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Volume 54 | Number 2 | February 2018

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Cover Story

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Editorial

Editor: Lucas Deal Equipment Editor: Jason Cannon Online Associate Editor: Bill Grabarek editorial@truckpartsandservice.com

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Editorial | Lucas Deal

A true win-win for the aftermarket

By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

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or those who missed Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) 2018 last month, there was a lot of great news pouring out of Las Vegas.

The medium- and heavy-duty independent aftermarket and U.S. economy are on the rise. New truck orders are up.

Used truck prices have stabilized. Fleet utilization is at its highest point in nearly a decade. The energy sector isn’t quite booming, but production has grown significantly in the past year. Steady construction and consumer spending are positively impacting truck tonnage.

The supplier community continues to invest heavily in online technical and training databases to support the distribution channel. E-commerce portals are making it easier to order parts and freeing up time for distributor professionals to solve customer problems. New products hit the market each day.

If only we could find new employees.

Yes, despite a wave of good news flowing through HDAW, the aftermarket’s employment shortage hangs over the industry like a storm cloud. Nearly every conversation I had in Vegas found its way to the topic and, while some companies seem to be having more success recruiting than others, no one in the aftermarket has solved the industry’s employment problem. It’s not for lack of trying.

In Central California, Betts Company continues to lead a fantastic regional initiative to create a comprehensive education and career development pathway

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for young people interested in becoming technicians. Once completed, the region will feature four National Automotive Technicians Education Foundationaccredited programs for medium- and heavy-duty diesel technical education.

No industry is as vocally and financially supportive of the Wyakin Foundation as the aftermarket Betts Company believes the California blueprint is repeatable, and during conversations at HDAW, CEO Mike Betts says interest to implement a similar program in other regions is higher than it’s ever been.

That’s a good sign. Many aftermarket operations have token relationships with area technical schools, but developing a true feeder program for the aftermarket requires a partnership.

And on that topic, I have good news.

Thanks to unceasing support from our industry, the Wyakin Foundation is currently exploring the potential of opening a second location as a talent pipeline for the aftermarket.

For those of you who know the Wyakin Foundation, you already know the potential greatness of this idea. For the rest of you, I believe this is an initiative worthy of your support.

The Wyakin Foundation was founded

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in Boise, Idaho, in 2010 to provide a pathway for “wounded and injured post-9/11 veterans to transition through education into careers of their choosing.”

More than 80 percent of all donations to the foundation go to the education of its students and, since its inception, two dozen veterans have earned their degrees thanks to the program.

Wyakin Executive Director Brent Taylor gives the aftermarket a lot of credit for that. Taylor says no industry is as vocally and financially supportive of the Wyakin Foundation as the aftermarket.

Four suppliers (Meritor, Minimizer, Phillips Industries, SAF-Holland) donated a portion of their sales at HDAW to the organization, and in 2016 Meritor hired Wyakin alum Brandon Woodard in its aftermarket operation.

Taylor says such efforts have not gone unnoticed by Wyakin’s veterans. It’s why the organization wants to expand in the aftermarket. “We keep hearing this refrain about the need for talent in this industry and our product ultimately is good, employable talent,” he says.

Like any charitable organization, Taylor says what comes next will depend on financial support. The organization would love a second location in a heavy veteran and trucking area but could also develop an aftermarket-focused curriculum at its Boise headquarters. No matter where it is, Taylor hopes the other aftermarket businesses see the value of such a partnership.

“It’s the kind of thing that makes sense for everybody. It’s a true win-win,” he says.

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Editorial | MacKay & Company

Light duty on the rise

By Lynn Buck MacKay & Company

A

s the last mile has gotten shorter, we’ve seen a shift to lighter-duty vehicles. Today’s consumers receive their purchases delivered to their doorstep by smaller vehicles. Items are often shipped individually as they are in stock, resulting in more, smaller shipments instead of larger bulk deliveries. An increase in the number of individual, urban deliveries also leans toward lighter-duty for both parking and maneuverability.

Our purchased goods also are lighter.

The television I had delivered back in 2002 weighed nearly 200 lb. while the same size screen I purchased in 2010 weighed only 50 lb. That same television takes up one-quarter of the space as the old one. Both trends point to a shift to light-duty.

The last warehouse in the supply chain is now closer to the consumer than ever before — I have two Amazon warehouses within 10 miles of my house to accommodate same-day shipping.

Consumers also are demanding more of their food from local sources, with some having food delivered to their homes.

Delivery of time-sensitive products leads to shorter routes and often smaller loads.

There are many reasons to downsize to a lighter-duty truck. Companies are looking to cut the cost of overhead using

more fuel-efficient vehicles — “right sizing” to its primary application. The ability to analyze usage or delivery data and optimize routes have contributed to efficiencies allowing companies to spec only those vehicles that are necessary.

Some companies desire less engine maintenance complexity and expense and may shift to gasoline powered vehicles over diesel. Often this means going to a lighter-duty truck.

In 2002, retail sales of Class 3 trucks accounted for 20 percent of the total Class 3-8 truck sales. In 2017, Class 3 represented 43 percent.

These factors point to a diminishing need for larger trucks and have driven the demand for lighter vehicles higher.

With online purchases steadily growing, this trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

A quick analysis of Wards’ retail sales provides the data behind the trend.

Examining the last 15 years of Wards’ light-duty retail sales illustrates this shift quite well. In 2002, retail sales of Class 3 trucks accounted for 20 percent of the total Class 3-8 truck sales. In 2017, Class 3 represented 43 percent.

Total Class 3-5 was 35 percent of Class 3-8 trucks sold in 2002; now it is closing in on 60 percent.

Not surprisingly, the same trend is seen in parts demand. Using our MacKay & Company DataMac Light-Duty Database, I graphed out the aftermarket parts demand of Class 3-5 trucks for the last 10 years. Aftermarket parts demand in 2017 for Class 3 trucks is 281 percent the demand of 2007. Class 5 trucks’ 2017 aftermarket parts demand is 313 percent of 2007 demand. Class 4, conversely, decreased 13 percent over the same time period. No surprise, more trucks equals more parts opportunity.

Of course, this article is heavily slanted toward package delivery and there will always be a need for trucks that are used for tasks that require auxiliary power via PTO, haul or tow-heavy loads necessitating a larger, more powerful truck. But the days of “always buy more than you need” appear to be dwindling. There is no denying the data that some companies have made and will continue to shift to lighter vehicles in their fleets.

Lynn Buck, information technology analyst, joined MacKay & Company in November 2012. His background includes more than 15 years of data analysis and reporting in a variety of settings. Most recently, he has performed the roles of pricing manager and inventory manager for two aftermarket parts distributors. Prior to that, he analyzed markets for new parts and service locations for Navistar.

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Industry Focus

Dealer News Truck Center Companies’ Technician Brian Stevens was named the Freightliner/Western Star/ASE Master Technician of the Year.

Four Star Freightliner has donated a Cummins 8.3-liter engine to the Ingram State Technical College diesel technician program. The company also honored Kenneth Woodruff as its top technician for 2017.

