70 Years and Counting

Anniversaries are a natural time to look back, but at Hugg & Hall Equipment Co., we’re just as excited about what’s ahead. As we celebrate 70 years of serving the industrial and construction markets with exceptional products, service and people, we reflect on the journey that brought us here and look toward the opportunities still to come.

Building the Foundation

Our story began in Arkansas in 1956, when the company was founded as Lift Truck Sales & Service Corporation. As a distributor for Clark Equipment Co., a manufacturer of industrial forklifts, the company established its roots in the material-handling industry.

By 1960, the company had become Clarklift of Arkansas. A decade later, Charles Hugg purchased the business and expanded operations to Little Rock and Fort Smith. With just 22 employees at the time, the company had a small but ambitious team ready for growth.

The next chapter began in July 1990, when John Hugg and Robert Hall purchased Clarklift. Their leadership positioned the company for another major milestone. In May 1995, Clarklift acquired the stock of Hugg Equipment Company, marking the beginning of a new era. From that point forward, the company began operating as Hugg & Hall Equipment Company.

What began as a small Arkansas forklift distributor grew through decades of leadership, expansion and strategic growth, laying the foundation for the company we know today.

Milestones That Moved Us Forward

Growth has always meant more than expanding our footprint. Over the years, strategic acquisitions and partnerships have strengthened our capabilities, expanded our markets and helped us serve customers more effectively. Each milestone has shaped who we are today while building a stronger foundation for what comes next.

2011 | Expanding into Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma

We entered a new phase of growth with the acquisition of Arkla Taylor, a Taylor Machine Works dealer serving Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. This acquisition expanded our reach and strengthened our regional presence.

2012 | Strengthening Our Oklahoma Presence

The following year, we acquired Westquip, a Toyota Material Handling dealer serving central Oklahoma. This acquisition expanded our capabilities and helped establish us as a leading construction and industrial equipment provider in Arkansas and Oklahoma.

2016 | Entering New Markets

We expanded again with the acquisition of RPM Services and Rental, adding locations in Houma, Broussard and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. With 13 locations across the region, the acquisition opened new markets, including onshore commercial and construction as well as offshore oil and gas.

2019 | Aligning for the Future

In 2019, we entered a strategic agreement with Scott Equipment Company LLC, trading Volvo and Toyota manufacturer territories in

Louisiana and Arkansas. The agreement helped both companies better align their product offerings with their business models and target markets. For us, it expanded core operations, streamlined manufacturer relationships and created greater value for customers.

2022 | Expanding Toyota Across Oklahoma

Our growth continued with the acquisition of Southern Material Handling Company, expanding our Toyota presence throughout eastern Oklahoma. This move strengthened our position across the state and connected more customers to our growing network.

2024 | A New Partnership with Hitachi Construction

After 14 years, Hitachi Construction began rebuilding its dealer network and selected us as its new Arkansas dealer. The partnership expanded our product offerings and reinforced manufacturer confidence in our team and our commitment to serving customers.

The Story Continues  

As we celebrate 70 years, we do so with gratitude for the people, customers, manufacturers and communities that have shaped our journey. From our beginnings as a small Arkansas forklift distributor to a regional equipment leader, our story has always been built on service, relationships and a commitment to doing the job right.

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