August 26–27, 2014
CRA Long-Range Planning Committee Meeting, Ontario, CA

August 27, 2014
Inland & Greater LA/Orange Joint Territory Meeting, hosted by City Rentals,
Ontario, CA. Register online now!  More... 


October 14–15, 2014
CRA Board of Directors Meeting, Napa, CA

October 14, 2014
Gartland Award Committee Meeting, Napa, CA

October 23, 2014
Oktoberfest by The Construction Industry CPP - Corona, CA more.. 

October 26–28, 2014
Northwest Rental Conference - Seaside, OR more...


See CRA's Calendar page for more
information on our upcoming events.

 

The CRA Member Benefits Committee has been hard at work reviewing our Credit Card Processing Program. This is a very important member benefit. The committee presented their chosen program at the July board meeting, and CRA is happy to announce that 360 Payment Solutions will be the association's new Service Valued Provider for credit card processing. We encourage all members to take a look at this new program.
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CRA’s 2015 Equipment and Party Rental Rally Tradeshow will be held January 26–28 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the South Point Casino Hotel & Convention Center, a great venue with the convenience of having the convention center and hotel on the same property. Exhibit days are January 27–28. CRA welcomes our newest exhibitors — see the following six articles for information about these new exhibitors. Click on "Learn More" for a complete list of tradeshow exhibitors.
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CRA's Rental Rally Tradeshow welcomes Arrowhead Rockdrill Construction Co., Inc., who recently signed up to exhibit. Arrowhead's products are built to the highest standards, with the added value of simplicity. With a commitment to producing products made from the finest materials and are simple to operate and maintain, Arrowhead Rockdrill construction products provide solutions for the majority of your attachment needs. The company offers Hydraulic Hammers, Tools & Compaction Products.
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Canycom has been designing, manufacturing, and improving its unique products for over half a century. Canycom specializes in rubber track carriers, concrete buggies, and brush cutters. Canycom is not only one of the oldest manufacturers but a leader in the carrier market, offering Canycom Crawler Carriers & IHI Excavators.
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Welcome to Direct Edge, Inc., who also recently signed up to exhibit at the upcoming Tradeshow in Las Vegas this January. Direct Edge sells Trenchers, Tillers, Stump Cutters, Chippers, Mini Skid Steers, Log Splitters, and Drop Deck Trailers – Air Tow.
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Welcome to Putnam International, representing  Clarke, DeWALT, Koshin, and Topcon products.

 

