RSC Equipment Rental Inc this month is opening new facilities in two Texas cities-Brownsville and Laredo-adjacent to the US-Mexico border.

An article in the 13 April issue of the weekly financial Barron's Magazine quoted RSC chief executive Erik Olsson and reported the RSC was positioned to benefit from higher infrastructure expenditures that may occur under the US economic stimulus plan.

Despite economic pressures, publicly traded parent firm RSC Holdings Inc of Scottsdale came close during 2008 to its 2007 performance, although profit fell 0.6%, or USD765,000, on sales that were lower by 0.2%, or USD4 million.

RSC reported 2008 profit of USD122.5 million on 2008 sales of USD1.765 billion versus profit of USD123.3 million on 2007 sales of USD1.769 billion.

RSC rents forklifts for industrial, straight-mast and reach applications along with aerial work platforms, other material handling equipment and a range for construction functions.

As of 31 December, RSC Equipment Rental had 445 locations in 40 US states, and subsidiary RSC Equipment Rental of Canada Ltd operated 19 sites in three Canadian provinces. During 2008, RSC closed or consolidated 43 locations and took related charges of approximately USD8.5 million. The comparable net figures at the end of 2007 were 452 locations in the US and 21 in Canada.

"We believe we are the largest or second largest equipment rental provider in the majority of the regions in which we operate," RSC says. "In 2008, we serviced approximately 350,000 customers primarily in the industrial or non-construction, and non-residential construction markets."

On 11 July, RSC acquired certain rights and assets of American Equipment Rentals from Providence, Rhode Island-based FST Equipment Rentals LLC and AER Holding Co LLC (Forkliftaction.com News #369). Subsequent financial filings say RSC paid USD33.2 million in cash and USD200,000 for liabilities assumed.