CRS - May 2022 by annexbusinessmedia

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NEED A LIFT?

Westyork Rentals jumps on opportunity in the Ontario aerial market.

SPECIALTY TRAILERS: BLOWN AWAY

Tornados are an annual fact of life in some parts of this country. Here’s what you need to help your customers clean up.

2022 NEW TRUCK REVIEW

Automotive journalist Mario Cywinski brings the 411 on the latest pickup models.

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EDITORIAL

AT YOUR SERVICE

EVENTOLOGY

Serving the Canadian rental industry for 45 years.

Serving the Canadian rental industry for 44 years.

Introducing our limited series on specialty trailers.

WHAT WENT HONG

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy inspires thoughts on leadership. by Russ Dantu

21 OUR ISSUES

Take what you learned in the pandemic and apply it to your annual off season. by Michelle Nicol

HOPE IS NOT A PLAN

www.canadianrentalservice.com

Effective emergency response depends on personalities. by James Hong

Our struggles with the impact of the pandemic are not over. by Mike Wood

We need all our creativity to deal with today’s shortages of everything. by Adam Snook

Towing profits

We’re launching a series of articles about specialty trailers.

by Patrick Flannery

Ihappen to live in a part of the country that gets a lot of tornados. Here in southwestern Ontario, the sun beats down on the Great Lakes all day long in the summer, which has a similar effect to heating a bowl of water. Picture the steam rising from the surface of hot water and you understand what happens – air rushes upwards, loaded with water, occassionaly twisting into little streamers and vortexes. When those hot clouds move over the land (which happens fairly quickly as the lakes are not as big as an ocean), they cool quickly and drop their water in a thunderstorm. This usually happens a couple times per week around here. When more than one thunderstorm happens at a time and the two cells meet, the two air masses try to push past one another. That can cause them to rotate, generating tornados. Because we have lakes on three sides generating thunderstorms, this condition is more common here than in a lot of other parts of the world.

When I looked at all the kinds of specialty trailers out there, it became clear there was a lot to talk about.

So when Point of Rental sent a press release around talking about a disaster relief trailer that was being used to help with tornado damage in the U.S., I perked up. The trailer in question was created by bigbox hardware retailer, Lowes, with support from Point of Rental and a number of other familiar rental equipment brands. It’s pretty impressive - a full tractor trailer box customized with a side door and flip-up window, full of generators, pumps, fans, dehumidifiers and other sundries that a disaster relief crew would need.

This looked like a pretty cool idea. And it got me thinking about various other kinds of

disasters and what a trailer full of equipment to address them might look like. Which made me think about other kinds of specialty trailers made for purposes other than disaster relief.

I remembered Adam Snook’s oilfield trailers back when he was running First Choice Equipment Rentals in Wetaskiwan, Alta. It quickly became clear that there was a lot to talk about here.

All of which is a long way of telling you that in this issue you’ll see the first article in our Specialty Trailers series. Each issue, we’ll focus on another niche that might benefit from your rental store having a specialty trailer loaded up and ready to go. This issue’s article, as you may have guessed from the above, is on tornado trailers. Special thanks to Jim Mandeville, a disaster relief expert from First Onsite Property Restoration, for his help and advice.

So far, I’ve ordered articles on specialty trailers for flood relief, oilfield and mining support. It’s not hard to think of more: earthquakes, forestry, factory shutdowns, marine. Do any others spring to mind for you? Or have you maybe created a specialty trailer or two of your own? Drop me a line!

I heard about some other reasons for looking at specialty trailers, especially disaster relief trailers, at a recent building science conference focused on energy-efficient home construction. It’s pretty much a matter of consensus that climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather events, as well as weather patterns that fall outside of the norms our houses and commercial buildings are designed for. Municipal drainage systems, for instance, are designed to handle “100-year storms.” But what happens when you get one of these storms every five or 10 years? Answer: increased flooding and erosion that damages property. Be ready. CRS

ARA LAUNCHES RENTAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

The American Rental Association has launched its first ARA Certified programs: ARA Certified - Sales, ARA Certified - Service and the ARA Certified Mobile Elevating Work Platform program. ARA Certified - Sales and ARA Certified - Service are online professional development programs designed to teach your employees fundamental knowledge about the equipment rental industry they will need on the job. The ARA Certified MEWP training program satisfies the new ANSI A92 standards approved in June 2020.

“The ARA Certified programs we launched in March are a direct reflection of our association’s strategic initiatives that are focused on safety and preparing the industry for the future,” says Tony Conant, ARA CEO. “These programs establish rental industry standards, professional development and training that you can’t find anywhere else.”

The ARA Certified MEWP Train the Trainer program is a hybrid program. The classroom portion of the training is all online in RentalU (ARA’s learning management system) and then a four-to-five-hour live, hands-on training session is conducted by a certified master trainer. Graduates are qualified to train others using the ARA Certified MEWP program. The hands-on training portion is presented by ARA regional associations or other local settings for members without an active ARA state chapter. Work on ARA Certified programs for forklift operations and MEWP operator certifications for rental customers is underway and they are expected to be released in 2023. ARA Certified MEWP Train the Trainer programs are ready at ararental.org/mewp, and ARA Certified - Sales and ARA Certified - Service programs are available at ararental.org/certified.

ALL CHOICE ACQUIRES AMIGO’S SEPTIC SERVICES

All Choice Rentals has announced it has acquired Amigo’s Septic Services. Both companies are located in Drayton Valley, Alta. Amigo’s Septic Services provides commercial, residential, campground and oilfield septic waste removal services. It specializes in drilling rigs and oil and gas plant septic holding tanks, having over 20 years of industry experience. Amigo’s boasts an impressive safety record and a well-maintained fleet of straight and combination vacuum trucks servicing Brazeau County, Pigeon Lake, Buck Lake, Thorsby, Breton, Winfield and surrounding areas. This strategic acquisition allows All Choice the ability to service larger plant and drilling sites, while expanding its footprint into commercial and residential septic waste removal.

POINT OF RENTAL TURNS 40

For 40 years as of April 5, Point of Rental Software has provided software-based solutions to the problems rental companies face. Founded in 1982 as part of Overland Rentals, Point of Rental was built by three former NASA engineers who wanted to start their own small general rental business. CEO Wayne Harris joined the organization in 1993 as the company’s head programmer, building the company’s first Windowsbased software. Since becoming CEO in 2011, Harris has overseen the company’s international expansion. The company has grown from its Fort Worth, Texas, location to employ more than 300 Pointers in six offices, serving more than 5,000 rental businesses throughout the world.

“Bob [Shaffer], Steve [Husbands] and Byron [White] built Point of Rental because we wanted to serve others and provide them with the best possible software,” said Harris. “As we celebrate 40 years, we’re still focused on that innovation - we just have a lot more people to work with. And that’s really exciting; we’re looking forward to another 40. ”

The company celebrated throughout April by conducting several charitable endeavors from each of their offices. Users and industry experts were encouraged to join the company in donating to their region’s fundraising efforts. In addition, Point of Rental also offered software deals throughout the month to both prospective and current software users, including savings on conversions and additional apps. .

Point of Rental co-founder, Bob Shaffer, attends the ARA show in 1984.

PHOTO: AMERICAN RENTAL ASSOCIATION.

PHOTO: POINT OF RENTAL.

PHOTO: AMIGO’S SEPTIC SERVICES.

