewitt and I knew absolutely nothing about the rental business or heavy construction equipment. It was initially a steep learning curve but because of all the help I received, it wasn’t too bad. You realize there is so much you don’t know, and new things still pop up every day for me to learn.”
Thirteen years later, McInnis is now assistant manager at Hewitt Rentals in Halifax.
So what is his favourite thing to rent out? “It’s got to be the big heavy machinery,” he says. “To me, it’s a more fun piece of equipment and it’s our main purpose here at Hewitt. I like to succeed and personally I feel more successful if I see all that equipment going out of our yard.”
ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
According to its website, Hewitt’s mission is to be a recognized leader in the equipment rental industry in Quebec, Labrador West and the Maritimes. It aims to achieve that mission by providing “the best rental service and highly reliable equipment to our customers in the contracting, industrial, landscaping and commercial markets.”
Among the company’s values, Hewitt emphasizes service and customer satisfaction — two areas that McInnis himself is strongly focused on, as he manages front-end staff.
“At Hewitt, our biggest driver is customer service,” he says. “We work and train our people to put the customer first. We want to be friends with the customer — we don’t look at them as just a ‘customer supplier base.’”
Being referred to on a first-name basis is a key objective at Hewitt. “We want our customers to refer to us by our first names. Our goal is that people who contact us want to talk to Hank, or John, or another specific person. If you give that service, especially in a highly competitive market like this one, that’s what we have to offer above and everyone else,” he explains.
According to McInnis, that focus on people is a key differentiator between working in sales and working in rentals — something he realized
very quickly when he first entered the rental equipment services industry.
“Once I got into it, I realized that the rental industry is a really fun industry to be in, with great people to work with. Coming from a sales background, everyone was very competitive and nobody worked together. Here, everybody works together and helps one another out, even if they’re competitors. In the rental business, it’s not always about the sale. The bottom line is obviously what you’re after, but the customer service and friendships are just as important.”
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Clearly an avid learner himself, McInnis consistently looks for opportunities to train and educate his staff. For example, when he and the Hewitt team arrived at this year’s Atlantic trade show, Hank put his sales expertise to good use.
“Our team’s number-one goal was to go out, talk to the suppliers and other rental stores, and take every opportunity to learn and consider this a training session,” he says. “We then set up a lunchtime meeting for everyone to get together and come back with their ideas. We discussed things like new product lines to buy, whether there were new opportunities for us in certain locations, and if we could negotiate better deals for larger purchases.” Then, the team went back out on the floor armed with purchase orders, prepared to meet objectives set during the lunchtime meeting.
“I would highly recommend this approach to anyone with staff — even longstanding employees —because trade shows aren’t just for people doing the buying,” says Hank. “Trade shows are about networking, as well as training for new staff.”
He also looks to the trade show format as a perfect opportunity for forming partnerships. “It’s really helpful if one of your staff has to deal with a supplier or other rental store, because if you already have that contact established through a trade show, it’s much easier to have a business conversation.”
PLANS FOR 2017
During his one-year term as CRA president, McInnis hopes to fulfill two main goals: diversify membership and involvement, and increase member knowledge of all the benefits available to them through the organization.
“The rental equipment industry is broad, and currently there’s not a lot of involvement among party and event companies who specialize in rentals,” says McInnis. He points to this as “a growing market. In fact, it seems that there are more local party stores popping up right now than shops in the general tool industry,” surmising this may be because party stores do not experience the same “takeover” as in the construction industry.
So what could be the reason for lower membership among party and event rental companies? According to Hank, “My guess is that they are probably not aware of all the benefits available to them if they join the CRA, so we want to bring more of these businesses in, and let them know what is available to them as members.”
Members of the Canadian Rental Association get all the benefits of the American Rental Association (ARA), plus additional benefits that are offered through the Canadian office. For example, Hank points to CRA’s insurance program; as well as ARA’s program Rental U, which offers more than 100 free online education and training videos for owners, managers and employees on topics including customer service, HR, management, marketing and advertising, and safety. McInnis envisions a campaign of sorts, in which benefits are extensively promoted in all memberfacing correspondence and interactions: in newsletters, as ARA talking points, through local meetings and trade shows (and, of course, this magazine).
