EquipmentShare Launches Team Orange to Strengthen Disaster Readiness and Community Resilience
EquipmentShare, a leader in connected jobsite technology and one of the largest equipment rental providers in the United States, has officially launched Team Orange, a company-funded volunteer corps dedicated to disaster preparedness and community support. The initiative formalizes a tradition of service that has been part of EquipmentShare’s culture since its founding, providing employees with the training and resources needed to help communities recover quickly and safely after natural disasters.
A Mission Rooted in Service
“Disaster response is unpredictable, but our commitment to people is constant,” said Jabbok Schlacks, co-founder and CEO of EquipmentShare. “Team Orange is how we invest in our employees so they feel prepared and supported as they serve those in their communities who need it most. We equip them with training, gear, and trusted partners so they can arrive safely, stabilize conditions, and stand shoulder to shoulder with local organizations through recovery.”
Team Orange was established in summer 2025 as a boots-on-the-ground volunteer force made up primarily of EquipmentShare employees with military, first responder, and logistics experience. The program trains members to perform coordinated disaster relief operations—combining their technical expertise with the company’s advanced fleet and digital logistics network.
National Coverage and Rapid Deployment
Currently, Team Orange includes multiple crews and 75 trained responders strategically located along the Gulf Coast and Southeast Atlantic Coast, with new teams forming across the Midwest to support tornado recovery and the West Coast for wildfire response. Each month, new employees join the initiative, expanding its reach into regions with high disaster risk.
As Hurricane Melissa approached the Gulf and Southeast Atlantic coasts this season, Team Orange crews stood on alert, ready to assist families and communities affected by the storm.
When mobilized, EquipmentShare covers all costs—including personnel, equipment, and logistics—while OEM partners contribute funding, machinery, and technical expertise. Partners such as JLG®, JCB®, Genie®, and Cummins® help stage and deliver essential assets that make rapid response possible.
Training, Tools, and Technology
Team Orange responders receive hands-on instruction to safely operate common construction and recovery equipment. Crews deploy with pumps, generators, light towers, skid steers, excavators, telehandlers, and debris-handling attachments—tools critical for clearing roads, restoring power, and aiding relief operations.
They coordinate closely with federal, state, and local agencies as well as nonprofit partners, ensuring a unified approach. In partnership with the EquipmentShare Foundation, Team Orange also sets up relief centers to distribute warm meals, water, and essential supplies to residents in need.
“Team Orange turns our nationwide capabilities into a simple, well-coordinated local response,” said Jim Parnell, Team Orange Disaster Response Program Manager. “Disasters don’t wait, and neither do we. Our crews are staged near high-risk areas and supported by EquipmentShare’s T3® platform, which gives us real-time visibility into our assets and logistics so we can act fast when minutes matter.”
The Power of T3® Technology
At the heart of Team Orange’s operations is EquipmentShare’s T3® technology, a connected fleet management platform that provides visibility into equipment health, location, and fuel status across hundreds of thousands of assets.
With T3, teams can:
- Track the condition and availability of critical equipment in real time.
- Trigger preventive maintenance to keep machines operational during emergencies.
- Geofence equipment and receive real-time alerts to prevent theft or unauthorized use, which often spike during crises.
This connected ecosystem ensures that when disaster strikes, the right machines are ready, safe, and secure—allowing responders to focus on helping people, not managing logistics.
OEM Partners Lend Their Support
Team Orange’s success depends on collaboration with industry leaders that share EquipmentShare’s mission of restoring communities through reliable, safe, and innovative equipment solutions.
“Supplying dependable, high-performing access equipment to Team Orange ensures trained responders are ready to take action,” said a JLG spokesperson. “Together, we’re helping restore essential services and stability in impacted communities.”
“Supporting EquipmentShare’s Team Orange puts our Quality by Design mission into action,” added Ben Bradshaw, Executive Vice President of North American Sales for Genie. “We’re proud to help responders work safely and efficiently as they rebuild.”
Andrea Whelan, Executive Vice President for JCB, noted: “Partnering with EquipmentShare aligns our teams to move quickly when minutes matter. Our shared goal is to keep responders safe and equipment ready.”
A Cummins spokesperson said, “Communities depend on reliable partners to deliver power and hope. Cummins is honored to support Team Orange in their mission to bring energy, equipment, and compassion to families in crisis.”
How Team Orange Supports Communities
Team Orange operates through a structured response model designed to meet urgent needs while maintaining safety and coordination:
- Pre-positioned Readiness: Trained crews and critical machinery are stationed near high-risk areas before hurricanes, tornadoes, or wildfires strike.
- Coordinated Deployment: Teams collaborate with emergency managers, utility crews, public works departments, and vetted nonprofit partners.
- Safe Operations: Certified operators follow strict safety and PPE standards.
- Humanitarian Aid: Teams assist with meal preparation, water and supply distribution, and wellness checks through the EquipmentShare Foundation.
- Connected Logistics: The T3 system manages real-time tracking, refueling, and maintenance to ensure sustained operations in demanding conditions.
Where Team Orange Operates
- Gulf Coast: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida — focusing on hurricane preparation, landfall response, and post-storm recovery.
- Southeast Atlantic Coast: Florida’s Atlantic coast, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina — focusing on coastal flooding, debris removal, and infrastructure repair.
- Tornado Alley: Central and southern plains — specializing in rapid tornado response, emergency power delivery, and critical equipment deployment.
- West Coast: California, Oregon, and Washington — focused on wildfire mitigation, suppression support, and post-fire cleanup and rebuilding.
As Team Orange grows, EquipmentShare continues to fuse technology, people, and purpose—turning its nationwide network into a force for good. By connecting local expertise with advanced fleet visibility and reliable equipment, Team Orange exemplifies the company’s belief that when disaster strikes, community comes first.
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