TRADE ASSOCIATE UPDATE

RSC Equipment Rental

“Delivering what you need to be successful”

In a nutshell, that’s RSC Equipment’s mission. With more than 470 locations in North America, the company can provide the agriculture industry and other customers with what they need when they need it and make sure it’s running in top shape.

Robert Sasser has been a sales representative with RSC for four years. He works in the company’s Mulberry, Fla., location, a store that’s been serving the area for 25 years. “We’ve been through some mergers over the years,” he said. “This store had been run for awhile under the Prime Equipment name. RSC and Prime Equipment had been owned by the same parent company, Atlas Copco, a manufacturer of air compressors and generators. They bought RSC and Prime as a distributorship of their equipment.” The two companies merged several years ago.

RSC Equipment Rental's Matt Smith (left) and Robert Sasser work to make sure their customers have the machines they need, when they need them.

The company operates about 25 locations in Florida, Sasser said. “We operate in about every major city in Florida except Miami.”

Each location has its niche. Some have a client base of tomato growers; others specialize in citrus. The Mulberry location serves nearby phosphate mines, sod farmers, vegetable growers and construction clients.

Popular equipment RSC rents to its agricultural clients include backhoes, excavators for ditch cleaning, forklifts, scissor lifts and air compressors.

RSC prides itself on its ability to find the right piece of equipment for their customer and then make sure it’s maintained properly, regardless of the time of day, Smith said.

Customer calls are answered in person by a staffer who has access to account information and the authority to make things happen quickly. “The farmers have to have working equipment when they need it. If a sugar company is picking cane, they can’t stop working. If someone is picking at night, they’re going to need dependable light towers. And if they need service at 2 a.m., we’re there for them,” said Smith.

RSC “free-floats” all of its equipment, so if an item is not available on premises, the company will locate it and bring it in from another location at no extra charge. “We’re not going to tell you that we’re going to pull it from Tampa, but we will,” said Smith. “All we’re going to tell you is that we’ll get it for you.”

The company also is committed to safety. It offers the services of a trainer who will visit a customer’s operation and ensure that employees know how to operate a piece of equipment safely. “We’re very conscientious about safety. We have safety meetings every week, and we make sure it’s a top priority,” said Sasser.

“We can do the best job in the world getting the equipment to you,” said Smith. “But if there’s an accident, it’s all over.”

The company also provides value for its customers by selling depreciated equipment. “We would prefer selling it to our local customer base than sending it to an auction,” Smith said. “And our customers appreciate that. They feel comfortable with us. They’ll say, ‘Do I buy from Robert or from someone off of craigslist?’” All equipment is maintained over its life to manufacturer specifications.

To find an RSC Equipment Rental center near you, visit www.rscrental.com. Sasser can be reached in Mulberry at (863) 425-3445 or via email at Robert.Sasser@RSCrental.com.