Increased orders = increased business risk. How to find some peace of mind

June 13, 2024

Sarah Wilper, CERP, ARA Region One director

It is amazing how the calendar seems to jump from the end of March into June in the blink of an eye! I hope everyone is enjoying a busy and profitable season.

With an increase in orders, we also see an increase in risk for our businesses. For those of us with drivers out on the road all day, every day, the busy season can be one of the most stressful times of the year. All it takes is one wrong move, one slow reaction or one failed safety check to turn a busy day into an exasperating day. This is where the American Rental Association’s (ARA) Professional Driver Education Program and Box Truck Training make a difference! 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.

Personally, I love having the peace of mind knowing my crews have completed a program that was designed for rental and that gives them the critical instruction they need to do their job well. Designing a driver training program is something we can all take off our “to-do list” because ARA has done it for us!

ARA continues to work hard to advance training opportunities for members. I recommend checking out RentalU to see all the current course offerings for you and your team. We use the warehouse safety videos as part of our onboarding process, and I also recommend the new Women in Rental Career Development Program.

Celebrating 39 years at Creedon & Co. (left) and visiting with Stefani Donabedian at Decanted

Summer is the time 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.

Earlier in the spring I had the privilege of stopping in to visit some members in Massachusets. My travels included a visit with Decanted in Hudson, Mass. — home of the wine truck mobile bar — and Creedon & Co. in Worcester for their 39th anniversary party. Thanks to the Creedons and Stefani Donabedian at Decanted for the hospitality!

Finally, I want to acknowledge three folks from the rental community who recently stepped up to serve on their respective ARA state chapter board of directors. They are Logan Poulin of Windham Rental Center, Windham, Maine; Michael Lawton of Perfect Parties USA, Peabody, Mass; John Malak of Makita USA (who will serve with the ARA of Massachusetts team); Joey Scanlon of Grand Rental Station, Pelham, N.H; and Daren Cowan of Viking Representatives, Newark, N.J. (who will serve with the ARA of New Hampshire team). Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to give back to the industry.