Penske Truck Leasing has opened a new facility in Bedford Park, Ill. TAG Truck Centers and the Lonestar Truck Group have merged to form TNTX. The companies say TNTX will adopt a new name in the future. In the interim, the companies will operate as TAG Truck Center, a division of TNTX and Lonestar Truck Group, a division of TNTX. TAG Truck Centers also has cut the ribbon on a new 190,000-sq.-ft. Freightliner dealership in Memphis, Tenn.

Tampa Truck Center and Fort Myers Freightliner, both wholly owned by Tampa Truck Center LLC, have changed their names to Southport Truck Group.

M&K Truck Centers acquired two Wabash Trailer Centers in Scranton, Pa., and Pittsburgh areas.

Allstate Peterbilt has opened a new facility in Rochester, Minn., and has converted its Winona, Minn., diesel location into Allstate Peterbilt of Winona.

Justin Euler was named the winner at the 12th annual Rush Tech Rodeo in December. Euler works at the company’s St. Peters, Mo., location.

The American Truck Dealers (ATD) has announced the finalists for its 2018 Truck Dealer of the Year award are: Joseph Alosa, Sr., president and CEO of New England Kenworth in Concord, N.H.; John Arscott, CEO of The Pete Store in Baltimore; Mark Bergey, president of Bergey’s Truck Centers in Souderton, Pa.; Richard Reynolds, president of Peach State Truck Center in Norcross, Ga.; Jon Vandehey, president and CEO of Mid-State Truck Service in Marshfield, Wis.; Lee White, II, president of Old River Companies in South Richland, Miss.; and Craig Young, president of Young Truck Sales in Canton, Ohio.

Mitchell International using blockchain to aid collision industry

Pancero to keynote Distributor Training Expo

Mitchell International will soon release a secure solution for sharing data among users within the collision repair and insurance claims industry.

Mitchell’s new solution will promote and foster the flow of collision data among trusted industry partners, using blockchain technology to provide a highly secure, distributed and advanced encrypted-data exchange between stakeholders, the company says.

“Data security has never been more important than it is today, and given the large number of existing systems and partner dependencies, limited efforts have been made to address the risks associated with estimating information saved in [multiple] formats and stored in thousands of decentralized locations,” says Olivier Baudoux, vice president of global product strategy at Mitchell.

Jim Pancero has been named keynote speaker for the upcoming Distributor Training Expo (DTE), co-organizers GenNext and the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) announced in December.

A thought leader and sales expert in many industries, including distribution, Pancero recently spoke at aftermarket briefings during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW). He is scheduled to speak at the opening general session of this year’s DTE, as well as two breakout sessions during the event — one for counter professionals and one for supervisors, managers and business leaders.

The third-annual DTE will be held April 20-22, 2018, in Atlanta.

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Industry Focus

Meritor debuts axle Authorized Rebuilder program

Accuride bumps up distribution network Accuride Corporation has strategically extended its North American distribution network to better provide targeted customer coverage and offer aftermarket customers the full range of Accuride wheels and KIC, and Gunite-brand wheel end components, the company announced in December.

During this quarter Accuride says it is phasing in operation of five additional North American distribution centers, augmenting its primary Batavia, Ill., distribution facility. Accuride says nearly all facilities in the optimized network will offer customers the opportunity to order mixedload shipments of Accuride wheels and KIC, and Gunite-brand wheel end components.

“Combining the complimentary product and technology offerings of Accuride, KIC and Gunite this year enables us to provide customers a greater range of solutions than ever before,” says Rick Dauch, Accuride president and CEO.

Meritor has launched a North American Authorized Rebuilder Program for drive axle carriers, including the company’s 145, 14X and 160 products.

As part of the launch, Meritor says four Canadian companies, Capital Gear, Coast Powertrain Ltd., ULT Powertrain and The Gear Centre, become the first in a network of authorized rebuilder members to supply wholesale distributors and dealers across Canada with rebuilt Meritor carriers. The company plans to extend the Authorized Rebuilder Program to the United States this year.

“Meritor is partnering with exceptional rebuilders that share our commitment to helping fleets

maximize uptime with coast-tocoast, 24-hour guaranteed delivery of highly reliable, rebuilt carriers that meet original performance specifications,” says Krishna Natarajan, Meritor senior director, steering, suspension and drivetrain, aftermarket.

Meritor also late last year announced a strategic investment in TransPower, a leader in electrification technologies for large commercial vehicles “This investment reinforces our commitment to deliver highefficiency solutions for mediumand heavy-duty electric vehicles supported by proven solutions,” says Jay Craig, Meritor president and CEO.

Petro-Canada earns ISO designations Petro-Canada Lubricants has announced it is the first white oils, speciality base oils and lubricants manufacturer in the world to achieve the latest ISO 9001:2015 and ISO14001:2015 certifications.

The company says the world’s foremost ISO standards for quality and environmental management

were revised and set to become an industry requirement in September 2018. Petro-Canada Lubricants has achieved the certification 16 months ahead of the industry deadline, making it the first lubricants manufacturer to achieve these certifications, which cover all the organization’s operations globally.

Truck Parts & Service Calendar Event information can be submitted at: www.truckpartsandservice.com/story-ideas/

March 5-8 March 6-9 March 22-25 April 4-7 April 9-11

Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting, Atlanta The Work Truck Show, Indianapolis Mid-America Trucking Show, Louisville HDA Truck Pride Annual Meeting, San Diego International Truck Parts Association Spring Meeting, Cleveland

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Industry Focus

People In The News Stertil-Koni has hired Nathan Wright as a marketing associate.

Robert Egan, retired Federal-Mogul executive, has been named chairman of the University of the Wright Aftermarket Foundation.

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has appointed David Carson president of Western Star Trucks and chief diversity officer at DTNA. Turbo Solutions has added Carson Art Seeger to its sales team.

STEMCO has promoted Chip Stuhr to director of aftermarket sales, Americas.

Former Truck Parts & Service contributor Avery Vise has been hired as vice president, trucking research at FTR. Red Dot Corporation has hired Fred Norris to serve Vise as the organization’s quality manager.

Martin Weissburg has been tapped as the future president of Mack Trucks.

He will replace Dennis Slagle, effective June 1, 2018.

Paccar’s board of directors Weissburg has elected Harrie Schippers as president and CFO. Justin Palmer has been named president and

CEO at Mitsubishi Fuso.

Dennis Gallagher has been appointed president at Jacobs Vehicle Systems (JVS).

Wabash National has announced current President and COO Brent Gallagher Yeagy as successor for current CEO Dick Giromini, who will step down on June 1, 2018.

Dan Funkhouser has been promoted to vice president of commercial sales at Yokohama Tire Corporation.

Volvo Trucks North America has named Wade Long regional vice president for its Western U.S. region.

David Overbeeke, president and CEO at Brake Parts Inc., is the new MERA chairman.