MARION JOINS DYMAC

Mike Marion has joined DyMac as chief revenue officer and managing director for Canada and the U.S. DyMac provides fuel transportation and storage solutions. In the role, Marion will enable sales and revenue growth for DyMac and its dealers by establishing and maintaining value-add distribution channels. He’s looking to provide high-quality solutions while maintaining a high level of customer service, serving Canadian and U.S. markets from the company’s bases in Mississauga, Ont., and Baltimore, Md. DyMac serves a number of industry verticals including rental, construction, power generation, military, government, energy, mining, fuel distribution and agriculture. Marion brings 27 years’ experience in equipment sales and service to the role. Starting as a heavy equipment technician, Marion has performed dealer-support roles with Volvo Construction Equipment as a sales trainer and product manager. More recently, he was part of the Atlas Copco Construction Canada team as regional vicepresident and branch manager for United Rentals Trench Safety in Bolton, Ont. Marion brings significant experience as a dealer and territory manager with a track record in product distribution.

“I am very excited to build this business with my partners and our dealers,” Marion said. “Seeing how this product is designed and manufactured is very impressive. I am proud to be part of such a high-quality offering. Coupled with the distribution and support we can offer our customers I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.”

“We’re extremely happy to have Michael Marion join our group,” said Luis Salazar, president and managing director. “His extensive tenure and experience in customer service, sales and product distribution will be an enormous asset for both our companies, DyMac Canada and DyMac USA. As a previous owner and president of LM Temperature Control and GAL Power Systems, I’ve had the pleasure of being one of Mike’s customers and I can say that he was always helpful and attentive to our equipment requirements. That being said, I know our DyMac customers will value and appreciate Mr. Marion’s customer-centric attitude, which will only maintain and strengthen our presence in this market and promote our brand recognition for DyMac Tank Solutions in North America. Welcome aboard, Mike!”

ECKEL TO LEAD CONNECTED SOLUTIONS

COMING EVENTS

June 21 - 23

Canada’s Farm Show Regina, Sask. canadasfarmshow.com

Sept. 27-28

Canadian Rental Mart Mississauga, Ont. canadianrentalmart.com

2023

Jan. 10 - 12

AED Summit

Chicago, Ill. aednet.org

Feb. 12-15

The ARA Show Orlando, Fla. ararental.org

March 10 IPAF Summit London, U.K. iapa-summit.info

March 14 - 18

Conexpo-ConAgg Las Vegas, Nev. conexpoconagg.com

JLG has announced that Ara Eckel has been named director of product management for the company’s connected solutions platform team. In this role, Eckel is tasked with driving the connected channel strategy. JLG views job site connectivity as an important trend in the construction industry today and JLG’s connected solutions platform team works to develop cutting-edge digital technologies that, when used with JLG mobile elevating work platforms and telehandlers, improve the overall value of the company’s products. JLG connected products include augmented reality, mobile control apps, Bluetooth-enabled analyzers, advanced battery monitoring, telematics, access control, BIM libraries, electronic detection and virtual reality simulators.

According to Eckel, JLG’s current connected solutions products only scratch the surface of what’s to come. “The sky is the limit for expanding the use of connected technologies. As we work to advance today’s connected job sites and tomorrow’s connected cities, we are focused on the customer. Anything we introduce is intended to make their work easier and their equipment more efficient,” he finishes.

Eckel moved into this new role in fall 2021. Prior to joining JLG, Eckel’s work experience included various sales, marketing and technical product roles at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, Meltwater Group and Apple. He is a graduate of Ithaca College and holds an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. JLG’s team of product directors includes Eckel, Bob Begley, Daliborka (Dali) Ribeiro and Nate Hoover.

INDUSTRY NEWS

SERIOUS LABS RECOGNIZED BY IPAF

Serious Labs won an International Award for Powered Access for a significant innovation in the use of digital technology: the ability to renew a Powered Access License card through a virtual reality simulator without even touching a physical machine.

“We are honoured to receive this award from the IAPA judging committee,” said Jim Colvin, CEO of Serious Labs. “This is a milestone, not only for Serious Labs, but for the industry as a whole. Now available for the first time by VR simulator, operators may renew their operating licenses. Our training scenario is mapped to IPAF’s highest standards, and makes PAL Card renewals more convenient and accessible.”

According to IAPA co-organiser Access International, the judges praised Serious Labs’ cutting-edge program to update its VR simulator. “The in-depth and time-consuming work created a real life-like scenario, which makes renewing a PAL card using the simulator safe and practical.”

Over a period of 18 months, Serious Labs conducted rigorous side-by-side testing in partnership with several leading IPAF training centres seeking to create a near-exact match between simulator and human assessment. The efforts resulted in a 97 percent predictive match for scoring and a 100 percent match for pass/fails during the final trial. Approval by IPAF’s general council in Sept. 2021 unlocked a new digital avenue to re-certification and provided training centres, employers and operators with a new option for renewing their licenses.

“It was really nice to win this award. It was the culmination of basically two years’ worth of solid work,” said Darren Verschuren, international account director for Serious Labs. “We are grateful to all of our technical partners for recognizing the potential and importance of having a data-driven approach to digital training and a certification option and for dedicating their time and resources to help us achieve this milestone together. This is their award as well for making this industry safer.”

IPAF has issued over two million PAL cards worldwide, and its high-quality operator training is recognized in over 51 countries. PAL cards typically need to be renewed every five years. Serious Labs is seeing growing adoption of its MEWP VR, showing that it meets an industry need while providing a variety of desirable benefits.

MONEY FROM OTTAWA FOR DIGITAL UPGRADES

The Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) has been established to help small and medium-sized enterprises realize their full potential by adopting digital technologies. Announced in the 2021 budget, the $4 billion program is an investment of $1.4 billion in grants and advisory services to SMEs from the government of Canada and up to $2.6 billion in loans from the Business Development Bank of Canada to help businesses cover the costs of implementing new digital technologies. CDAP comprises two separate funding components.

Establish e-commerce capabilities

For smaller, consumer-facing businesses, including those in service industries, Grow Your Business Online grants will help them adopt e-commerce technologies. For-profit businesses, including co-operatives and social enterprises, are eligible for this $2,400 micro-grant. Businesses must also be registered or incorporated and have at least one employee. To help small businesses with their e-commerce plans, a network of service providers was established. These business-support organizations will provide guidance to small businesses on how to best grow their online presence. They will also provide the aforementioned $2,400 microgrant to cover costs related to e-commerce adoption. These organizations will also establish a network of youth e-commerce advisors to help small businesses make use of their new digital tools. The $2,400 micro-grant can be

used to cover the costs associated with a range of activities, including website development, search engine optimization, subscription fees for e-commerce platforms, and social media advertising.

Boost business technology

SMEs that want to further improve their productivity and become more competitive in the digital marketplace can turn to Boost Your Business Technology funding. Eligible businesses must have between 1 and 499 employees and have annual revenue between $500,000 and $100 million. Businesses interested in this funding may be looking to adopt new customer relationship software, digital inventory management systems, network security software and other technologies that will improve their bottom line, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and robotics. To access Boost Your Business Technology funding, SMEs can complete a free digital needs assessment to help them better understand their digital readiness. They can apply for a grant to cover 90 percent, up to a maximum of $15,000, of the cost of developing a digital adoption plan. There is a roster of expert digital advisory service providers available to help SMEs develop their plan. To support the implementation of their digital adoption plan and the acquisition of new technologies, SMEs will be able to apply for an interest-free loan of up to $100,000 from the Business Development Bank of Canada.

PHOTO: SERIOUS LABS.

EquipmentWatch is a trusted source for heavy equipment data and intelligence, producing leading database information products for the construction equipment industry. It is a world leader in heavy construction research and serves more than 15,000 professional, high-volume users of construction and lift-truck data. Find more heavy equipment intelligence at equipmentwatch.com.

