RE: Finning ProjectHaving asked the very same question just yesterday, I heard from a source at XST (not the president) that the Finning Project aka. test, was initially to be a small scale test over a period of one month to six weeks, that was intended to include just the service vehicles around Western Canada. After the test was completed, if successful, Finning would purchase (up to 200+ potential) units for their fleet. In addition, the company would consider the use of the wireless security equipment in its rental fleet.
Last week the test officially expanded to include rental equipment at select customer sites, (couldn't get any names). I was told that other than some Telus network problems that were found and corrected, the project has been extremely positive. I would be suprised if we didn't see some news on this very soon.
All along these guys have been saying that the future market is the consumer. They tell us that the BMW's and Audi's will be the buyer of this unit. Guess what? They were wrong!! I talked to some equipment owners ie. backhoes, bobcats etc. and everyone told me the same story: equipment = paychecks.
These owners are scared stiff that their bobcat or tractor will be riped off because there is now so much equipment theft that insurance rates are going sky high. They will lose thousands of $$$ on lost work and deductibles for replacement costs. I talked about the possibility of wireless security tracking for the equipment and I was told that if these Finning tests are successful and Finning buys the product, it will be an endorsement from the largest equipment dealer in Western Canada.
It was also suggested that it may be suicide for the other equipment dealers i.e. Case backhoes, Bobcat, Certified rentals etc not to use the product because they would be targeted by thieves knowing the equipment is not protected.
The one point everyone agrees on is if the equipment tests are successful, these guys can have the whole construction equipment market to themselves. Every piece of equipment that moves in this market is high-end. Who knows how much that can mean???.