Capital Gear opens warehouse in Ontario

Truck Parts & Equipment sold to FleetPride FleetPride has acquired Truck Parts & Equipment Inc., from the TP&E Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The acquisition was announced last month.

“We are very excited about the acquisition of Truck Parts & Equipment. They have been a very successful independent distributor of heavy-duty parts for decades,” says FleetPride CEO Al Dragone. “The people of TP&E have experience and expertise second to none. We are lucky to have them as a part of FleetPride.”

With its origin dating back to 1924, Truck Parts & Equipment had been fully employee-owned

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since 2001. Collectively, the locations in Wichita, Topeka and Hays, Kan., will become FleetPride’s first branches in the state of Kansas. The Wichita location also offers a drive-in service shop and equipment up-fitting.

FleetPride also has opened its renovated store at 1801 N. Black Canyon Hwy., in Phoenix. FleetPride says the updated location now features a service shop that provides a full line of hydraulic services to complement the company’s regular assortment of parts and services like flywheels, driveline and transmission assembly.

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Capital Gear Ltd., has opened a new warehouse location in Mississauga, Ontario.

The company says the location will help better service the markets in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada.

“We work to provide the highest quality premium product to the market. Too often selling has become a race to the bottom. Our focus is and will continue to be on quality and service,” says Capital Gear Founder and President Gerard Zentner.

The new branch is located at 2845 Argentia Road Mississauga, ON L5N 8G6.

Correction In the December 2017 issue of Truck Parts & Service, The Universal Group LLC, was incorrectly listed as UCF America Inc., in the following categories: Kingpins; Spring Parts, Air & Springs, Air; Springs, Coil & Leaf; Suspension Parts, Air; Suspension Parts, Mechanical.

The Universal Group may be reached at www. theuniversalgroup.com.

Truck Parts & Service regrets this error.

Industry Focus

HDA Truck Pride Adds Two Members Pampered Coach Truck Center and Foley Equipment Company have joined HDA Truck Pride, the company announced in January.

Located in Fort Wayne, Ind., Pampered Coach has been providing heavy-duty parts and service in its market area since 1984. Additionally, Wichita, Kan.located Foley Equipment operates 19 locations in 14 cities throughout Kansas and Missouri.

“Pampered Coach is a prime example of what HDA Truck Pride has been promoting: focus on the end user,” says Tom Tecklenburg, chief commercial officer of HDA Truck Pride.

“The commercial vehicle aftermarket is a dynamic industry. Foley’s success derives from their tradition of customer focus and leadership over the last eight decades and we look forward to working with them as they flourish in the commercial vehicle industry,” adds Tecklenburg.

Gem City Tire opens another location Gem City Tire has opened its eighth location: a 43,000-sq.-ft., fullservice truck tire center in the Indianapolis suburb of Plainfield, Ind. Gem City says the Plainfield center features six drive-through service bays, and sells Goodyear truck tires and retreads as well as DOT tractor and trailer inspections, light mechanical services, wheel refinishing and powder coating and preventive maintenance services.

“Our new facility provides a comprehensive range of premium products and services to keep trucks running efficiently,” says Jeff Lecklider, Gem City Tire’s founder and president.

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Industry Focus

SKF makes major website improvements SKF has launched the updated www.vsm. skf.com. The company says the new site features an intuitive, interactive product catalog and was built on a responsive platform, enabling users to easily access the site regardless of the device they’re using.

Additionally, SKF says the “Find a Reseller” tool helps users find a reseller directly from a specific product page or from a general overview map of their area.

“With the growing demand to find information quickly, the new SKF website will allow users to quickly search for products by application or by part number on virtually any device. It will become a source of information and convenience for the aftermarket,” says Brian Jungmann, SKF automotive communications manager.

Minimizer duo nabs ‘Citizens of the Year’ award Minimizer founder Dick Kruckeberg and his son, current Minimizer CEO and Chief Visionary Craig Kruckeberg, have been named 2017 Citizens of the Year for Blooming Prairie, Minn.

The Blooming Prairie Chamber of Commerce presents the BP Citizen of the Year award annually, with chamber

members submitting names based on community involvement and charity.

“What a fantastic honor. My father and I are truly humbled by this award,” says Craig Kruckeberg. “We’ve always made it a point to give back to the community.

My father prioritized charity work, and it’s something very important to me.”

RoadPro enhances website The RoadPro family of brands has updated www.roadprobrands.com.

The enhanced website features improved navigation and that access to its most popular brands, including Wilson, RoadKing, MobileSpec and PowerDrive, all have been combined into the new website.

RoadPro says the new website is

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fully optimized for mobile devices and was built to allow consumers to browse all products in the same place, creating a more user-friendly experience. Additionally, each product has gained more intuitive information, as well as the ability to locate the closest retail location who sells it, the company says.

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HDAW News

After big 2017, MacKay & Company says aftermarket in good shape for 2018 As Truck Parts & Service reported in January, last year was a good one for the heavy-duty aftermarket.

During a presentation at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue before Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, John Blodgett and Ken Griswold of MacKay & Company announced the United States and Canadian aftermarkets grew by 3.1 and 9.2 percent, respectively, in 2017, and both markets appear well-positioned to maintain that strength in the immediate years to come.

Going back to last year’s Aftermarket Dialogue, Blodgett says MacKay & Company data estimated the U.S. aftermarket in 2016 at $30.2 billion and predicted 2017 at $30.6 billion. He says both numbers were actually lower ($29.5 billion and $30.4 billion) but the year-over-year improvement was stronger than the original expectation. The company’s numbers were similar for Canada, with 2016 finishing at $3.9 billion and 2017 clocking in at $4.2 billion.

In both countries, the year-over-year improvements were significant and immediate. Dealer parts sales gained 7.6 percent year-over-year in January and kept up that hot stretch for the entire year, never having a single month fall behind 2016 pace.

At independent stores the story was similar. January was an increase of 3.6 percent year-over-year and again each month in 2017 was better than the prior year.

Along those lines, the duo says MacKay & Company’s Aftermarket Index shows the U.S. aftermarket was up 4.7 percent in 2017 through November and 12.1 percent in Canada.

MacKay & Company data shows the heavy-duty aftermarket industry grew by 3.1 percent in the U.S. and 9.2 percent in Canada in 2017.

Compared to flat and down years in the U.S. and Canada with the index the last two years, the aftermarket outperformed in all markets in 2017, Griswold says.

Additionally, Blodgett says the new truck market exploded in 2017 at a rate well ahead of last year’s projections and, in the U.S., he expects that boom to continue for 2018. Forecasting out from there, MacKay & Company pegs the new vehicle market for both countries to run slightly ahead of 20-year averages.

That jump should help vehicle utilization as well.

MacKay & Company is forecasting the U.S. aftermarket at $30.8 billion, $31.6 billion and $32.8 billion through 2020.

Through 2022, that forecast features a 2.8 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) for the U.S. and 4.4 percent in Canada.

CVSN, GenNext joining forces The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) and GenNext are joining up to strengthen their support of the independent aftermarket.

