The Lilac Fire started December 7, and ravaged San Diego’s rural North County until containment on December 21. At 7:30 pm on December 7, Manager George Mc Nulty of El Camino Rental delivered three donated light towers to the San Luis Rey Downs horse training stables located in Bonsall, California, near where the fire started. With all power out, the towers were used to illuminate large areas where the horses were let loose and free to run due to the stables burning. With great effort from hundreds of volunteers, over 400 of these prized, thoroughbred horses were rescued and relocated to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

For the past 20 years, Quality Equipment Rentals, established 1968, has been serving lunch to their customers. We call it "Customer Appreciation Day." We serve up to 400-plus customers, nearby businesses and the local homeless. This meal consists of 700 pieces of fried chicken, five trays of fresh cut-up fruit, six trays of potato salad, 150 pounds of mojo potatoes, 115 quartered, mixed submarine sandwiches, candy canes, and, of course, Christmas cookies. This event happens every year, on two consecutive Wednesdays in the month of December. It never fails, in the early stages of November, customers inquire with anticipation, "When does the luncheon start?" And every year, we let them know that it is on the second and third Wednesday of the month of December. Quality is delighted to do this, as one of our many ways, to count our blessings. Quality Equipment Rentals and their staff hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. Click on "Learn More" and see the luncheon photos!

H&E Equipment Services completed its previously announced acquisition of Contractors Equipment Center (CEC). CEC is a non-residential, construction-focused equipment rental company serving the greater Denver, Colorado area with three locations. The acquisition doubles H&E's branch footprint in Colorado, greatly expanding its presence to six locations serving the high-growth Denver construction market. The Denver market ranks 13th in the nation based on equipment rental revenue as ranked by IHS Markit in 2016. H&E Equipment Services, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is no. 9 on the RER 100.

Workers’ compensation insurance only covers injuries that occur "in the course of employment." But in some cases, it can be difficult to determine whether an injury really occurred during the course of employment. Click on "Learn More" for three situations where the courts had to decide what "course of employment" meant.

Palmer Snyder/PS Furniture, based in Conneautville, Pennsylvania, and established in 1919, is celebrating it’s 100th anniversary of manufacturing and distributing American-made furniture. The company’s manufacturing is still done in the same small town in western Pennsylvania where Snyder Chair Co. was founded, now with a much-expanded and modernized factory and sales offices around the United States.

In this weekly video series, David Swan (Technology & Innovation) will look at the use of Telematics systems in the off-highway vehicle sector. Telematics is not something new to the industry;, however there's been an extremely low adoption rate over the past 10 years or so. Telematics is critical business tool for many on-road-based fleet businesses. So where is the disconnect? What does a great off-highway telematics product look like? And what is the OEM's role in creating the connected fleet? Where do we need to go from here?

E-Z Drill, a leading manufacturer of concrete drilling and doweling equipment, announces the retirement of Randy Stevens, vice president of sales. Stevens has been with the company for more than 28 years, joining just two years after E-Z Drill was founded. "It’s been fun to watch E-Z Drill evolve from the small startup it was when I joined into the well-known and respected business it’s become today," Stevens said. "It’s also an honor to have had a hand in making that happen."

CRA’s 2018 Equipment and Party Rental Rally Tradeshow will be held at the South Point Casino Hotel & Convention Center. The South Point is a great venue choice with the convenience of having the convention center and hotel on the same property! Thank you to our sponsors who help make our show possible! The complete list of show sponsors is also on the CRA show website.

The story of JCB is one of innovation, ambition and sheer hard work. From small beginnings building agricultural tipping trailers in 1945, to the global force in manufacturing the company has become today.

Headquartered in San Francisco, EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has nationwide presence with a depth of industry expertise across key lines of insurance, including commercial property and casualty, employee benefits, unique specialty program insurance and private client services. EPIC is CRA's service valued provider for insurance services, with special programs for association members.

Chicago Pneumatic offers hydraulic breakers with brackets, hoses, & tool steel for mining rock & excavation. Chicago Pneumatic represents tools and compressors that are engineered for high performance. In addition to pioneering design, high-impact technology, and durability, Chicago Pneumatic means customer value.

Kubota has affiliates and facilities across the United States that support customers in a variety of areas, ranging from engine and tractor manufacturing to assembly and distribution to financial and insurance services for Kubota equipment and more. Supporting a network of more than 1,100 dealerships in running a prosperous business is a top priority at Kubota. Kubota's alliances with high-performance equipment brands like Echo and Smart Guided add quality, efficiency and convenience to the buying process by giving customers the option of purchasing a complete equipment package from one dealer in one location.

