What Trenchless Rental Solutions does

Trenchless Rental Solutions (TRS) is a privately held, family-owned authorized dealer of trenchless underground construction equipment, founded in 2005 by James S. Barbera as Barbco Rental Systems and rebranded under its current name in late 2015. The company operates from East Canton, Ohio, with a roughly six-person team that includes the founder's children in sales and operational roles. TRS distributes and supports equipment manufactured by Barbco (auger boring machines, horizontal directional drills, guided boring systems, cutting heads, augers, and accessories), Pioneer One (air hammers and reamers), and PLG Technologies (Casing Compass). Its portfolio extends across the full lifecycle of trenchless installation — from compact 30-series boring machines producing 254,000 lbs of thrust up to heavy 60/72-series units producing over 1.27 million lbs of thrust, and horizontal directional drills ranging from 40,000 to 250,000 lbs of pullback — alongside precision line-and-grade systems such as the TriBor hybrid machine, Pathfinder Guided Boring System, and Boring Machine Tunnel Attachment.

TRS monetizes through a multi-stream business model: short- and long-term equipment rentals, sales of new and certified pre-owned equipment, factory-direct parts, on-site and in-shop service and repair, full machine refurbishments (driveline rebuilds, hydraulic repair, steel work, electrical updates, refinishing), and factory-certified operator training. The company also offers financing and rent-to-own arrangements through CrestCapital. Pricing is quote-based across all streams; no public rate cards are disclosed. Sales is delivered through dedicated field representatives supported by an online quote-request workflow, with all commercial activity routed through the Ohio headquarters.

TRS primarily serves underground construction contractors across the United States, with secondary exposure to oil and gas pipeline contractors and government/municipal utility projects that require non-disruptive installation methods. Its stated differentiators are one-stop access to multiple manufacturers' trenchless product lines, factory-direct parts, jobsite service support, and refurbishment capability that delivers near-new performance at a fraction of new-equipment cost. The company is a member of NUCA, NASTT, NUCA of Ohio, the Trenchless Technology Center, and the Canton Chamber of Commerce.

Name

Trenchless Rental Solutions

Legal name

Trenchless Rental Solutions

Website

https://trs.rent

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Trenchless Rental Solutions is a family-owned, authorized dealer of Barbco, Pioneer One, and PLG Technologies trenchless equipment, serving underground construction contractors nationwide with rentals, sales, parts, service, refurbishments, and training from its East Canton, Ohio headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

East Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Rentals: Short-term and long-term rental of trenchless equipment including auger boring machines, horizontal directional drills, and accessories. Provides flexible access to equipment for contractors with varying project needs.
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and certified pre-owned trenchless equipment from manufacturers such as Barbco and Pioneer One. Includes auger boring machines, directional drills, augers, cutting heads, and accessories.
3. Parts Sales: Factory-direct parts from Barbco and other manufacturers to keep equipment performing at optimal levels. Wide selection of replacement parts for all supported equipment.
4. Service and Repair: Expert on-site and in-shop service for all trenchless equipment. Jobsite service and support to minimize downtime for contractors.
5. Equipment Refurbishments: Full machine restorations and refurbishments including driveline rebuilds, hydraulic repairs, steel work, electrical updates, and full paint refinishing. Extends equipment life at fraction of new equipment cost.
6. Training Services: Factory-certified training covering basic auger boring to advanced techniques and pilot tube systems for crews of all experience levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Trenchless Rental Solutions (TRS) is an authorized dealer of Barbco, Pioneer One, and PLG Technologies trenchless equipment, providing rentals, new and certified pre-owned sales, factory-direct parts, on-site and in-shop service, machine refurbishments, and factory-certified operator training. The company supplies auger boring machines, horizontal directional drills, line-and-grade equipment, cutting heads, augers, and guided boring tooling to underground construction contractors across the United States.