The two groups announced at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bring GenNext’s events and activities underneath the CVSN umbrella of services.

Immediately following the jointly hosted Distributor Training Expo (DTE) in April in Atlanta, CVSN will take over the

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administration of GenNext membership.

“Over the last three years, GenNext has gained much recognition for bringing innovative ideas to industry events, including the creation of the DTE. We helped start the HDAW Northwood Program, which has sponsored many students to attend the industry’s largest trade show. We also have offered numerous mentoring and educational opportunities to our membership,” says GenNext President Ian Johnston of Harman HVS. “As we align ourselves closer to CVSN,

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8

we feel they offer an excellent base of members who will be able to utilize our services, enhancing the effectiveness of GenNext for years to come.”

Johnston says under this MOU, GenNext will remain a standalone entity with its own board but will sit under the umbrella of CVSN. This partnership will elevate the potential of the groups, he says, and should allow both entities to better recruit new members and increase its visibility within the aftermarket.

HDAW News

Development of heavyduty product standards ongoing Representatives from two aftermarket manufacturers made their case for industry cooperation and adoption of data standards as part of a presentation during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week.

Organizers say the information standards will help improve the industry’s efficiency and ability to sell more parts.

The time has come for all heavy-duty aftermarket industry players to band together and “embrace the value” of a heavy-duty industry standard for product information, according to Terence O’Reilly, president and CEO of Pricedex Software Inc., which sponsored the event.

“There has been a lot of chatter in our industry about product information standards, and it has included misinformation based upon uninformed speculation,” O’Reilly says. “Some of that misinformation has promoted unwarranted fear and concern about the protection of proprietary information. As a thoughtleader in the industry, we felt it was time to dispel myths about heavy-duty product information standards, and have the industry hear about this from some of its own players.”

David Durand, vice president, aftermarket, Great Dane Trailers, outlined what the standards initiative is not. It’s not a repository of commercial vehicle data; it’s not a central database of information that anyone can access; it’s not a project to develop a catalog; and it’s not an attempt to acquire your proprietary data.

“We all need certain information to sell parts [and] we all share it now; but, we don’t do it efficiently,” Durand says.

“We need a systematized means to share the huge volumes of product information we already exchange but take out all the manual processes we go through to manipulate the data we do receive.”

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The light-duty truck market had its best month in history in December, Bill Strauss mentions during his presentation last month at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue.

U.S. economy expected to maintain growth through 2018 The United States economy is within striking range of a record. If the economy can maintain its growth trajectory through this year and into 2019, it could set a record for the longest uninterrupted period of economic growth in the nation’s history.

Teasing an economic goal more than a year in the future may seem ostentatious, but during a presentation at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue before Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas, Bill Strauss, senior economist and economic advisor at the Chicago Federal Reserve, says there are clear reasons to be optimistic.

“We’re growing, but our growth is so modest,” he says. Month-overmonth and year-over-year GDP gains are barely above normal trend lines and well below previous rates seen during long periods of constant growth. Coupled with industry growth across manufacturing, housing, energy sectors, falling unemployment rates and steady inflation numbers, Strauss says there is “still slack” in the economy.

“The risks domestically are very muted,” he says. “I don’t see any sectors that have jack rabbited ahead.” If there are concerns, they likely will be due to overseas economic changes.

During a Q&A session after his presentation with Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch, Strauss says his biggest overseas concern is China. He says the Chinese economy GDP is expected to slip from 2017 to 2019 and beyond and, eventually, it’s going to slow enough so that some of the warts within that economy will become visible.

Things are much better in North America.

For 2018 and 2019, Strauss says both the Federal Reserve and Blue Chip are expecting GDP growth to remain in the mid 2 percent area. He says low fuel prices are driving a huge influx in the popularity of light-duty trucks (December 2017 was the best month for light-duty sales in history), while the hurricanes and flooding of last September has increased vehicle replacement and housing/manufacturing demand.

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Tech Updates

SAFETY RECALLS Crysteel Manufacturing is recalling certain 2017 dump body vehicles built on Isuzu NRR-Series chassis. The driveshafts on these vehicles may detach from the rear universal joint. If the driveshaft detaches from the rear universal joint, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour SRW school buses, equipped with IMMI-brand 3-point lap and shoulder belts.

Under load, the seat belt buckle mount rod can fracture. As such, these seats fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.” In the event of a crash, if the buckle mount rod fractures, the seat occupant may not be restrained, increasing their risk of injury.

DTNA is recalling certain 2018 Freightliner Cascadia trucks equipped with Detroit automatic transmissions. A shift lock bolt within the transmission can seize, preventing the transmission from being shifted out of gear range 7 through 12. If the transmission cannot be shifted out of gear range 7 through 12, the engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

DTNA is recalling certain 2008-2018 Freightliner Cascadia, Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700 and 6900 trucks. After hard brake applications, the brake light pressure switch may not activate the brake lights with a light application of the brake pedal. If the brake lights fail to illuminate, there would not be a signal to other motorists that the vehicle is slowing, increasing the risk of a crash.

The following are safety recalls issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

calipers detach, there would be reduced braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Daimler Vans is recalling certain 2017 Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. The spare tire holder under the vehicle may not be properly secured. If the spare tire holder is not properly secured, the spare tire may separate from the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Daimler Vans is recalling certain 2017 MercedesBenz Sprinter 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 3500 vehicles equipped with the Crosswind Assist function. In the event of strong crosswind, automatic brake interventions by the vehicle dynamics control system (ADAPTIVE ESP) might not be activated. If Crosswind Assist system does not activate the automatic braking system as expected in the event of a strong crosswind, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

East Manufacturing is recalling certain 20162018 Frame Dump trailers built with a pintle hook or brackets for the future installation of a pintle hook. Cracks may develop in the cross member that the pintle hook is connected to, possibly resulting in the cross member failing. If the cross member fails, vehicle handling would be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

DTNA is recalling certain 2018 Freightliner 108SD, 114SD, Cascadia, M2 Business Class vehicles, 2018 Western Star 4700, 4900 and 5700 vehicles, and 2018 Freightliner Custom Chassis (FCC) S2C 106 chassis and S2G Cab/ Chassis vehicles. The brake caliper mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened, potentially resulting in the caliper detaching. If the calipers detach, there would be reduced braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Isuzu Technical Center of America Inc., is recalling certain 2011-2017 Isuzu NPR, 2008 NPR HD and NPR-HD Gas, 2011-2018 NPR HD and NRR, 2015-2018 NPR XD, 2012-2018 NQR, 2012-2017 NPR Gas and NPR-HD Gas, 2016-2017 Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 3500 HD, 3500 and 4500 and 2017-2018 Chevrolet Low Cab Forward 4500 HD, 4500 XD, 5500 HD and 5500 XD vehicles, equipped with certain Walter Kidde Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers, models FC10 and FC110. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or excessive force may be needed to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

DTNA is recalling certain 2018-2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses. The brake caliper mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened, potentially resulting in the caliper detaching. If the

Micro Bird is recalling certain 2006-2017 G5 school buses with an unloaded weight more than 10,013 lb. In a rollover, the roof may crush excessively. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS number

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220, “School Bus Rollover Protection.” If roof crushes more than the rollover standards allow for the weight and configuration of the bus, the occupants have a greater risk of injury in the event of a rollover crash.

