United Rentals
A major North American equipment-rental company serving construction, industrial, infrastructure, government, event, and household customers.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
United Rentals, Inc. is an American equipment-rental company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Founded in 1997, it built its position primarily through the consolidation of regional rental businesses and has become the largest equipment-rental company in North America. Its customers include construction contractors, industrial companies, utilities, municipalities, infrastructure operators, entertainment producers, emergency-response organizations, and homeowners. The company's core business is the rental of general construction equipment and aerial equipment. Its fleet includes trucks, earthmoving machines, forklifts, compressors, generators, aerial work platforms, and a wide range of tools and jobsite equipment. United Rentals also operates specialized businesses covering trench safety, temporary power and climate control, fluid management, tool rentals, portable sanitation, mobile offices, storage containers, communications equipment, site access matting, drone services, and equipment for sports and entertainment productions. In addition to short- and long-term rentals, it sells new and used equipment, provides repair and maintenance services, and offers safety training. United Rentals' growth has been driven by acquisitions. Its 1998 purchase of U.S. Rentals made it the largest equipment-rental provider in North America at that time. Later transactions expanded its general-equipment network and added specialty capabilities in pumps, power generation, portable sanitation, storage, modular buildings, access systems, and aerial equipment. The 2012 acquisition of RSC Holdings was particularly significant, described at the time as the largest merger in the rental-equipment industry. Subsequent purchases included NES Rentals, Neff Corporation, BakerCorp, BlueLine Rental, General Finance Corporation, Ahern Rentals, and access-solutions businesses acquired in 2024. The company operates an extensive branch and specialty-services network across the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe. As of the reference material, its network comprised approximately 1,625 locations, including 1,504 rental locations in North America, 38 in Europe, 23 in Australia, and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, it serves 49 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and every Canadian province. The company reported 2024 revenue of $15.35 billion and was listed in the Fortune 500 and Forbes Global 2000 rankings for that period; these figures are historical and should be read with their stated year context. United Rentals trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol URI. Matthew Flannery has served as president and chief executive officer since 2019. The company's market proposition combines fleet scale, broad geographic coverage, centralized procurement, specialized technical services, and the ability to supply multiple equipment categories for complex projects through one provider.
History
United Rentals was formed in September 1997 during a period of consolidation in the fragmented North American equipment-rental market. Brad Jacobs was the company's founder, while the early organization also involved chairman and chief executive Hector Salazar Jr. The business model was acquisition-led: rather than relying only on organic branch openings, United Rentals assembled a broad network by purchasing smaller leasing companies across North America. The company entered the public markets in December 1997, when its shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol URI. In June 1998, it acquired U.S. Rentals in a transaction reported at approximately $1.2 billion to $1.31 billion. That deal rapidly expanded the fleet and branch system and made United Rentals the largest equipment-rental company in North America. During the 2000s, United Rentals continued to operate as a consolidator but also faced strategic and legal challenges. In 2006, it announced the sale of its Highway Technology division. In 2007, the company agreed to be acquired by Cerberus Capital Management in a transaction valued at about $6.6 billion including assumed debt. Cerberus later said it would not proceed under the agreement's terms. United Rentals attempted to compel completion of the transaction, but a Delaware Chancery Court declined to force the sale while ordering Cerberus to pay the contractually specified $100 million termination fee. A major new phase began with the announced acquisition of RSC Holdings in December 2011. Completed on April 30, 2012, the cash-and-stock merger was described as the largest transaction in rental-equipment history at the time. It increased United Rentals' fleet and geographic reach and raised its estimated industry share to approximately 13 percent. The company moved its headquarters from Greenwich to Stamford, Connecticut, in 2013. United Rentals then expanded into adjacent specialty categories. Its 2014 National Pump acquisition strengthened its pump-rental activities. In 2017, the company acquired NES Rentals and Neff Corporation, adding general-rental branches and equipment. It also purchased power-generation assets from Cummins and acquired Superior Speedie assets, creating the Reliable Onsite Services business for portable sanitation and related facilities. In 2018, United Rentals acquired Industrial Rental Services assets, adding communications and industrial blind services to its Tool Solutions offering. The BakerCorp acquisition added tanks, pumps, filtration, and trench-shoring equipment and led to the renaming of Pump Solutions as Fluid Solutions. The purchase of BlueLine Rental further increased the company's general-rental network. In 2021, United Rentals acquired General Finance Corporation, expanding into mobile storage, office containers, modular buildings, and related services in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2022, it completed the approximately $2.0 billion acquisition of Ahern Rentals, adding 106 facilities and about 66,000 rental assets. In 2024, United Access completed the acquisition of Yak Access, Yak Mat, and New South Access & Environmental Solutions, broadening access and surface-protection services. By the mid-2020s, United Rentals operated a global network of approximately 1,625 locations and a fleet spanning roughly 4,800 equipment classes. Its operations covered the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe, with North American operations remaining the center of gravity. The company served large construction and industrial customers as well as municipalities, utilities, entertainment producers, and consumers. Its offering had evolved from general equipment rental into a multi-specialty platform combining rental, sales, maintenance, logistics, training, and project-specific services. Matthew Flannery became president and chief executive officer in 2019 and remained identified in the reference material as the company's leader.
