The CRA board and staff would like to wish members and friends a wonderful holiday season and a bright, prosperous New Year! The association looks forward to another year of providing services that contribute to your success in the rental industry.

 

CRA 2023 Holiday Territory Parties
Holiday parties were held in Berkeley, Visalia, Ventura, San Diego, La Mirada and Corona. Participants enjoyed seeing old friends, drawings, a gift exchange, a Toys for Tots drive, and lots of fun and laughs. Thank you to all our vendors and rental centers that attended and participated. Announcements were short but included the excitement of the 2024 Rental Rally Tradeshow Jan. 14-17, 2024, at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The CRA board and staff wish all members a joyous holiday with family and a prosperous New Year.

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of former CRA Board of Director member, Don Cruikshank, on November 24, 2023. Don ran a successful equipment and event rental business, a legacy continued by his children, who also work in the field. Don moved to the area as a 4-year-old in 1957, and attended elementary school in Newhall before going off to Alemany High. He studied to become an emergency medical technician at College of the Canyons before working as a paramedic for about eight years. Cruikshank and his business partner Mike Redmond purchased a business that they turned into AV Equipment Rentals in 1978. Don steadily gained a reputation as not only a sound businessman, but also one who gave back, according to those who knew him. 

As the CRA Rental Rally approaches, I am excited to share what we have in store for you! The CRA staff, as well as the board of directors, have been tirelessly working on your behalf to make the 2024 Rental Rally better than ever. I have outlined an agenda (click on "What's In Store...) that will give you an idea of what we have available and why you need to be here. We are looking forward to seeing you at the South Point Hotel and Casino in fabulous Las Vegas!

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. 

 

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. 

The opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across America, taking over 41 lives per day. In the workplace that means billions in lost productivity and increased healthcare expenses. In their quest for solutions to keep their workforce safe and productive, employers are trying out an innovative new approach, virtual physical therapy. 

    The Dangers of Opioids. The impact of widespread opioid addiction and abuse is being felt across all industries. Approximately three-quarters of employers report their workforce has been affected in some capacity, whether through side effects like fatigue and confusion or more severe dependence and addiction issues. However, most organizations feel unprepared to properly address this growing crisis.

    The trouble frequently begins with prescription painkillers for acute injuries or recovery. While intended only for short-term use, these highly addictive medications can trap patients in a dangerous cycle of dependence, especially those who have chronic musculoskeletal disorders, which affect half of Americans.

 

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.

Software for the Modern Rental Business. integraRental is a modern, cloud-based equipment rental software solution that is fully integrated with QuickBooks and integraERP. integraRental features an integrated credit card solution, GPS telematics, a fully integrated eCommerce experience, and a feature-rich mobile app. Advanced pricing and tax management makes your business more profitable and efficient. A 28-day rental asset view gives users the tools to manage assets in real time. Our rental software enables you to conveniently reserve, track, schedule, and maintain assets in a single location, or across multiple locations.

Video Monitoring that eliminates false alerts by using a hybrid AI/Human Verification process that protects your assets. IVIS integrated machine learning into our software to more accurately identify the difference between various objects, and then used that software to alert Virtual Sentries when there’s activity you should be concerned about. This allowed us to provide a more accurate service at a cheaper cost. Keeping businesses secure since 2006, IVIS has quickly become a trusted name in commercial security.

Your ONE-STOP SHOP for Construction, Agriculture, Snow and Landscape Attachments. Paladin Attachments is the largest independent manufacturer of coupler systems and powerful attachment tools in the world. With 11 brands under one name that specialize in dedicated work tools to custom capabilities for small compact tool carriers to large excavators, Paladin has a brand that’s right for you.

MEWP, Mini Excavator. A long history of success. A long-term commitment to more. Beginning in 1943, XCMG has become the world’s third largest construction machine manufacturer. From day one, XCMG's goal has been to make it easier for customers to do their jobs, grow their businesses and continue to move forward with equipment designed, engineered and built to be the best. In a world of hard, heavy construction work, they try to make the load lighter. And while operating on a global scale, XCMG wants to be a local partner and a first-call problem solver.

Mi-T-M Corporation recently announced the promotion of Cole Schlitzer to Assistant Rental Division Manager. Schlitzer joined Mi-T-M in 2017 as a Customer Service Representative and quickly worked his way to his most recent role, Territory Account Sales Representative. In his new role, Schlitzer will work directly with the Rental Division Manager to establish and build customer relationships and help further grow the Rental Division.

    “Cole brings a lot to the rental market with his broad range of product knowledge, willingness to work with customers and experience at rental trade. He has a good understanding of what our rental customers’ needs are and will be a great fit in his new position,” states Kevin Anstoetter, Mi-T-M Rental Division Manager.

    “I'm truly excited to step into my new role as Assistant Rental Division Manager at Mi-T-M. This role allows me to continue my journey with a great company I'm passionate about. I'm looking forward to building new relationships with customers and helping them all reach their goals,” states Schlitzer.   

A reminder from the California Air Resources Board about the Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) Phase Out Date and Modification Deadline for Tier 3 Engines Owned by Large Fleets:
   December 31, 2024 is the phase out date for Tier 3 portable diesel engines owned by large fleets and built prior to 2009 rated 50 brake horsepower (bhp) to 750 bhp. Large fleets were established on June 30, 2019, and have a total cumulative horsepower over 750 bhp for all portable engines under common ownership and control of the fleet.

   These engines, whether registered in PERP, locally permitted, or otherwise subject to the Portable Diesel Engine Airborne Toxic Control Measure, will no longer be able to operate in California after December 31, 2024.