Cross-Canada Rate Report

The Cross-Canada Rate Report is provided to Canadian Rental Service as a free service to the Canadian rental industry. Rate data shown are national averages generated by quarterly surveys of 505 Canadian rental companies. Rates shown are reported list rates and may not reflect the actual changes to any particular customer. For in-depth analysis, subscribe to CounterTalks at canadianrentalservice.com or through your favourite podcasting service. Number of

AT YOUR SERVICE

A time for leadership - Part II

by Russ Dantu

When we look at Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the incredibly horrible and difficult situation his country is in right now, we see a leader that is showing how to be a leader when the going gets tough. And, let’s face it, everything Ukraine is facing right now is way more intense than what we face on a daily basis in our work lives.

In last month’s column, I gave you 10 top attributes of a great leader. This column will share four more attributes of being a great leader based on what I have seen from the Ukrainian President. He actually exemplifies what a great leader is with many different attributes but these four add nicely to the list in last month’s column.

1) Is a good communicator – Effective communication is essential in every aspect of our lives. Clear, concise and consistent communication means people understand what is expected of them and fewer mistakes will happen. In war, communication with your team and the world is critical in order to survive. President Zelenskyy gets an A on this for how he has communicated with the world what is happening on a daily basis to his country.

2) Remains calm during storms –This was one of my pitfalls as a leader. I know it and still struggle with it from time to time. It is easy to go into panic mode, run around like a chicken with its head cut off, get everyone worked up into a dither and add extra stress. Storms will always happen.

Take a deep breath, analyze the situation and decide the best course of action. Ask for help when you need it. This will help you weather the storm. Always play to your strengths and if some of your staff are stronger at remaining calm, get them involved and learn from them. President Zelenskyy has remained surprisingly calm as he leads his country through this war. During extremely stressful times, people look to their

leader to see how they will handle it. We can all learn a lot from the Ukrainian president here.

3) Knows their team – They understand the strengths and weaknesses of each player. When assembling the right people for a certain project, knowing each employee will make this task so much easier. Sometimes, certain people in your team do not click well with others. By knowing your team, a good leader will not make them work together on projects if it is going to result in conflict. President Zelenskyy is badly out-manned by the Russians but knows the capabilities of his fellow countrymen. He cannot be in every city at the same time so has different team players leading the charge where he cannot do so himself. He has the best of the best leading each city to give them the best chance of success.

4) Thanks people regularly – I recently saw that president Zelenskyy was out in the streets amongst his soldiers and in the hospitals where injured soldiers laid. He was thanking them for their service and continued commitment to their country. He has the largest target on his back and could easily be hunkered down somewhere much safer but he chooses to be out there with his people, inspiring them by doing so.

Being a great leader is not easy, but it can be one of the most rewarding aspects of your life. President Zelenskyy has not only inspired the people of Ukraine but many people around the world with his incredible leadership skills. I hope the world rallies around him even more than they have to stop the atrocities that Vladimir Putin has inflicted on Ukraine. He truly has earned the admiration on many of us around the world. I hope this continues for many years to come. 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.

by ANDREW SNOOK

NEED A LIFT?

A Toronto rental startup enters the market with a focus on aerial.

Westyork Rentals is looking to give companies across Ontario a boost. The recently formed company specializes in offering rental equipment, sales, parts and service for scissor lifts, articulated booms, telescopic booms and telehandlers for companies across Ontario from its headquarters in Toronto.

RIGHT: Ontario’s housing boom plus tightening regulations for working at heights have added up to an opportunity that Westyork’s ownership could see from their vantage in the construction industry.

The company was started up by Frank Pinto and co-owners Jorge Macedo and Armando DeFaria in May 2021.

“All three gentleman have backgrounds in construction or masonry. They came together with their contacts in the industry to form West York,” explains Kayla Roberts, office manager for Westyork Rentals, who worked with Pinto at another rental company and reunited with him at Westyork Rentals shortly after it started up.

Although they are currently a small group with eight employees, almost all of them come with significant industry experience under their belts.

“Everyone here is pretty experienced in the industry; most have a good decade under their belt. I’ve been in it for 10 years now,”

Roberts says.

Pinto comes from a sales background and has more than 20 years of experience in the industry with a large amount of his experience focused on the telehandler market.

“I originally came from a construction background, then I went into sales,” Pinto says. “My industry was more telehandlers, but they also had aerials, which I’m very familiar with. Honestly, it is the future the way things are going. Ladders are not allowed on most jobsites anymore.” Pinto jokes that safety regulations have helped his business blow up.

The company has grown its fleet quickly in the short time it has been operating. Westyork Rentals currently has 105 pieces of equipment in its fleet, including scissor lifts, articulated booms, telescopic booms, telehan -

dlers and forklifts.

“We plan to grow that to at least 150 or 180 pieces by the end of this year,” Roberts says. “Everything we have fleetwise is owned outright, which is a pretty big milestone for us.”

The company also has a service truck and parts van to offer mobile service, and its technicians are all experienced in aerial lift equipment.

“We have a few outside technicians located all over Ontario in case our customers need something,” Roberts adds.

OPENING IN A PANDEMIC

Starting up a new business during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic didn’t come without its issues.

“It did add some challenges. Supply

and demand is crazy – getting parts and finding people. With COVID-19 and the restrictions, some people are not comfortable working around other people and, in this industry, there are 10 people touching a machine per day,” Pinto says. “Business has been good because it’s an essential business. We’re part of the construction industry, so business never shut down for us. Slowed down the first couple months, but since it’s been busy.”

The shortage of parts and manpower has been a tough hurdle to navigate.

“The biggest challenges I find are really parts and manpower. I’m seeing most businesses are encountering this and the price probably went up 30 to 40 per cent buying gear I used to buy

just a few years ago. But, there’s a lot of demand for gear to rent and for people that are purchasing,” Pinto says.

Over his two decades in the industry, Pinto has made trips out to different areas of the world to source equipment and has sold machines to companies in several countries, so his list of contacts is significant.

“In the past, I’ve sold equipment to Saudi Arabia, and I’ve made several trips to Europe outsourcing equipment, buying equipment, selling equipment. It’s a fun business,” he says.

FUTURE GROWTH

When it comes to getting into the rental industry, Pinto says thinking about things on a short-term basis isn’t an option.

Westyork co-founder, Frank Pinto, has travelled all over the world buying and selling equipment. His plan is to aggressively expand his fleet to 1,000 units or even more in the next five to 10 years.

“I don’t think you can look at things short-term. It’s a very heavy upfront investment. When you’re buying equipment, being a newer company, the banks don’t make things easier for you. Everything we buy, we own it outright,” he says.

Pinto says he would like to see his fleet grow significantly over the next several years.

“My goal in the next five years is to have 600 to 700 pieces of equipment,” he says. “Would I like to reach 1,000 pieces? Yes. Would like to reach 2,000 pieces? Yes, I’m very ambitious. But, I have to be realistic. If I get to 800 to 1,000 pieces of equipment in next five to 10 years, I’m going to be very content.”

Pinto says he is considering entering the earthworks market down the road, but for the moment will focus on growing his fleet of aerial equipment and building his loyal customer base.

CUSTOMER COMES FIRST

While he admits it’s a bit of a cliche, Pinto says the customer always comes first.

“I really do mean that. Where I came from… you have to deliver what you promise,” he says.

“Customer service is our number one goal, so we definitely prioritize that. All of our staff, we make sure they know they’re representing Westyork Rentals and, so far, we’ve gotten a lot of good feedback,” Roberts adds.

