Toro has been busy this summer. The company recently teamed with the American Rental Association Foundation on a community project in Baltimore. The effort brought rental businesses together to improve a facility serving parenting students and their children. That’s pretty cool. Toro also handed over a brand-new Dingo TX 450 to the winner of its nationwide Dingo Giveaway. Nice. We appreciate all the company’s philanthropic initiatives. 

We’ve also noticed how many of Toro’s efforts put a spotlight on the rental market, where its compact utility loaders (also called mini skid steers, mini track loaders, or compact tool carriers, depending on the manufacturer) have become increasingly useful fleet assets. Toro knows that territory particularly well. The company pioneered the walk-behind/stand-on tool carrier market, and it has recently revamped its TX 450, TX 550, and TX 1000 Turbo (the latter is its flagship model). Add a new CEO to the mix, and it has been an eventful few weeks for Toro. Let’s dig in. 

Toro and ARA tackle a Baltimore project

On July 28, The Toro Company Foundation and the American Rental Association (ARA) Foundation joined regional organizations and 11 rental businesses in Baltimore. The target was the United Way Family Center at Ben Franklin High School. The center provides free, full-day childcare for parenting students. It also offers early childhood education and support involving housing, food, and other needs. From the press release:

“We are thankful for ARA and what they are providing for us — not just the monetary, but also the manpower to get this done,” said Beth Littrell, associate vice president of community engagement and volunteerism, United Way of Central Maryland. “This project is something that has been on my list for about five years; finally getting someone out here to do this is huge for us and it’s huge for the kiddos.”

Volunteers tackled a fairly serious outdoor punch list. Crews replaced perimeter landscaping, installed privacy fence slats, planted bushes, added rubber playground safety surfacing, and assembled new play equipment. The ARA Foundation also presented the United Way of Central Maryland with a $20,000 grant. The project was part of the Toro Company Foundation and ARA Foundation's Community Impact Project program, which combines community service with participation from the equipment and event rental industry.

Participating businesses included

• AAA Party Rentals
• Bay Country Rentals
• Carter Cat Rentals
• Dreamers Event Rentals
• Fred's Tents
• Holland Park Tents
• InTENTional Systems
• L & A Tent Rentals
• The Matadore Equipment
• Oxon Hill Rentals
• Washington Air Compressor Rental Co.

Toro hands over a Dingo TX 450

Toro also recently delivered a new Dingo TX 450 compact utility loader to Tyler Dillon, branch manager at A1 Rent It in Wayzata, Minnesota. Dillon won Toro’s Dingo Giveaway, which ran from Jan. 1 through March 31. Toro accepted online entries and entries from attendees at the American Rental Association Show. The company delivered the machine in July. From the press release: 

“We had the teams at each of our locations enter the giveaway, so we were all really excited to win,” said Chad Wagner, owner of A1 Rent It. “The Dingo TX 450 will go into our fleet, joining a couple of other Toro Dingo 427s that we rent for smaller jobs and areas with narrower access.”

The locally owned rental company has served contractors and homeowners around Minneapolis for more than 60 years. The company may even give its free machine some extra duty. 

“We might get the new Dingo wrapped and use it for parades and special promotions at our store,” said Wagner. “It could also serve as our friendly yard dog, helping with things like moving trailers and other tasks around the property.”

Not a bad gig for a giveaway machine.

Toro is getting a new CEO, too

Maybe you didn’t notice our previous coverage, but Edric C. Funk will become president and CEO of The Toro Company on Nov. 1. He will also join the company’s board of directors. Funk succeeds Richard M. Olson, a 40-year Toro veteran who has served as CEO since 2016.