MOVING FORWARD
McInnis acknowledges that it may appear unusual to be CRA president after spending only 13 years in the industry. “I didn’t grow up in the rental business. Many are second and third generation of a family business,” he says. “But I don’t really think I am that different. I think the only real difference is that I don’t have the amount of experience they’ve had in this business.”
The one main similarity, he says, is about objectives for the organization. “If you go back to the past four or five presidents I know, our goals are all the same: rentals first, members first. It’s quite a commitment but I’m willing to take it on and am looking forward to getting started as president.” CRS
by TOM WALLACE, sales manager, Iowa Mold Tooling Co.
SERVICE ON WHEELS
Seven tips for selecting service trucks.
Productivity and profitability are always shadowed by the threat of equipment downtime. That’s why service trucks are the treasured assets of equipment support. Rental fleet managers can depend on these trucks — field mechanic, tire repair, lubrication or combination rigs — to efficiently maintain and repair rental equipment that generates revenue.
Service trucks keep rental customers up and running and their projects moving along, assisting equipment with repairs, preventive maintenance, tire repair or replacement and fueling. Accordingly, rental fleet managers should place great importance on service-truck selection.
Getting the most out of your service truck starts during the specification process. Neglecting to properly specify the truck is a significant — and potentially costly — mistake.
A truck that is too large for your rental equipment will not provide maximum return on investment, while a truck that is too small could mean needs go unmet and operation costs soar. Rental fleet managers should work with a mechanics truck distributor to design
the right truck for their operation. Don’t leave it all up to the distributor, though. Prepare yourself before entering the buying process with this essential guide to service-truck selection, with advice on what to look for and what common mistakes to avoid when picking out your truck.
1. IDENTIFY APPLICATION NEEDS
As rental fleet managers begin their search for the perfect service truck, they should first identify the specific needs for the application, including payload, lifting, air supply, welding, lubrication and storage. Additionally, managers should keep in mind their cost of operation and intended replacement cycle when specifying a truck.
The service truck you specify will depend on what you need it to do. Possible configurations include field mechanics, tire repair, lubrication trucks or combinations of all three.
It’s important to remember that service-truck specifications are highly interdependent, no matter if it is a mechanics truck, a tire-service truck or a lubrication vehicle. For example, when specifying a field-service mechanics truck, lifting needs dictate crane size, which governs the size of the body. Crane size, body size and required payload combine to decide the size of the chassis. The tools needed on the truck, coupled with other air needs,will determine whether a rotary-screw or reciprocating air compressor is added.
These mutually dependent specifications call for complete systems integration, so be sure that the servicetruck manufacturer you choose can offer these capabilities.
2. OPTIMIZE YOUR CHASSIS
When specifying a chassis for a service truck, lube truck or tire-repair truck, it is important to ensure clear frame behind the cab so there is no restriction on the amount of usable space on the chassis frame. Additionally, it is recommended that you purchase a chassis with a frame section modulus and RBM (resistance to bending moment) ratings that comply with equipment manufacturers’ minimum chassis requirements.
A crucial component for all service trucks, no matter the type, is sufficient GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) to maintain road legality when all payload is accounted for. When working with a lubrication truck or a mechanics truck with lube capability, this should be calculated with the product tanks completely full.
3. PROPERLY CALCULATE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION
Proper weight distribution calculation is paramount to avoiding overloading, which can incur fines from transportation authorities. To ensure that a service vehicle is road legal, a rental fleet manager should consider the weight of the truck chassis, the body, the crane and all product tanks, if applicable. Completely loaded product tanks are concentrated and relatively stable during off-road operation. However, liquids in partially filled tanks will surge forward and backward when the truck is
• Flame height adjustment control knob
• Wheels designed for easy mobility
TECH TIPS
Keep weight allowances in mind when choosing the kind of crane on your service truck. Electric cranes can handle up to 6,000 pounds, hydraulic 6,000 to 14,000 pounds and articulating probably needed for anything more.
in motion, mandating heavier suspension ratings to maintain vehicle stability while driving.