The majority of Pinto’s customer base comes from the construction industry –the telehandlers largely from the framing and masonry world. While many of his customers come in knowing what they need for a project, Pinto wants to make sure they get the absolute right machine for a job.

“When I’m selling or renting something to someone, I’m trying to understand their needs, so I know what they’re looking for,” he says. “I tell them, ‘I’ll sell you what you want to buy, but this is not what you need.’ With one customer, we had a deal made on a machine, but I explained it wasn’t what he needed. He went back and realized I was right and did the switch

The equipment is only part of the story for Westyork. “The customer is number one” is so fundamental to their philosophy that they don’t even bother putting it on a sign.

Bobby Mohamed, Armando DeFaria, Jorge Macedo, Tiago Macedo, Frank Pinto, Gurjeet Singh, Ferdinand Langdingin, Kayla Roberts and Joe Caetano.

and got what he needed. It cost a little more, but sometimes you even sell them something that’s less expensive. You buy a piece of equipment, it’s a depreciating asset. I don’t want to sell you the wrong piece.”

While the company needs to have a healthy bottom line, it’s not all about the money.

“We’re not a corporate world all about numbers. Yes, if we don’t make money, we can’t pay our bills. But if a person walks in our door to give me a cheque or a credit card, I need to take care of that person,” Pinto says.

He adds that you’ll never see a poster on the walls of his company saying, “The customer is number one.”

“Sometimes you walk into some places, and you see, ‘Customer is number one.’ I don’t have any of that on my walls. We just have to do it,” he says. “This is what I tell everyone. When a customer comes in here, we need to sell ourselves. We’re not selling on price, we’re selling on service. And if the person is all about price, maybe they’re not in the right place. We will not compete with some of those guys.”

Although Westyork Rentals is a new company to the equipment rental scene, Pinto says they’re here for the long haul.

“In short words, we’re here to stay. We’re going to do whatever it takes. It’s not so much about pricing, it’s about building relationships with all the customers so when they walk in here, they feel at home,” he says. “I’m here almost every day between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., sometimes later, and on Sundays, if I need to come in. If I have to go wash a machine, I’ll wash a machine. If I have to go get parts, I’ll go get parts. We all help each other at the end of the day.” CRS

EVENTOLOGY

Turn survival into opportunity

We can apply tricks learned in the pandemic into revenue-generators in the off-season.

by Michelle Nicol, CERP

If you’re reading this, you made it! You survived the past two years, which were anything but easy for the event industry. Your business may have pivoted (are you tired of that word yet?) in many different ways to make ends meet and pass the time – and you are stronger for it. If we learned anything during this time, it was resilience, and to think outside the box. We are skilled professionals whose knowledge and experience can be easily transferred to other industries. Now is the time to think about the new tasks or businesses you ventured into during the pandemic that you will carry forward and incorporate into your business each year. You likely dipped your toes into something completely different than events, utilizing the assets you already have such as warehouse space, trucks and people. You are not alone if you are already dreading the next down season, which comes like clock work each year. We need to start thinking about how can we convert these ventures into an all-year-round component of our businesses (or just when the slow season hits), which will add to your bottom line and keep your crew on the ground.

If you own or work for an event company, chances are your company has their own truck drivers, warehouse staff, cleaning crew, office staff and order pickers. Now is the time to brainstorm some things that your crews can do during the down season that will bring in revenue. Think outside the box – it does not have to be event-related.

You run a well-oiled machine of a business and everyone knows what their job is. Your operations department consistently schedules deliveries and pickups, dispatches vehicles, schedules crew and workers, communicates with drivers and clients and so much more. There are opportunities for you to put this experience to work outside of your business

during the down season. With many companies going virtual and hiring virtual assistants these days, this may look like teaming up with a logistics company to help them fulfill their operational requirements with trucking, scheduling or dispatching. The sky is the limit! You have trucks and the drivers needed to get the trucks where they need to be. Your fleet is equipped and ready to take items from point A to point B. These items do not have to be tents, tables or chairs. These items can be pieces of furniture, food deliveries or transport loads. Whether you partner with a furniture, moving, transportation or food company, you have the assets and your team has the skills to do the exact same task: move things. When you think of tents, tables and chairs you likely think of weddings, conferences and private events. There are many other uses for these typical event rental items that are not event-related at all. Think outside the box. Where do people need your equipment? There are businesses in your area who may need what you have for something other than an event. Maybe your local hospital needs extra furniture to operate. Does the church down the street know that they can rent tables from you for their annual bazaar? People need items and often do not have adequate storage for them.

It’s the art of thinking outside the box and being resourceful that has helped you survive some of the most challenging years of your career, and it will be these same skills that help you continue to excel and grow. Just because the pandemic is nearing the “end” does not mean that you need to pack up these additional ventures in a back closet and forget that they helped get you through these times. CRS

Michelle Nicol is account manager and festival specialist at Higgins Event Rentals

by James Hong

WHAT WENT HONG

Emergency response

Look deeper to understand who should be in charge of your emergency response.

Recently I took part in the National Fire Protection Leadership for Emergency Responders forum, which really made me think deeply about all the many, many ways in which we all need to be prepared in these times. The workplace is no exception. Today, let’s cover the human aspect of emergency response and what characteristics are best suited for leadership as well as emergency response in the workplace.

Some characteristics demonstrated in highly effective emergency response leadership are volunteerism, a proactive approach and the desire and willingness to take care of the workplace and workforce. These are all innate qualities that are usually a natural part of an individual’s character. More often than not, these qualities cannot be taught. However, they can be encouraged. Companies often refer to success in managing tasks or responses to problems as their measurement of success. However, there are leadership qualities that only come from within – characteristics such as passion, creativity and initiative. A supervisor’s role in defining worker’s qualities is limited to qualities that are displayed on the outside of the person, such as understanding direction, a concerted work effort each day and following rules. But testing well in an interview does not necessarily demonstrate our innate qualities, the qualities that are part of our inner essential nature. These are frequently the qualities that are most important in creating good leadership of all kinds, including and perhaps most importantly, emergency response.

Encouraging and training the workforce for emergency response leadership and preparedness is most effective when using a people-driven approach, based on engaging people directly in the process. This has been shown to enhance motivation and provide workers with the confidence to change behaviour and adopt changing or new routines and protocols. Solid methods for doing so include surveys to gauge

worker knowledge and confidence; caring about the workforce; and making your appreciation apparent for work well done. And most importantly, extensively testing those in charge of emergencies with frequency and budgeting properly for training and rewarding motivation. Management tours of worksites to specifically demonstrate emergency preparedness provides an important opportunity to answer worker questions and encourage open communication. Other aspects of leadership effectiveness can be honed by awareness of your body language and voice characteristics. Ask yourself, how does my presence and instruction affect others in the workplace? How do workers respond to my participation in a leadership role? Do I have all the tools to prevent and address an emergency? Do I have an evacuation plan posted in clear sight? Do I have a roster of the workers onsite? Does the workforce have everything needed: equipment, instruction, knowledge and refresher training? Generally workplace emergencies include fires or explosions, medical emergencies, severe weather, earthquakes, major power failures and hazardous material spills. Emergency response for such occurrences requires assigning someone in charge who is invested in the role and training that person to the fullest extent of their duties and responsibilities. We need to ensure that muster stations and exits are posted in clear sight and overviewed at the start of any job and pointed out to all new incoming workers and departments.

Not everyone is well-suited for leadership when it comes to emergencies. That’s perfectly acceptable. So we need to have the best-suited person for the role in charge if and when an emergency arises.

