Minneapolis District Thinks Green
June 21, 2019
Editor's note: This story is part of our “50 Stories of People Helping People" series. As we celebrate Penske's 50th anniversary in 2019, we are spotlighting associates every Friday who are making a difference in their communities.
<p><a href="https://www.gopenske.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penske</a> associates in Minneapolis, Minnesota, took part in a district-wide initiative recently. The mission? To raise Earth Day awareness in the community and support Penske's environmental efforts.</p><p>In addition to working as an assistant district administrator at Penske's Roseville, Minnesota, location, Maggie Nelson also serves as the chairperson for the district's newly formed community engagement group.</p><p>The group consists of 11 Penske associates from across the Twin Cities, all of whom work in different departments, such as <a href="https://www.pensketruckleasing.com/contract-maintenance/" rel="noopener noreferrer">maintenance</a>, <a href="https://www.pensketruckleasing.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">sales</a>, <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">rental</a> and finance.</p><p>“Employees will come to each of us with different ideas of how we can get involved in the community," said Nelson. “Up to this point, we've tried to organize one event per month."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a66b2eae0fa7389214b1711acb27b88e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="7edc7" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMTk5NDUyNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzNjM1MjQ4MH0.yX5AUONHu_Pb-mD5Bm4HzrEMKww8meh_0u5AVUVq2o0/img.jpg?width=980"/><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Pictured is Maggie Nelson (left) with her friend.</small></p><p>In April, the team had an idea they really wanted to try. Someone approached Nelson and asked if they could do something pertaining to Earth Day.</p><p>The idea instantly won over the team, and they decided to brainstorm what they could do. Many different activities were discussed as to how the team could help the environment, but one that stood out was an idea Nelson thought would be a good initiative.</p><p>“I reached out to Penske's environmental compliance department and asked for information on how the company drives efficiency and <a href="https://www.gopenske.com/our-company/sustainability/">sustainability</a> for our customers," she said. “The response I got back was amazing. I was not aware of the kind of impact we had."</p><p>“One of the things people may not know about Penske is that we recycle over a million gallons of used oil every year," said Chris Hawk, Penske's senior environmental compliance engineer.</p><p>Hawk and Mike Costanza, Penske's director of environmental services, informed Nelson of Penske's environmental efforts – information Nelson could use to assemble collateral.</p><p>Once she had gathered all of the facts and figures, Nelson was ready to get to work.</p><p>“My team and I created flyers with an infographic to hang in our lobbies for customers to see, as well as in the shops and breakrooms for employees to look at," she said. “Our plan was to promote the entire month of April, leading into Earth Day on April 26."</p><p>“The infographic served as a great vehicle to show what we're doing as a company to help the environment, which is where everyone calls home. I had a couple customers tell me they didn't know Penske recycled used oil and all the ways they saved energy."</p><p>The newfound knowledge across the workplace sparked a great deal of interest among associates to attend the city's Earth Day celebration, organized by the Minneapolis Parks and Rec Board, and partake in the festivities that promoted ways to work toward a cleaner planet.</p><p>“We had a blast at the event, and hope that next year we can play a part in spreading the word about Penske's environmental efforts," said Nelson. “Because when we protect the environment, we all benefit."</p><p><strong>Penske's Green Efforts</strong></p><p>Penske has been a long-time participant in the EPA's SmartWay Transportation partnership, Green Power partnership and WasteWise program.</p><p>Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 103 million tons of air pollutants (NOx, PM, and CO2) contributing to cleaner air and healthier citizens, while saving more than 215.4 million barrels of oil and $29.7 billion in fuel costs – equivalent to eliminating the annual energy use of over 14 million homes. More information on SmartWay: <a href="http://www.epa.gov/smartway/" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.epa.gov/smartway/</a>.</p><p><em>By Chris Abruzzo</em></p></div>
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Big Game Drives Business for Commercial Truck Rentals
January 26, 2018
With the big game kickoff just days away, local businesses in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are busy preparing for the thousands of fans who are expected to visit in the days leading up to the game.
