About United Rentals

United Rentals, Inc. operates as an equipment rental company worldwide. The company operates throughout the United States and Canada, and has a limited presence in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Its global branch network includes 1,521 rental locations. The company’s North American network operates in 49 U.S. states and every Canadian Province, and serves customers that range from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and homeowners. Segments The company operates through two segments, General Rentals and Specialty. The General Rentals segment includes the rental of construction, aerial and industrial equipment, general tools and light equipment, and related services and activities. The General Rentals segment’s customers include construction and industrial companies, manufacturers, utilities, municipalities and homeowners. The General Rentals segment is consisted of four geographic divisions—Central, Northeast, Southeast and West—and operates throughout the United States and Canada. The Specialty segment includes the rental of specialty construction products, such as trench safety equipment, such as trench shields, aluminum hydraulic shoring systems, slide rails, crossing plates, construction lasers and line testing equipment for underground work; power and HVAC equipment, such as portable diesel generators, electrical distribution equipment, and temperature control equipment; fluid solutions equipment primarily used for fluid containment, transfer and treatment; and mobile storage equipment and modular office space. The Specialty segment’s customers include construction companies involved in infrastructure projects, municipalities and industrial companies. This segment primarily operates in the United States and Canada, and has a limited presence in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Products and Services The company’s principal products and services are as follows: Equipment Rental The company offers for rent approximately 4,600 classes of rental equipment on an hourly, daily, weekly or monthly basis. The types of equipment that the company offers include general construction and industrial equipment; aerial work platforms; trench safety equipment; power and HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) equipment; fluid solutions equipment; mobile storage equipment and modular office space; and general tools and light equipment. The Sale of Rental Equipment The company routinely sells used rental equipment and invests in new equipment in order to manage repair and maintenance costs, as well as the composition and size of its fleet. The company also sells used equipment in response to customer demand for the equipment. Consistent with the life-cycle approach the company uses to manage its fleet, the rate at which the company replaces used equipment with new equipment depends on a number of factors, including changing general economic conditions, growth opportunities, the market for used equipment, the age of its fleet and the need to adjust fleet composition to meet customer demand. The company utilizes many channels to sell used equipment: through its national and export sales forces, which can access many resale markets across its network; at auction; through brokers; and directly to manufacturers. The company also sells used equipment through its website, which includes an online database of used equipment available for sale. The Sale of New Equipment The company sells equipment, such as aerial lifts, reach forklifts, telehandlers, compressors and generators from many leading equipment manufacturers. The type of new equipment that the company sells varies by location. Contractor Supplies Sales The company sells a variety of contractor supplies, including construction consumables, tools, small equipment and safety supplies. Service and Other Revenues The company offers repair and maintenance services and sells parts for equipment that is owned by its customers. Customers The company’s customer base is highly diversified and ranges from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and homeowners. The company’s customers include construction companies that use equipment for constructing and renovating commercial buildings, warehouses, industrial and manufacturing plants, office parks, airports, residential developments and other facilities; industrial companies—such as manufacturers, chemical companies, paper mills, railroads, ship builders and utilities—that use equipment for plant maintenance, upgrades, expansion and construction; municipalities that require equipment for a variety of purposes; and homeowners and other individuals that use equipment for projects that range from simple repairs to major renovations. Seasonality The company’s business is seasonal, with demand for its rental equipment tending to be lower in the winter months. Sales and Marketing The company markets its products and services through the following multiple channels: Sales Force: The company’s sales representatives work in its branches and at its customer care center, and are responsible for calling on existing and potential customers, as well as assisting its customers in planning for their equipment needs. The company has ongoing programs for training its employees in sales and service skills and on strategies for maximizing the value of each transaction. National Account Program: The company’s national account sales force is dedicated to establishing and expanding relationships with large customers, particularly those with a national or multi-regional presence. The company’s national account team closely coordinates its efforts with the local sales force in each area. Online Rental Platform (UROne): The company’s customers can check equipment availability and pricing, and reserve equipment online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by accessing its equipment catalog and used equipment listing, which can be found at www.unitedrentals.com. The company’s customers can also use its UR Control application to actively manage their rental process and access real-time reports on their business activity with the company. Total Control: The company utilizes a proprietary software application, Total Control, which provides its key customers with a single in-house software application that enables them to monitor and manage all their equipment needs. This software can be integrated into the customers' enterprise resource planning system. Total Control is a unique customer offering that enables the company to develop strong, long-term relationships with its larger customers. Advertising: The company promotes its business through local and national advertising in various media, including television, trade publications, yellow pages, the internet, radio and direct mail. The company also regularly participates in industry trade shows and conferences and sponsors a variety of local and national promotional events. Strategy The company focuses on customer segmentation, customer service differentiation, rate management, and fleet management. The company’s strategy includes consistently superior standard of service to customers; further optimization of its customer mix and fleet mix; continued focus on ‘Lean’ management techniques, including kaizen processes focused on continuous improvement; continued expansion and cross-selling of adjacent specialty and services products, which enables the company to provide a ‘one-stop’ shop for its customers; and pursuit of strategic acquisitions to continue to expand its core equipment rental business. History United Rentals, Inc. was founded in 1997. The company was incorporated in Delaware in 1997.