Herc Rentals and Volvo CE Partner on Large Order of 3.7-Ton Compact Excavators
Volvo Construction Equipment and Herc Rentals are celebrating a multi-year agreement that adds several hundred Volvo EC37 compact excavators to the rental giant’s fleet across North America.
The 3.7-ton EC37 fits into one of the most popular compact excavator class sizes for rental, and the two companies partnered to develop the model in a way that would best serve rental customers. Herc Rentals is a full-service equipment rental company with 439 company-operated branches in the U.S. and Canada.
“This is the culmination of a cooperative effort to build a machine spec that renters will appreciate, and we’re excited for Herc Rentals customers to have such great access to the EC37,” said Kent Somerville, head of National Rental Accounts at Volvo CE. “It’s an incredibly comfortable and versatile machine.”
Volvo CE sought feedback on the EC37 excavator from Herc Rentals technicians, salespeople and other staff when it was showcased at the Herc Rentals ProExpo in early 2024. That input directly
influenced the final version of the model.
“Collaborating with Volvo on the EC37 allowed us to incorporate essential features that significantly impact our customers’ success,” said Matt Gavin, vice president of product support and fleet operations at Herc Rentals. “Our partnership with Volvo is invaluable — they resonate with our core values and prioritize what truly matters to us, demonstrating their commitment to creating an exceptional customer experience.”
Scott Young, head of region North America at Volvo CE, echoed the sentiment.
“We’re proud to have such a strong relationship with Herc Rentals, one of the largest machine buyers in the world,” said Young. “Compact equipment has become a big focus area for us, and this partnership exemplifies our dedication to providing the best solutions possible.”
The collaboration resulted in updates that make it even easier to change attachments, which is crucial for the versatility and ease of use needed in the rental market. Operator experience was prioritized with a large cab, more ergonomic features, and factory-installed telematics that offer comprehensive real-time machine management.
Better fuel efficiency
The Volvo EC37 excavator offers 10 percent better fuel efficiency, increased operator comfort, more stability and easier maintenance than the model it replaces in the OEM’s lineup.
The cab is considered one of the best on the market because of outstanding visibility, an adjusted center of gravity that reduces the “rocking chair effect,” and features that prioritize the operator experience.
Customizable hydraulics flow settings and work modes accommodate a wide range of attachments and make them easier to set up.
Although it was introduced just a year ago, the Volvo EC37 compact excavator has already earned multiple industry awards, including Construction Equipment’s Top 100 New Products; Compact Equipment’s Innovative Iron Award, and Rental magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.