4. FIND A GOOD FOUNDATION
The body of a mechanics truck doubles as a means of carrying payload and as the foundation that supports the crane, so body-structure selection depends heavily on the size of the crane needed for the application. Lubrication bodies come in two primary styles, open and enclosed, and their sizes depend on the amount of products required for the rental applications. Both styles provide access to all pumping equipment and product tanks, while enclosed units help keep products warm, provide protection from weather and offer added security. Avoid the common pitfall of choosing a service-truck body structure based on load characteristics.
5. ENSURE YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT ELECTRICAL AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
Advances in wiring have vastly increased reliability while making it easier to find and solve electrical problems. Automotive-style wiring harnessing and on-board circuit protection will provide greater system longevity and minimize troubleshooting time. Hydraulic systems are constantly
responding to market needs and are being continually improved upon. On-board, auxiliary hydraulic systems driven by a separate engine are coming of age to provide hydraulic power without the use of the prime mover, the chassis engine. Filtration is a key element for hydraulic needs, so make sure filters are accessible for maintenance purposes.
6. BE PICKY ABOUT TANK MATERIAL
Contamination control continues to rank high on lists of concerns for rental fleet managers, and the material for product tanks has evolved to help meet these needs. Polyethylene tanks provide the dual benefit of weight reduction and contamination control. These tanks are not susceptible to rusting or weld contamination, thus keeping stored product cleaner. As an added bonus, these tanks naturally flex, so there is no need for baffles or traditional mounting. All tanks should come supplied with proper fill capabilities, filtering, breathers and fluid-level visibility.
7. QUIZ YOURSELF BEFORE YOU CHOOSE A CRANE
One of the most important steps in specifying a mechanics truck is determining how much you need to lift, and how often. One mistake rental customers commonly make
TECH TIPS
is underestimating the weight of the load to be lifted.
There are two main questions all rental fleet managers must ask themselves before they choose a crane for an application: What do I need to lift at what distance? And, how often will the crane be used? Capacity needs and duty cycle will guide selection from three options: electric telescopic cranes, hydraulic telescopic cranes and articulating cranes.
Electric telescopic cranes
If the crane duty cycle is intermittent, an electric telescopic crane might be the best solution. Typically, electric cranes feature a maximum lifting capacity of between 2,000 and 6,000 pounds. If you lift anything larger than 6,000 pounds, a hydraulic crane may be necessary.
Hydraulic telescopic cranes
If the crane will be used regularly,
a hydraulic telescopic crane is for you. The most common choices for mechanics trucks are bodymounted hydraulic telescopic cranes, which offer a wide range of lift and reach capabilities to meet most field-service needs. Hydraulic cranes usually handle jobs that are between 6,000 and 14,000 pounds.
Articulating cranes
If lifting requirements exceed 14,000 pounds, consider utilizing an articulating crane. Articulating cranes deliver more lift and more reach than a body-mounted telescopic crane. While there are many size options with telescopic cranes, there are even more size options with articulating cranes. A crane operator who is used to telescopic cranes will likely pick up articulatingcrane operation fairly quickly.
The most important thing to remember when choosing among crane options is to avoid underspecifying your crane in an attempt to reduce acquisition cost. While it may be cheaper in the short term, you will end up paying more in the long run.
Whether you choose a mechanics or lube truck, an articulating or telescopic crane, or an open or enclosed truck body, your customer’s productivity will be enhanced and downtime reduced if you follow these best practices. With an optimized service truck that is properly specified to your needs, you can keep your rental fleets working efficiently and get your equipment back up and running as soon as possible. Because if your customers aren’t able to use the equipment they rented, then you aren’t making money. CRS
AT YOUR SERVICE
Sky-high performance
by Russ Dantu
TRuss 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. For more information, visit russdantu.com or email russ@russdantu.com.
