CRA's Pre-Golf tournament Yard Party at MTA was a great start to the Golf Tournament, which benefits the Rental Industry Services Foundation (RSIF). MTA has a beautiful warehouse with which it services the greater Southern CA area and the West Coast with ease. MTA has much to be proud of.

   Attendees enjoyed excavator golf, sponsored by VCES Volvo, and CYRP sponsored a virtual golf pro to assist with players' golf swings and games. Vendors were on hand to discuss their equipment and new release items. The event closed with a delicious BBQ dinner and goodies.

   The golf tournament started off on Friday, November 3, 2023, with a beautiful day. The weather cooperated but did get to borderline hot. With close to 90 golfers, the shotgun start began promptly at 11 am. Competition was fierce for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and closest to the hole winners for both men and women. As golfers completed their rounds, smoked, old-fashioned cocktails could be taste-tested with hand-rolled cigars. Robert Pederson of A Tool Shed and Jeff Roberts of City Rentals conducted a blind taste test of their favorite whiskey. Each whiskey was brown bagged and a vote was taken. Robert's TX Whiskey beat out Jeff's Pendleton Whiskey. You be the judge, but I would say a good time was had by all.  

 

CRA members, their employees and their college-age children are all eligible to apply for an RSIF Scholarship. Every student can use a helping hand. Perhaps you are considering continuing your education or would like to attend a trade or certificate program that will enhance your job skills. On of the missions of RSIF is to promote education in the rental industry, and that applies to adult students of all ages and at many levels. Complete the application and return to CRA by December 31. 

CRA’s 2024 Equipment and Party Rental Tradeshow will be back at the South Point Hotel & Convention Center. Rental Centers, register by Dec. 22, 2023, for special pre-registration rates: $60/person or $195/company. Click on the "Tentative Schedule" link below to see what's in store for you at the show. 

 

 

Eberhard Equipment Kubota
167 Lambert St. #C
Oxnard, CA 93036
(805) 754-4519
www.EberhardEquipment.com

 

Instagrid
Richard Romer
PO Box 4031
Clifton Park, NY 12065
(518) 313-9452
https://instagrid.co/

 

L.B. White Company
Heather Young
411 Mason St.
Onalaska, WI 54650
(608) 783-5691
https://www.lbwhite.com/

 

MAZO Capital
John Pfister
300 Spectrum Center Dr., Suite 1070
Irvine, CA 92618
(424) 343-6285
www.mazocapital.com

CRA's 2024 Rental Rally Tradeshow will again be held at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Show dates are January 14-17, 2024. Thank you to our new exhibitors and also to those exhibitors that have already signed up! Click here to see the complete list of exhibitors. Click here to see the complete list of sponsors.

Electric Fencing and Perimeter Security Solutions. AMAROK is an award-winning, industry-leading perimeter security solutions provider. Their goal is to protect your property, your people, and your profits. They start with their award-winning electric fencing solution and then layer perimeter security solutions to meet your site’s needs, which can include integrated video surveillance, monitoring, alarms, security lights, and more. Everything is then packaged in a comprehensive Perimeter Security-as-a-Service offering with a manageable monthly subscription.

Hardwood Floor Sanders and Carpet Machines. Essex Silver Line West has supplied industrial equipment to Northwest rental companies since 1982. They are master distributors for EDCO products, and they have have a 15,000 sq. ft. warehouse stocked with the supplies you need.

Heli Forklift. Industrial Forklifts is the Western U.S. master distributor for the Heli forklift brand. They’re located in Phoenix, Arizona, but operate alongside partners from California to Texas, providing forklift dealerships with reliable, industrial-grade Heli forklifts (I.C. and electric), reach trucks, electric pallet jacks, accessories, and warranty service. Their facility stocks a complete parts inventory, as well as Heli forklifts for direct sale to dealers and to the rental industry across the United States. Industrial Forklifts and Heli are long-standing members of the American Rental Association and California Rental Association.

Portable battery systems for professionals. Instagrid has created the world's most advanced 230V battery. If your device can be powered from a wall socket, it can be powered with Instagrid. No cables, no hassle. Just plug in your tool and get work done. It is truly portable, and nothing this powerful has ever been so compact and lightweight.

The leading manufacturer of portable heaters and evaporative coolers designed for industrial and construction applications and worksites. L.B. White manufactures direct-fired and indirect-fired forced air heaters, convection heaters and radiant heaters in a variety of heat outputs, ignition types, electrical requirements, and installation options. All L.B. White heaters meet the difficult requirements of the agricultural, horticultural, industrial, construction, and tent industries. Our procedures ensure each product meets the L.B. White quality standard before units are assembled and shipped. A full line of accessories and service parts are also available for all L.B. White heaters.