Product overview

Trenchless Rental Solutions is an authorized dealer of Barbco and Pioneer One trenchless equipment, offering a comprehensive portfolio of rental and sales solutions for the underground construction industry. The product lineup centers on Barbco's complete range of auger boring machines (compact to 1.2M+ lb thrust), horizontal directional drills (40K-250K lb pullback), guided boring systems (TriBor hybrid, Pathfinder GBM, BMTA), and precision line/grade equipment. Supporting products include multiple auger styles (standard, sand, Xtreme, custom), full cutting head lines for all ground conditions (sand through 30,000 psi hard rock), guided boring tooling, and specialized accessories (bentonite pumps, casing adapters, steering systems). The company also distributes PLG Technologies' Casing Compass and Pioneer One air hammers/reamers. Beyond equipment, TRS provides full-service capabilities including rental, new/used sales, factory-direct parts, certified training, and machine refurbishments—positioning itself as a one-stop partner for contractors across the country.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Barbco Auger Boring Machines A full line of hydraulic auger boring machines for pushing casing through earth, ranging from compact 30-series models (67 hp, 254,470 lbs thrust) to heavy-duty 60/72-series machines (up to 228 hp, 1,272,345 lbs thrust), including Remote Cradle Boring Machines (RCBM) for oil and gas pipeline installations.
• Barbco Horizontal Directional Drills A comprehensive line of horizontal directional drills ranging from compact BD40HP (40,000 lbs pullback) to maxi rigs for large-diameter drilling projects, with models from BD60 through BD250HP with pulling forces from 40,000 to 250,000 lbs.
• Barbco Line and Grade Equipment (TriBor, Pathfinder, BMTA) Precision-guided boring equipment including the TriBor hybrid machine combining auger boring, guided boring and HDD; Pathfinder Guided Boring Machine (PF500/PF1000) for accurate casing installations up to 60 inches; and BMTA Boring Machine Tunneling Attachment (48-84 inches) with 360-degree steering control.
• Barbco Auger Flight Systems American-made auger flighting systems using DOM steel tubing with 1/2-inch thick steel flighting, including standard augers (2-1/4" to 6" hex, 12"-84" diameter), Slip Hex O-Ring augers, sand augers, Xtreme augers, and custom plastic-laminated augers.
• Barbco Cutting Heads Full line of cutting heads for various ground conditions including sand, dirt, combo (dirt/rock), stump/soft rock, hard formation, flat face rock, and Christmas tree rock styles, built with A36 steel plate frames and replaceable cutters, lead bits, over cutters, and hex drive.
• Barbco Hard Rock Cutting Heads (BBC55, BBC-60 DCH) Heavy-duty rock cutting heads including the BBC55 Collapsible Roller Cone Rock Head (12"-60", rated up to 20,000 psi) and BBC-60 DCH Disc Cutter Heads (24"-48", rated up to 30,000 psi) for the toughest ground conditions.
• Barbco Guided Boring Tooling Tooling for guided boring applications including Knife Reaming Heads for soft ground, Conventional BBC-25/35 Cutting Heads for medium/firm ground, and BBC55 Retractable Roller Cone Heads for weathered to competent rock up to 15,000 psi.
• Barbco Tools and Accessories Complete line of Barbco accessories including heavy-duty casing adapters, Bentonite tank systems (B300, B500, B700) for drilling fluid, Grade Steering Systems kits, and hex sleeve adapters (1-5/8" to 6").
• FlexBor System Patented hybrid trenchless system combining auger boring with directional drilling to virtually eliminate frac-outs and inadvertent returns, allowing shorter drill lengths with achievable bend radius, minimum cover in wetlands, and mechanically controlled cuttings in casing.
• PLG Casing Compass Precision boring tool combining a water level discharge with a 2-axis grade sensor that illuminates the water level inside casing, allowing operators to check line and grade without pulling augers.
• Pioneer One Air Hammers and Reamers Pioneer One air hammers and reamers for trenchless drilling applications, available through TRS as an authorized dealer.
• Equipment Rental, Sales, Service, Parts, Training, and Refurbishments Full-service trenchless equipment provider offering short- and long-term rentals, new and certified used equipment sales, on-site and shop service, factory-direct parts, factory-certified operator training, and complete machine restorations/refurbishments including driveline rebuilds, hydraulic repairs, steel work, electrical updates, and full paint and refinishing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Refurbishment delivers near-new performance at fraction of new equipment cost
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barbco Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBarbco Inc. is the primary equipment manufacturer for TRS. TRS is an Authorized Dealer and self-described largest distributor of Barbco equipment including auger boring machines, directional drills, augers, cutting heads, and guided boring systems. Products include TriBor hybrid machines, Pathfinder guided boring systems, and specialized tooling.
• Pioneer OneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPioneer One products including Air Hammers and Reamers are offered by TRS. Products are coming soon according to the product lines page.
• PLG TechnologiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPLG Technologies products including the Casing Compass are sold by TRS. The Casing Compass combines water level discharge with 2-axis grade sensor for safer, faster, and more accurate bores.
• National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA)minorOthersProud member of NUCA national organization. Active participation including involvement in government relations events at state level.
• North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT)minorOthersProud member of NASTT. The company references NASTT's promotion of trenchless methods for underground infrastructure installation.
• NUCA of OhiominorOthersState-level chapter membership. TRS actively participates in NUCA Ohio events including Government Relations Events.
• Trenchless Technology CenterminorOthersProud member of the Trenchless Technology Center, a leading research center advancing trenchless methods, innovation, and workforce development.
• Canton Chamber of CommerceminorOthersProud member of the Canton Chamber of Commerce, supporting local business community in Ohio.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• United Rentals: The largest equipment rental company in North America with a growing specialty trench and underground construction rental category. Competes with TRS for contractor rental spend at scale, with broader fleet depth and nationwide branch density.
• Sunbelt Rentals: Major equipment rental provider with a Specialty Rentals segment that includes trench, pump, and underground solutions. Competes with TRS for trenchless equipment rentals from a far larger footprint and balance sheet.
• Ditch Witch (Charles Machine Works): The dominant HDD and underground construction equipment manufacturer in North America, owning competing brands such as HammerHead. Competes with Barbco at the OEM level and operates a national dealer network that overlaps with TRS's contractor customer base.
• Vermeer Corporation: Large, family-owned manufacturer of horizontal directional drills, trenchers, and underground construction equipment that competes head-to-head with Barbco at the OEM level. Vermeer also operates dealer and rental channels that overlap directly with TRS's go-to-market.