Paccar is recalling certain 2017 Peterbilt 320 vehicles, equipped with Meritor disc brakes. The park brake chamber on these vehicles may be too small, which can cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS number 121, “Air Brake Systems.” A vehicle with an undersized parking brake could result in the vehicle moving unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to anyone in the path of the vehicle.

Paccar is recalling certain 2018 Peterbilt 567, 579, Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks, equipped with certain Eaton Endurant and Paccar AMT transmissions. The transmission control module (TCM) may allow the engine to crank briefly even if the transmission shifter is not in neutral.

As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS number 102, “Transmission Shift Lever Sequence/Starter Interlock/ Transmission Braking Effect.” If the transmission is not in neutral when the engine begins running, there may be unintended vehicle movement, increasing the risk of a crash.

Volvo Bus Corporation is recalling certain 20162018 9700 buses equipped with I-Start. The hardware that attaches the power supply cable to the fuse box may not be properly tightened, possibly causing the power cable and fuse box to overheat. The power cable and fuse box can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

Wabash National Corporation is recalling certain 2018 Wabash National Truck Body vehicles. The affected vehicles may be missing a weld on the vertical leg support. In the event of a rear-end collision, the occupants have an increased risk of injury.

Walker Stainless Equipment Company is recalling certain 2018 Tank Trailers, equipped with MPA/ MTA suspensions and Meritor EX225 brakes. The brake caliper bolts on these axles may not be properly torqued which can allow the caliper to detach from the mounting flange. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of FMVSS number 121, “Air Brake Systems.” If the caliper bolts are improperly torqued, the caliper can detach resulting in a loss of braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

2017 Distributor of the Year Winner

Invested in the aftermarket

The unending commitment of Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists

I

t is rare to find business owners who have given more of their time and expertise to their industry than Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists’ Jay and Ian Johnston. Through various advisory councils, trade groups and leadership initiatives, the father-son duo has spent decades working for the betterment and prosperity of the independent aftermarket.

Such willingness to give is eternally laudable. But in recent years, while also managing a comprehensive revolution within their own business, it’s downright astonishing. It’s a commitment that deserves acknowledgement. It deserves acclaim.

It’s a commitment that has helped a company dedicated to giving to receive

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the 2017 Truck Parts & Service Distributor of the Year award.

But Harman’s climb to the top of the aftermarket is about more than just its devotion to the industry. It’s a story 80 years and four generations in the making.

The company known today as Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists was first opened as a single-location automotive jobber by Roy Harman in 1938 as Harman Supply Company. The business started in the categories Harman knew well, like brake linings and springs, and grew over time. By the late 1940s, the company’s steady growth facilitated its first of many expansions, and Roy Harman purchased an adjacent lot to build the company’s earliest state-of-the-art location.

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By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

The company’s growth period continued into the 1950s, allowing Roy to sell the successful business to employees Gordon Everett and Ralph Johnston when retiring in 1955. It was an ownership transition that defined the business for decades to come.

Under the new duo’s leadership, Harman deepened its commitment to the transportation industry, adding product categories and machine shop services with regularity. Another growth-necessitated expansion followed in 1969, as did the introduction of Gordon and Ralph’s sons, Rob and Jay, in the early 1970s.

It was also during this period the younger generation began turning its attention to the heavy-duty trucking industry.

Before entering the heavy-duty industry, Harman was known as Harman Supply Company and Harman Automotive Supply.

Situated along one of Canada’s busiest roadways in one of Southern Ontario’s fastest-growing communities, the thennamed Harman Automotive Supply was seeing an increasing number of commercial carriers among its overall customer base. Working throughout the business in their early years, Rob Everett and Jay Johnston watched this growth carefully, and, in 1983, when it was their turn to take over the operation, plunged into the commercial trucking aftermarket almost immediately.

“We saw an opportunity where we could really succeed in this marketplace,” says Jay Johnston in 2015 after Harman earned its first Distributor of the Year nomination.

Changing the company’s name again — this time to Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists — Everett and Johnston began overhauling their inventory and training their employees on their new area of specialization.

It was around this time they also started getting involved in the industry at large, with Jay eventually holding board positions with the Heavy Duty Distributor Council of Canada (now Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada), the Council of Fleet Specialists (CFS) and its successor the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN). Ian has followed in his father’s path, leading HDAC and

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GenNext while scheduled to serve as cochair at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) next year.

Ian says this industry involvement has been paramount to the success of Harman HVS within the aftermarket. In the early years, Jay’s involvement helped Harman HVS better assimilate and establish itself within the industry. In the years since, he and Ian’s activity has continued to benefit the business, but also has allowed Harman’s leadership to share its knowledge with its contemporaries and support the industry at large.

“We have always cared deeply about this industry and wanted it to succeed, and we believe a strong industry is going to help all of us within the industry,” Ian says.

Yet Harman’s heavy-duty aftermarket success has relied on more than industry involvement. Assertive leadership from the Johnston and Everett families has been a touchstone of the business for more than 60 years. The Harman executive team doesn’t shy away from a challenge.

Opportunities for improvement are always thoroughly evaluated, and threats facing the business and the independent distribution channel are tackled head on.

One area where Harman’s proactive problem-solving is most evident is in its leading-edge approach to technology. For decades, Harman HVS has been at the forefront in the independent aftermarket in adopting computer technology to better run its business and serve its customers.

2017 Finalists Action Truck Parts

Headquarters: Bolingbrook, Ill. Founded: 2005 Member: VIPAR Heavy Duty Past DOTY nominations: 2016

Drive Train Industries

Headquarters: Denver Founded: 1945 Member: HDA Truck Pride Past DOTY nominations: 2003 (winner)

Potter Webster Company

Headquarters: Portland, Ore. Founded: 1940 Member: HDA Truck Pride Past DOTY nominations: 2003, 2008

TRUCK AND TRAILER PARTS WWW.POTTERWEBSTER.COM

Harman Heavy Vehicle Specialists

Headquarters: Cambridge, Ontario Founded: 1938 Member: VIPAR Heavy Duty Past DOTY nominations: 2015, 2016

Wofford Truck Parts

Headquarters: El Paso, Texas Founded: 1985 Member: VIPAR Heavy Duty Past DOTY nominations: none

F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8 | T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E

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2017 Distributor of the Year Winner “We became computerized when 90 percent of my peers didn’t know what a computer was,” Jay Johnston says. “We saw the benefits for our business and our customers.”

Harman also was one of the aftermarket’s earliest adopters of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) for its warehouse, and recently committed to a customer relationship management (CRM) platform for its sales team.

