National Trench Safety

What National Trench Safety does

National Trench Safety (NTS), founded in 2003 and headquartered in Houston, Texas, is the largest pure-play trench and traffic safety solutions provider in the United States. The company rents, sells, and engineers protective systems for excavation work, serving underground construction contractors, energy infrastructure operators, and municipal/government agencies through a network of 70+ branch locations across the US and two UK-based branches. Its customer base exceeds 4,000 accounts, and the company operates 251-500 employees.

NTS's core product line includes steel and aluminum trench shields (including a modular aluminum box shield system transportable by pickup truck and assembled by hand), hydraulic shoring systems, slide rail systems, road and trench plates, traffic control equipment, and specialty products. The company holds proprietary technology, most notably the Load Measuring Telemetric Pin — a first-in-industry wireless sensor that continuously measures bending forces in shoring walls and transmits data to monitoring websites with mobile alerts. The Hydralifter hydraulic panel puller offers 50-100 tonne lifting force operated from excavator cabs. Engineering services and OSHA-compliant training (Competent Person for Excavation Safety, Confined Space Construction Awareness, Confined Space General Industry) complement the equipment portfolio, creating a vertically integrated safety solutions offering.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: usage-based equipment rentals (the largest, with optional Rental Protection Plan at 16% of rental charges), one-time equipment sales via branch locations and a Shopify e-commerce storefront, professional services for safety training, and professional engineering services for site-specific trench and traffic control plans. Go-to-market is direct-to-customer through the branch network with local sales teams, supplemented by inside sales/quote requests, an online store, and digital content marketing via the Expert Corner blog. NTS is privately held by Tailwind Capital following a 2023 reorganization that combined NTS with Trench Plate Rental Company (TPRC) after Stonebridge Partners exited.

Name

National Trench Safety

Legal name

National Trench Safety, LLC

Website

https://ntsafety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

National Trench Safety is the largest US pure-play trench and traffic safety solutions provider, renting, selling, and engineering shoring equipment, hydraulic systems, and traffic control products through 70+ US/UK branch locations serving 4,000+ underground construction, energy, and municipal customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental & Safety Services

NAICS

Utility System Construction (2371), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Site Preparation Contractors (23891)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Trench Safety & Shoring Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work Zone Traffic Control Device Supply & Rental (Cones, Drums, Barricades, Delineators) (TLAJALAB), Trenching & Utility Excavation (IMAFAKAD), Construction Safety & Site Safety Management (EDABAEAL)

Keywords

• Trench shoring equipment
• Excavation safety solutions
• Traffic control equipment
• OSHA safety training
• Construction equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rentals: Rental of trench shoring equipment including steel/aluminum shields, slide rail systems, hydraulic shoring, road plates, and specialty trench safety equipment. Revenue from recurring rental charges with optional Rental Protection Plan at 16% of rental charges.
2. Equipment Sales: Direct sales of trench and traffic safety equipment including new and used shoring systems, trench plates, and related products through branch locations and online store.
3. Safety Training Services: OSHA-compliant training courses including Confined Space Construction Awareness, Competent Person for Excavation Safety, and Confined Space General Industry. Offered in-person and virtually.
4. Engineering Services: Site-specific engineered trench safety systems, traffic control plans, and engineering consultation for complex excavation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Trench Safety rents, sells, and engineers trench shoring and traffic safety equipment for underground construction and excavation projects. The company also delivers OSHA-compliant safety training courses and site-specific engineering services through a network of 70+ branch locations across the United States and the United Kingdom.

