Hertz so bad: Car rental agency to shed 4000 jobs

Over the years, when automakers had trouble selling enough vehicles to keep assembly lines cranking, they sold the leftovers to rental car companies. Unfortunately, when the world is embroiled in a nasty economic recession, people don't travel. And when nobody's traveling, the rental car industry takes a dive into the crapper. Hertz, the second largest rental car company in the States, is feeling the pinch along with 12% of its workers. Hertz will cut 4,000 employees in the first quarter, saving the company up to $170 million in 2009. The move to eliminate staff comes after a third-quarter profit of only $17.7 million; 89% lower than in 2007. Hertz will take a one-time charge of up to $25 million in the fourth quarter to pay for the layoffs, which means the balance sheet for the last three months of 2008 aren't going to be pretty.

[Source: Bloomberg]