- 2024
United Access acquires access-solutions businesses
[1]Yak Access, Yak Mat, and New South Access & Environmental Solutions joined the United Rentals platform.
- 2022
Ahern Rentals acquisition completed
[1]The transaction added 106 facilities and approximately 66,000 rental assets.
- 2021
General Finance acquisition
[1]United Rentals entered a larger role in mobile storage, offices, and modular buildings.
- 2018
BakerCorp and BlueLine expansion
[1]The company expanded fluid-management and general-rental capabilities through two major acquisitions.
- 2017
Expansion into power and onsite services
[1]United Rentals acquired power-generation assets and launched Reliable Onsite Services after buying Superior Speedie assets.
- 2014
National Pump acquisition and S&P 500 inclusion
[1]The company expanded pump rentals and was later added to the S&P 500 Index.
- 2013
Headquarters moves to Stamford
[1]United Rentals relocated its headquarters from Greenwich to Stamford, Connecticut.
- 2012
RSC Holdings merger completed
[1]The merger materially expanded United Rentals' fleet and market reach.
- 2007
Cerberus transaction fails
[1]A proposed sale to Cerberus collapsed and led to Delaware litigation over the termination fee.
- 1998
Acquisition of U.S. Rentals
[1]The acquisition established United Rentals as the largest equipment-rental company in North America at the time.
Products and positioning
United Rentals positions itself as a broad, scalable equipment-rental partner rather than a single-category rental outlet. Its principal differentiators are fleet size, branch density, national-account capability, specialty-rental expertise, jobsite services, equipment maintenance, and the ability to support construction, industrial, infrastructure, government, emergency, and event projects.
Construction equipment rental · 1997
General Rentals
The general-rental business supplies commonly used construction and industrial equipment, including earthmoving machines, forklifts, trucks, compressors, tools, and related jobsite assets. It serves contractors, industrial operators, utilities, municipalities, and homeowners through a large branch network. General Rentals is the foundation of United Rentals' business and is frequently combined with delivery, maintenance, equipment sales, and project support.
Access equipment rental · 1997
Aerial Rentals
Aerial Rentals provides equipment used to lift workers and materials, including boom lifts, scissor lifts, vertical lifts, and related access machines. These products support building construction, industrial maintenance, warehouse work, infrastructure projects, entertainment production, and facility management. The Ahern Rentals acquisition significantly increased the scale of this part of the fleet.
Temporary power and climate control · 2017
Power & HVAC
Power & HVAC supplies temporary generators, distribution equipment, heating, cooling, and climate-control systems. Customers use these services during construction, renovations, planned outages, disaster response, film and television production, and large public events. The business combines equipment with technical planning, delivery, installation, and operational support.
Excavation safety equipment
Trench Safety
Trench Safety rents shoring systems and related equipment for excavation, underground construction, and confined work areas. The offering can include engineering assistance, site planning, delivery, and safety training intended to help customers manage excavation hazards and comply with jobsite requirements.
Tool and industrial equipment rental
Tool Solutions
Tool Solutions provides tools, supplies, communications equipment, and specialized industrial services, often through stocked trailers or project-oriented packages. Typical applications include large construction projects, refinery turnarounds, plant maintenance, industrial shutdowns, and other work where customers need a temporary tool inventory without purchasing and managing all of the equipment themselves.
Pump and fluid-management rental · 2018
Fluid Solutions
Fluid Solutions supplies pumps, tanks, filtration systems, trench-shoring equipment, and related accessories for transferring, containing, treating, or removing liquids. Its applications include construction dewatering, industrial processing, mining, agriculture, environmental work, and emergency response. The division was renamed from Pump Solutions after the BakerCorp acquisition.
Portable sanitation and onsite facilities · 2017
Reliable Onsite Services
Reliable Onsite Services rents portable toilets, restroom trailers, shower trailers, and related temporary facilities. It supports construction sites, infrastructure projects, public events, entertainment productions, emergency operations, and other locations requiring temporary sanitation. The business originated with the acquisition of Superior Speedie assets and later broadened through mobile-office and storage capabilities.
Storage, office, and modular-building rental · 2021
Mobile Storage and Modular Solutions
This offering provides mobile storage containers, portable offices, mobile buildings, and modular facilities. It serves construction sites, schools, commercial projects, industrial locations, disaster-recovery operations, and customers needing temporary space. The business expanded substantially through the acquisition of General Finance Corporation and its operating brands.
Site access and matting services · 2024
United Access
United Access supplies temporary access and surface-protection solutions, including construction and environmental matting. These products help protect roads, soil, lawns, and sensitive surfaces while supporting heavy vehicles, equipment, utility work, energy projects, and infrastructure construction.
Controversies
2025
Criticism over Boise festival sponsorship
A Boise-area Power and HVAC branch was reported to have sponsored an event criticized for an anti-LGBTQ+ mission. The reported sponsorship generated reputational criticism, although the reference material describes branch-level involvement rather than a company-wide policy.
