It goes without saying that 2020 has been a year that wreaked havoc on the status quo in virtually every area of life—from personal relationships to business operations. That is certainly true from the semi trailer rental industry.
For a casual observer traveling down the highway beside an 18-wheeler, it might seem like all semi trailers are the same. However, the people responsible for hauling, servicing or renting semi trailers know that that’s far from the truth. Not all semi trailers are designed and manufactured the same way. And the same goes for equipment like liftgates and refrigeration units.
It’s estimated that conventions contributed $101 billion to the U.S. economy in 2019. Convention attendees spend money on traveling to the event site, getting around town once they arrive, booking hotel rooms, dining out, enjoying entertainment and much more. In fact, even before they leave home there is money spent on everything from new clothes to business supplies for the event.
Semi trailers have a long history, having been used to haul cargo for more than 125 years. Even so, companies in many markets continue to find new ways to use rented, leased or purchased semi trailers.
COVID-19 and the restrictions implemented to get it under control have caused significant slowdowns in many industries. However, transportation is not currently one of them. While each transportation market segment is experiencing the effects of the pandemic differently, overall the need to move goods and materials remains high, and as a result, the need for semi trailer rentals and leasing has remained high as well.
According to the National Retail Federation, holiday sales represent roughly 20% of annual retail activity. For some types of retailers, like those that sell toys, games and hobby-related items, the number can be even higher—closer to 30%.