ARA Fights Theft with NER, Offers Changing Ownership Seminar at The Rental Show

November 16, 2006 • The American Rental Association (ARA) and the National Equipment Register (NER) have joined forces to urge rental companies to actively participate in “Rental Fights Back,” a new campaign aimed at creating awareness regarding equipment theft and encouraging rental business owners to take proactive steps at securing their fleet.

 

The “Rental Fights Back” campaign encourages rental businesses to register their equipment on NER's national database. If the business owners are ARA members, they may register up to 1,000 pieces of mobile, off-road equipment • each worth $5,000 or more new • on the NER database for free. In addition, ARA members who have coverage with ARA Insurance Services may choose to have their equipment data uploaded by their underwriter.

 

“It's time for rental companies to take a stand against equipment theft,” said Carl Newman, ARA president and chief executive officer of A&A Rentals in Sevierville, Tenn. “By registering equipment, rental businesses are taking an important step in protecting their fleet.”

 

Through the “Rental Fights Back” campaign, rental companies are encouraged to develop relationships with local law enforcement agencies, participate in regional equipment theft summits, and support the campaign by displaying a bumper sticker that reads, “STOP EQUIPMENT THEFT” with the phone number, 866-NER-TIPS.

 

In other ARA news, The Rental Show will offer a workshop dubbed “The Next Generation of Rental Owners,” which focuses on the transition of a rental business to a new owner. Aimed at current and future rental owners, the workshop is set for February 6 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta and will be comprised of separate sessions running all day, as well as a roundtable discussion between current and future rental owners.

 

Sponsored by ARA Insurance Services, this is the first full-day workshop for multigenerational rental owners to be available at The Rental Show. Members of the Next Generation of Rental Owners Task Force suggested that specialized education be held at The Rental Show to encourage current owners to bring future owners to the event and begin or continue transition discussions.

 

“In any business, it's challenging to find an entire day just to discuss a succession plan,” said task force member Darick Hemphill of General Rental Center, Springfield, Mo. “Taking the day before The Rental Show to discuss the details of what will probably be the biggest financial transaction any of us will ever make, is time well spent.”

 

Registration is $125 per person and includes the workshop sessions, breakfast, lunch, and an evening reception. ARA members are eligible for discounts with an advanced registration, which is due by Dec. 4, 2006. The Rental Show 2007 will be held Feb. 7-10, in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center.