NAPLES, Fla., April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation (hertzequip.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), has been awarded a new contract with the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance(TM) (U.S. Communities(TM)), continuing their five year partnership for an additional three years. The U.S. Communities cooperative provides a procurement resource for local and state government agencies, school districts (K-12), higher education and non-profit organizations. Through this new contract, registered users will benefit from access to equipment rental products and solutions, including brand new programs and services.

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Lois Boyd, President of Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, said: "We have been working with government agencies for more than 30 years, providing rental equipment for times when ownership may not make financial sense. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with the U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance and combine our government experience, knowledge and service into a program specifically geared towards meeting the equipment needs of government agencies."

The exclusive contract was awarded through a competitive tender process conducted by the lead public agency, North Carolina State University, a U.S. Communities Advisory Board member. Through its U.S. Communities partnership, Hertz Equipment offers pricing programs designed to provide increased savings based on the level of commitment from the participating agencies. These cover options for rentals as well as the purchase of new and used equipment.

In addition, standby contracts for power generation and disaster relief are now available to ensure that participant's communities are ready in case of emergency. Safety training for aerial and forklift equipment can also be provided to individuals and groups within an agency's organization.

"Our U.S. Communities contract allows us to offer cost-effective solutions to meet standard and specialized equipment rental needs," Boyd continued. "The competitively-bid contract fulfills bidding requirements without the issuance of a public bid, helping to off-set overtime, legal and advertising costs. With over 1500 rental items available and discounts based on more than 55,000 registered U.S. Communities participating agencies, Hertz Equipment Rental stands ready to help."

U.S. Communities is able to leverage the purchasing power of more than 90,000 government agencies nationwide. With no cost to participate and no minimum order restriction, any size agency has the ability to rent equipment at volume discount prices that they may not have been able to attain on their own prior to becoming a participant. In addition, U.S. Communities' participating agency participants will not be charged an Environmental Recovery Fee and a fuel surcharge will not be applied to their rentals.

About U.S. Communities

U.S. Communities is the leading national government purchasing cooperative, providing world class government procurement resources and solutions to local and state government agencies, school districts (K-12), higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. U.S. Communities was founded in 1996 as a partnership between the Association of School Business Officials, the National Association of Counties, the Institute for Public Procurement, the National League of Cities and the United States Conference of Mayors.

About Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation

Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation (www.hertzequip.com) - a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hertz Corporation since 1965 - operates one of the world's largest equipment rental businesses, offering a diverse line of equipment and tools for rent and sale. Products include aerial manlifts, air compressors and tools, earthmoving equipment and power generators, forklifts and material handling equipment, pumps, and trucks and trailers. Hertz Equipment also offers programs and equipment through its customer programs for Aerial, Energy, Entertainment, Government, HERC360 Fleet Management, Industrial Plants, National Accounts and Safety. With approximately 360 locations in the United States, Canada, China, France, Spain and Saudi Arabia as well as through international licensees, Hertz Equipment Rental offers daily, weekly, monthly and long-term rentals, tools and supplies, as well as new and used equipment for sale.

About The Hertz Corporation

Hertz operates its car rental business through the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly brands from approximately 10,400 corporate, licensee and franchisee locations in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East and New Zealand. Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,800 corporate and licensee locations in approximately 150 countries. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 111 major airports in Europe. Dollar and Thrifty have approximately 1,580 corporate and franchisee locations in approximately 80 countries. Hertz is an inaugural member of Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards Hall of Fame and was recently named, for the thirteenth time, by the magazine's readers as the Best Car Rental Agency. Hertz was also voted the Best Overall Car Rental Company in Zagat's 2013/14 U.S. Car Rental Survey, earning top honors in 10 additional categories, and the Company swept the global awards for Best Rewards Program and Best Overall Benefits from FlyerTalk.com. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, NeverLost®, and unique cars and SUVs offered through the Company's Adrenaline, Prestige and Green Traveler Collections, also set Hertz apart from the competition. Additionally, Hertz owns the vehicle leasing and fleet management leader Donlen Corporation and operates the Hertz 24/7 hourly car rental business. Hertz also operates one of the world's largest equipment rental businesses, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, through approximately 350 branches in the United States, Canada, China, France, Spain and Saudi Arabia, as well as through its international licensees.

CONTACT: Zoe White
+44 1895 553 887
zoewhite@hertz.com

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SOURCE The Hertz Corporation