Ian Johnston says the investments have provided “huge” behind-the-scenes advantages for Harman’s workforce, which, thanks to the company’s protech approach, quickly took to the new resources.

“Our guys embrace technology when it gives them an advantage,” he says.

“When it enables them to do something differently and be more productive, they’re keen to use it.”

Such employee engagement cannot be overlooked. After the Johnstons bought out the Everett family for sole ownership of the business in 2014, they instituted an expansive corporate

renaissance plan. Each Harman facility was extensively renovated or rebuilt, long-time operating procedures were scrapped or rewritten and the company’s marketing strategy was overhauled to better align with an evolving customer base.

Looking back on the daunting project, Ian Johnston heaps praise on Harman’s entire team for making the undertaking successful.

“We’ve had such phenomenal buy in from our employees,” he says. “It’s really amazing. We have such a solid core of employees and they’ve really taken to everything we were doing.”

Though admittedly, Johnston says it helps that what they were doing was geared toward improving customer experiences. Harman’s value proposition is great quality service, and is reinforced through in-person and online training courses that incentivize and encourage employees to learn.

Johnston says the result is a workforce that takes great pride in its status as solutions providers, and experts

customers can rely on.

“We believe we’ve always offered a superior buying experience for our customers. That’s always been one thing that’s separated us from our competitors,” he says.

To their credit, those same competitors and colleagues have been quick to point out Harman’s impressive work.

A wave of industry support helped the distributor earn consecutive Distributor of the Year nominations in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

“When you list the requirements to become Distributor of the Year — customer service, industry involvement, relationships with suppliers, product knowledge, growth and expansion success, technology adaptation and business innovations — Harman fits them all,” says one industry representative who nominated Harman for the award. “[Ian and Jay Johnston] run a very professional business, and understand the market better than most,” adds another supporter. “A more deserving company I cannot think of.”

Previous Winners 2002 | Inland Truck Parts 2003 | Drive Train Industries 2004 | CATCO Parts & Service, Midwest Wheel Companies 2005 | Point Spring & Driveshaft, Midway Truck Parts 2006 | Page Brake 2007 | Total Truck Parts 2008 | Betts Truck Parts 18

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8

2009 | Power Train 2010 | Stone Truck Parts 2011 | FleetBrake, Carolina Rim & Wheel 2012 | Midwest Wheel Companies 2013 | Truck Supply Co. of South Carolina 2014 | Six Robblees’ 2015 | Sadler Power Train 2016 | Blaine Brothers

congratulations

Winner

Jay Johnston President Ian Johnston Vice President Sponsored By:

Presented by:

By Bill Grabarek, Online Associate Editor billgrabarek@randallreilly.com

Sales & Marketing

Treading

lightly Offering light-duty parts could be good business for heavy-duty commercial vehicle parts distributors, but consider these factors first.

T

o supply or not to supply? That’s the question distributors of heavyduty commercial vehicle parts might be asking themselves regarding whether to expand their inventories and service to meet the light-duty needs of new and existing customers.

The lucrative potential of the medium-duty marketplace has been covered in Truck Parts & Service before, and the same might be said for addressing

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light-duty needs for customers with a mixed fleet. Being the go-to source for their light-duty needs can improve customer loyalty and incremental sales for distributors, and provide convenience for customers by saving them from having to go elsewhere for light-duty parts.

However, the decision to serve customers that own light-duty trucks should not be taken, well, lightly. Distributors already doing it say there are several

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aspects of the business to consider before taking the plunge. “I do see more companies trying to do both and it requires a real commitment because, although there are many similar products and similar issues, the business is still very different as we compare light duty to heavy duty,� says Corey Bartlett, president and CEO, St. Cloud, Minn.based Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. APH has experience in providing

Sales & Marketing

You really have to carry a large flavoring of whatever it is you’re stocking.

– David Willis, president and CEO, CRW Parts Inc.

light- and heavy-duty truck parts — it began offering light-duty parts since it opened its doors in 1920 and began offering heavy-duty truck parts five years ago.

Parts, parts and more parts With experience throughout the truck parts businesses, APH is in a good position to compare providing the different parts to its customers, which mainly are fleets, repair shops and the agriculture

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business. Bartlett says the inventory needed is “significantly more challenging” in the light-duty space.

A heavy-duty part might fit a vehicle for years, with the lifecycle of a heavyduty SKU sometimes lasting more than a decade. Such is not the case with lightduty vehicles, which can change midyear, according to Bartlett.

“The inventory required to be able to say yes [to a customer] is significantly

greater for light vehicles,” he says, adding that his light- and heavy-duty suppliers have been “tremendously supportive.”

David Willis, president and CEO, Baltimore-based CRW Parts Inc., agrees commercial vehicle parts distributors will need to vastly increase their inventories.

“You really have to carry a large flavoring of whatever it is you’re stocking,” he says.

CRW has offered automotive parts, which includes those for light-duty trucks, since the company was founded in 1962. The inventory of the company’s light- and heavy-duty parts is split 50-50, and it serves fleets, exhaust shops, tire dealers, installers, automotive jobbers and miscellaneous industrial accounts in the Mid-Atlantic states. “[Light-duty] parts are a lot smaller, but you still need a lot of product sitting on your shelves,” Willis says. Because of the inventory requirements, CRW has limited its product offerings to common wear components, such as brake parts and filters.

The company also stocks exhaust parts and it’s the biggest category for the company. However, Willis cautions parts distributors on the category because of the sheer amount of product that has to be in stock. “But, we’ve been doing it for a long time, so it’s easy for us,” he adds.

Willis, like Bartlett, doesn’t have an issue acquiring parts. Most suppliers do both light and heavy duty, he says.

Midwest Wheel Companies has been around for more than 100 years, and it

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Sales & Marketing

has been offering light-duty parts for the last 15 years. The Des Moines, Iowabased company’s light-duty inventory includes lighting, filtration, batteries and accessories, such as hitches and other commercial-type aftermarket products.

Midwest Wheel Companies first stocked product based on customer requests, such as filtration and batteries, and further evolved its inventory by identifying parts its customers might want, according to John Minor, CEO and president. For example, a large construction customer the company sells heavyduty parts to might own 30 to 40 pickup trucks. Those trucks are used off road a lot, so the company stocks grille guards and other off-road accessories.

Not only did Midwest Wheel Companies base its inventory on what customers had requested and what the company thought it could reliably provide, it has also accounted for what it felt other providers weren’t doing well. For example, the company began stocking heavy-duty tool boxes, while others were selling offthe-shelf discount tool boxes, according to Minor.

“We identify needs in the market and provide solutions,” Minor says. “Most of our suppliers [stock for] all truck classifications, so it’s relatively easy to get product.”

The need for speed As commercial vehicle parts distributors currently supplying heavy-duty parts consider the inventory requirements of offering parts for light-duty trucks, they must also consider how quickly they can get those parts stocked in stores or directly into customers’ hands. The lightduty business is a “I need it yesterday” game, according to industry experts.

