The April 2021 issue of Rental magazine delivered its annual Aerial Industry Report, a comprehensive look at the equipment rental sector’s most dynamic segment. For building contractors and rental professionals, the report offered critical insights into the latest ANSI standards updates, evolving safety protocols from major aerial lift manufacturers, and important legal practice changes shaping the industry. As construction activity continues to accelerate across commercial and residential sectors, understanding the aerial lift landscape has never been more important. This article distills the key findings from that report and explores what they mean for contractors who rely on aerial equipment daily. For a deeper look at how rental businesses are building visibility and credibility in this space, read our coverage on Equipment Rental Profiles Building a Stronger Rental Business.
The State of the Aerial Lift Rental Industry
The aerial lift segment has long been one of the most reliable workhorses in the equipment rental industry. From boom lifts and scissor lifts to vertical mast lifts and telehandlers, these machines form the backbone of jobsite access solutions for contractors across every building discipline. The 2021 Aerial Industry Report highlighted several key trends that continue to shape the market today.
Market Growth and Fleet Expansion
Despite the disruptions of 2020, the aerial lift rental market demonstrated remarkable resilience. Rental houses across North America reported steady demand for aerial equipment as construction projects resumed and infrastructure spending began to climb. Key observations from the report include:
- Rental fleets expanded to meet growing demand, with many operators adding new boom lifts and scissor lifts to their inventories
- Electric and hybrid models gained traction as jobsite sustainability requirements became more common
- Utilization rates recovered faster than expected, particularly in the commercial building sector
- Rental rates stabilised after initial pandemic volatility, with some categories seeing modest increases
Contractors who understand these market dynamics are better positioned to negotiate favourable rental terms and secure the equipment they need for critical project phases. The Ara Rental Industry Forecast 2022 What Equipment Rental provides additional context on how these growth trends translated into the following year’s market conditions.
Demand Drivers Across Building Sectors
The report identified several key demand drivers that fuelled aerial lift rental growth across different construction sectors:
- Commercial construction remained the largest consumer of aerial lift rentals, with high-rise building projects requiring extensive access solutions
- Industrial maintenance drove consistent demand for boom lifts and vertical mast lifts for facility upkeep and retrofitting work
- Infrastructure projects created new opportunities for telehandlers and rough-terrain lifts on bridge and roadway work
- Warehouse and logistics construction accelerated demand for electric scissor lifts in indoor environments
ANSI Standards Updates Reshaping Aerial Lift Operations
One of the most significant topics covered in the April 2021 Aerial Industry Report was the ongoing evolution of ANSI standards for aerial work platforms. These standards updates have profound implications for how contractors select, operate, and maintain aerial lift equipment on building sites.
Key ANSI A92 Standards Changes
The ANSI A92 standards family, which governs the design, operation, and safety of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), underwent significant revisions in the years leading up to 2021. The report highlighted several critical changes that continue to affect rental operations:
- Operator training requirements became more stringent, with formal certification programmes replacing simple on-the-job familiarisation
- Load management systems became standard on new equipment, automatically limiting machine functions when capacity is exceeded
- Platform occupancy limits were clarified, with specific guidance on maximum personnel per lift type
- Fall protection anchorage points were standardised across manufacturers, improving compatibility between equipment and personal protective systems
For rental companies, these changes meant updating fleet specifications and ensuring that all equipment in inventory complied with the latest standards. For contractors, the updates required reviewing internal training programmes and verifying that operators held current certifications before stepping onto a jobsite.
Compliance Timelines and Practical Implications
The ANSI A92 standards introduced phased compliance timelines that rental houses and contractors needed to navigate carefully. The report provided a useful framework for understanding these deadlines:
| Standard | Key Requirement | Implementation Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| ANSI A92.20 | Design, manufacture and labelling of MEWPs | Effective 2020 for new equipment |
| ANSI A92.22 | Safe use and operation of MEWPs | Full compliance by 2022 |
| ANSI A92.24 | Training requirements for operators and supervisors | Training programmes required from 2020 |
| ANSI A92.9 | Mast climbing work platforms | Updated 2021 with revised load requirements |
Contractors who proactively aligned their operations with these standards gained a competitive advantage, as many general contractors and project owners began requiring ANSI-compliant training documentation as a prerequisite for subcontractor approval.