Welcome to RGW Equipment, who recently signed on to exhibit at CRA's Tradeshow. RGW carries Terex compact and heavy equipment, Doosan excavators and wheel loaders, Mustang skid steer and track loaders, Bomag rollers, and Atlas Copco compressors and hammers. The company's service department provides service to customers' equipment with a fleet of mobile mechanics; providing parts to customers in a timely manner is also part of the service at RGW Equipment.
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Virginia Abrasives manufactures and distributes a full line of various flooring sandpaper products, bonded abrasive cutting and grinding discs, diamond abrasive tools, non-woven abrasive pads, and other related products to the construction products industry — rental equipment dealers, professional wood and concrete floor surfacing professionals, and industrial outlets. Virginia Abrasives is one of only a few actual manufacturers of coated abrasives (sandpaper) in the United States. In 2005, Virginia Abrasives opened its west coast distribution center in Simi Valley, California. This location, along with their Petersburg, Virginia manufacturing and distribution facility, allows Virginia Abrasives to deliver products to nearly all of our customers nationwide in 1 to 3 business days.
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Billy Goat Industries announced on July 22 that the company's founder, Bill Coates III, had passed away. Bill was born in Austin, TX, on November 14, 1937. He received his BS at Austin College in Sherman, TX in 1960 and his MBA from Oklahoma State in 1963. He married Sue Schoeneck in the summer of 1961 and they had four sons. With an SBA loan and a single product, Bill began his venture as a true American entrepreneur, spending 41 years growing the Billy Goat brand into a full line of property cleanup solutions that is sold around the world. Bill was a long-time CRA member and Billy Goat Industries has always been a supporter of CRA's tradeshows. Bill will be greatly missed and CRA sends its condolences to his family.
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Built in Europe to suit the needs of European customers, this new, versatile, articulating Genie boom lift model weighs only 3,640 kg (8,025 lbs) and offers a ground clearance of 15 cm (5.9 in). Particularly well-suited to applications on sensitive surfaces inside airports, shopping centres and theatres — in addition to routine outdoor maintenance task — the new Z-33/18 lift includes features to help increase efficiency on jobsites where space is tight. Its key features include solid non-marking or multi-surface tyres as an option, long working cycles due to low-consumption AC drive transmission, a tight turning radius for excellent maneuverability, the ability to drive at maximum height, plus the benefits of the Genie® FastMast™ boom system that shortens ground-to-top lifting time.
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Skyjack has sold 1,060 new aerial work platforms to Speedy, the UK’s leading provider of tools and equipment. The order includes DC electric scissor lifts, electric vertical masts and — a first for the company — diesel-powered rough terrain scissor lifts. Deliveries have already begun and the full line-up of machines will arrive over the coming months. The large order is the result of Speedy updating and expanding its entire fleet of access equipment so that the oldest machine at its depots will now be from 2013.
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As part of the Doosan commitment to its communities around the globe, Doosan Portable Power recently held its first Doosan Day of Caring — a company-wide volunteer effort organized in conjunction with Doosan’s Foundation Day and global volunteer week. Doosan Portable Power is proud to have participated in the event with 50 employees volunteering their time to make a positive impact in the Statesville, North Carolina community. The group spent June 12 beautifying the historic Gregory Creek Homestead in Statesville. The site includes several buildings that date to pre-Revolutionary War times and others to the 1830s, which offer visitors an opportunity to experience life as it was lived in the early days of Iredell County.
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Producing one million Bobcat® loaders is not only an unparalleled industry achievement that has impacted the livelihood of compact equipment users worldwide; it has also touched the lives of thousands more who have designed, built and backed generations of the most popular compact loaders for nearly 60 years. Bobcat Company marked this tremendous milestone with a formal ceremony on July 12, sharing the occasion with its valued employees and the community of Gwinner, North Dakota, home to Bobcat’s primary production facility. The company also celebrated with family members of those who invented the original loader, perfected the design, brought it to market and created the brand five decades ago. Past organizational leaders and hundreds of others who have been part of the Bobcat success story were also present at the event.
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MBW introduces a heavyweight, highspeed trowel for finishing of concrete under adverse conditions. Model 465199 is a 46" diameter machine powered by a GX390 Honda engine factory set to 3,400 engine RPM. The machine weighs 275 lbs and offers a rotor speed range of 35 to 180 rpm. The wide range of rotor rpm is achieved through a variable sheave torque converter-style clutch. The trowel is available with either conventional twist adjusting or Constant Force Pitch handles.
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Briggs & Stratton Corporation announced on August 14 that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based Allmand Bros., Inc. Founded in 1938 and based in Holdrege, Nebraska, Allmand is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality towable light towers, industrial heaters, and solar LED arrow boards. Allmand has sales of approximately $80 million. Briggs & Stratton will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Allmand for approximately $62 million in cash, subject to customary due diligence and working capital adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in the next 30 days.
