Priority Equipment Rental

SERVICE IS OUR PRIORITY!

In 2014, Tyler Shelly saw a couple of mergers and acquisitions happening in what he calls the “big-box” retail companies. Motivated by the prospective business opportunity, he believed that he and his family could take a shot at creating a one-stop answer for all the equipment needs of construction firms in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area.

Team Spirit

After gathering five men, which included Shelly’s family and friends, the group established Priority Equipment Rental—a full-service rental agency providing general construction equipment, earthmoving machines, tools, pumps, power generation equipment and more at competitive daily, weekly and monthly rates. The company, located in Imperial, Pennsylvania, also sells and services equipment for all industrial, construction, oil and gas, commercial and municipal operations.

“This resourceful bunch of guys has been working in the equipment industry for pretty much their whole lives,” says Shelly, who is President of the company. “Our people have seen every aspect of the industry; we know what is needed and how to get it done.”

Shelly’s start in this field began as a family affair. He joined his father in the rental industry, then worked at an auction company in Fort Worth, Texas, and has been involved in equipment repair. Other members at Priority Equipment Rental have prior experience with auctions as well; some have been in sales and some in rentals. Everyone on the team has driven trucks and knows the correct way to make a delivery.

“Starting our careers, we were all energetic and willing to work our way up the proverbial totem pole,” Shelly says. This work ethic carries on today as they continue to push for excellence in their current roles. “We’re all on the same page,” he adds, “with a common goal and priority to serve—and we get along very well.”

The tight knit group also shares a spirit for community. Serving the local police and fire departments by supplying needed equipment for their community service functions is one example. Priority Equipment Rental has also donated generators and provided power and light towers to a couple of different county fairs, and supplied lighting to illuminate fields during practice/games of local sports teams.

Direct Access All Day, Every Day

Priority Equipment Rental is not a large corporation, but rather a small family-owned, locally operated business. This allows for special pricing and rates—whether for day-to-day rentals or long-term rentals with a routine service package. What’s more, the company’s streamlined approach to handling customers’ telephone queries has received rave reviews online. Shelly adds, “We have earned a reputation for being customer friendly, straightforward and direct, flexible, versatile and always available.”

“Brainstorming Monday through Friday during regular office hours to find the right fit for a project is to be expected from any equipment rental agency, but we can make something happen at 3 o’clock in the morning on a Saturday. After hours or on the weekends is when we shine,” Shelly says. “We work around-the-clock, all week long, year-round—because that’s when our customers need us.”

“Keeping the oil and gas industry in the area up and running on their 24-hour-a-day work schedule requires Priority Equipment Rental to keep a matching timetable,” Shelly says. According to the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA), over 67,200 natural gas wells were operating in the state in 2017. Pennsylvania has been the second-largest natural gas producing state, just behind Texas, since 2013. PIOGA also reports that in 2017, Pennsylvania’s 7,100 oil wells produced about 6.5 million barrels of Pennsylvania Grade crude oil. “The equipment and services we make available to this industry are crucial to production,” Shelly says.

He continues, “Every business like ours generally offers the same equipment. What makes a difference is service. It doesn’t matter what the project is—on every construction job, we will be able to assist in some way. Also, we have two salesmen always driving around to job site locations to see what projects are going on in our area and how they are progressing.”

Bigger and Better Facilities

In May 2019, Priority Rental Equipment moved out of the facilities that Shelly’s team had occupied for five years. It was a small rented building with four bays and a tiny office that sat on 3.5 acres. The company purchased 17 acres with a 10,000-square-foot shop that was totally renovated to meet the business’ unique requirements. This includes a showroom for walk-in customers.

While continuing to serve large contractors and other businesses, Priority Rental Equipment now has the capacity to offer rental, sales and equipment repairs to smaller contractors and even homeowners. “Small or massive, the job size doesn’t faze us. Matching the right tools for each specific situation is our main concern,” Shelly says.

The spacious new location eases the ability to maintain the rental fleet as well as work on customers’ equipment. “We can work on all the major manufacturers’ equipment. We can get out there and help a client get the project done,” Shelly says. “With a fleet consisting of quality products ranging from JLG man lifts, to Takeuchi skid steers, to Genie telehandlers, we strive to present our customers with reliable equipment they can trust,” he continues. Other brands offered include Komatsu, BOMAG, Wacker Neuson, Husqvarna and Vermeer.

Equipment You Can Count On

Offerings provided by Priority Equipment Rental include air tools and air compressors, boom lifts, compaction equipment, concrete tools, demo hammers, excavators, forklifts, generators and lighting towers, scissor lifts, skid steers and wheel loaders. Each category has its own extensive inventory with options available for rent or purchase.

With boom lifts, for instance, there are a variety of electric and diesel man lifts available in straight or articulating models. “We offer a variety of options so a task can be finished quickly and successfully no matter how difficult the job,” Shelly says.

Priority Equipment Rental’s wide range of compaction equipment is utilized by many construction companies and homeowners alike. “We have single-drum rollers that can cover larger surface areas, as well as smaller trench rollers for more narrow jobs,” Shelly says.

Tackling a demolition project in the Greater Pittsburgh area? Priority Equipment Rental has the demo hammer tools needed to accomplish any type of demolition. “We carry several hammer, chisel and breaker options for rent or sale at excellent price points. Whether you’re looking for a smaller demolition hammer for tile removal, a rotary hammer for anchoring holes or a more powerful breaker hammer for those tougher concrete jobs, we have what you’re looking for,” Shelly says.

At Priority Equipment Rental, material-handling requirements are covered with both traditional straight-mast warehouse forklifts as well as telescopic forklifts. This offers the flexibility to undertake a variety of jobs. Another popular requested item is the scissor lift. “Whether you’re working inside or outdoors, as long as you are working on a firm, level surface, we have the scissor lift you need to get the job done,” Shelly says.

Options such as skid steers and track loaders are useful to construction companies and homeowners equally. Each skid steer rental comes with the customer’s choice of bucket. Several attachments, such as hydraulic hammers, trenchers and augers can also be chosen.

“Everything we stock is equipment you can count on. Our regular maintenance of these items ensures dependability and optimum functionality,” Shelly says. “At Priority Equipment Rental, your service is our priority!”