Tractor/Mowers for Roadside Mowing and Weed Abatement. Powerland Equipment, Inc. is a family owned and operated outdoor power equipment business serving the Valley Center, CA, area for over 35 years. Founded by Malcolm Smith, a member of this San Diego County community since his emigration from the UK in 1973. Today, with three generations of family that take pride in and are passionate about the business, Powerland Equipment, Inc. is your source for total land management solutions. They offer only quality products that they have tested for durability and reliability.

Cloud based rental software with a suite of tools including e-commerce storefront, inventory management, payments, and billing, invoicing, service and repair, as well as marketing services. Quipli was established in 2020 as a result of its founder's frustrating attempt to rent equipment through a large-scale rental company's online platform. This sparked a mission to revolutionize heavy machinery rentals and offer customers the best possible rental experience, both online and offline. After hundreds of customer interviews, Quipli was created. Their platform empowers local rental companies with advanced technology at a fraction of the cost, allowing them to compete with industry giants.

Renterra is a modern rental software company. Renterra's All-in-One Rental Management Software lets you streamline your business with the most user-friendly cloud-based rental software, allowing your team to focus on high-value activities and spend less time working around your rental software. Renterra is a web-based solution that works on any device, which means you can operate on-the-go, whether it’s at the counter, in the yard, or at a jobsite.

Rubbl is a fully transactional rental marketplace for equipment rentals, like Turo or Airbnb. Find and rent the equipment you need, and Rubbl will handle everything else. Get real-time access to newer, never before available, contractor-owned gear. Complete your rental in minutes with transparent pricing and quick checkout. All machines are pre-qualified with multiple 50-point inspections to ensure you get newer, well-maintained machines from a trusted community of owners.

SoCal JCB’s goal is to build a team of exceptional people who are customer-driven. JCB is a family-owned, global construction equipment manufacturer with 22 plants worldwide,t employing over 12,000 people and manufacturing 300 different products. JCB's team is broken into three departments: Sales, Service, and Parts. As a team, their goal is to create positive customer experiences from the buying process to maintenance by anticipating their customer’s needs.

Fleet Management Solutions for Rental Fleets. TSO Mobile is an innovative leader in mobile resource management solutions, logistics products, and GPS software services. Established in 2002, TSO Mobile is an industry leader with key partnerships with manufacturers, digital cartographers, software developers, wireless data providers, and product distributors. Their products and services are designed to optimize operational processes, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. All of their services can be accessed from anywhere via desktop computer, mobile phone, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR). Thousands of service, transportation, and distribution companies throughout North America, South America, and the Caribbean use TSO Mobile’s products and solutions.

The Return to Production Just in Time for Winter...
Barreto Manufacturing, Inc. is announcing the return of the 920LS/922LS Log Splitter to its product lineup. The production of this log splitter was temporarily paused in 2022, but now the machine is back in action and ready to make quick work of wood splitting projects.
    “This unit joined our product family in 2006, and we are glad to see it return. It’s a tried-and-true workhorse that endures the abuse of wood splitting and the heavy use of the rental market, year after year,” says Tim Phelps, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Don’t run out of time to add it to your fleet before the approaching winter weather.”
Features and benefits of the 920LS/922LS include:
• Vertical or horizontal splitting positions
• Torsion axle suspension & cushioned contact points
• Standard two-handed operation control system for safety
The 920LS/922LS is available today and is a valued member of the Barreto tree care equipment family.

The California Center for Jobs & the Economy reported on California's energy price data from September...  Fuel prices rose higher in California as crude prices flirted with the $95 a barrel level in September combined with supply issues related to refinery maintenance and interruptions caused by Tropical Storm Hilary. The average gasoline price rose 51 cents a gallon in California while dipping 4 cents in the rest of the US. In the most recent data from CSAA, the California average on October 5 was up another 19 cents, while the overall US average dropped 7 cents.

    Prices are likely to trend lower over the coming months. In spite of OPEC+ efforts to manage supply, crude prices to date in October are down sharply in response to concerns over softening demand as global economic conditions remain uncertain and as the prospects of another Fed rate hike remain on the table. The governor also recently issued directions to the Air Resources Board to allow an early shift to the cheaper winter blend formulation in yet another tacit acknowledgement of the extent to which California’s own rules contribute heavily to price volatility. While a similar action in 2022 helped lead to a large drop in wholesale prices, it is not yet clear on the extent to which the market now has come to expect this type of action and already prices in regulatory easing in response to consumer anger.

    As we have tracked, gasoline is not the only energy source for which California prices rank the highest or near the highest as state regulations, taxes, and fees have continued to push prices ever higher.

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released their full analysis of the September Employment Report from the California Employment Development Department. For additional information and data about the California economy visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

The California Center for Jobs & the Economy recently released trade data from the US Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis concerning California's Trade Report for September 2023. Overall trade levels were off compared to September 2022, although California’s total share of trade through US ports saw a pause in its decline (on a 12-month moving basis) for the first time since March 2021. In nominal terms, origin exports edged down 3.3% from last September, destination imports were off 4.3%, and total trade through the state’s ports were only marginally lower at 0.7%. Compared to the pre-pandemic levels, however, all activity levels were higher.

