June 2026 Vol. 81 No. 6
Business
Business News June 2026 featuring United Rentals, Ditch Witch and Lane Construction
United Rentals
United Rentals expanded its AI-powered Equipment Agent to be accessible in ChatGPT, giving customers a faster, more intuitive way to identify equipment solutions for complex job sites and time-sensitive projects.
Originally launched earlier this year as a first-of-its-kind AI-powered equipment recommendation solution for the equipment rental industry, Equipment Agent uses a conversational experience to guide customers through key project requirements and quickly connect them to relevant equipment recommendations for the job.
"Leveraging AI can make expertise easier to access," said Tony Leopold, senior vice president - chief technology & strategy officer, United Rentals. "By bringing the Equipment Agent into ChatGPT, we're meeting customers in the platforms they already use to plan work, solve problems and make decisions. It's part of our broader focus on creating digital experiences built around the speed, complexity and realities of modern job sites."
Equipment Agent incorporates fleet knowledge, application expertise and operational insight from across United Rentals' business. Early usage data indicates customers are leveraging the tool for specification and rental-related queries.
The expansion reflects United Rentals' broader innovation strategy focused on reducing friction for customers, improving access to expertise and building digital experiences that help jobsites operate more safely, efficiently and productively.
In other news, Wedge, the company's remote monitoring solution and a key component of its Worksite Performance Solutions portfolio, was named a 2026 Industrial IoT Product of the Year by TMC.
The award recognizes technology solutions that deliver measurable value through connected operations – across job sites, equipment and operations – and real-time data. For United Rentals, the recognition reflects the company's broader commitment to helping customers build safer, more productive and more connected job sites.
Wedge enables customers to remotely monitor and control equipment, environmental conditions and critical job-site parameters in real time. By delivering actionable insights from locations that may otherwise be difficult or costly to monitor, Wedge helps customers identify potential issues earlier, reduce risk and make more informed operational decisions.
"Wedge is more than a monitoring solution," said Kristen Bauer, Advanced Solutions, United Rentals. "It's part of our broader vision for a connected worksite where real-time data helps customers make faster decisions, reduce risk and keep projects moving forward."
From large construction projects and industrial facilities to critical infrastructure and temporary power applications, customers use Wedge to gain visibility into changing conditions and respond proactively before small issues become larger operational challenges.
United Rentals is the largest equipment rental company in the world. Based in Stamford, Connecticut, the company has an integrated network of 1,663 rental locations in North America, 41 in Europe, 45 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand.
Ditch Witch
Ditch Witch established a new partnership with Oklahoma Wildcatters, which competes in the PBR Teams league. The agreement unites two Oklahoma organizations defined by resilience, instinct and the ability to deliver when the pressure is on.
In professional bull riding, everything comes down to eight critical seconds. On the job site, underground construction crews face moments where timelines tighten and every decision carries weight. Whether it's covering the ride or completing a critical bore, success depends on focus, preparation and execution when it matters most.
"For us, this partnership reflects a shared mentality," said Kevin Smith, president of Ditch Witch. "Our customers and these athletes both thrive in rugged environments where time is money. It's a natural fit because they are both built the same way. Built like you."
"Ditch Witch represents many of the same qualities our team and fans value," said Brandon Bates, CEO, Oklahoma Wildcatters. "This partnership brings together two organizations connected by resilience, earned trust and the ability to deliver in demanding situations."
Headquartered in Perry, Oklahoma, Ditch Witch has supported underground construction crews for more than 75 years, designing rugged and reliable equipment to help crews operate confidently in unpredictable environments all over the world.
As part of the partnership, Ditch Witch branding will appear throughout the Wildcatters season alongside fan engagement activities and promotional initiatives throughout the year. Wildcatter Days will be held July 31 to Aug. 2 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Tickets can be purchased at pbr.com or thewildcatters.com.
Lane Construction
Steel City Tunnel Partners was awarded a $1 billion contract to construct the Ohio River Tunnel.
This project is a key component of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority's (ALCOSAN) Clean Water Plan, a multi-billion-dollar program designed to significantly improve water quality throughout the Pennsylvania region.
Representing a transformative investment in regional water infrastructure, the Ohio River Tunnel project includes construction of approximately 4.9 miles of deep tunnel, multiple shafts, regulator structures, and associated near-surface facilities designed to capture and convey wet weather, combined sewer flows for treatment.
Once complete, the system will capture and convey excess wet weather flows, reducing combined sewer overflows into regional waterways by approximately 7 billion gallons annually.
The Ohio River Tunnel is the first of three major deep tunnels planned under ALCOSAN's Regional Tunnel System, a long-term program designed to significantly reduce sewer overflows and protect the region's waterways for generations to come. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with completion contributing to long-term improvements in water quality, regulatory compliance, and regional infrastructure resilience.
Steel City Tunnel Partners reflects an equal partnership between Lane Construction Corporation and Brayman Construction Corporation.
Lane, the U.S. subsidiary of Webuild Group, will provide project management and major tunneling operations, drawing on its extensive experience delivering complex underground infrastructure nationwide. Supported by the global capabilities of its parent company, Webuild, Lane has constructed more than 100 miles of tunnel across over 200 projects valued in billions of dollars.
Brayman, a Pittsburgh-based contractor serving the Eastern United States, will oversee key heavy civil and shaft construction activities, combining deep regional knowledge with a strong track record of delivering technically demanding infrastructure projects in challenging conditions.
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