Home Depot opens large equipment hubs to ease distribution

Large equipment facilities are part of Home Depot's efforts to streamline its supply chain and delivery operations

Home Depot has established new large equipment rental hubs in Houston and Nashville.

The hubs - called Rental Operations Facilities (ROFs) - augment its network of 1,200 in-store rental locations, and will centralize larger equipment at a smaller number of large facilities.

The new centers are focused on the distribution of larger machines such as skid steers, excavators, telehandlers and scissor lifts.

The two sites will add to existing hubs in New Orleans and Los Angeles, which opened in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Two further ROFs will be opened later this year in Atlanta and Dallas.

Home Depot said the large equipment facilities were part of efforts to streamline its supply chain and delivery operations, and in response to increasing and evolving customer demands. It said customers are increasingly looking for a broader range of heavy equipment for large projects.

Tim Dugan, senior director of rental operations at Home Depot, said, “We are getting insightful feedback from our Pro and DIY customers, along with our associates, to expand our rental solutions. ROF locations are an outcome of this.

“Nearly 24 months of experience at the ROFs, combined with Home Depot’s 25 years of rental expertise, is allowing us to better plan and execute at current and future locations to provide the best rental and delivery experience for our customers.”

Richard Porter, vice president of rental, repair, RLCs and services at Home Depot, said, “After the openings in the Greater New Orleans and Los Angeles markets... we sought opportunities to serve more Pro customers in more ways and are delivering with an expanded ROF footprint that is in addition to over 1,200 rental store locations.”

Home Depot will also open more rental centers across North America in the coming year. In addition to large equipment, these will also provide customers with general tools, trucks and trailers.