“A fleet owner understands that maybe heavy-duty delivery doesn’t happen

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Automotive Parts Headquarters has served the light-duty truck market for decades.

within an hour but his expectation very much is that for light-duty parts because that’s what all the light-duty players will do,” Bartlett says, adding that commercial distributors are competing with national chains that also offer quick delivery.

Minor also knows Midwest Wheel Companies is competing with other light-duty truck parts providers, including the national ones. The company delivers parts every day to its customers that are within a 50-mile radius of its six locations, which serve parts of Illinois,

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Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin and all of Iowa.

“We offer fast delivery on all our products, including heavy duty,” Minor says. “You have to be that way.”

Unless a customer is near one of CRW’s branches, it won’t deliver parts.

However, if one of its locations doesn’t stock a part, Willis says they will go to a competitor to get the part in-store. Customers might have to pay a little extra, but paying more is worth it compared with having a truck down for the day.

Sales & Marketing

Also, stocking a part or getting it in the store quickly improves loyalty with customers because “most fleets and heavyduty people like to deal with distributors that know what they’re doing and can solve their needs,” Willis says.

Using technology

‘We do that now’ In addition to stocking the right inventory efficiently and getting parts to customers quickly, heavy-duty commercial vehicle parts distributors might face a not-so-obvious hurdle: getting the word out to current and potential customers that the distributor now offers parts and service for light-duty vehicles.

Probably nobody knows this better than the folks at Automotive Parts Headquarters

Inc., even if its problem is the reverse. After nearly a century of providing light-duty parts, the company has been spending the last five years telling customers it now stocks heavyduty parts.

“Our biggest challenge is we’re trying to reverse 90some years of our customers hearing ‘we don’t do that,’” says Corey Bartlett, president and CEO. “It won’t take us 90 years of us telling people we

While the increased inventory might seem daunting, there are ways, including software, to help commercial vehicle parts distributors stock the right parts.

The stocking systems can be as simple or complex as distributors want them to be. demand pattern over a period of time For Minor and Midwest Wheel — a year, for example — by measuring Companies, determining what to stock sales made to customers as well as when is about developing relationships with a part was in demand but didn’t result customers to understand their needs. in a sale, Nicholes says. That overall “If you do your job right, you’re going demand, regardless of whether a sale was to find out what their usage is,” he says. made, is totaled and, if a distributor has After that, it’s a matter of setting up three to five demands for a part within the computer system to automatically that period of time, then they ought to restock the parts. be stocking that part, and the DMS will For parts disbegin automatically tributors embarking reordering the parts on offering lightin the right quantiduty truck parts, ties. The system there are several determines whether dealer management a distributor should systems (DMS) stock the part or rely available to assist on a supplier, thus them, according avoiding a slow-sellto Mike Nicholes, ing part from taking founder and owner up valuable shelf of Post Falls, Idahoreal estate, he adds. based Mike Nicholes Another option Capital Managefor commercial vement, which trains hicle parts distribu– Mike Nicholes, founder and owner of parts managers and tors is to develop a Mike Nicholes Capital Management business owners indatabase in-house, ventory control techniques to help them like APH did. The company’s awardbe competitive. winning inventory management process One of the most important features uses its “CounterLogic” database, which of an inventory management system houses more than a million parts. The for companies new to the light-duty information the database uses includes category is the ability to determine a vehicles in operation (VIO) data, sales

Parts managers and counter staff who track enough lost sales should at some point be saying, ‘Wait a minute. Maybe I better start stocking this.’

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Corey Bartlett, President and CEO at Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. do heavy duty now —— this is an important part of what we do today.”

history, market data, part failure rates, customer and store feedback and the company’s 98 years of experience, according to Bartlett.

APH received the Polk Inventory Efficiency Award, which recognizes outstanding aftermarket companies for process improvements relative to inventory and supply chain efficiency.

Regardless of how intricate the system is for determining the correct inventory to have on hand, the weak link in the entire process is the people answering the phones or standing at the counter, and their willingness to log a lost sale, according to Nicholes.

“Too often a lost sale is looked at as a negative indicator of performance, but it’s just the opposite,” he says. “Parts managers and counter staff who track enough lost sales should at some point be saying, ‘Wait a minute. Maybe I better start stocking this.’ If they don’t post those lost sales, they’re losing the picture of what’s happening.”

Nicholes adds the parts manager “occupies a really tricky place in figuring out what to stock.” Managers rely on intuition until they get a computer system that provides them data. More data better indicates inventory needs. “The more people understand this is a learned skill, the better everybody is.”

TM

Providing Cash Flow Solutions for the Aftermarket since 1984 REQUEST A FREE CONSULTATION

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Marketplace

The Buzz The five hottest products as determined by readers of truckpartsandservice.com

Growing aftermarket product categories Automann continues to expand its aftermarket product offering, recently adding new Body and Cabin, Chrome and Stainless Steel, Electrical and Spray Control parts.

Among its new parts is a fuel sensor for Cummins engines, a stainless steel hub cap, a turn signal switch for Mack trucks, a chrome mirror cover for Volvo VNL Series tractors and a mud flap hanger kit with a reflective end cap.

New aftermarket brand releases first product numbers Meritor has launched approximately 2,000 part numbers for driveline, drive axle and transmission offerings for the company’s new Mach aftermarket value brand.

The Mach driveline portfolio contains a large selection of U-joints covering multiple applications. The Mach drive axle and transmission portfolio includes gears, shafts, bearings, seals, repair kits and hardware for a wide variety of commercial vehicle applications. These introductions cover a comprehensive range of products and meet the company’s goal of parts availability for end-users before the end of 2017.

Expanded air disc brake line DuraBrake introduces its expanded all-makes air disc brake program for heavy-duty truck and tractors.

The program covers most major OE air disc brake products. The line covers brake systems from Bendix, Knorr Bremse, Meritor, WABCO, Haldex and Hendrickson, and includes rotors, disc pad sets and caliper guide bolts and seals. The rotors and pads meet FMVSS 121 requirements, DuraBrake says.

3D-printed parts coming to aftermarket

Expanded headlamp line

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is introducing plastic aftermarket parts produced using 3D-printing technologies.

DTNA says it is confident these new technologies will soon play a significant role in the industry.

During this pilot phase, DTNA says it will release a controlled quantity of 3D-printed parts and will invite feedback from customers and technicians that receive them. DTNA also will collect data on the parts performance as well as assess potential future demand for 3D-printed parts.

Optronics International broadened its Opti-Brite LED Headlamp family with the introduction of its new 5 in.by-7 in. combination high- and low-beam headlamp.

Optronics says the new lamps are designed with a unique retroflective LED light beam technology that enables them to project an optimized beam pattern conducive to superior driver comfort and performance.

The lamps also feature the Opti-Brite’s signature LED conspicuity array that sets the lamps apart from all other LED headlamps on the road, the company says.

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Marketplace

Cordless impact drill Milwaukee Tool releases its next-generation M12 FUEL cordless drill.

According to Milwaukee, the completely redesigned M12 FUEL 1/2 in.

