Understanding the state of the construction industry can help organizations make better leasing, purchasing and selling decisions. So what trends made a big impact in 2013, and what’s on the horizon for 2014?

From an increased demand for well-maintained equipment to a resurgence in residential building, there are a lot of issues that will affect equipment leasing and ownership this year. John Gougeon, Major Accounts Manager of Financial Services at IronPlanet takes a step back to analyze the state of the industry in his blog post for Equipment Finance Advisor.

Check out a recent interview between our CEO, Greg Owens, and Rental Management magazine editor, Wayne Walley. Learn more about how we make buying and selling used equipment fast and easy and the advantages of our IronClad Assurance buyer protection program.

Greg discusses how IronPlanet’s online model allows sellers to reach a global buyer base more efficiently and provides buyers access to equipment located around the world. Plus, read about the inspection and transportation processes as well as our history, strategy, and insight regarding key industry issues such as Tier 4 machines. View the full interview here or in the Feb. 2014 print issue.

Our online marketplace helps equipment owners efficiently and conveniently acquire what they need. For Canadian businesses involved in the oil and gas industry, 2014 has the potential to be an active year., meaning a variety of equipment will be in demand.

So which projects in Canada will affect equipment ownership? Read our latest column in Equipment Journal by Sue McGregor, IronPlanet's Managing Director of Canada, to learn more. Our download it here: Pipeline Plans

IronPlanet®, a leading online marketplace for used heavy equipment, announced today a strategic alliance including a small minority investment with Mascus, an online marketplace for construction equipment, transportation vehicles and trucks and agricultural, forestry, material handling, equipment, headquartered in the Netherlands.

The agreement includes the seamless integration of the two sites with new remarketing services to aid the ease, speed and availability of equipment. Advertisers on Mascus will now be able to quickly and efficiently push items listed on Mascus to IronPlanet for auction, further enhancing equipment disposition and speed to liquidity. In addition, buyers on IronPlanet will have greater access to the entire inventory of listings on Mascus. Sellers of used heavy equipment are increasingly moving from traditional publications and land-based auctions to the global reach and instant access of online marketplaces like IronPlanet and Mascus. Likewise, buyers of equipment turn to the Internet to find the equipment they need at the price they are willing to pay within the quick timeframe they desire. The alliance will provide the transparency of availability, pricing and location not available in printed publications and traditional auctions.

With the New Year now in full swing, it’s time to get ready for a busy season of industry conventions. We are a proud sponsor of the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) Summit & CONDEX, kicking off this week in Houston, Texas. As an international trade association, AED represents companies involved in construction, mining, forestry, agriculture and more. The annual three-day show brings together industry distributors, manufacturers, service providers, and more to learn about new services and products, network with peers and attend educational sessions.

With the New Year in full swing, it's time to look back at the trends that shaped Canada's construction industry in 2013 and and make predictions for the coming year. From mining and road building struggles to an upswing in forestry and oil and gas activity and Tier 4 engine adoption, there is a lot to cover.

Learn more about the issues that could impact your business in the next year by downloading our article "A Look Back and a View Forward," or reading it in the Dec. 23 issue of Equipment Journal.

With the winter upon us, organizations should consider selling their idle equipment. Heavy equipment loses value over time, and if a piece of equipment is not put to work, it’s actually costing owners money. What are the advantages of moving equipment outside the local market and how can sellers get their equipment in front of buyers around the world? Find out more in the latest IronPlanet column, "Going Global: Moving Equipment Outside of Your Area" in the Dec. 2 issue of Equipment Journal.

With colder and more hazardous weather right around the corner, Canadian equipment owners have some serious decisions to make about which items to keep in their fleets and which to sell.

In the Aug. 19 issue of Equipment Journal, Sue McGregor, IronPlanet's Managing Director of Canada, explains how online used equipment auctions can help owners of road-building equipment during the off-season. Check out "Never Out of Season: Road-building and Paving Equipment" here.

IronPlanet®, a leading online marketplace for used heavy equipment, will host an auction on May 2 featuring late-model, well-maintained trucks, trailers and equipment located throughout Texas.

Items include a 2005 Mack CHN613 T/A Conventional Day Cab, three 2009 Troxell 130-Barrel T/A Vacuum Trailers, four 2006-2004 Mack CH613 T/A Truck Tractors as well as pickup trucks, dump trucks, flatbed trucks, skid-steer loaders, hydraulic excavators and more.

Every three years, professionals from the construction industry come together in Munich at bauma, the international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment. This year marks the 30th gathering of the world’s largest trade fair, taking place April 15-21, 2013. More than 420,000 visitors from 200 countries are expected to walk the 570,000 square meters of exhibition space. More than 3,300 exhibitors from 54 countries will showcase their innovations and services.