Be safe. Be well. CRS

James Hong is an OHS consultant, writer and journalist.

BLOWN AWAY

Get ready for tornado season with a ready-made disaster response trailer.

Few things can cause the complete devastation of people’s homes and businesses quite like tornadoes. These destructive storms can wreak havoc on areas a mile wide and often leave little untouched in their path.

by ANDREW SNOOK

RIGHT: What will they need to clean this up?

Understanding what is involved in specific kinds of disasters is the first step to assembling a specialty trailer designed to address it.

If a rental store’s market area is in one of the many areas of the country susceptible to tornados, it might want to consider being ready with a trailer ready-made to quickly transport needed items to disaster relief zones (or at least have those items on hand for quick assembly). We asked disaster response expert, Jim Mandeville of First Onsite Property Restoration, what clients like him need in a trailer to address tornado damage.

“When you think about tornado damage and our response to tornado events, basically you’ve got a central path where that tornado was on the ground. Directly in that central path that is potentially a couple-hundredfeet-wide or potentially a mile wide, most of the buildings are going to be unrepairable,” explains Mandeville. “What we really need to end up dealing with quickly is all the homes and businesses that are on either side of

that path, because on either side of the total destruction we have partial destruction.”

All those partially damaged homes and businesses with roofing damage from high winds, broken windows and doors from flying debris, and potentially water damage due to the roofing and window damage, need to be repaired as quickly as possible to prevent further damage.

“When we look at order of operations here, step one is always to get the buildings that are restorable to a point where they’re not going to be damaged any further. What that means is we’re looking at things like tarping roofs, boarding up windows and doors, and dealing with the water damage,” Mandeville says.

The types of items necessary to perform this kind of work include tarps, plywood, power tools and generators, as well as larger equipment for larger industrial and commer-

companies like First Onsite create

cial spaces to be able to access roofs like aerial work platforms, and machinery to move debris, like skid steers.

For a trailer for this kind of application, Mandeville says it will need to be well-stocked with consumable items such as plywood, structural lumber, nails and screws.

“We’re going to want to have some drying equipment on that trailer, things we can use for water damage mitigation: air movers, dehumidifiers,” he adds.

Since time is of the essence in these types of situations, restoration companies and disaster response teams can’t have their work hindered by a lack of daylight.

“We’re going to want to have some sort of lighting, whether that’s mounted

to a trailer or truck. Portable lighting, stands – there’s lots of new LED stuff out there that we can run off of generators,” Mandeville says. “Obviously along with that, all of my trailers that I own, we have them permanently wired so they have lights in them, a bunch of plugs in the back of the trailer to charge power tool batteries and have them set up so we can just plug that trailer

directly into a generator so we can use it as a hub.”

He adds that he’s also seen trailers built with integrated generators but there are maintenance costs and upfront costs to consider when looking at adding that as a feature.

Another trailer option that is used a lot for disaster relief efforts are mobile command centres. Disaster

SPECIALTY TRAILERS

“FEMA [the U.S. disaster response agency] and the various provincial emergency management organizations have them. They’re usually transport trailers that will convert out with slideouts on them with office space ready to go, water capacity for a restroom, a built-in generator, built-in communications capacity and a satellite base

because the cell phone network is problematic. So, there are those, but they are incredibly expensive rigs,” Mandeville says.

On the other hand, a smaller company may only be doing one or two jobs at a time and may have an 18-foot trailer pulled behind a pickup with a generator, lights and a place to plug in batteries.

“It’s totally scalable,” Mandeville says, adding that smaller companies need to ensure they’re properly prepared with the appropriate trailer. “Obviously it’s nice to buy a single-axle because it’s more economical to tow, but it’s certainly not going to do the job if you’ve got 7,000 pounds you’re trying to put in that thing.”

He adds that the tow vehicle for the trailer also needs to be properly sized.

“If you’re going to have a 30-foot tandem axle trailer full of tools that weighs 12,000 pounds, you probably shouldn’t be trying to pull it with an F-150. And, of course, there’s all kinds of legal ramifications and license ramifications that come along with that as well,” Mandeville says. “As far as sizing trucks and trailers go, all pickup truck manufacturers provide towing capacity data. Trailer manufactures will also provide recommended class of tow vehicle. But where you have to be careful with the trailers, is that it’s based on an empty trailer, not what you’re going to put into it. So really, the key message is do your research.”

An example of a tornado reponse trailer deployed by the rental industry is available. In December, Lowe;s deployed a Tool Rental Disaster Response trailer to help with efforts to clean up after devastating storms in that area. It carried generators, saws, dehumidifiers, breaker hammers, ladders, and more. Point of Rental provided the software for the Disaster Response Trailer; other partners included Bosch, Husqvarna, Tsurumi, FNA-Simpson, GNE-Honda, Xpower, Metabo, Werner, VP Racing Fuels, SmartEquip, AT&T, and LiveView.

“I’ve always been proud of how the rental industry in particular is always first in line to help their communities in times of crisis,” said Point of Rental CEO, Wayne Harris. “We’re glad to be a part of this initiative from Lowe’s and to see the Disaster Response Trailer provide some value to the people affected by this tragedy.”

So it looks like providing disaster response trailers is not just a way to provide a great solution to customers, but also something we can feel good about, too. CRS

Lowe’s created this disaster response trailer to assist with cleanup in Kentucky after tornados hit the state in December.

by Mike Wood

OUR ISSUES

This ain’t over

There’s still lots to do to mitigate the effects the pandemic has had on our businesses.

Every time a new wave of the pandemic occurs, there is a disproportionate impact on small businesses in every province and territory across the country. The event rental industry has continued to be one of the hardest-hit sectors almost two and half years later. The sixth wave has come when many provinces have chosen to loosen pandemic mandates, causing new problems, such as tremendous labour shortages.

Yes, I understand that we need to find ways to live with the virus, but the infection rate appears much higher. Perhaps you are like me and you have not known so many people to have COVID19 all at the same time as we are experiencing right now. I myself just recovered after avoiding contracting the virus over the past two years.

Although mask mandates and vaccine passports are relaxed, the isolation rules are still in place. People have no choice but to stay home from work if they or someone in their home has tested positive putting additional pressure on rental houses simply trying to remain open. It is creating additional pressure on those who can come to work.

Small businesses already face additional pressure from the pandemic. Only 40 percent of small businesses have returned to pre-COVID sales numbers, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. So many had to take on new debt to keep the lights on. According to the CFIB, two-thirds of small businesses now owe more than $160,000 in debt.

The supply chain and the inability to get products in stock continues to be a problem. While insurance premiums are skyrocketing and increases in the minimum wage are adding additional pressure to the bottom lines, labour will prove one of, if not the most difficult, to overcome.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding labour shortages in restaurants and retail. I have seen restaurants close for a week because they did not have enough staff available to run the operation. Some are closing at lunch hour. Some

are reducing their hours because they don’t have the labour to cover the shifts. Whether former employees have moved on to other careers or people can’t come to work due to illness, we have an enormous labour problem across many sectors.

Many of you ask where do we go from here?

That is a great question.

I have felt for a long time that governmentpaid training for new employees is something that has been needed. It is difficult to train people only to have them announce they have found something else or are no longer interested in working in this industry after only two months. I know hospitality deals with this challenge frequently.

The government should put more marketing effort into existing programs for small businesses. The Canada Summer Jobs program is an excellent way to offset some labour costs we will incur as we try to reset our businesses. When I owned an event rental company, we often used this program.