here I was, sitting on a WestJet plane leaving Vancouver for Kauai, Hawaii, with my wife, Sonia. We were in one of the emergency rows and Keisha, one of the flight attendants, gave us instructions in case of an emergency and asked if there were any questions. Being a bit of a wise guy, I asked if she could repeat the part after, “If there is an emergency...” Then I smiled and laughed. On other airlines, I would probably have been asked to move to another seat. Keisha took it in good stride and told me I better behave. We joked around a fair bit during the flight and actually got to learn where she was from and how she liked her job. When it came time for the food to come around, I was a bit worried. Sitting in row 13 on another flight, they had run out of food by the time they reached our row. On this flight… the same thing happened! They ran out of those tasty sandwiches before they got to our row. Luckily, my wife and I had had a quick bite in Vancouver before we boarded. While I am really trying to eat healthily these days when I’m away, I do tend to cheat a bit. When she offered us chips, I accepted (please don’t judge me), and she said they were on the house. When it came time for the drink cart, she also gave us a free drink. She said she was paying for it out of her own pocket because we were wonderful people who were making her job more fun. Hmmm, when was the last time an airline bought you a drink? I remember sitting on a runway several years ago with a competitor of WestJet, for four long hours, when finally the captain said he would buy everyone a drink for the inconvenience. It doesn’t happen often, so this was a pleasant surprise. Keisha was going above and beyond the call of duty. Not that I was upset about the sandwiches, but by Keisha being proactive instead of reactive she diffused any frustration before it came up. This is what happens when companies empower their employees to do the right thing.
Now it wasn’t just Keisha who made the flight an enjoyable experience, Steven, Taylor
and Lindsay joined in on the fun as well, not just with us, but with many of the passengers on the plane. Stopping to speak with people between their duties, laughing, and genuinely showing that they loved what they were doing instead of hiding in the back. It was even announced at the beginning of the flight that we had the employee of the month with us on that flight: Taylor. Taylor had the most accolades sent in from passengers last month so he was being recognized for his efforts. Near the end of the flight, Keisha came up and handed me a WestJet card with a code on it.
“I really want to thank you guys for being so much fun,” she said. “It’s a fairly long flight and you made it very enjoyable. The next time you book with WestJet, use this code and it will give you an additional 10 per cent off of your flight.”
I was literally flying high when she did that.
“Keisha, how can you do that?” I asked.
She replied, “Russ, I’m a WestJet owner. We need to take care of our customers. We ran out of sandwiches before we got to you. You had every right to be upset but you weren’t. I’m hoping this will make it up to you a bit.”
Wow, free drinks are rare, but I have never had a flight attendant offer me a discount on my next flight.
Here are the lessons we can all learn from WestJet:
First, they take training and empowering their employees very seriously, but the culture they have developed is one that is laid back and relaxed, which the majority of travellers like.
Second, they recognize their employees that do an outstanding job, not just privately but by announcing it to all the customers on the flight. How powerful is that in making your employees feel good about themselves and the job they do?
Third, I had lunch with someone from finance at WestJet a month ago and he told me that they have an employee suggestion program. Last year, WestJet saved over $7 million thanks to suggestions from employees. CRS
MINI-MIGHT.
The new Ditch Witch® SK750 and SK755 are built to outperform on any jobsite. Both models feature a high-drive track system along with an enhanced operator station, delivering superior performance through increased ground clearance, more lift capacity, faster ground speed, longer track life, and more operator comfort. And these new SK mini skid steers send more horsepower to the attachment than any competitor. That’s a lot of might from a small machine! Count on Brandt for quality products and the support to help keep you productive and profitable, job after job. That’s Powerful Value. Delivered.
BC Regional Trade Show: January 20—21
Cloverdale Rodeo & Exhibition, Surrey BC Exhibitors: full booth payment due now
Atlantic Trade Show: February 17—18
Casino NB, Moncton NB
Exhibitors: full booth payment due December 17
The ARA Rental Show: February 26 March 1 Orange County Convention Centre, Orlando, FL
Prairie Regional Trade Show: March 10 11
Edmonton Expo Centre, Edmonton AB
Exhibitors: full booth payment due January 10
Quebexpo: March 28 29
Centrexpo Cogeco, Drummondville QC
Exhibitors: full booth payment due January 27
Do you have family or employees currently in school?
