CRA eJournal
EPIC Brokers
EDCO, Inc.
Rental Center News
Nevada Mountain Leasing
Julie Gonzalez
1210 Commerce Ave., Suite 8
Woodland, CA 97556
(530) 661-4730
This is the first in a series of communications that CIAQC is sending to regulators and enforcement agencies about issues that have recently been brought to our attention:
CIAQC Comment Letter re: Emergency Engines
This issue involves a proposed change in the use and permitting of emergency generators, based on what we believe to be inaccurate emissions projections from those engines.
While this is for your information, if you have some direct experience that would be helpful to our discussions with the air quality agencies, we would very much like to hear from you. (Email: jbreitling@lewisandco.net.)
Thank you for your interest.
Save the date for this special event!
When: Wednesday, December 7, 2016, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
What: Educational and hands-on demonstration of event products by Losberger and BilJax
Where: Top Productions, 209 Parr Blvd., Richmond, CA 94801
RSVP: Please RSVP confirmation to Matt Batts (m.bates@losberger.com)
On Friday November 4, 2016, CRA conducted its Second Annual CRA Golf Tournament at Eagle Glen Golf Course in Corina, CA. By all accounts, it was a huge success with more than 100 players. Thanks to our volunteers and all our sponsors who supported this event – it is much appreciated. All proceeds go to CRA's Rental Services Industry Foundation (RSIF), which gives back to the rental industry through educational projects, member emergency funds, and scholarship grants. A few highlights from the event included much cooler weather (mid 80s), a delicious dinner, a ball drop with Mark Kelley of Mission Linen as the winner of a $250 gift card, a great equipment auction with donations from many sponsors, and a fun raffle. Please click on "Learn More" to see our list of sponsors!
A new federal law, aimed at making it easier for the IRS to detect and prevent refund fraud, will accelerate the W-2 filing deadline for employers to January 31. For similar reasons, the new law also requires the IRS to hold refunds involving two key refundable tax credits until at least February 15. Here are details on each of these key dates.
This quiz from EPIC insurance Brokers, CRA's service valued provider, will help you determine if your business is ready for a disaster. If you can’t answer "yes" to every question, you have work to do!
A very Happy Birthday to a long-time CRA member, Doug Strom, who turned 80 on September 26! See the photos! Click on "Learn More."
Thank you to:
Matt Crawford, Far West Rents & Ready Mix
Mike & Shawn Wiest, Wiest Rentals & Sales (donation in memory of Arlen Stringfellow)
Volvo Equipment hosted a Territory Meeting on Thursday, November 3, at their Corona location. The turnout was better than expected with more than 90 rental folks in attendance. The evening included a vendor yard party with 15 vendors featuring the latest equipment and services and a BBQ dinner followed by a large raffle. Many thanks to all vendors who participated. Our appreciation and many kudos go out to the Volvo staff for their hospitality. Click on "Learn More" to see photos of the event.
MMD Equipment
Allied Insurance Brokers, Inc.
Vendor News
Welcome to CRA's New Associate Members ... please click on "Learn More" to see the list!
CRA's 2017 Rental Rally Trade Show is scheduled for January 30 through February 1, 2017, at the South Point Casino Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas. See the following articles about the latest exhibitors who have signed up for the show and the products they offer. Click on "Learn More" for more information about the show.
  
Arrowhead Rockdrill Hydraulic Hammers & Compaction Products are built to the highest standards with the added value of simplicity. With a commitment to producing products made from the finest materials, which are simple to operate and maintain, Arrowhead Rockdrill construction products provide solutions for the majority of your attachment needs.
  
Atlas offers a wide variety of plastic, wood, and metal chairs, tables, and event merchandise at low wholesale prices. Atlas has high quality merchandise and an array of styles, sizes and colors.
  
Electric Guard Dog offers security for your rental business. In an independent survey, 97 percent of their customers stated they've had NO external theft since installing the Electric Guard Dog electric security fence system. The remaining 3 percent said overall theft overall was reduced.
  
H.G. Makelim is a leading distributor of power products. They supply industrial engines, diesel fuel injection systems, test equipment, rotating electrical products, turbochargers, generator sets and accessories throughout the Western United States.
  
Husqvarna Construction Products provides rental businesses with construction equipment: cutoff saws, core drilling, diamond tooling and surface preparation.
  
Meyer Machine & Equipment strives for excellence in all of their products, insulation services, equipment, vacuums and containment, and in the way they serve customers.
  