At Barreto Manufacturing, honesty and integrity are qualities we strive for. Our goal is to build loyalty and confidence by building the highest-quality product, backing it with exceptional service, selling it at a fair price, and being above reproach in how we deal with our customers, our vendors, and our employees. It started with the introduction of the first all-hydraulic walk-behind tiller in 1984. That design revolutionized the small equipment and rental industry. Barreto Manufacturing has continued to lead the industry with a line of equipment designed to endure and excel.

American Pneumatic Tools (APT) is a leading provider of outstanding tools for the construction and industrial markets; the brand has been synonymous with quality since 1938. APT’s product line now offers a complete range of pneumatic tools, hydraulic tools, light compaction equipment, concrete finishing products and portable power. Superior performance, excellent product reliability, competitive pricing, ergonomic designs and a great warranty make American Pneumatic Tools an industry leader.

California Portable Event Equipment Sales Inc. (CPEES) carries tables, portable dance floors, chairs, Toro Dingo products, heaters, and more. They have warehouses in California, Washington, and Pennsylvania and can ship locally, nationally or globally, and many times, within two business hours of the order being placed! Founder John Frantz has been in the event equipment industry for over 20 years and is dedicated to making your business successful by providing the best products.

Electric Eel Manufacturing, based in Springfield, Ohio, has been a major supplier of quality sewer and drain cleaning equipment since 1939. Originally known for our Model C dual cable sectional machine, we have continually expanded our line of products over the years. In addition to our popular sectional drain cleaning machines, our line also includes drum machines, water jetters, gasoline powered municipal sewer cleaners, and pipeline inspection systems. This full range of equipment is the industry standard for quality and professional design.

Wacker Neuson offers customers a comprehensive range of construction and compact equipment, spare parts, and related services. This includes internal and external vibrators for concrete compaction; trowels and screeds for concrete finishing; rammers, vibratory plates and rollers for soil compaction; demolition products and saws; lighting; generators; pumps; and heaters; as well as compact construction equipment, including excavators, wheel loaders, telehandlers, skid steer and compact track loaders, as well as dumpers. Wacker Neuson has a broad global presence in the construction, gardening and landscaping, oil and gas, and municipal industries.

The Woodward Group has served the party and equipment rental industry for many years, providing quality tables, chairs and more.

CRA’s 2018 Equipment and Party Rental Rally Tradeshow will be held at the South Point Casino Hotel & Convention Center and will feature 80,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, allowing for 353 10 x 10 foot booths. The South Point is a great venue choice with the convenience of having the convention center and hotel on the same property! The complete list of Rental Rally Exhibitors to date is available on the Rental Rally website. Thank you also to our sponsors who help make our show possible!

We offer a wide variety of plastic, wood, and metal folding chairs, tables and event merchandise at extremely low wholesale prices. If you are looking for high-quality merchandise, low prices and an array of styles, sizes and colors, then you have found the place. Call us today at (562) 777-1051 ext. 103.

We provide Kubota Tractors and Construction Equipment. We are the High Deserts local Kubota Tractor and small Honda Engines dealer. Excellence, quality, and old-fashioned friendly service are not just words at Apex Rentals... They are our everyday commitment!

Since 1978 Arrowhead Rockdrill has been a world leader in the development of innovative hydraulic hammer products and compaction products. Building on the success of the ‘S’ Series hydraulic hammer range and with the same commitment to designing products made from only the finest materials that are simple to operate and maintain, the range of Arrowhead Rockdrill Construction Products provides solutions for the majority of your attachment needs.

BigRentz is an online rental market place where you can rent with confidence. No matter what equipment you are looking for, with over 1,500 suppliers and more than 7,500 nationwide locations, BigRentz is the largest equipment rental logistics company. Rental logistics advisors help every step of the way. You get haggle-free pricing: BigRentz makes it simple to locate the right equipment at a rate you can trust, and they offer flexibility on hauling charges. You can also have the convenience of real time management technology so you can easily manage your account and equipment on the go from any device.

