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  Herk & Associates Recruiting Team

The Hiring Challenges Every Equipment Dealership Is Facing Right Now

Running a successful equipment dealership has never been more complex. Today's dealerships are balancing growing customer expectations, expanding territories, multiple branch locations, evolving equipment technology, and increasing competition — all while trying to attract and retain the people who keep the business moving forward.

Whether you're hiring a Branch Manager, Sales Representative, Parts Manager, Service Manager, General Manager, or executive leader, finding experienced talent has become one of the biggest challenges facing equipment dealerships today.

That's why many dealerships are turning to recruiters who understand how equipment dealerships operate.

Equipment dealership hiring has changed

The hiring market has shifted significantly over the past several years. Experienced dealership professionals are in high demand, and the strongest candidates are rarely unemployed or actively searching for a new role. They're already leading branches, growing territories, managing operations, and supporting customers for another dealership or equipment organization.

At the same time, many dealerships are expanding through acquisitions, opening new locations, or growing into additional territories — creating an even greater demand for experienced leadership and sales professionals.

Hiring today requires a proactive approach and a recruiting partner with industry relationships.

Common hiring challenges equipment dealerships face

Across North America, dealerships continue to face many of the same hiring obstacles:

• Competition for experienced dealership professionals
• Expansion into new markets and territories
• Multi-location growth and acquisitions
• Candidates being actively recruited by competitors
• Succession planning for key leadership positions
• Building leadership teams that support long-term growth
• Finding professionals who understand dealership operations and customer relationships

The challenge isn't simply filling an open position — it's finding someone who understands the unique environment of an equipment dealership.

Equipment dealership positions we recruit

At Herk & Associates, we recruit for leadership, sales, operations, and product support positions across equipment dealerships throughout North America.

Whether you're replacing a retiring leader or building an entirely new management team, we understand the experience required to succeed within an equipment dealership.

Why equipment dealership experience matters

Equipment dealerships operate differently than many other businesses. Success depends on the ability to balance equipment sales, aftermarket support, customer service, parts operations, rentals, and long-term customer relationships.

The professionals leading these departments need more than management experience — they need an understanding of dealership operations, manufacturer relationships, and the equipment industry itself.

Because our recruiters specialize exclusively in the heavy equipment industry, we understand what successful dealership leaders look like and where to find them.

A recruiting partner who understands dealerships

For more than 25 years, Herk & Associates has partnered with equipment dealerships across North America. As active members of the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), we stay connected to the trends shaping the equipment industry. Our team also participates in major events such as the AED Summit and CONEXPO-CON/AGG, helping us maintain strong relationships throughout the dealer and manufacturer community.

That industry involvement allows us to better understand the hiring challenges that dealerships face today — and anticipate the ones they'll face tomorrow.

What our clients say

Strong recruiting partnerships are built on communication, responsiveness, and industry expertise. Here's what one dealership organization had to say about working with Herk & Associates:

"Our Talent Acquisition Team at Alta Equipment Group had a great experience working with Herk & Associates. Their recruitment services and industry-specific job board helped us effectively reach qualified candidates for our roles. The team was responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to work with throughout the process. I highly recommend their services to companies in the equipment industry."

— Alta Equipment Group

Dealerships we support

We partner with equipment dealerships across a variety of industries, including:

• Construction equipment dealerships
• Agriculture equipment dealerships
• Material handling dealerships
• Heavy-duty truck dealerships
• Trailer dealerships
• Municipal and specialized equipment dealerships
• Equipment rental dealerships
• Multi-location dealership groups

Whether you're growing through acquisitions, expanding your footprint, or strengthening your leadership team, our recruiters understand the unique hiring challenges facing today's dealerships.