Apply today for scholarships:
Dorothy Wellnitz Scholarship - US$1,500 Awarded to an applicant associated with a rental operation based in Canada
Attention CRA Associate Members! ARA Region 10/Doug Mitchell Scholarship - US$1,500 Awarded to an applicant associated with a member based in Canada that is a manufacturer/ supplier
Graduate and Undergraduate Scholarships available through ARA Foundation
We want to encourage our members to take advantage of this great opportunity! More information and applications are available at ARAfoundation.com/go/SA
The deadline to submit scholarship applications is February 6, 2017
SOFTWARE SHOWCASE
SUITABLE
FOR ANY SIZE OPERATION
8 texadasoftware.com
SRM equipment rental management software from Texada is robust software for any equipment rental business. SRM covers fleets from acquisition to rental to maintenance through to disposal. All the accounting tools a rental store needs are included. Detailed reporting features will give actionable insights to empower better decision making. With SRM, rental stores know the true cost and revenue of each asset over time and are able to identify top-performing asset categories, knowing when to acquire or dispose of fleet to maximize profitability. SRM can enhance rental businesses with 20 assets
and one location all the way up tens of thousands of assets and hundreds of locations. Since SRM is in the cloud, managers can run the business from any computer without needing to worry about complicated server infrastructure.
WORKS WITH GOOGLE
AND FACEBOOK
8 flexrentalsolutions.com
Flex Rental Solutions provides customizable, webbased rental management software. Its award-winning Flex software works with all common operating systems and browsers; only a Flash plug-in is needed. Built for real-world warehouse and inventory needs, a dedicated interface is provided for warehouse processes supporting real-time scanning with voice prompts. Flex offers powerful tools for modeling inventory the way rental stores use it: virtual items, racks, kits and road cases.
The equipment dashboard shows where gear is in the present and availability calculations are integrated with backorders and subrentals. Multiple users can work from the same pull sheet. Flex works with fixed equipment racks and racks that change from job to job. Free pick container logic makes it easy to prepare cable packages and work boxes. The Flex Free-ScanIn feature speeds returns by enabling gear from multiple jobs to be scanned in simultaneously. the crew management module includes search functionality and scheduling of crew members for the crew call, crew email communications and the ability to view each crew member’s full schedule. QuickBooks integration is available in the financial management module to leverage resources. Flex dragand-drop technology enables efficient quote building. Users can have unique, customizable permissions in the administration module. Flex integrates with Google Calendar and Facebook events. Statuses, workflows, and jobs are all configurable to support company-specific processes and terminology. Monthly subscription
pricing for one warehouse and unlimited users starts a low monthly fee, and Flex offers a 60-day free trial.
NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE
8 pointofrental.com
Point of Rental’s Mobile WorkForce app has been upgraded, adding tablet optimization to go with its award-winning mobile system features. In August, Rental Expert added a bevy of new features, like an improved contract fulfillment tab enabling blind- and double-blind scanning, quick sales of missing goods and enhanced RFID tracking integrations. There are also new dashboards, which make it easier for business owners to access information about any aspect of their business when making critical decisions about the future of their company. With all of that back-end functionality being added, it simply wouldn’t do to keep the same
front-end interface. Mobile WorkForce needed a betterlooking, swifter, enhanced interface to help users access all the product’s features. Now, thanks to the tireless work of a team of developers, Rental Expert users can more easily point, tap, and drag their way through their rental transactions no matter where they are – capturing signatures, adding notes to contracts or reservations, capturing item photos, or anything else that used to require paperwork and numerous phone calls.