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The California Chamber of Commerce is urging members to ask senators to oppose a "job killer" bill that would allow employees to harass employers by filing prejudgment unproven wage liens on their property. The bill, AB 2416 (Stone; D-Scotts Valley), creates a dangerous and unfair precedent in the wage and hour arena by allowing employees to file liens on an employer’s real or personal property, or property where work was performed, based upon alleged-yet-unproven wage claims.
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In his State of the Union address on January 28, 2014, President Obama called on Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. But as part of what he termed a "year of action," the President also made clear that even as he pressed Congress to act, it was possible to make progress in the meantime – through steps that states, cities, counties and businesses could take to raise wages, as well as through executive action. Despite efforts by leaders like Senator Tom Harkin and Representative George Miller to pass a $10.10 minimum wage, Congressional Republicans have thus far blocked proposals to raise the national minimum wage. But state legislatures and governors; mayors, county executives and city councils; and business leaders have answered the call, and the President has taken action on his own to raise the minimum wage for workers on new Federal contracts. Together, their efforts will result in higher wages for millions of Americans across the country. They also illustrate how the broad-based support for a higher minimum wage – bolstered by economic evidence on the benefits of higher wages to workers, businesses and the economy – has helped build momentum for wage increases across the country.
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The State Water Resources Control Board has posted a draft of the proposed water quality fees for FY 2014-15 construction stormwater permits. Based on anticipated revenue for each program, staff is proposing to increase or decrease fees to target the budgetary expenditures for FY 2014-15. This document is based on current budget and revenue data and is provided to stakeholders for planning purposes only. Staff will propose to the Board a fee schedule based on final budget and revenue data. This presentation is tentatively scheduled for the September 23, 2014 Board meeting agenda. Questions or comments on this document can be directed to the Fee Branch by email at Fee_Branch@waterboards.ca.gov, by FAX at (916) 341-5248 or phone at (916) 341-5247.
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Last winter, high propane prices, low inventories and logistical and infrastructure challenges prompted emergency measures to address propane supply shortfalls in the Midwest. Given the severity of last winter's supply challenges, market participants are paying close attention to the adequacy of propane supplies to meet agricultural and heating demands this coming season. While the high-demand season is still some months away, an analysis of propane inventory levels, along with an assessment of propane prices and changes in infrastructure and supply flows, provides some insight into the emerging supply picture.
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A recent article on the website Fox&Hounds Daily, authored by Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council, expressed the opinion that two fundamental components of the American Dream, safe schools for our children and home ownership—components for thriving California families and economic prosperity—are once again at risk. On September 1, California "runs out" of funds to update old schools and construct new schools. Previous school bond funds—approved by the state’s voters—have been depleted due to an enormous list of needs for safe, clean, modern facilities for our children in the nation’s most populous state.
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In a recent online article, Joel Fox, editor of Fox&Hounds Daily and president of the Small Business Action Committee, reviewed the options open to California’s governor and legislators in dealing with the state’s suffocating drought. According to Fox, the choices range from keeping the expensive $11 billion water bond already qualified for the ballot; substituting the $7 billion bond fashioned by the governor and Democratic legislators; adding or subtracting to that bond proposal depending on if proponents want to secure Republican votes for more water storage or reduce funds for ecosystem restoration in the Delta, which suspicious environmentalists think is a prelude for readying the Delta for the governor’s twin tunnel plan of water transfer from north to south; or doing nothing—removing the big bond but leaving nothing in its place.
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The regulation requires diesel trucks and buses that operate in California to be upgraded to reduce emissions. Newer, heavier trucks and buses must meet PM filter requirements beginning January 1, 2012. Lighter and older, heavier trucks must be replaced starting January 1, 2015. By January 1, 2023, nearly all trucks and buses will need to have 2010 model year engines or equivalent. The regulation applies to nearly all privately and federally owned diesel-fueled trucks and buses and to privately and publicly owned school buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 14,000 pounds.
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The Truck and Bus Regulation will reduce diesel-exhaust emissions from privately owned and federal government diesel trucks and buses. Privately and publicly owned school buses have different requirements and do not need to be reported. This CARB site has the Truck Regulations Upload and Compliance Reporting System (TRUCRS).