The Commercia Carrier Journal reported that owner-operators and fleet owners who operate in California can now register their vehicles in a new California Air Resources Board system before the state implements a new “smog check” requirements on most trucks twice a year.

   The new Clean Truck Check program was approved by CARB in December 2021 to replace the state's current Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP), from which most independent owner-operators were exempt.

   Clean Truck Check requires non-gasoline (diesel, alternative fuel, and hybrid) trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles (such as California-registered motorhomes) with a gross vehicle weight rating over 14,000 pounds to undergo emissions testing if they operate in California. Clean Truck Check applies to most large vehicles that operate in California, regardless of the state in which they're plated. The purpose of the program is to ensure all emissions-related equipment is functioning properly for the life of the vehicle.

RIS is a free service that lets you:
• Fill and file Forms 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV and more
• Submit up to 100 records per upload with CSV templates
• File corrected Forms 1099
• Manage issuer information
• Request automatic extensions to file Forms 1099
• Bulk file with Application to Application (A2A)

Who can e-file? Any person or entity can e-file Forms 1099 with IRIS:
• Individuals and small businesses
• Large businesses
• Tax exempt organizations
• Government agencies
• Transmitters
• Software developers
• Third-party filers

In September, this column reported on the lawsuit against taxpayer and business groups brought by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature seeking to have the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act (TPA) removed from the November 2024 ballot.
    The purpose of TPA is to restore key provisions of Prop 13 and other voter-approved ballot measures that gave taxpayers, not politicians, more say over when and how new tax revenue is raised. TPA is necessary because, over the past decade, the California courts have created massive loopholes and confusion in long-established tax law and policy. TPA closes those loopholes and provides new safeguards to increase accountability and transparency over how politicians spend our tax dollars. It is the only long term check and balance on a permanent two thirds supermajority progressive Legislature.
    The reaction of California’s tax-and-spend progressives to the qualification of TPA is, as one would expect, shrill and hyperbolic. A massive misinformation campaign by the League of California Cities predicts that the passage of TPA would be an “end times” event. Of course, the League predicted the same thing in 1978 over Prop 13.

The 2023 California legislative session has officially concluded and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) was able to defeat or successfully persuade Governor Newsom to veto several key bills that would have created new burdens and costs for small business. With the help of members like you taking action and our advocacy efforts at the State Capitol, NFIB defeated the following bills:

    Senate Bill 799 (Portantino): Would have expanded unemployment benefits to striking workers. NFIB small business members would have seen their payroll taxes increase to fund unemployment payments to individuals who are not unemployed but deliberately participating in a work stoppage. California’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund is currently $18.5 billion in debt to the federal government. Adding eligibility benefits to workers who do not meet the federal standard as defined would have been fiscally reckless and further jeopardized the solvency of California’s UI Trust Fund. It is also estimated that the state’s Economic Development Department paid out an estimated $30 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims during the pandemic. Governor Newsom vetoed SB 799.

    Assembly Bill 524 (Wicks): Sought to label “family caregiver” as a new protected class. A "family caregiver" could essentially be anyone the employee deems to be a "family member" regardless of whether or not the individual being cared for is actually a family member or not. This legislation would have increased actual and administrative costs for the state’s paid family leave program and exposed small business owners to new liability and punitive actions. Governor Newsom vetoed AB 524.

    Assembly Bill 518 (Wicks): Would have expanded eligibility for benefits under the paid family leave program to include individuals who take time off work to care for a seriously ill individual related by blood or whose association with the employee is the “equivalent of a family relationship”. This vague and undefined term would have drastically increased paid family utilization and system costs. NFIB opposed this legislation, and it stalled in committee prior to the end of 2023’s session.

The Center for Jobs and the Economy has released a special report that delves into a critical question: "Was California the 4th Largest Economy in the World in 2022?" This comprehensive report provides insights into California's economic position, particularly in terms of its global ranking. 
    Did We Make It? Nope. Although we did close the gap a little—with California’s economy going from 79% as large as Germany’s in 2021, to 88% as large in 2022—the current projections suggest this is as far as California will go relatively speaking and likely no further at least within the immediate horizon.
    In October last year, a Bloomberg opinion piece set the state’s political world abuzz over the prospect of being the 4th largest economy in the world. Putting aside the notion that this conclusion came from conjecture rather than facts or even a formal projection, the state’s leaders quickly took up the claim that California was now Number 4. The Bureau of Economic Analysis release last week of state GDP data for 2022 and the more recent update of the international GDP numbers by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicate, however, that this claim was at best premature.

Jan. 14-17, 2024 – Las Vegas, NV
CRA Rental Rally Tradeshow,  more...

This month, we asked members about the their delivery charges. If you have additional ideas for surveys for CRA members, please email CRA at info@calrental.org. 

Bill Edwards from Pico Party Rents in Simi Valley is the winner of the November Survey Drawing. Congratulations Bill!