As the editorial staff compiled this month’s issue of Rental magazine, I couldn’t stop thinking about how technology is all around us.
It’s become so common in my everyday life that I often take for granted that I can communicate with virtually anyone in the world within seconds from behind the screen of my laptop or cellphone.
What I haven’t yet taken for granted is that heavy equipment and vehicles can also communicate using telematics. Run time, maintenance schedules, location—you name it, that information can now be sent from a given piece of equipment to the end user or rental store owner to help with billing, safety, theft prevention, maintenance schedules and more.
The trick for rental store owners who incorporate telematics is to find the balance between having all the information at their fingertips and having an overload of data. The cover story delves into all of that and more.
As for the rest of this issue, our business management department dives into how rental companies can manage high inflation; our construction department takes a look at three pioneering companies when it comes to excavator automation and guidance; our general tool highlights how operators can ensure safe conditions when working with heavy-haul trailers; and columnist Dick Detmer explains why it's vitally important to ensure that rental company employees are educated on all the various types of equipment in your inventory.
Keep an eye out for our next issue of Rental, which will include our new and improved Editor’s Choice Award, and as always, feel free to reach out with questions, story ideas and press releases via email at [email protected] or via LinkedIn using the site below.
