June 13, 2024
Steve Houser, ARA Region Six director
Greetings, American Rental Association (ARA) Region Six. Summer has arrived and I don’t have to remind you that as rental activity increases, so does the risk of accidents in the yard and on the road. What’s the best way to reduce the risk of injury and property and equipment damage? Training.
ARA’s Professional Driver Education Program and Box Truck Training program can make all the difference as far as rental-related transportation is concerned. These rental segment-specific driver training programs exist to help ensure our teams operate safely in every aspect of their jobs and cover everything from safety checks to driving skills.
I hope you’ll check those programs out and consider how they can keep your drivers, your customers, your equipment and others on the road safe.
The dates are set for this year’s ARA Women in Rental (WIR) and Young Professional Network (YPN) conferences. Sending key staff members to these events is a great way to keep them engaged in the industry and, by extension, your business. WIR will take place Oct. 21 – 22 with YPN to immediately follow on Oct. 23 – 24. Both conferences will take place in Nashville, Tenn., with registration to open July 2. Don’t let registration slip past you amid the frenzy of summer. These events sell out quickly, so I strongly encourage you to register early to secure your spot. You can find full details on both conferences and registration information here.
Summer is the time of year when ARA gathers nominations for its annual Industry Awards — including the Rental Hall of Fame and a variety of Industry Contributor Awards. Do you know someone in the equipment and event rental community who has gone above and beyond to help the industry thrive? You can help ARA give that individual the recognition they deserve. All it takes is a nomination from you. Visit ARArental.org/Industry-Awards to learn more and submit your nomination(s). The deadline is Friday, Aug. 9. Recipients selected will be honored at The ARA Show™ 2025 in Las Vegas.
The last point I want to make is this: YOU! While you are in the busy season, take care of YOU! No matter what position you serve in your organization, you are important, and people rely on you. Peak season can get hectic, and you are no good to your business if you are not taking care of yourself mentally and physically.
Wishing you a safe and successful summer.
Steve Houser, ARA Region Six director
U.S. Rents-It
Jefferson City, Mo.
573-635-6171
gm@usrentsit.com