Drill Driver, M12 FUEL 1/2 in. Hammer Drill, and M12 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver are capable of performing a wide range of applications in the tightest of spaces.

Milwaukee says each tool when purchased includes M12 REDLITHIUM 2.0 compact battery pack, M12 REDLITHIUM XC4.0 extended capacity battery pack, charger, belt clip and carrying case.

Tracker bar extension Phillips Industries has released its X-Tend tracker bar extension.

Phillips says the product extends the tracker spring kit and cables out an additional 8 in. from the tracker bar, with a total of 12 in. away from the back of the cab. The additional space keeps cables from knocking against the back of the cab, preventing surface damage.

The X-Tend is designed for use with tracker bars with a 3/4 in. diameter, and can be installed on tractors with a solid metal back or with windows with a metal frame down the center of the cab, the company says.

Long-haul drive tire Yokohama Tire Corporation introduces the fuel-efficient long-haul drive tire, TY577 MC2.

Now available in the U.S., Yokohama says the SmartWayverified TY577 MC2 comes in sizes 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5, 285/75R24.5 and 11R24.5, and also is offered in 16-ply construction.

Yokohama says the TY577 MC2 combines an ultra-deep tread pattern with Yokohama’s MC2 technology, which minimizes the effects of heat on the casing and tread, providing extreme low rolling resistance to reduce fleets’ cost-per-mile.

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Expanded ADB product line Abex has introduced a new series of premium brake rotors for the heavy-duty market.

Designed to work in conjunction with its air disc brake (ADB) pads, these new products are available across eight different Class 8 applications, covering nearly 98 percent of the heavy-duty ADB market. Abex says it offers a pad and rotor combination for the most popular Bendix, Meritor and Wabco ADB systems.

Concentrated Fuel system treatment Old World Industries introduces its diesel fuel system treatment Blue Micro-B-Gone.

According to Old World, Blue Micro-BGone has been proven to kill bacteria and fungus in as quickly as six hours, and it is effective against microbes for 60 days or maybe longer depending on fuel system turnover after initial treatment.

Designed in 16 oz. and 32 oz. bottles, Old World says one 32 oz. bottle will treat 2,500 gallons of diesel fuel.

All makes product line expanded The Universal Group introduces its new “Power 10 Parts” brand of products.

The company says Power 10 Parts brand will provide comprehensive coverage for the light-, mediumand heavy-duty truck and trailer parts markets.

Power 10 Parts will provide hundreds of products like torque rods, brake chambers, air springs, leaf springs and other chassis parts for the truck and trailer industries.

F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8 | T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E

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Marketplace

Trailer inspection system product IPA debuts the 5700 Alpha Mutt Trailer Tester system, designed to provide automatic and guided trailer inspections for service providers.

According to IPA, the portable state-of-the-art system is built on a rugged large platform that features a variety of expandable capabilities, including anti-lock braking system testing, air pressure sensors, cloud uploading and more. Additionally, the unit’s turnkey design includes the option to instantly link all trailer inspections fleet wide for inspection-failure-cause analytics, IPA says.

Off The Line Spotlighting a new OEM innovation

Rotors added to disc brake line Centric Parts has added a new line of StopTech GCX Disc Brake Rotors to its product offering.

The rotors feature a partial GEOMET coating on the friction surface, resulting in a 10 percent faster pad bed-in while eliminating annoying corrosion rings, the company says. They also feature a full GEOMET coating on all non-mating surfaces, which inhibits rust formation and helps provide long-lasting corrosion resistance.

Multi-use drive tire Toyo Tire U.S.A. introduces its M588 heavyduty on- and off-road drive tire.

Toyo says the M588 is built for severe service applications including oil, gas, mining and logging operations.

A 33/32 in. tread depth and special cut and chip resistant compound combined with a competitive acquisition point make the M588 the leading value alternative for severe-use vehicles, the company says. Toyo says two 16-ply sizes are available with the new M588, an 11R22.5 and an 11R24.5.

Electric regional tractor coming to market New startup Thor introduces the ET-One, a fully electric tractor set to debut in the trucking industry in 2019.

Powered by up to 800 kWh modular battery packs, the ET-One prototype has a 300-mile range when fully loaded to 80,000 lb., and its TM4 motor — a motor used in a variety of heavy-duty applications, including buses — puts out 5,000 lb. ft. torque

28

that can be customized based on need, the company says.

The tractor is being built to address the regional and medium-haul market, the company says, and will come with a base price of $150,000.

“Most of the folks we’re speaking to in the regional market, less than 300 miles, return to base and would install chargers at their site,” says Gio Sordoni, co-founder of Thor.

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8

Widebased tire fenders Fleetline introduces its Wide Base Tire Poly Fenders.

Engineered to suppress spray and reduce fuel costs in wide-base tire applications, Fleetline says the supersingle fenders are 19 in. wide and made of a lightweight high-density polyethylene built for durability and UV and corrosion resistance. They are available in single-axle, half-tandem and full-tandem designs.

Marketplace

Various aftermarket products

Toolbox with charging capabilities Snap-on introduces its Masters Series Roll Cab, featuring an integrated PowerDrawer for rechargeable tools and devices.

Available for the first time, Snap-on says Masters Series Roll Cabs will offer a five-outlet, two-USB port power strip in a dedicated PowerDrawer for charging power tool batteries, cell phones, tablets and more.

Minimizer_TPS0218_PG.indd 1 W W W . T R U C K PA R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M

NEWSTAR has released a new crop of products to its aftermarket product offering.

The new parts include two gear kits and a spider (that coordinates with both kits) that replace Eaton components and a pack of fuel injection compression sleeves that fit various International models. Additionally, the company also introduces new headlamps for Freightliner tractors, an oval marker lamp and single air horn for many International tractors, and a door seal for Peterbilt 379 Series trucks.

1/23/18 9:21 AM

F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8 | T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E

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Marketplace

Growing leaf spring line World American has expanded its leaf spring and accessories product line.

The company says the dozen new

part numbers fit Binkley, Fruehauf, Great Dane, Hutch, Reyco and Watson & Chalin applications. There are products

for single-, two- and three-leaf suspensions, and capacity ratings of 10,000 lb. to 14,000 lb.

Expanded oil pan line PAI Industries has added nearly a dozen oil pans to its heavy-duty product offering.

The company says the oil pans work with Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit, Mack and International engines. The 11 new parts include standard pans, front and rear sump pumps and an oil pan with pickup table.

Nylon cable wraps Phillips Industries introduces new nylon cable wraps for 3-in-1 combination air and electrical assemblies.

The cable wraps are made of durable woven nylon for protection against damage due to harsh weather conditions, chaffing, rubbing and tangling; and are simple to remove for maintenance, cable replacement or DOT inspections. Phillips says they are available in 8, 10, 12 and 16 ft. lengths to accommodate 3-in-1 combination assemblies with varying lengths between 12 ft. and 20 ft.

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T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 8

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Ad Index Company

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