Marketing campaigns
- 2025Heterosexual Awesomeness Festival sponsorship
United States
A United Rentals Power and HVAC branch in Boise was reported to have provided financial and equipment support for the Heterosexual Awesomeness Festival, including event power for the stage, children's area, and vendors.
Outcome. The event was reportedly poorly attended and received criticism because of its stated anti-LGBTQ+ positioning.
Brand decisions
2022
Ahern Rentals acquisitionM&ABackground
United Rentals sought additional aerial and general-rental scale in the United States.
Action taken
It completed the acquisition of Ahern Rentals for approximately $2.0 billion in cash.
Aftermath
The transaction added 106 facilities and approximately 66,000 rental assets.
Acquisition price. Approximately $2.0 billion in cash (2022)
2021
General Finance Corporation acquisitionM&ABackground
United Rentals aimed to expand beyond traditional construction equipment into mobile storage, offices, and modular facilities.
Action taken
The company acquired General Finance Corporation and its related operating businesses.
Aftermath
United Rentals added storage, mobile-office, and modular-building capabilities in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
2018
Expansion of specialty rental platformStrategyBackground
United Rentals sought to reduce reliance on general equipment rentals and provide more specialized services for complex industrial and infrastructure projects.
Action taken
It acquired BakerCorp, added BlueLine Rental, and renamed Pump Solutions as Fluid Solutions.
Aftermath
The company gained broader pump, tank, filtration, trench-shoring, and general-rental capabilities across North America and Europe.
BakerCorp acquisition value. Approximately $715 million in cash (2018)
2012
RSC Holdings mergerM&ABackground
United Rentals pursued a major consolidation transaction to expand its rental fleet, branch network, and market coverage.
Action taken
The company completed a cash-and-stock merger with RSC Holdings on April 30, 2012.
Aftermath
The merger increased United Rentals' industry share to approximately 13 percent at the time and was described as the largest rental-equipment merger then completed.
2007
Agreement to sell United Rentals to CerberusM&ABackground
United Rentals sought to sell the company to Cerberus Capital Management in a transaction valued at approximately $6.6 billion including assumed debt.
Action taken
The board approved and recommended the merger agreement, but Cerberus later declined to proceed on the agreed terms.
Aftermath
A Delaware court refused to compel completion of the takeover but ordered Cerberus to pay a $100 million termination fee.
Proposed transaction value. $6.6 billion including approximately $2.6 billion of assumed debt (2007)
Recent events
- 2024
United Access acquires Yak Access businesses[1]
M&A
The transaction expanded access, matting, and environmental-services capabilities through the acquisition of Yak Access, Yak Mat, and New South Access & Environmental Solutions.
- 2022
United Rentals completes Ahern Rentals acquisition[1]
M&A
The acquisition added 106 facilities and approximately 66,000 rental assets, strengthening United Rentals' aerial and general-equipment operations.
- 2021
United Rentals acquires General Finance Corporation[1]
M&A
The transaction added mobile storage, office containers, modular buildings, and related brands in North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
- 2018
United Rentals acquires BakerCorp and agrees to buy BlueLine Rental[1]
M&A
BakerCorp expanded pump, tank, filtration, and trench-shoring capabilities, while BlueLine added general-rental locations and assets across North America.
- 2017
United Rentals expands through NES, Cummins power assets, and Neff acquisitions[1]
M&A
A series of transactions expanded United Rentals' general-equipment fleet and added power-generation assets and rental branches.
- 2017
United Rentals adds portable sanitation and onsite services[1]
M&A · Product launch
The acquisition of Superior Speedie assets created the Reliable Onsite Services specialty division, focused on portable toilets and restroom facilities.
- 2014
United Rentals acquires National Pump[1]
M&A
The purchase strengthened United Rentals' pump-rental business and made it one of the largest pump-rental providers in North America.
- 2014
United Rentals added to the S&P 500[1]
Other
United Rentals joined the S&P 500 Index after continuing its expansion and revenue growth.
- 2012
United Rentals completes RSC Holdings merger[1]
M&A
The cash-and-stock acquisition of RSC Holdings expanded United Rentals' fleet, branch network, and industry market share.
- 2007
Cerberus takeover agreement collapses[1]
M&A · Lawsuit
Cerberus Capital Management declined to proceed with its proposed acquisition of United Rentals. Litigation followed, and a Delaware court required payment of a $100 million termination fee but did not force completion of the transaction.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Sources6 sources
- 1United Rentalsen.wikipedia.org
- 2CT-based United Rentals details job cuts, branch closureshartfordbusiness.com
- 3Intrivo partners with Fortune 500 companies and other employers with all-in-one COVID-19 Diagnostic as a Service (DaaS) solution that protects employees and helps meet federal testing mandateprnewswire.com
- 4United Rentals Acquires Franklin Equipmentconstructionequipment.com
- 5United Rentals Acquires Mobile Storage Supplierconstructionequipment.com
- 6United Rentals Completes Acquires General Finance Corp.constructionequipment.com
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