BONITA SPRINGS — Herc Rentals focused its mission to build brighter futures for students looking to enter the equipment rental, construction and related industries by recently donating two pieces of equipment to Immokalee Technical College (iTech). Following the equipment donation, valued at more than $40,000, local Herc Rentals professionals met with students to share expertise and encouragement as they continue their education in the Heavy Equipment Service Technician program.

The company donated a compact track loader to the iTech Glades Campus, and a mini track loader to the iTech Immokalee Campus.

Herc Rentals has dedicated initiatives, as outlined in its 2025 Corporate Citizenship Report, to enhance education and skill-building opportunities for those interested in the equipment rental industry. While Herc Rentals benefits from building a relationship with educators, students and graduates, the positives extend across the equipment rental and construction industries. High school graduates can find many dynamic opportunities in these industries.

Throughout the next few years, the need to fill 73,500 heavy equipment technician jobs persists, and the equipment rental industry has a job opening rate three times higher than the national average, according to The Equipment Industry Technician Shortage report by Associated Equipment Distributors.

What’s more: The need for skilled technicians is compounded by new job openings and exacerbated by an even higher need to fill positions left open by technicians who retired or left the industry for other reasons, according to the 2024 Supply & Demand Report by TechForce Foundation. This is especially true for diesel technicians.

“Our efforts in 2026 and beyond include ways we can give back to our communities across North America through education and skill-building opportunities as we look to address the shortage of skilled tradespeople in our industry,” said Katie Leone, Director of Sustainability and Social Impact at Herc Rentals. “As part of those efforts, we want to engage our local team members in helping schools, fostering career exposure to our industry. Our people are passionate about that work, and we know that these opportunities to meet with students help inspire the next generation of leaders in our field.”

Having real heavy equipment on which the nearly 40 students in iTech’s program each year can learn servicing techniques is vital to their education.

“Working directly with industry-grade machinery like the items Herc Rentals donated allows our students and future technicians to gain the confidence, technical skills and job-ready experience needed to succeed in both the shop and field environments,” said Neil Elmore, Heavy Equipment Technician Instructor at the iTech Glades campus. “Skilled heavy equipment service techs keep today’s workforce moving, and iTech’s Heavy Equipment Service Technician (HEST) program prepares future technicians to meet that highly skilled, in-demand career field.”

Students in the HEST program agreed.