PLAYING THE SAFETY GAME
8 azuga.com
Silicon Valley-based Azuga Fleet provides awardwinning connected vehicle technology that keeps drivers safe, smart and efficient at an unprecedented price. Azuga Fleet’s suite of products is designed to work in any vehicle, from passenger cars to heavy trucks for fleets of all sizes. Its plug-and-play GPS device installs in seconds and captures everything from driver behavior (speeding, idling, hard cornering) to fuel usage and vehicle health. The safety features, including Azuga DriveSafe and Azuga SpeedSafe, encourage driver safety by preventing distracted driving and speeding through real-time alerts sent to both the driver and fleet manager. The secret to the company’s award-winning success, however, is the Azuga Fleet
Mobile app: an interactive mobile experience that integrates “gamification” and real-time data to encourage self-coaching and healthy competition among fleet drivers. By engaging drivers through gaming, rewards and social competition, and being transparent about driver scores, the app leads directly to safer driving and a stronger company culture, which has been proven to successfully decrease employee turnover. With more than 1.7 million devices currently in use, Azuga Fleet’s solution captures vehicle data up to 10 times more frequently than other fleet tracking solutions. Using this data, fleets can save up to 15 per cent just for having Azuga Fleet on board and can drive down accidents by up to 70 per cent. Backed by Detroitbased Danlaw Inc., the company is ultimately committed to providing innovative, intuitive and data-rich solutions that ensure the drivers and the communities where they live and work are safe.
USER
CONFERENCE HOST
8 alertms.com
Alert EasyPro has been a leader in the rental software industry for over 40 years and offers up-to-the minute rental technology focused on your profitability. From basic features such as ticket-writing and
inventory tracking to more customizable features such as GPS fleet integration, Alert EasyPro is scalable from the smallest rental counter to sophisticated multi-location rental operations. Although not an exhaustive list, some of Alert’s features include easy-to-navigate dashboards, drag-and-drop functionality, online customer portals and website integration, accounting package integration, a web-based rental contract management and signing system, and powerful reporting capabilities with more than 500 canned reports in the system, along with report writing tools that allow stores to modify those and create ones specific to the operation. Alert hosts a long-running multi-day
user conference, providing a platform for Alert’s expansive customer base to offer real-time suggestions for enhancements that are value-driven and profitfocused. Highly-rated by its clients month after month, Alert’s personable support team is ready to train, help, and partner with rental stores to help them get the most out of their rental software investment. Demonstrations are available on-site or via web conference with a friendly application consultants. Alert will be at The Rental Show in Orlando in Booth 3929 and at the next Canadian Rental Mart.
AWARD-WINNING SAAS
8 intemposoftware.com
InTempo Software has announced multiple software enhancements to its two
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main rental technology products. InTempo Core is straightforward, easy-to-use software for single or multilocation businesses engaged in any type of rental, including specialty inventories. New enhancements to InTempo Core include expanded transaction processing capabilities and streamlined access to inventory and customer data. InTempo Enterprise ERP software features fully integrated accounting and is designed for general/tool and heavy equipment rental companies. Enhancements include a new, sleek user interface engineered to maximize productivity and create an improved rental experience for the end customer. InTempo’s rental solutions were named finalists across three categories in the International 2016 SaaS Awards: Best SaaS Product for Small Business, Best SaaS Product for ERP and Best Data-Driven SaaS Product.
Xgensoft’s Rental Manager is a versatile Windowsbased order entry and inventory management system designed for smaller rental businesses. The
system handles all rentals and sales, inventory and orders. As well, it interfaces with Excel, Outlook, and QuickBooks. It is easy to use, feature rich, and provides the tools needed to expand a growing rental business. Rental Manager wraps all rental and customer information into clear reports and organizational tools. Cycle billing, group payments, a seamless export of invoices and payments to QuickBooks and extensive reporting provide the essential financial tools for daily fiscal management. The Favourite Reports screen provides quick access to key reports. User-friendly features include real-time inventory availability, an overbooking monitor, a schedule calendar, email and bar code scan-in (including QR codes). Inventory management tools include kit organization features, sub-rental/ purchase orders, equipment usage tracking and maintenance scheduling, truckload planning and a Rental Return screen that expedites the return of inventory rented by serial number. Canadian Payment Processing is in the works. This will provide Canadian customers with a payment card processing system that handles a broad spectrum of payment options. Rental Manager can be configured as a single or networked system on Windows 7/8/10 Professional machines. Xgensoft Rental Manager is ideal for small to midsize party, event, tent, tool, and equipment rental businesses. It improves control from inventory to money management, thus providing a great ROI.