Here is something to remember if you elect to apply to the program. The program had approved us for a few years, but then we were denied out of the blue. The rental business involves a lot of trucking. We typically hire people to drive the trucks and set up the events. One of the questions on the program application was, would your organization hire someone visually impaired? The staff member filling out the application said no and we were denied. The government explained that I should have said yes and we would have been approved for the program.

In the meantime, let’s all support each other. I took great pride in the fact that I never had competitors. I only had “coop-itition” and we were always there to help each other through the most difficult of times. CRS

Michael Wood is a former owner of an event rental company, a college professor in Ottawa and a principal at Ottawa Consultants – ottawaconsultants.com.

by MARIO CYWINSKI

NEW IN 2022

Our annual look at the new model year in major pickup brands.

The big changes in the pick-up space for 2022 are in the 1500-sized group, with Toyota re-designing their U.S.-built Tundra, Ford adding a fully electric version of its F-150 (Lightning), General Motors refreshing its Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra models and Stellantis making a series of package additions and changes.

FORD

F-150

The big news for Ford’s pick-up portfolio is the addition of the fully electric F-150 Lightning.

The Lightning offers two lithium-ion battery options, a standard range with an estimated 370 kilometres of range, and an extended range version with an estimated 483 km of range. Power comes in two flavours as well: a standard range model with 426 horsepower and and extended range model with 563 hp. Both versions come with 775 foot/pounds of torque.

Charging times are projected to be as follows: the Level 3 charger (50/150 kilowatts) for 15 percent to 85 percent is (91/44) minutes for a standard range and (122/41) minutes for an

extended range. Level 2 charging on the standard range can be 10 to 14 hours, and extended range eight to 19 hours.

Capability-wise, Lightning offers estimated maximum payload of 1,800 pounds for the extended range to 2,000 lbs for standard range. Maximum estimated towing ranges are (with the maximum trailer tow package) from 7,700 lbs (standard-range) to 10,000 lbs (extended-range).

An interesting new feature on the Lightning is Ford Intelligent Backup Power, which can turn your truck into a backup power source for a building. The system gives the Lightning the ability to offload 9.6 kW of power. When using the truck with an 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro and a management

RIGHT: The Toyota Tundra has probably had the most changes for 2022.

system, the system sends power to the building instead of charging itself. Once power is restored, the truck goes back to charging its battery. According to Ford, an extended-range battery model can power a house for up to three days when using an average of 30 kWh of daily use.

Four trim levels are available for the Lightning: a fleet-focused Pro trim and XLT, Lariat and Platinum.

Other F-150 models have already received onboard scales, smart hitch, and continuously controlled damping, plus an appearance package, a utility package and colour changes. A new Raptor R trim is also on the horizon.

Super Duty

For 2022, Super Duty now has an available 12-inch touch screen with cloud-connected SYNC 4 offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and connected navigation.

A new Lariat Sport Appearance Package offers body-colour grille, bumpers and mirrors. All King Ranch and Platinum models now have standard four wheel drive. Other package and colour changes also occur.

Super Duty models now offer available 360-degree dual-beacon LED warning strobes, which takes the place of a four-corner LED warning strobes.

Larger F-350 to F600 chassis cab models get revised frame bridging reinforcements as standard. Lariat receives standard SYNC 4 and SiriusXM with a 360-litre tank.

GENERAL MOTORS

Chevrolet

Silverado

For 2022, the Chevrolet Silverado sees a refresh, which updates various parts of the vehicle. All trim levels have a new front fascia and grille, revised DRLs and new colours.

Silverado LT models and above get a new interior with a standard 13.4-inch touch screen with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The new interior

also features built-in Google, which has access to Google Assistant, Maps, and Play on the infotainment screen; these work with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Available on High Country trim is Super Cruise, a hands-free driver assistance feature, which in this version also allows trailering. The main two aspects of the system are the driver attention system (which uses a small camera

Model One

TRUCK REVIEW

makes sure the driver is looking at the road) and LiDAR map data. This is the first time it is available on a Chevrolet pick-up truck. The system works on about 320,000 km of divided and compatible roads in Canada and the U.S.

An updated 2.7L turbo engine now offers 420 ft/lbs of torque (a 20 percent increase over the previous version), has a 30 percent stiffer crankshaft and can now tow 9,600 lbs on two-wheel drive models. The 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine models now allow for inclusion of the maximum towing package (through chassis changes), and in turn can now tow 13,300 lbs on two-wheel drive models.

A new ZR2 off-road-focused model is added for 2022. It has a 6.2L V-8 engine (420hp and 460 ft/lbs of torque mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission), a tuned spring with Multimatic dampers, front and rear e-lockers, an off-road chassis, 33-inch off-road tires, a skid plate package, a high-approach steel front bumper and more.

Looking to the future, Chevrolet is bringing an EV version of the Silverado to market as a 2024 model. It will use GM’s Ultium EV platform and RST models will offer an estimated range of 640km on a full charge and up to 10,000 lbs of towing. RST with wide open watts will have over 660hp and 780 ft/lbs of torque taking the truck from zero to 96 km/h in under 4.5 seconds. Production versions of the vehicle may have slightly different specifications.

GMC

Sierra

Sierra offers a refreshed exterior with new fascia, front

bumper, grille and headlight design, along with new dual-projector LED headlights with C-shaped DRLs and new colours.

An updated interior offers a new centre console design. Sierra SLE models and above get a new interior with a standard 13.4-inch touch screen with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. An available 15-inch heads-up display is available. The new interior also features built-in Google, which has access to Google Assistant, Maps, and Play on the infotainment screen; these work with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The 2.7L turbo engine is enhanced and offers 420 ft/lbs of torque, a 30 percent stiffer crankshaft, and can tow 9,400 lbs on 2WD models (9,100lbs on 4WD). The 3.0L Duramax turbo-diesel engine models now can have a maximum tow package (through chassis changes), and in turn can now tow 13,200 lbs on 2WD models (13,000lbs with 4WD).

A new AT4X model is added for 2022. It has a 6.2L V-8 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission, a tuned spring with Multimatic dampers, front and rear e-locking differentials, an off-road chassis, and a two-speed transfer case with a steel shield. A new Sierra Denali Ultimate trim is added and becomes the top range model.

The all-electric version of GMC Sierra pickup truck will join the already announced GMC Hummer EV and GMC Hummer SUV soon. The electric version of the Sierra will be built on the company’s Ultium platform and will launch in Denali trim only.

STELANTIS

RAM 1500

For 2022, all models Big Horn and above get the new Uconnect 5 system, which has Wi-Fi and a tow-specific navigation system that is faster and has more memory. All models also get the Ram clean air system (it filters 95 percent of air particulates).

Also, for 2022 Ram 1500 gets new special edition models added to the lineup. The Limited 10th Anniversary Edition has a blue shade colour, a multi-function tailgate, cold air intake, cold end exhaust, badging and 22-inch polished wheels. On the interior it has Indigo and Sea Salt quilted leather seats; an instrument panel; a console and door inserts; suede headliner, visors and A-pillar; and a unique badging along with a 19-speaker sound system.

A new GT package is available on Laramie, Rebel and Sport trims with sport crew cab and five-foot, seven-inch bed. It offers a sport performance hood, a black grille, GT decals, cold air intake and cold air performance exhaust. Inside are bucket seats with high bolsters, a flat-bottom steering wheel with aluminum paddles, a performance-oriented floor shifter, performance screens, and more

Also, a BackCountry package is available for Big Horn models with a 5.7L V-8 engine, that includes the bed utility group, the off-road group, and the usual selection of body-colour and black coloured options. A Red package is added to Limited crew cab models and has a red RAM grille and door badges and a badge on the centre console lid.

