JLG's G12-55A telehandler can lift 12,000 lb. (5,443.11 kg).

JLG parent Oshkosh Corp has reported a 7.2% increase in first quarter access equipment sales, while United Rentals Inc is talking up its 2014 results and 2015 prospects.

Oshkosh

While access equipment sales climbed, Oshkosh Corp reports sales decreases for two other business segments: defense by 44.1% and fire/emergency by 15.6%, in comparison to year-earlier first quarter results.

Oshkosh says the access equipment segment had "an adverse product mix". The segment "sold a larger percentage of telehandlers, which have lower margins than aerial work platforms, in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 ahead of Tier 4 engine price increases in North America", the company says.

The access equipment segment includes JLG-made aerial work platforms and JLG and SkyTrak telehandlers and Jerr-Dan tow trucks and roll-back vehicle carriers.

The access equipment segment had a sales gain of 7.2% to USD716.7 million, "principally the result of an increase in telehandler unit volume in North America, offset in part by lower aerial work platform unit volume", Oshkosh says.

"The increase in North American telehandler sales was due, in part, to shipments ahead of price increases related to Tier 4 engine emissions changes. Similarly, price increases related to Tier 4 engine emissions changes for aerial work platforms drove higher demand for those products in the first quarter of fiscal 2014. While North America provided for the majority of the increase in sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the segment experienced higher volumes in all regions of the world except Latin America."

For the comparable quarters, aerial work platform sales declined to USD277.3 million from USD316.5 million, while telehandler sales increased to USD290.4 million from USD217.7 million.

The access equipment segment's backlog climbed to USD793.3 million as of 31 December in comparison to the year-earlier USD468.4 million.

Companywide, the Oshkosh-based corporation reports profit of USD34.7 million on sales of USD1.35 billion for the quarter ended 31 December versus profit of USD54.9 million on sales of USD1.53 billion for the comparable 2013 period.

United Rentals

United Rentals Inc "met or exceeded every target in our outlook for 2014 (and forecasts ) record highs of over USD6 billion in revenue" during 2015, says Michael Kneeland, chief executive officer.

The Stamford-based firm reports 2014 profit of USD540 million on sales of USD5.685 billion, versus 2013 profit of USD387 million on sales of USD4.955 billion.

Equipment rentals provided revenue of USD4.819 billion in 2014 and USD4.196 billion in 2013. The fleet has approximately 3,300 classes of equipment.

General construction and industrial equipment such as backhoes, skid-steer loaders, forklifts, earthmoving equipment and materials handling equipment accounted for about 43% of the 2014 rental revenues and aerial work platforms including boom lifts and scissor lifts for about 33%.

"Our industry is forecast to have multiple years of growth ahead, and our customers are upbeat," Kneeland says. "While we expect to see a drag in some trade areas from the slowdown in upstream oil, our exposure is greatly limited by our size, agility and diversification. Furthermore, we believe that low oil prices will be a boon to many sectors we serve, spurring demand in manufacturing and other markets hungry for our fleet."

United had record time utilisation of 68.8% for the full year and hit 70.6% in the fourth quarter ended 31 December.

United takes pride in its safety improvements. In 2014, the firm had the fewest number of recordable injuries in its history, driving down its full year recordable rate down below 1.0 for the first time. United says it was a ninth consecutive year of safety improvement.

United believes the facts support its positive outlook. Based on customer inputs, Kneeland envisions a multi-year up-cycle for the equipment rental industry with an ongoing recovery in the firm's end markets and a tailwind from secular penetration. Kneeland believes United is agile and prepared to respond to any changes in its operating environment.

United Rentals is the world's largest equipment rental company with 881 rental locations in the US and Canada along with centralised call centres and online capabilities.