Volvo Rents to Launch Franchises in Three States

March 1, 2002
ASHEVILLE, N.C. Volvo Construction Equipment Rents has signed agreements with three companies to launch its construction equipment rental operations in

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Volvo Construction Equipment Rents has signed agreements with three companies to launch its construction equipment rental operations in North America. The new independently owned and operated rental companies are opening rental centers under the Volvo name in Atlanta; Bossier City, La.; and Orlando, Fla.

Atlanta Construction Equipment Services opened last month in Alpharetta, an Atlanta suburb. ACES president Reggie Holderfield said his company plans to open at least four more Volvo Rents centers in the Atlanta metropolitan area within the next few months. The area is “forecast to develop nearly $2.5 billion worth of construction projects during the next five years,” Holderfield said.

Sparks Equipment Plus plans to open several Volvo Rents centers in Louisiana soon, serving the northwest Louisiana region. Florida Contractor's Rental plans to open Volvo rental centers in Orlando, Daytona and St. Augustine, Fla., shortly.

Volvo's compact excavators and wheel loaders are expected to be the staple products of the new rental program. “In addition, our recent acquisitions of a skid-steer loader line and a telehandler line, combined with the introduction of our backhoe loader are major elements and key steps in building a comprehensive rental program,” said Volvo president and CEO Tony Helsham.

Volvo officials said it plans to launch a chain of rental outlets in North America and Europe over the next few years. Michael Farley, president and CEO of Volvo Construction Equipment Rents is based at Volvo Construction Equipment's headquarters in Brussels, and the North American Volvo Rents operation is based at its U.S. headquarters in Asheville, N.C., and managed by vice president Del Keffer.

The new rental company recently chose Bomag as a preferred supplier of compaction equipment for the company's global equipment rental program. Kewanee, Ill.-based Bomag, also known as Compaction America, will supply a full range of compaction machines to Volvo Rents branches throughout the world.

“We have chosen Bomag because of its total cost of ownership solutions, the wide product range and its worldwide support capabilities,” said Farley. Dr. Kay Mayland, Bomag president, said the agreement called for “one of the biggest orders in our company's history.”