Turner Construction expands equipment rental division

US contractor Turner Construction Company is expanding its in-house equipment rental and site services business, First Equipment Company (FEC), to support customers and trade contractors working on its projects throughout the US.

FEC will also serve other general contractors and trade contractors in the US.

The business has already been providing equipment and services on several large scale Turner projects, but it will now expand to support projects across the US and the 40,000 trade contractors who work on Turner jobs each year.

Turner said that centralising rental and site services into a single organisation would simplify how projects source, manage, and support equipment. It will cover heavy machinery, aerial platforms and telehandlers, temporary power, lighting, site accommodation, portable toilets, fencing and site controls.

Turner Construction is expanding its in-house equipment rental business, First Equipment Company (FEC), (Image: FEC)

The contractor added that the initiative would reduce administrative burden, improve coordination and provide project teams and trade partners with clear points of contact and fast, reliable support.

A strategic investment

“First Equipment Company is a strategic investment in our ability to deliver projects more efficiently,” said Shannon Hines, a senior vice president at Turner.

“By supporting the contractors working on our projects with a consistent, streamlined equipment experience, we help improve productivity in the field-benefiting our project teams and, ultimately, our clients.”

FEC, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Turner, will integrate procurement, operations, and support into one organisation, staffed by equipment specialists embedded locally to support projects.

Josh Ehlers, national manager of FEC, said; “FEC reflects our commitment to continuously improving how we serve our clients and partners. By enhancing efficiency at the project level, we’re strengthening outcomes for everyone involved.”

The expansion of FEC is part of Turner’s broader programme of investment in its capabilities, alongside xPL Offsite (offsite manufacturing), SourceBlue (supply chain management), the Turner Accelerated Payment Program and the Turner Engineering Group.

Turner is one of the largest contractors in North America. Owned by German construction firm Hochtief, it has more than 11,000 employees and completes projects valued at around $17 billion every year.