Manufacturer Safety Initiatives and Equipment Innovations
The Aerial Industry Report dedicated substantial coverage to the safety initiatives and product innovations coming from leading aerial lift manufacturers. These developments reflect an industry-wide commitment to reducing accidents and improving operator confidence at height.
Leading Manufacturers Setting the Safety Standard
Major manufacturers featured in the report demonstrated a clear pattern of integrating advanced safety technologies into their equipment lines. Several notable trends emerged:
- Zone-based safety systems that automatically limit machine movement in restricted areas became more sophisticated, reducing the risk of crushing and trapping incidents
- Telematics integration allowed fleet managers to monitor machine health, operator behaviour, and maintenance schedules remotely, enabling proactive safety management
- Platform load sensing technology evolved beyond simple alarms to include automatic cut-off systems that prevent operation when safe working loads are exceeded
- Improved platform guardrail designs provided better access while maintaining fall protection integrity, reducing the temptation for operators to bypass safety systems
These safety innovations represent a significant step forward for the industry. The Point of Rental Conference 2022 Rental Software Insights article explores how technology platforms are helping rental companies manage these advanced safety features across their fleets.
Equipment Categories in Focus
The report highlighted several equipment categories that were receiving increased attention from both manufacturers and rental customers:
- Electric boom lifts gained popularity for indoor and noise-sensitive applications, with manufacturers extending battery life and reducing charge times
- Compact scissor lifts with narrow profiles allowed access through standard doorways, expanding their usefulness on renovation and fit-out projects
- Rough-terrain telehandlers saw enhancements in lift capacity and reach, making them more versatile for infrastructure and civil construction work
- Vertical mast lifts emerged as a popular alternative for tasks requiring working heights of 15 to 20 feet in confined spaces
These equipment trends reflect the industry’s responsiveness to changing jobsite demands. Contractors who stay informed about available equipment types can select the most efficient and cost-effective solutions for each phase of their projects.
Legal Compliance and Operational Best Practices
Beyond equipment and standards, the Aerial Industry Report addressed the evolving legal landscape surrounding aerial lift operations. For building contractors, understanding these legal considerations is essential for managing risk and maintaining compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Key Legal Practice Updates
The report identified several legal practice areas where changes were affecting rental operations and contractor liability:
- Rental agreement language evolved to more clearly define responsibilities for equipment maintenance, operator training, and site safety between rental houses and contractors
- Liability frameworks shifted in some jurisdictions, placing greater emphasis on the rental company’s duty to verify customer competency and equipment suitability
- Insurance requirements for aerial lift rentals became more specific, with some insurers mandating ANSI A92.24 training certification as a condition of coverage
- Record-keeping obligations expanded, with regulatory bodies expecting detailed documentation of operator training, equipment inspections, and maintenance histories
Staying current with these legal developments helps contractors protect their businesses and avoid costly disputes. The Construction Equipment Rental Industry Growth Opportunities piece examines how the expanding rental market is reshaping contractual relationships and creating new business models.
Building a Culture of Safety
The report emphasised that compliance with standards and regulations is only one part of the safety equation. Building a genuine culture of safety requires consistent effort across every level of an organisation. Recommended practices included:
- Pre-shift equipment inspections documented digitally and reviewed by supervisors before any aerial lift is deployed on site
- Regular refresher training for all operators, even those with years of experience, to reinforce safe practices and introduce new standards requirements
- Site-specific hazard assessments that identify overhead obstructions, ground conditions, and proximity risks before work begins
- Incident reporting systems that encourage workers to report near-misses and safety concerns without fear of reprisal
Contractors who implement these practices not only reduce accident risk but also position themselves favourably for project bids, as safety records increasingly factor into procurement decisions by general contractors and project owners.
The Role of Rental Partners in Safety Compliance
The report highlighted that rental companies play a crucial role in the safety ecosystem. When contractors choose rental partners, the following factors deserve careful consideration:
- Does the rental provider offer equipment that meets current ANSI A92 standards?
- Are pre-rental orientations and familiarisation sessions available for operators new to specific equipment types?
- Does the rental company maintain up-to-date maintenance records and inspection documentation?
- Can the provider supply additional safety accessories such as harnesses, lanyards, and signage?
Selecting a rental partner with a strong safety orientation reduces risk and simplifies compliance. As the aerial lift market continues to grow, the relationship between rental houses and contractors will become increasingly strategic, moving beyond simple equipment transactions to true safety partnerships.