Finally, the performance TRX model gets a new Ignition Edition which is centred around an orange colour outside and stitching and logos on the inside, as well as a selection of standard options.

Heavy Duty (2500 and up)

The 2500/3500 HD models get the Uconnect 5 system on Big Horn and above. Package changes occur with new Big

Horn Silver Edition. Power Wagon models now get a new equipment package and new optional features. The Limited Black model gets updates and Big Horn models get a new grille.

The tow mode now offers a digital rearview mirror that allows the driver to see behind the trailer. A 360-degree trailer camera view is available and includes four camera and wiring. Also, a trailer hitch light is now standard and has four LED lights.

Chassis cabs now offer available dual fuel tanks on 6.4L Hemi models.

TOYOTA

Tundra

For 2022, the American-built Tundra is all-new, with a redesigned exterior that offers a new front fascia, grille and overall appearance. It now comes with a new standard 3.5L twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that offers 389 hp and 479 ft/lbs of torque and is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission.

The optional engine is what Toyota calls the i-Force Max, which uses the same standard engine but adds a motor generator with a clutch. It provides additional power transferred through the transmission and offers EV driving, regeneration and electric assist through its hybrid system. The system uses a 288V nickel-metal-hydride battery housed under the rear seats. Overall, the system has 437hp and 583 ft/lbs of torque, mated to the same 10-speed automatic transmission as the standard engine.

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.

Tundra now rides on a new chassis with the multi-link rear suspension now riding on coil springs (replacing the leaf springs used before). The changes allow for the new Tundra to have a maximum towing capacity of 12,000 lbs, a 17.6 percent increase over the outgoing model. Overall payload is now 1,940 lbs, an increase of 11 percent.

Speaking of towing, the Tundra now offers two tow/haul modes, one for smaller trailers and one for larger ones. New cameras are also added along with new power extending and folding tow mirrors, trailer back guidance and a new available air suspension system.

With an all-new interior comes an available 14-inch touch screen with a brand-new audio multimedia system as well as an available 12.3-inch instrument cluster display. Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 is standard on all trims – it offers a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, radar cruise control, lane departure warning, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams and road sign assist. A rear seat reminder is also standard.

Tundra will come in two sizes (double cab or crewmax), three bed lengths (5.5, 6.5 and 8.1 inches), five trims (SR, SR5, Limited, Platinum, 1794) with TRD and TRD Pro packages available. CRS

Mario Cywinski is the Editor of Plant magazine, Machinery and Equipment MRO magazine and Food and Beverage magazine, a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and a judge for Canadian Truck King Challenge.

‘Tis the season for paving, patios and foundations. Help your customers with these top soil compaction products.

COMPACTION SHOWCASE

MAXIMIZES PRODUCTIVITY

8 toro.com

Toro’s forward plate compactors are designed with a unique base geometry, optimal eccentric placement, amplitude and vibration-perminute ratings that allow the units to provide maximum compaction for stable, even surfaces. The forward plate compactors operate on speed levels of 100 feet per minute with a maximum productivity of 6,500 to 10,000 square feet per hour. A heavy-duty design protects the engine and machine components for extended life. Toro offers three models of forward plate compactors with an eccentric force range of 2,200 to 4,000 pounds. For maximum eccentric power and productivity, the forward plate FP-4000 easily compacts mixed soil, granular soil, or asphalt. FP-4000 forward plates operate with a maximum productivity of 10,000 square-feet per hour. With

optimal force and up to 10,000 square feet per hour capacity, the forward plate FP-3000 is engineered for high productivity and tough compaction to tackle jobs on granular soil or asphalt. The Forward Plate FP-2200 is designed for powerful performance on smaller area jobs compacting trenches, granular soil or asphalt. These forward plates operate with a maximum productivity of 6,500 square feet per hour.

PREVENTS DEBRIS CONTAMINATION

8 crownequip.com

According to the company, the 240 hole digger from General Equipment Company features the industry’s first use of four-stroke engine technology on a singleoperator, handheld holedigging product. The 240 is just one model in General Equipment’s line of portable Crown’s MVP95 is a forward plate compactor that

falls into the 3,000-pound plate compactor category and can be used for either residential or commercial jobs. It has an exciter speed of 5,500 VPM and weighs 186 pounds. Standard features include an open self-cleaning design that prevents material getting caught between the plate base and engine mount. Six heavy-duty shock absorbers are strategically located for vibration reduction and comfortable operation. The 20-by-21inch cast iron plate provides easy access to narrow areas and extends the wear life. The GX160 Honda engine is protected by an engine rollcage that also provides an easy-access lifting bale. There is a removable water tank for easy water replacement. Options include a wheel kit for jobsite transportation and a paving mat for brick compaction.

EASY HANDLING 8

bomag.com

The lightest tamper in its

class, the Bomag BT 50 tamper weighs in at just 116 pounds but delivers high impact forces of 3,222 pounds with a design that makes it easier to get around the jobsite. Ideal for compacting cohesive backfill materials, the tamper features integrated single-point lifting for easier manoeuvering with a strap and lowering into trenches. Available quickinstall transport wheels make the tamper even easier to move around the jobsite. While lightweight, the Bomag BT 50 is built for years of reliable operation. The exclusive Bomag lubrication system provides optimum oil supply to the crankcase at all operating angles and its powerful Honda GXR 120 engine features a low oil alert system. A durable protection cover safeguards the engine from impact damage at the jobsite. Dual-stage filtration for both air and fuel help to ensure consistent engine operation in the field. The tamper’s height-adjustable handle provides comfortable operation for all operators. Vibration isolation minimizes vibration feedback to the operator’s hands and arms, reducing fatigue. Integrated into the handle’s design, a single switch controls the

engine off/on and the fuel supply for simple operation and quick shutdowns. The Bomag BT 50 tamper comes standard with a nine-inch compaction foot width with optional widths from 6.3 to 13 inches to meet a range of jobsite needs. It offers a variable frequency from 600 to 708 impacts-per-minute with a maximum working speed of 787 feet per minute, covering an area of up to 2,970 square feet per hour.

PARTS ACROSS CANADA

8 rentquip.com

The Patron RP400 enters into the 1,000-pound reversible plate category while providing the simplicity of a Honda engine without a battery. The RP400 is versatile enough to take on many of the jobs that would often be completed by a 1,000-pound diesel plate – with a 35 percent lower cost, this unit offers a far superior ROI. Featuring a Honda GX390 with 13 horsepower, its high-speed, balanced design contributes to easy, precise handling on the roughest of surfaces, or for spot compaction. Patron reversible plates are designed serviceability, featuring easy access to the hydraulic system, belts, and exciter oil. The machine features a simple one-touch hydraulic forward/reverse lever, which allows the user to keep a continuous grip on the unit’s handle for complete control. Made from Hardox 400, the 26-inch-wide base

plate is extremely robust and resistant to wear, further expanding the machine’s life span in a rental fleet. The RP400 is exceptional at compacting medium to deep layer granular soils. Patron compactors and parts are stocked in three warehouses across Canada to minimize delivery times and increase service. The complete line of Patron compaction equipment comes with a twoyear warranty.

KEEPS THE DUST DOWN

8 roadwidenerllc.com

Road Widener now offers a spray bar system that increases the versatility of its patented offset vibratory roller attachment. This accessory fits on all offset vibratory roller attachments and aids in suppressing dust particles, compacting aggregates and preventing clumping when rolling hot mix asphalt. It can be easily attached to the offset vibratory roller, a compaction attachment that allows the host machine to drive safely on flat ground while compacting shoulders, ditches, trenches and other hard-to-reach areas alongside the road. The spray bar system will allow contractors to increase efficiency and versatility when compacting a variety of materials including asphalt, stone, gravel and topsoil.