2014 Opt-in Period for Work Truck Option Ends on July 31. The CARB Board approved amendments to replace the low-mileage construction truck extension with a new Low-Mileage Work Truck Option that allows a higher mileage limit and has an expanded definition. Owners that have work trucks that meet the expanded definition and will operate less than 20,000 miles in 2014 may retroactively claim the Low-Mileage Work Truck extension by reporting no later than July 31, 2014.
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Owners or operators of portable engines and certain other types of equipment can register their units under the Air Resources Board's (ARB) Statewide Portable Equipment Registration Program (PERP) in order to operate their equipment throughout California without having to obtain individual permits from local air districts.

Portable Diesel Engine Airborne Toxic Control Measure
On January 1, 2013, the Portable Engine Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) fleet emission standards went into effect. The ATCM required owners of portable engines to submit a Fleet Compliance Report to the Air Resources Board by March 1, 2013. The next Fleet Compliance Report will be due March 1, 2017.

Changes to Fleets
The ATCM also requires owners to ensure the average PM emission level for their fleet does not fall out of compliance due to changes in the fleet. Owners of portable diesel engine fleets who are adding or removing engines are strongly encouraged to re-calculate their fleet average. Other changes, such as modifying a registration to be low-use or emergency only-use, can also affect the fleet emissions average.
We recommende that once you have completed the calculator, save it and update it any time your portable fleet changes. Diesel-engine owners submitting applications for PERP registration for the first time must include a Fleet Compliance Report. This includes transfer of existing registrations for engines you have purchased.

Effective July 1, 2014 - For initial registration into PERP, all diesel engines must meet the following certification tier levels:
• 50 to 74 bhp - Final Tier 4
• 75 to 174 bhp - Interim Tier 4
• 175 to 750 bhp - Final Tier 4
• Over 750 bhp - Interim Tier 4
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On July 26, 2007, the Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted a regulation to reduce diesel particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions from in-use (existing), off-road, heavy-duty diesel vehicles in California.

What's New? (posted August 1, 2014)
Exemptions and requirements for two-engine water-well drilling rigs during the Drought State of Emergency. On January 17, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown declared a State of Emergency in California due to severe state-wide drought. Guidance and answers to frequently asked questions for both in-state and out-of-state water-well drillers are now available.
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The ARB's Heavy-Duty Vehicle Inspection Program and Periodic Smoke Inspection Program were adopted into law in 1988 to control excessive smoke emissions and tampering from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. The regulations Title 13 CCR, sections 2180-2189 for HDVIP and Title 13 CCR, sections 2190-2194 for PSIP, which govern these programs, were last amended in 2013.

The HDVIP program requires heavy-duty trucks and buses to be inspected for excessive smoke and tampering and for engine certification label compliance. Any heavy-duty vehicle traveling in California, including vehicles registered in other states and foreign countries, may be tested. Tests are performed by ARB inspection teams at border crossings, CHP weigh stations, fleet facilities and randomly selected roadside locations. Owners of trucks and buses found in violation are subject to minimum penalties starting at $300 per violation.
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This area of the Off-Road Mobile Sources website pertains to off-road, large spark-ignition (LSI) equipment greater than 25 horsepower, including farm, construction and industrial equipment, powered by gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other alternate fuels. Typical applications that use LSI engines include forklifts, specialty vehicles, airport service vehicles, large turf-care equipment, portable generators and a wide array of other agricultural, construction and general industrial equipment. The U.S. EPA has sole authority to control new farm and construction equipment under 175 horsepower.
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The small off-road engine (SORE) category consists of off-road, spark-ignition engines below 25 horsepower, including small utility equipment, lawn mowers and weed trimmers. This category does not include compression-ignition engines, watercraft or recreational vehicles. The following includes general information regarding small off-road engines and ARB's SORE program:
Small Off-Road Engines Fact Sheet and Certification Guidelines - Online access to relevant certification documents for manufacturers.
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All diesel-fueled trucks, buses, trailers and transportation refrigeration units operating in California, including those based out of state, have requirements to reduce air pollution and improve the state's overall air quality.
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In December 2011 major amendments to the Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation, which include delaying the first compliance date to no earlier than January 1, 2014, became effective. The changes to the regulation are reflected in the fact sheets, advisories and answers to frequently asked questions available on the Knowledge Center for the Off-Road Diesel Vehicle Regulation web page.
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Driving Toward a Cleaner California (DTCC) is a coalition of owner-operators, farmers, construction contractors and other business and community leaders committed to working with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to craft a sensible truck and bus replacement rule that both cleans the air and keeps California's economy moving forward. However, we have to apologize -- with a high volume of news, we have been overwhelmed with keeping up with the latest industry news. Our staff will be working on getting you the latest updates. In the meantime, you may also visit our sister affiliate site for the latest on CARB, AB32, and any related news to the industry. Click on "Learn More" to access this site.
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