Briggs & Stratton is the world’s largest producer of gasoline engines for outdoor power equipment, and is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of power generation, pressure washer, lawn and garden, turf care and job site products through its Briggs & Stratton®, Simplicity®, Snapper®, Ferris®, Vanguard™, Allmand®, Billy Goat®, Murray®, Branco® and Victa® brands. Briggs & Stratton products are designed, manufactured, marketed and serviced in over 100 countries on six continents.

Award Winning Inventory Control Management Software: IntelliEvent Lightning 3.0! The best cloud-based software to manage your event, rental or production business. Scalable rental, labor, inventory and customer management software you can use anytime, anywhere with any device.

Equipment & Business Finance: Increase sales by offering fast, affordable payment solutions to your B2B business-to-business customers. A Main Street Business Capital partner account puts you in control of your commercial finance program.

We are a professional representative agency for manufacturers in the construction, rental, industrial, HVAC, welding and safety markets. We pride ourselves in representing the most innovative products in the industry. With over 35 years of experience in the various trades of construction, we will continue to provide you with the best knowledge, service, and support for your company. NACH Marketing represents the very best manufacturers of the following products: construction, rental, concrete, safety, welding and industrial, utility and municipality, and personnel lifts and material handling.

Sullair provides portable air compressors and tools. For more than 50 years, Sullair has been on the leading edge of compressed air solutions. We were one of the first to execute rotary screw technology in our air compressors. We made history by teaming up with Dow Chemical to produce one of the industry’s longest-lasting compressor fluids. And our machines are famous all over the world for their legendary durability. As the industry moves forward, Sullair will always be at the forefront with quality air compressors that are built to last.

Triple E Equipment, Inc. provides battery-powered skid steers and concrete buggies as a safer, more productive and environmentally sustainable equipment option.

CLEARBLAST Wet Abrasive Blasters eliminate more than 90 percent of the airborne dust, eliminate abrasive embedment in the substrate, and produce a more consistent profile than conventional dry blasting. Wet abrasive blasters consume up to 80 percent less media as dry blasting, which makes it not only the safest and greenest option, but the most economical! Stop by Booth 1221 to see our show specials and for a chance to win an iPad!

Meridian Utility Equipment Sales works side by side with manufacturers such as Yanmar, ASV, Mustang, NiftyLift, Dominion, Tag, Edge by CE Attachments, APT, and Paladin. Meridian Utility Equipment Sales also carries a full line of aftermarket rubber tracks and under carriage parts. We specialize in new and used equipment with expert financing and dependable service. Sales, parts and service and the knowledge combined... We are looking forward to assisting you in every way possible!

DITEQ, a manufacturer of diamond blades, core bits, polishing pads, cup wheels, asphalt blades, marble/granite blades, wet/dry core drill bits, tile/porcelain blades, brick/block blades, blades for Soff-Cut saws, wet/dry concrete blades, and more, has several specials deals available at the CRA Rental Rally. You can combine these deals for even more savings. Click on "Learn More" to see Diteq's special deals, and stop by Booth 620 at the show to place your order!

Industrial Forklifts is the master distributor for Heli Industrial Forklifts. Industrial Forklifts has the privilege of supplying forklift equipment directly to the rental industry through national trade organizations such as the American Rental Association as well as regional organizations such as the California Rental Association and the Texas Rental Association. Visit us at Booth 101.

With the new law in California legalizing marijuana, what are our obligations and rights? California’s new law on recreational marijuana can create some difficulties for employers. This law was enacted in 2017, but as of January 1, 2018, people in California now have the right to sell and/or purchase marijuana. Employees may think they can use marijuana and come in to work; however, the law is unchanged in one regard: employers have the right to have employees who are not impaired—be it under legal or illegal drugs. As a comparison, alcohol is legal, but one cannot drink it on the job.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts mostly flat crude oil prices and increasing production in 2018 and 2019. The price of Brent crude oil averaged $54/barrel (b) in 2017, an increase of $10/b from 2016. EIA’s January Short-Term Energy Outlook forecasts Brent to average $60/b in 2018 and $61/b in 2019. In both 2018 and 2019, EIA expects total global production to be slightly greater than global consumption, with U.S. production increasing faster than production in any other country, contributing to modest inventory builds.

CRA's Rental Rally Trade Show
• January 22-24, 2018:
CRA's Rental Rally Trade Show
Las Vegas, Nevada

Thank you to all those who take time to participate in our surveys. CRA utilizes the information we gather to better serve you. If you have an idea for a survey for CRA members, please send your request to CRA at Info@CalRental.org for consideration. This month we are interested in propane sales.