COMPACTION SHOWCASE

REMOTE CONTROL

8 husqvarnacp.com

The articulated LP 9505 trench compactor from Husqvarna delivers a smooth compaction surface in all kinds of soil, especially cohesive materials like clay and silt. The heavy weight

of the trench compactor provides great static compaction, which does not dig up soil when turning. High and wide drum pads increase traction on slopes and steep gradients, as well as wet soils. Covered drum ends keep dirt out of the wearable parts to increase durability and covers enable the machine to slide against the trench walls instead of grinding them. The LP 9505 is operated by remote control, giving the operator the flexibility to move around

Outstanding Flooring Results RENTING for

in 1 Cleats & Staples

the jobsite and choose where to stand, providing better ergonomics and safer working conditions. The remote control comes with two batteries: one for use, and one to charge in the on-board charger. This ensures you never run out of power. Battery power and a low fuel consumption combined with a large tank enables a full day’s work. Servicing is quick and easy with clearly marked service points and easily access under the protective hoods. When the job is done it is easy to load and transport the LP 9505 using one single lifting point with a large lifting eye. The articulation joint is secured with a foldable transport lock. There are additional eyelets located in the front and back for hauling.

LESS VIBRATION

8 webermt.com

The DVH 600 hydrostatic duplex roller was developed particularly for use in footpaths, cycleways, verges and parking lots. DVH rollers have set standards not only with regard to design, but also in performance, longevity, operational safety and environmental protection. The roller features a front-mounted engine for easy maintenance with a large-volume water tank. The guide bar includes infinite speed adjustment and a dead man’s control. Vibration can be switched

on and off with a hand lever at any engine speed. The DVH 600 is designed to deliver less vibration transmission through the handle thanks to the isolated engine assembly. The fast gear facilitates movement on the construction site and a central lifting device provides easy, safe transport. The roller has a mechanical parking brake to prevent unintended movements. The operating weight is 420 kilograms with a 56-centimetre working width, 10 kilonewton centrifugal force and 60 Hertz frequency. A Kohler KD15 350 diesel engine provides 7.5 horsepower.

MAINTENANCE-FREE LOWER END 8 wackerneuson.com

Wacker Neuson’s RT trench roller with SC3 infraredremote control offers proven compaction results with safer operation. The smart control uses an infrared signal with line-of-sight control. The machine stops moving and vibrating should the line-ofsight be lost or if the operator comes within three feet of the roller’s receiving eyes with the control box. The articulated trench roller offers a belowthe-axel exciter in each drum to allow for the efficient transfer of compaction energy to the soil for superior compaction results. The RT is available with the choice of a Kohler or Kubota engine. The RTx models are available with Compatec, the compaction control system that indicates the relative

compaction level of the soil. A patented three-receiving-eye design eliminates signal loss from trench shoring while retaining the line-of-sight control of the roller. With 16-channel transmission, multiple rollers can be operated on the same job site without interference with one another. The RTx model also offers flexible drums

that allows for convenient conversion from 32 inches to 22inches. The easy-to-remove extensions have a central mounting system that protects the bolts from exposure to damage during operation. The articulated joint increases manoeuverability and the low center of gravity improves stability. High and low compaction

force provide flexibility depending on the job. The lower end is completely maintenance-free due to the self-lubricating design of the drive and the exciter. The engine control module with

diagnostic LEDs monitors machine functions such as oil pressure, radiator level, engine temperature, glow plug, battery and air filter capacity for easy operation and troubleshooting.

For more compaction product reviews, visit canadianrentalservice.com > Products > Compaction

The choice is yours with the Snorkel S4740E as the only Snorkel electric scissor lift with available hydraulic and electric drive. Durable lead acid batteries provide long-lasting performance for dual indoor and outdoor use. This rugged and robust lift is Snorkel’s tallest reaching electric slab scissor lift with a maximum working height of 45 ft. 5 in. (14.0m). And when you need extra reach, this versatile lift offers a spacious roll-out deck extension. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

E-mail: eastcan@rogers.com • Cell: 416-230-8045 •

12 Aquila Crt., Toronto, Ontario M9W 5J2

Phone (416) 748-8045

Toll Free 1-877-748-1130

REACH NEW heights

HOPE IS NOT A PLAN

Can’t get it

Shortages are going to force us to get creative.

by Adam Snook

The list of things you can’t get is growing. First on the list is people. As we discussed in the last article, getting qualified, engaged, and motivated staff is extremely challenging right now. And it’s not likely to get easier any time soon.

How about reasonable financing and capital investment? With inflation reaching record highs across all aspects of life, interest rates had to rise and rise rapidly. The Bank of Canada just put through the largest increase in 20 years. If prime goes up 0.5 percent commercial financing rates go up one percent or more. What you could finance at five percent 12 months ago is now going to cost you eight to 8.5 percent on a lease, if you’ve got good credit. Manage your cash flow accordingly.

Equipment is hard to get. When your business is 100 percent dependent on equipment to generate its revenue there is no bigger concern than not being able to acquire the assets you need to continue to operate.

The local Bobcat dealership has zero new skid-steers available for sale in its yard. How do you function as a dealership with no new inventory to sell? There’s no used coming in on trade, because there’s nothing to replace it with. Your parts and service department better be operating at 110 percent capacity to keep the lights on.

I recently called a long-time supplier of portable toilets to inquire about a load of 10 to 15 new toilets and they told me there’s no availability until October or November. Also, no one is selling used for the same reason. I never thought I’d see a shortage of portapotties.

There is no quick fix to the supply chain issues that plague manufacturers, so you’d better figure out how to adapt.

With new gear being so difficult to acquire the price of quality used is through the roof. Just watch the next couple of Ritchie Brothers auctions. It’s actually quite astonishing. On one hand, the value of your existing fleet has increased five percent per month or more over the last 12 to 18 months. But unless you’re planning on selling your business now that doesn’t do you a lot of good.

If you plan on growing you’ll have to be creative to get the assets you need. Being less brand specific is an easy one. The quality gap between most major manufacturers is pretty much non-existent now. Whether it’s a skid-steer, excavator or air compressor, if you can get your hands on a recognizable brand chances are very good it’s a quality piece of equipment that’ll serve your customers well. This may require a bit more upselling or “training” of your customers, but if it’s what’s available they will rent it.

There is late model fleet that’s always being turned over at the auction or directly from the multinational companies, even if you’re now paying a premium for it.

Talk to your contractor customers. Do they have any idle equipment that they’d like to either sell or do a rental split on? If you go this route on a rental split, make sure all the expectations are laid out clearly. This can muddy a relationship quickly otherwise.

If you’ve never developed a great re-rental relationship with other local providers, there’s no time like the present! Fifteen to 20 percent of something and keeping a customer supplied is better than nothing.

With all of these increased costs let’s hope your increased rental rates can keep up! CRS

Adam Snook owns Just Bins, a Regina-based provider of waste disposal solutions.

Make drain cleaning easier with General’s Speedrooter 92R with automatic feed. Instead of wrestling a snake in and out of the drain, the automatic feed drives the cable into the line at up to 20 feet per minute, saving customers both time and labor. The automatic feed features a guide tube that keeps your customers’ hands clean and away from the spinning cable. The Speedrooter 92R keeps customers happier and coming back for more.

Call the Drain Brains® at 800-245-6200, or visit www.drainbrain.com/rental.