Product overview

National Trench Safety operates as a comprehensive trench and traffic safety solutions provider offering both physical products and services. The product portfolio centers on protective equipment for excavation work: Road and Trench Plates for covering open excavations, Shields (including steel trench boxes and Modular Aluminum Box Shields) providing soil protection, Hydraulic Shoring systems, and Slide Rail Systems for engineered applications. Specialty offerings include the Load Measuring Telemetric Pin for real-time load monitoring. The company complements its equipment with Safety Training Services (Competent Person, Confined Space training), Engineering Services for site-specific designs, and an Online Store for direct purchases. Services are delivered through a network of 70+ branch locations across the US and UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Road and Trench Plates Steel plate trench covers for protecting excavations and open pits in streets and work zones; rented and sold to construction and municipal customers.
• Shields (Trench Boxes) Protective trench shield systems providing soil support during excavations, available in steel and aluminum configurations for various trench depths and conditions.
• Modular Aluminum Box Shields Lightweight, modular aluminum trench shields that can be assembled by a two-man crew, transported as components, and used in trenches up to 25 feet deep.
• Hydraulic Shoring Aluminum hydraulic shoring systems providing proactive soil support for trench excavations, compliant with OSHA Subpart P requirements.
• Slide Rail Systems Trench shoring systems used as an alternative to wood or steel sheeting, featuring easy installation, depths up to 8.5m via extension rails, and minimal vibration during installation and removal.
• Engineered Systems Site-specific engineered trench safety systems and traffic control plans designed by professional engineers for complex excavation projects.
• Traffic Control Equipment Equipment for managing work zone traffic and ensuring safety around excavations and construction sites.
• Specialty Trench Safety Products Specialized products for niche trench safety applications including composite mats, handrail systems, ladder access platforms, and davit arms.
• Load Measuring Telemetric Pin Wireless load monitoring system for shoring equipment that measures bending forces and transmits data to a website, enabling real-time continuous monitoring and cell phone notifications when design parameters are exceeded.
• Competent Person for Excavation Safety Training OSHA-compliant training course meeting OSHA criteria for supervisors overseeing underground activities, excavation safety, and site safety.
• Confined Space Construction Awareness Training Safety course teaching participants about confined spaces in construction, associated hazards, and proper safety procedures and regulations.
• Confined Space General Industry Training Training addressing duties and responsibilities of OSHA-required positions for employees working in confined spaces in general industry settings.
• Engineering Services Comprehensive engineering services including site-specific trench safety plans, engineered trench safety systems, and traffic control plans delivered by in-house professional engineers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves 4,000+ customers across US and UK underground construction market
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vortex Training Group LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026NTS UK division acquired major stake in Vortex Training Group Ltd, enhancing training capabilities and market position in the UK.
• MGFcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 April 2025Partnership with MGF (Manufacturing, General Purpose) to enhance market expansion in the United States, expanding distribution and service capabilities for trench safety solutions.
• Trench Plate Rental Company (TPRC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2023Merger partner in 2023 transaction organized by Tailwind Capital, combining NTS and TPRC to create expanded trench safety solutions provider.
• NUCA (National Utility Contractors Association)minorOthersSilver National Partnership; supports NUCA Trench Safety Stand Down initiatives and industry safety awareness programs.
• NAXSA (North American Excavation Shoring Association)minorOthersActive member of NAXSA, supporting excavation shoring industry standards and safety initiatives.
• ARA (American Rental Association)minorOthersMember of American Rental Association supporting equipment rental industry standards.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mabey Hire: UK-based temporary works and shoring hire specialist providing excavation support, propping, and groundworks equipment. Comparable to NTS as a UK-focused trench shoring rental and engineering peer serving similar infrastructure and construction customers in NTS's secondary market.
• Speed Shore Corporation: US manufacturer and renter of trench shoring products including hydraulic and aluminum systems. Comparable to NTS as a direct competitor in the pure-play trench safety category, particularly on the shoring equipment side of NTS's product mix.
• Pro-Tec Equipment: US-based trench shoring equipment manufacturer and renter serving underground construction contractors. Overlaps with NTS in trench shields and shoring rentals and competes for the same contractor customer base, though smaller and more regionally concentrated.
• MGF: UK-based trench shoring and temporary works specialist that entered a partnership with NTS in April 2025. Directly comparable as a pure-play trench shoring rental and engineering provider serving UK construction contractors — same product categories, same customer base, same business model.

Broad incumbents

• Ahern Rentals: Privately held US equipment rental company offering a broad fleet including trench shoring, shoring shields, and excavation support equipment. Comparable to NTS in trench safety rentals but with a broader industrial and construction equipment mix and primarily Western US footprint.
• United Rentals: The largest equipment rental company in the world with a trench safety specialty line covering shoring, road plates, and confined space equipment. Overlaps with NTS in trench safety rentals but serves customers from a much broader generalist fleet across industrial, infrastructure, and commercial markets.
• Sunbelt Rentals: One of the largest equipment rental companies in North America with a trench safety division offering shoring, shielding, and excavation support. Comparable to NTS because it competes in the same trench safety rental category, but operates at a much larger scale across many equipment categories and is not a pure-play.

Regional players

• National Equipment Dealers: US heavy equipment dealer and rental operator serving construction customers across multiple states with shoring and excavation support equipment. Partial overlap with NTS in trench safety rentals, but operates primarily on the East Coast and with broader heavy equipment lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/national-trench-safety-llc-170011716473330
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-trench-safety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Trench Safety