Two of the largest heavy-equipment dealership associations in North America plan to merge, bringing together dealers in the agriculture and construction markets.
The North American Equipment Dealers Association and Associated Equipment Distributors will operate as Associated Equipment Dealers starting in January for the U.S. and Canada.
“This merger is about putting dealers first and positioning our industry for the future,” said Steve Hunt, chairman of the NAEDA board of directors and president of ag equipment dealership H&R Agri-Power Inc. “NAEDA and AED each bring strengths to the table. Together, we can preserve what our members value most while expanding what we can accomplish on their behalf. This is about becoming stronger, more effective and more valuable to the dealers we serve.”
According to NAEDA’s website, current membership sits at 3,500 dealers across North America covering the agriculture, industrial, forestry and outdoor power sectors in all 50 states and all but two Canadian provinces.
AED membership covers 1,000 companies worldwide representing more than 7,800 dealer locations across North America covering construction, agriculture, mining, forestry, power generation and industrial applications.
Powered byAED also boasts 200 heavy-, general- and light-machinery manufacturers as members and 170 companies marketing services to equipment dealers in financing, information technology, insurance, publishing and consulting.
NAEDA has traditionally worked with ag equipment dealerships, while AED’s membership primarily focused on dealers of construction equipment.
The combined organizations will have, according to a press release, greater ability to reach policymakers, manufacturers and industry stakeholders to advocate for dealers. Both associations offer education, workforce development, research, events and member services to dealerships.
The combining of NAEDA and AED follows several other high-profile dealership association mergers in 2024: the AED's absorption of the Canadian Equipment Dealers Association and NAEDA's merger with the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association.