GETTING REAL ABOUT LASERS
Watch the fine print when buying construction lasers.
Years ago the term “laser” used to strike fear in those that would hear the word on a construction site for the first time (remember, I’ve been involved in this market for over 40 years) but now as you well know they are very commonplace.
by VICTOR RUSSELL, Spatial Technologies
Back in the day, lasers either meant Buck Rogers and all things in the future, or the lasers on the dance floor as you boogied the night away. Now they are a hand-held measuring tool and a cat toy – how times have changed.
The term “laser” originated as an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Lasers are all around us and have many important applications. They are used in consumer devices such as optical disk drives, laser printers, and barcode scanners. Lasers are used in fibre optics. They are used on construction sites to measure distances and elevations, in medicine for surgery and various skin treatments and in industry for cutting and welding materials. They are used in military and law enforcement devices for marking targets and measuring range and speed. Laser lighting displays use lasers as an entertainment medium. In other words, we encounter lasers in our everyday life, many times without even knowing.
The lasers that we are going to concern ourselves with today are the ones that are used on a construction site. Construction lasers can have a red beam, a green beam or be totally invisible to the naked eye, but please note that all these just can’t be visible on a jobsite as that would be far too dangerous to use.
Originally, laser beams were created by using a gas-filled vacuum tube, which turned out to be very expensive, susceptible to vibration and easily damaged. They are now created by using a lasing diode, which is much more durable and far less expensive to manufacture. A construction laser is really very simple as it uses a lasing diode to create a beam, a com-
pensator that allows the beam to be adjusted to the horizontal and a motor, which then spins the beam to cover the entire construction site. Once the height of this beam is known then elevations all over the site can be calculated. Also very useful is the ability to use as many sensors as needed to get the job done quicker. When buying a construction laser, the price can be anywhere from $500 to $5,000 as it really depends on what you need regarding features, durability, accuracy, slope capabilities and range.
Most of the lasers on the market today use electronic levelling, which means that after quickly setting up the laser to approximate level and turning it on there are no foot screws to adjust or bubbles to look at, or to become unadjusted.
Today we will talk about the electronic levelling lasers. There are different types of lasers available, but it all breaks down to the following for outside lasers.
Horizontal lasers are usually called one-button lasers and can account for more than 90 per cent of the work on a job site. Just press one button and walk away as they level themselves, nice and simple.
Manual grade lasers are used where the occasional slope might be required, such as for small grading or pipe jobs. On these units you actually turn off the compensator and then manually (using the laser controls) slope the beam to the desired amount. Very useful, but care must be taken.
Single slope lasers are more advanced as now you can dial in a slope to three decimal places for high accuracy.
Dual slope lasers are as above but now with dual slopes. They are for very advanced applications, such as the levelling of large areas and fields where you would want the water to be drained to one corner, as in a cranberry field.
H/V lasers are lasers that can be used in either a horizontal or vertical mode. In the vertical mode you can check the alignment of a pipe or see just how vertical that wall is anyway. They are very versatile.