Others

• Barbco Inc. Manufacturer of the auger boring machines, HDD rigs, and trenchless tooling that TRS distributes. Functions as a primary supplier and partner, but also represents an adjacent competitive vector if the OEM elects to sell direct or sign competing national dealers.

Direct peers

• HammerHead Trenchless: Brand within the Ditch Witch organization focused on pipe bursting, ramming, and static pull systems. Directly competes with several of the trenchless installation product categories TRS distributes.
• Digital Control Incorporated (DCI): Leading manufacturer of HDD locating and guidance electronics, a critical subsystem of every horizontal directional drill TRS sells or rents. Closely complementary technology provider in the trenchless boring workflow.
• Akkerman: Manufacturer of guided boring, pipe jacking, and microtunneling equipment used in trenchless installations. Competes with Barbco's Pathfinder and BMTA product lines in the precision-guided boring category that TRS supports.
• TT Technologies: Manufacturer of trenchless equipment including static pipe bursting, pneumatic piercing tools, and Grundoburst systems. Competes with Barbco in the trenchless construction equipment category that TRS distributes and rents.

Emerging players

• Pow-R Mole Trenchless Solutions: Smaller trenchless equipment dealer and service provider offering pneumatic moles, pipe bursting, and directional drilling equipment. Most comparable in business model to TRS as a niche specialist dealer, but with a smaller geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/trenchless-rental-solutions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Trenchless Rental Solutions