Caterpillar Inc. engaged in rental trial

DALLAS, April 27 (UPI) -- Caterpillar Inc. is engaged in a test trial with a Home Depot store in Dallas where the company's equipment is available for rent, Home Depot says.

A Home Depot spokeswoman said Caterpillar's Dallas dealer operates a counter at the store to offer equipment rentals to area contractors, Crain's Chicago Business reports in its Monday edition.

"We have a focus on pro customers, so this is just offering them another service," the unidentified spokeswoman said of the trial service, which began last November.

Caterpillar initiated the test trial to determine if the company's heavy construction equipment would appeal to contractors buying supplies from the home improvement chain.

The trial could expand to similar nationwide efforts by Caterpillar if the company is able to cash in on the $38 billion equipment rental industry in the United States.

Chicago Business said the rental effort by the company based out of Peoria, Ill., would also result in added exposure for Caterpillar's more compact equipment among the contracting community.