   The engine tier and phase out dates are listed on each applicable PERP registration certificate. To continue operation past the phase-out date, you must submit a modification request using PERP Form 20. 

Business taxpayers can file electronically any Form 1099 series information returns for free with the IRS Information Returns Intake System (IRIS). IRIS accepts 1099 series forms for tax year 2022 and after. IRIS is available to any business of any size. It’s secure and accurate and it requires no special software. It also reduces the need for paper forms. Starting in tax year 2023, businesses with a combination of 10 or more information returns must file them electronically.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association is excited to announce that they are hosting a weekly one-hour live radio show called "Repeal the Death Tax Petition Party." You can listen live anywhere on KSFO.com, and if you're in the greater Bay Area, you can also listen on 560 KSFO. The New "Repeal the Death Tax Petition Party" radio show will air every Friday from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

   The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association is stepping up their efforts to get the Repeal the Death Tax initiative on the November 2024 ballot. They need more than 1 million signatures by the middle of January and the clock is ticking! Get the petition at RepealTheDeathTax.com! Contribute to the campaign at https://www.efundraisingconnections.com/c/RepealtheDeathTax/.

   Please don't delay on downloading and sending HJTA your petition! They need time to process all the petitions and get them ready to deliver to 58 separate county offices.

California Business Roundtable President Rob Lapsley issued the following response to Governor Newsom's recent announcement on retail theft this holiday season:
   “While today’s announcement is welcome news for retail establishments across the state, it continues to be a piecemeal response to a broad and complex problem that directly impacts an important part of our state revenue and services. From cargo theft, to retail theft, to porch pirates, the issue is much broader and
requires a much more aggressive solution.
   "While we are disappointed that the proposed initiative solution is not on the streets collecting signatures for the November 2024 ballot, it is the responsibility of the Legislature to fix the problem. We look to the new
leadership of Assembly Public Safety Committee Chair Kevin McCarty and Speaker Robert Rivas to work
with the statewide business community and law enforcement leaders such as Sheriff Jim Cooper on
immediate and comprehensive solutions, including the critically needed fixes to Prop. 47 that our research
shows will be strongly embraced by voters throughout California."

   (Prop 47 was a ballot measure passed by California voters on November 5, 2014. The law made some non-violent property crimes, where the value does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some simple drug possession offenses into misdemeanors. It also provides that past convictions for these charges may be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court.)

The California Center for Jobs & the Economy reported on the monthly updates from the most current November 2023 fuel price data (GasBuddy.com) and September 2023 electricity and natural gas price data (US Energy Information Administration). 

   Overall, California’s energy price rankings were unchanged, remaining at or near the highest among the contiguous states. Average commercial electricity, gasoline and diesel prices were again the highest, and industrial electricity the second highest. To view additional data and analysis related to the California economy visit our website at www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

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

   4.8% CA Unemployment Rate: California's reported unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) in October was up 0.1 point to 4.8% as employment continued to lose ground. The US rate was also up 0.1 point to 3.9%. California again had the 3rd highest unemployment rate, ahead of only Nevada and DC.

   -28.8k CA Employment: Employment dropped 28,800 (seasonally adjusted). In the last 4 months, total employment dropped 112,200. US employment was down 348,000. California unemployment rose 17,700, while US unemployment rose 146,000.

   62.3% CA Labor Force Participation Rate: California labor force (seasonally adjusted) was down 11,100, while the labor force participation rate remained level at 62.3%. The US labor force
was down 201,000, while the participation rate dipped 0.1 point to 62.7%.

The Califoria Business Roundtable recently announced it supports Proposition 1, Governor Newsom's$6.38 Billion bond measure to build 10,000 new community behavioral health beds and houseing to provide cre to Californians of all ages with serious mental health and substance use disorders.

   About Prop. 1: For the first time in decades, Californians will have the ability to transform the state’s mental health system – modernizing to meet the needs of all Californians. Proposition 1 – Treatment not Tents – will refocus billions of dollars in existing funds to prioritize Californians with the deepest mental health needs, living in encampments, or suffering the worst substance use issues. It will expand mental health and addiction services for tens of thousands of Californians each year, create housing settings where over 11,000 Californians with the severest mental health needs can live, recover, stabilize and thrive, and provide $1 billion to ensure our veterans experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance abuse issues are given the care they deserve.

California Business Roundtable (CBRT) President Rob Lapsley recently issued the following concerning Rob Engstrom's appointment as president of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce:
   "The California Business Roundtable congratulates Rob Engstrom on his appointment as president of the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Comerce. CBRT values the long-term relationship with Rob on the major national and state economic, political and public policy issues impacting California. We look forward to a strong partnership to grow investment and jobs."

Tax Analysis of Shohei Ohtani’s Salary Deferral. As part of its ongoing effort to report on significant economic trends in California, the Center for Jobs and the Economy is releasing this special report, which provides a detailed analysis of Shohei Ohtani’s decision to defer most of his annual salary of $70 million over 10 years. It explores how this move might save Ohtani millions in taxes due to California’s highest-in-the-nation tax rate on high income earners and examines the wider impact on both the Dodgers’ finances and California’s revenue model. While other reports have attempted similar estimates, many have used the wrong tax rates or have not considered all the tax consequences. For additional information and data about the California economy, visit www.centerforjobs.org/ca.

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

This month, we asked members about their rental policies—who do they rent to, what IDs are required from renters, are deposits or prepayments required, etc.—and their businesses' experience of theft. If you have additional ideas for surveys for CRA members, please email CRA at info@calrental.org. 

Ryan Leis from Apex Rentals in Hesperia is the winner of the December Survey Drawing.