<p></p><p>For many of these businesses, it will mean securing rental trucks from <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/locations/minnesota/roseville/047510/" rel="noopener">Penske Truck Rental’s</a> Roseville, Minnesota, location, which began preparing four months ago for the crush of commercial truck rental business.</p><p>How high is demand for trucks serving the big game? A recent article in the <em>Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal</em> estimated more than 100,000 trucks are likely needed to transport products into and out of the metro area for the game.</p><p>Locally, <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/">commercial rental trucks</a> are in high demand for businesses and events as game day approaches.</p><p>“It is a lot to wrap your head around,” said Rhett Surman, district rental manager for the Penske facility located in suburban Minneapolis. “This opportunity does not come around to get this many truck rental reservations, with this many customers, so it is very exciting for everyone here.”</p><p>The odds-on favorite, the <a href="http://www.patriots.com/" rel="noopener">New England Patriots</a> are set to take on the underdog <a href="http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/" rel="noopener">Philadelphia Eagles</a> Feb. 4 at <a href="https://www.usbankstadium.com/" rel="noopener">U.S. Bank Stadium</a>, with the winner taking home the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2017/2/5/14515842/vince-lombardi-trophy-nfl-championship-super-bowl" rel="noopener">Vince Lombardi Trophy</a> and bragging rights as the best team in the <a href="https://www.nfl.com/" rel="noopener">National Football League</a>.</p><p>Long before the first snap, local businesses are expected to reap the benefits of the game to the tune of more than $400 million in new spending, according to <em>Pioneer Press</em> <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/06/twin-cities-area-businesses-look-to-cash-in-on-super-bowl-lii/" rel="noopener">estimates.</a></p><p><strong>Huddling Up to Meet Truck Rental Demand</strong></p><p>Surman said his team began huddling up, calling and emailing existing customers, and creating a big game digital playbook detailing customer contacts, number of units rented, pickups and expected drop-offs.<img class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7fb6f8a002246db1b4427cddd2d70453" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" id="fca4f" type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEyODQ3Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMzY4NTQ3OX0.wJ730zSeVVGS0ZNl_JTCARGenSQ7zaYzwppIdgwoI3c/img.jpg?width=980"/></p><p>“It takes a lot of work and coordination is the key,” Surman said. “It comes down to being smart with every customer and every <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/">truck rental</a> reservation.”</p><p>The big game has meant big demand for the Roseville location. “If we look at a normal week in February, I’d estimate we have three times the normal reservations for straight trucks right now,” Surman said.</p><p>The rental roster includes a majority of large customers.</p><p>“One of them was a furniture company that rented out 17 <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/medium-duty-trucks/">straight trucks</a>, three <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/light-duty-trucks/">panel vans</a>, three <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/heavy-duty-trucks/single-axle-day-cab/">day cabs</a> and 17 trailers to move things like couches, desks and other furniture,” Surman said.</p><p>Another large order was placed by a promotions company, which rented 12 trucks.</p><p>“It is kind of on both sides of the spectrum – either really big customers with a lot of <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/">trucks</a> or one or two customers here or there,” Surman said. “It is not one type of customer or type of rental situation.”</p><p>The smaller rentals are for <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/light-duty-trucks/">Penske’s light-duty trucks</a>, 16-foot box trucks and panel vans, including one catering company providing food to a major athletic shoe manufacturer.</p><p>“The customer is telling us to they have to be able to provide non-stop catered food, so they are renting two 12-foot trucks and a panel van for two weeks,” Surman said.</p><p>One of the more unique requests has been for the rental of <a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/commercial-trucks/medium-duty-trucks/18-26-foot-refrigerated-truck-CDL-required/">refrigerated trucks</a>.</p><p>“Refrigerated units are not a huge part of our fleet, like you would see in Florida or Texas, where they have year-round demand. It was a challenge for us because those units are rented in the summer,” Surman said.</p><p>The NFL also put in an order for trucks.</p><p>“We have to make sure everything is perfect for them,” said Surman. “We are hoping to make the big game a success for the NFL and all of our customers.”</p><p><strong>Countdown to Kickoff </strong></p><p>The next few days will probably be the most critical for the Penske location.</p><p>“The next couple of days is our big game,” Surman said. “That’s when everything goes out and the bulk of our work has to be done.”</p><p>And, that means activating everyone for the big game.</p><p>“We are staying late. We are doing what we have to do,” Surman said. “It is definitely go time for us all the way to Sunday.”</p><blockquote class="instagram-media"><div><div></div><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/sSqTaOmAbl/" rel="noopener">A post shared by Penske (@pensketruck)</a> on <time datetime="2014-08-29T18:04:21+00:00">Aug 29, 2014 at 11:04am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote><p></p><p><em>Penske offers a wide variety of rental trucks from large commercial semi-tractors and trailers to small box trucks. Penske encourages retailers and businesses to make reservations by calling its hotline for business rentals, 1-800-PENSKE1. New business truck rental customers can enjoy an additional </em><a href="https://www.pensketruckrental.com/commercial-truck-rental/renting-from-penske/new-customer-discount/" rel="noopener"><em>20 percent off</em></a><em> your first truck or tractor rental.</em></p><p><em>By Bernie Mixon </em></p> </div>
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