PR Diamond Products, Inc. specializes in diamond saw blades, core bits and related equipment.
  
Quadrant Peer Executive Groups provides Facilitated Rental Business Analysis Groups, which provides businesses with advice, support and accountability from other business owners in the their industry. In a group with up to 10 business owners from your industry there is the potential for you to benefit from more than 100 years of combined business experience and knowledge.
  
Maximize your profits with Rhino Tool Company’s gas-powered or air-operated post drivers and manual or hydraulic post pullers. Choose from 11 post drivers and 4 post puller models. The proper post driver, whether gas-powered or air-operated (also known as a post pounder, air hammer or air tool), can greatly increase your productivity in the erection of various types of fencing, signage and even dock assembly.
  
Summit Supply LLC supplies rubber tracks, rubber pads, flat proof tires, and under carriage. Their tracks are designed with continuous steel cord technology designed to produce the strongest rubber tracks in the industry. Whether you have a Bobcat, Caterpillar, John Deere, Kubota, Case, Takeuchi, Gehl, Mustang, they will have your skid steer rubber tracks in stock.
  
Trackunit, Inc. provides mobile fleet management telematics solutions. Manage your entire fleet – anytime and anywhere – with your mobile devices, and get access to the exact information you need using flexible widgets. Premier GPS vehicle and asset tracking. Choose a set of features that fits your demands from a simple GPS dot-on-a-map to advanced CAN solutions. More features can easily be added over time.
  
Protect Your rental business. For 50 years, USI Affinity Rental Specialties has been the leading provider of insurance and risk management solutions to the equipment rental industry.
  
Versa Rake provides a multiuse land clearing attachment for skid steers, excavators and more. It fits most skid steers; the box, blade, and screening bars are built from hardened steel; and the attachment screens material down to 1/2". It's useful for removing rock, debris, vegetation and more; perfect for spreading material as well, including road base, gravel, chip fill, rock and topsoil.
  
Wylie manufactures water trailers for the rental industry, available in 500, 800 and 1025 gallon units and also offers a wide range of good, clean used equipment.
Summit Supply is the latest company to sign on as a sponsor for the 2017 Rental Rally Tradeshow. Thank you to Sumit and all our other sponsors! A complete Sponsor List is available on the CRA website.
Business News
California voters agreed with California Chamber of Commerce positions last week, passing CalChamber-supported Propositions 51, 52, 54 and 58, and rejecting Proposition 61. CalChamber-opposed Proposition 53 also was behind in the vote count as Alert went to press. A record 19.4 million Californians were registered to vote in advance of the General Election, according to the final Secretary of State report before Election Day.
The statewide sales and use tax rate will decrease one quarter of one percent (0.25%) from 7.50 percent to 7.25 percent on January 1, 2017. The decrease in the statewide rate is effective for all cities and counties in California; however, the actual sales and use tax rate may still be higher than the statewide rate in many jurisdictions in California due to the addition of district taxes.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) released on November 8 forecasts that North Sea Brent crude oil prices will average $43 per barrel (b) in 2016 and $51/b in 2017. EIA expects that West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices will average $43/b in 2016 and $50/b in 2017.
Calendar
• December 6, 2016 – San Francisco Bay Area Holiday Party at Buca di Beppo – Palo Alto, CA
• December 7, 2016 – Vintage Holiday Party at Cattlemen’s – Petaluma, CA
• December 13, 2016 – Tri-County Holiday Party at Café Fioria – Ventura, CA
• December 14, 2016 – Greater LA/Orange Holiday Party at Northwoods Inn – La Mirada, CA
• December 15, 2016 – Inland Holiday Party at Kings Fish House – Corona, CA

More CRA events...
• December 7, 2016 – Losberg and BilJax Special Event – Richmond, CA (See the article in "Rental Center News" for more information.)
• December 31, 2016 – RSIF Scholarship Applications are due... More info...
• January 29, 2017 – CRA Board & Committee Meetings – Las Vegas, NV
• January 30-February 1, 2017 – CRA's 2017 Rental Rally Trade Show – Las Vegas, NV
Survey Results
CRA recently began an Auto Parts Purchasing Program, which can save members on their purchases. Here are the results of a survey designed to inform members about this program and to get their feedback.
Ryan Youell from Hometown Rentals is the winner of the November Survey Raffle. Congratulations, Ryan!