Discovering Weaknesses
The process also enables HERC to discover its own weaknesses, Dorion says. For example, “The obvious weaknesses we have today are technological ones,” Dorion says. “There’s only so many things we can ask our systems to do,” he says.

Dorion predicts that this will change in the future. “[Global positioning systems are] going to play a bigger role for us,” he says, explaining that these systems will allow the company to monitor its equipment more effectively.

In addition, while HERC has many customers that use its computer systems to check on their own accounts, “[It] wouldn’t surprise me as time goes on [if] customers [will] be able to order their own equipment on-line [and do] their paperwork,” he says.

In the Blood
HERC’s western Canada division enjoys low employee turnover, Dorion says. For instance, in its management and sales departments, many associates carry at least 15 years with HERC.

“It’s a great business that gets in your blood,” Dorion says.  

Those who stay more than six months with the company tend to last long, Dorion says. “Once they understand our culture and what we’re about, we seem to be able to hold onto employees,” he says.

Learning the Ropes
To continue to retaining employees, HERC operates a mentor program that pairs novice workers with “someone who understands the ropes of the company, so he has a bit of a confidant,” Dorion says. “[It also gives them] someone to share his highs and lows of the day with.”
    
Honing Skills
To improve the skills of HERC’s workers, the company also provides online training on subjects such as defensive driving. Currently, “We’re developing more and more online training [programs],” he says.

The company also holds meetings with its employees to discuss their long-term goals. “[We want to] see what their focus is and [help get] them into classes on the outside to help them grow into the positions they’re hoping to move towards,” Dorion explains.

Keeping Safe
The western Canada division has earned awards for its safety concentration, Dorion notes. In the last two years, “We’ve won the President’s Safety Award [from] Hertz,” he says.

Along with providing its employees with online training, “We have a full-time safety manager that takes care of our branches,” Dorion says.

“We [also] have a group of safety instructors that go onsite to teach training in the work platforms.”

A Leader in Rental
Based in Park Ridge, Hertz says it is the leading vehicle rental company in the world, and operates approximately 8,000 locations internationally. Founder Walter L. Jacobs founded the company as a car-rental operation in Chicago in 1918.

Five years later, Jacobs sold his company to John Hertz, the president of Yellow Cab and Yellow Truck Coach and Manufacturing Co. Since then, Hertz says it has grown to become the largest general-use car rental brand in the world and the No. 1 airport car rental brand in the United States.

“Hertz has locations at 69 major airports in Europe, [and operates] both corporate and licensee locations in cities and airports in North America, Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand,” the company states.

“In addition, the company has licensee locations in cities and airports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.”

“Product and service initiatives such as Hertz No. 1 Club Gold, NeverLost customized onboard navigation systems, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the company’s Prestige, Fun and Green Collections set Hertz apart from the competition,” the company states. “Today, Hertz’s Worldwide Reservations Centers handle approximately 40 million phone calls and deliver approximately 30 million reservations annually.”

The company’s other subsidiaries include Hertz Claim Management Corp., a third-party liability administrator that serves major corporations, self-insured entities and the insurance market. The company also has Hertz Local Edition, which provides insurance replacement and car rentals to clients whose cars are in not in service.