The accuracy on lasers used in the construction field is stated in fractions of an inch per 100 feet. A good laser will be plus/minus 1/16 inch per 100 feet while others are stated anywhere up to plus/minus ¼ inch or more. These less accurate ones should only be used on a smaller jobsite or maybe for landscaping. Just consider that if you are on a building site and you are out ¼ inch high on one side you will be ¼ inch down on the other side for ½ inch out on a small jobsite. This might be ok for certain jobs, but not at all accurate enough for commercial projects like warehouses and condominiums. Some lasers will only give the accuracy over 50 feet or less, so just extrapolate that to 100 feet to get the true number. Warranties are all over the map as manufacturers via for your attention. One-year, two-year, three-year, four-year and
up to five-year on factory defects are available, but make sure they are offered in your province. I would drop any make offering warranties of one year, two years or none at all. Think about how waterproof the instrument needs to be to last in the rain, especially out here on the west coast of Canada. Out here, I would not go any lower than an IP55 on the international rating scale. The first number (five out of seven) measures dustproofing and is not much of a concern in B.C. The last number (five) is for waterproofing. A rating of eight is underwater-proof, so a five should be the minimum you would look for. If there is no IP rating at all then politely decline the purchase. It will only cause you and your customer grief when they need it most. Check to see if there is a service shop in your town or at least in your province. And of course check and make sure that the laser has been checked and adjusted by the supplier prior to you buying it and putting it on your shelf for sale. So many questions, so little time, so try to look at survey equipment that has been manufactured by companies that are known for survey equipment. Ask surveyors and engineers on jobsites what they use. They are one of the most important tools on the site. CRS
SAFETY FIRST AND LAST
A supplier’s duty
Suppliers to end-users retain some responsibility for equipment safety.
by Jeff Thorne
When considering parties that have established duties under occupational health and safety laws, we usually gravitate towards the contractor, employer, supervisor, and worker. Each province has clearly set duties that must be exercised.
But what about suppliers? In many cases, suppliers of tools, equipment or machinery and the services that pertain to them get overlooked. Legal prosecutions of suppliers are not common in comparison to employers and supervisors, however, they do happen. For example, in Ontario, Swing ‘n’ Scaff supplied a swing stage that collapsed resulting in the deaths of four workers and significant injuries to another. The company was fined $350,000 and one of the directors was fined $50,000 for failure to provide equipment in good working condition. A supplier in Saskatchewan was charged and convicted for supplying a piece of equipment without the proper guarding required under the law.
So if you’re a supplier as defined by your OHS legislation, you need to understand the set duties and know how to comply with them. Federally, suppliers are not specifically defined in OHS legislation so we will focus on provincial legislation. In general, provincial legislation defines a supplier as a person who manufactures, sells, rents, leases, erects, installs or provides any tools, equipment, machine, device, or chemical or physical agent to be used by a worker or at or near a workplace. Duties differ slightly from one province to another so it’s important to check the OHS laws of your jurisdiction. Here is a basic summary of the duties of suppliers from one province to another.
Alberta requires that any tool, appliance or equipment supplied is in good working condition and complies with its OHS act, regulations and adopted code.
Nova Scotia, P.E.I., B.C., Manitoba, the North West Territories and Nunavut are quite similar. They require that any tool, equipment, machine, device, biological, chemical or physical agent
supplied is safe when used in accordance with directions provided by the supplier and complies with their regulations. They require that, if under a leasing agreement, suppliers maintain any tool, equipment, machine, or device in safe condition. They also require biological and chemical agents to be labeled in accordance with provincial and federal regulations.
Newfoundland simply requires that tools, appliances and equipment supplied are maintained in safe operating condition and comply with standards prescribed by the regulations.
The Yukon and Ontario are quite similar. They require suppliers to ensure the machine, device, tool or equipment is provided in good condition, complies with the act and regulations, and that the equipment is maintained in good condition if it is the suppliers responsibility to do so. Although there are no specific duties for suppliers outlined in these OHS acts with respect to labeling biological and chemical agents in accordance with provincial and federal regulations, those duties are listed in other regulations. Ontario has the same requirement outlined in a separate regulation.
Saskatchewan has a few different terms and requirements that are used. Suppliers must ensure that any substance or any plant supplied by it to an owner, contractor, employer, worker or self-employed person is safe when used in accordance with the instructions provided and complies with the act and regulations. Saskatchewan also requires suppliers, under some circumstances, to provide written instructions respecting the safe use of equipment and to provide written instruction when a supplied piece of equipment does not or may not meet prescribed standards.
The duties of suppliers are quite basic. In a nutshell, if you rent or sell something, make sure it is in good condition. Follow the preventative maintenance schedule set by the manufacturer and don’t let poorly maintained equipment out your door. CRS
