The North American Equipment Dealers Association and Associated Equipment Distributors announced plans to merge in January 2027, combining two major organizations representing equipment dealers and distributors across the U.S. and Canada.

The combined organization will operate as Associated Equipment Dealers (AED), with advocacy and industry affairs positioned as central priorities alongside education, workforce development, dealer-manufacturer relations, research, events and member services.

The merger has a target completion date of Jan. 31, 2027, subject to approval by eligible NAEDA dealer members, who are expected to vote on the merger and amended bylaws from approximately Oct. 15 through Nov. 15. Current NAEDA members will automatically become AED members upon completion.

“This merger is about putting dealers first and positioning our industry for the future,” NAEDA Board Chairman and H&R Agri-Power President Steve Hunt said. “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.”

AED Board Chairman and RDO Equipment Executive Vice President Marshall Anderson said combining the organizations will enable them to “align our efforts, strengthen our advocacy and better serve equipment dealers across North America.”

NAEDA represents more than 3,500 equipment dealer locations across North America serving the agricultural, industrial, construction, forestry and outdoor power sectors. Its work centers on government affairs, dealer-manufacturer relations and dealer protections, alongside training, business resources, workforce programs and industry-specific services.

AED — established in 1919 and headquartered in Schaumburg, IL — represents more than 7,800 dealer locations across North America and 1,000 companies worldwide. Its membership encompasses distributors, rental companies and other businesses involved in equipment used in construction, agriculture, mining, forestry, power generation and industrial applications, among other markets. Its services include public policy advocacy, education and career development, research, benchmarking and industry events.

Brian McGuire will serve as President and CEO of the combined AED, which will be headquartered in Schaumburg while maintaining its Canadian headquarters in Calgary, Alberta. In 2027, the organization will operate with a transition board combining both existing boards before moving to a permanent board of approximately 27 members designed to provide representation across industries, including outdoor power equipment.

The organizations also plan to combine their U.S. political action committees and merge the Equipment Dealers Foundation with the AED Foundation, expanding resources for workforce development, education and scholarships. NAEDA programs and benefits are expected to continue through the transition, while overlapping offerings will eventually be consolidated.

MDM Analysis

For distributors serving these equipment markets, watch how quickly AED integrates advocacy, manufacturer relations, training and workforce programs without diluting sector-specific representation. The merger signals further consolidation of the industry’s institutional voice at a time when dealers face overlapping challenges around technician shortages, regulation, right-to-repair policy, technology and manufacturer relationships.

A larger combined association could concentrate resources and increase policymakers’ visibility into dealer priorities. The key test will be whether that added scale translates into stronger common advocacy while preserving the specialized support required by agricultural, construction, industrial, forestry and outdoor power dealers.