Truck Parts & Service 1115 by Richard Street

GenNext, CVSN debut sales training expo | Truck OEMs skipping MATS

The aftermarket’s

next hurdle TELEMATICS WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, AND THE AFTERMARKET NOVEMBER 2015 |

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Distributor of the Year finalists: Blaine Brothers, Valley Truck Parts

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ASK FOR THE BOX WITH THE BULL. You want the right component. The right quality. The right value. Along with the right kind of service and technical support. You can get all this and more when you ask for the box with the bull. The bull stands for the full family of Meritor Aftermarket parts. From genuine Meritor® replacement parts to Meritor Green remanufactured components and everything in between, Meritor has the aftermarket products for every life-cycle stage of your equipment. For more information, go to MeritorPartsOnline.com, or call 888-725-9355. Make the right choice – ask for the box with the bull. ©2015 Meritor, Inc.

Volume 51 | Number 11 | November 2015

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Cover Story

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Editorial

Editor: Lucas Deal Online Editor: Jason Cannon Equipment Editor: Jack Roberts editorial@truckpartsandservice.com

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Art Director: Richard Street Advertising Production Manager: Leah Boyd

The Aftermarket’s next hurdle

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Features 12 Distributor of the Year finalist: Blaine Brothers 14 Distributor of the Year finalist: Valley Truck Parts 20 Methods for finding aftermarket part numbers

Departments 1 2 6 10

Editorial Staff Editorials Industry Focus Tech Updates

26 30 32 32

Marketplace Classified Ads Product Spotlight Advertisers’ Index

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Editorial | Lucas Deal

A new way to train parts sales people By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

here are very few aspects of customer service more universally beloved than training. In the aftermarket, suppliers love offering training as added value to their customers. Distributors love receiving it, and turning around and sharing that knowledge with their end user customers. You can’t talk to a business leader on either side of the aftermarket without them mentioning how much they love training, how much they get from it, and how much it strengthens their relationships and partnerships with the customers they serve. Yet if you were to do a straw poll, I’d bet the number of aftermarket operations in the industry that are totally pleased with the training they receive (and/or provide) would be less than 50 percent. Everyone wants more. Credit to GenNext for coming up with a new way to help out. As you can read about on page 6, GenNext has teamed up with the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) to introduce a new comprehensive sales training expo that it hopes will revolutionize how sales training is offered in the independent aftermarket. The new event, which will be held next spring in Atlanta, is unique in that instead of having suppliers train business owners or managers, it will instead allow suppliers to speak directly to the parts managers and outside sales people who are promoting their products in the field

every day. It will match suppliers with the people who represent their products on the front line. In one weekend, GenNext says suppliers will build a 150-person nationwide sales force. I really like this idea, and think it could be valuable to aftermarket suppliers for a few reasons.

It’s wickedly efficient. No more spending a week crisscrossing three states to train your best five-location distributor, or holding a regional class that only half of your distributors can afford to send employees to attend.

In one weekend, GenNext says suppliers will build a 150-person nationwide sales force. The distributor cost to attend the training course is minimal (the $295 per-person fee includes all lodging and transportation expenses), and while the supplier costs are more substantial, the time savings more than make up for the upfront expense. For $10,000, you can train the best sales people in the country, and then watch triumphantly as they return to their businesses to spread your message across the aftermarket. Nationwide training tours will never go away — nor should they — but by

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attending the GenNext and CVSN training expo, suppliers can give their training messages a head start in reaching their target audience.

Built in customer support Put 150 like-minded individuals in the same room and they’re going to talk. Best practices will be shared. Product knowledge will flow freely and openly. And most importantly, through networking, valuable contacts and friendships will be formed. Your customer service team will grow by you just being in the building. Just think about the possibilities. Your trainer has three sales people from three different distributor businesses at your booth. One asks a question and before your trainer can even respond, another salesperson is answering. Correctly, I might add. Your trainer follows up with literature and additional guidance about the original question and suddenly you have three distributors who are full-blown experts on that particular topic. And when they return home and a similar question is posed by a colleague or customer, they’ll handle it. They’ll be your first line of defense. I realize this is the time of year where 2016 budgets are being settled and confirmed, and finding cash for another event isn’t easy. But in an industry where training is so universally adored and appreciated, I can’t help but think this expo would be money well spent.

Editorial | Jason Cannon

The standardization of service excellence, and fighting fire with fire By Jason Cannon, Online Editor jasoncannon@randallreilly.com

he heavy-duty aftermarket might have scored a victory in September with Right to Repair, but OEMs still have plenty of haymakers left to throw. Whether it’s Freightliner’s Elite Support, or newer programs like Kenworth’s PremierCare Gold or Mack’s Certified Uptime Centers, dealers are prepared to go to war for their customers. Shaving seconds off downtime is going to help someone win customers, and advertising an OE standardized level of service lets customers know what to expect across an entire dealership network. It’s a benefit if I know I can pull into XYZ Truck Center’s Platinum Certified bay in Oregon, and have the same expectation of service that I found in another Platinum Certified dealership in Georgia. How does the aftermarket fight back? With certification of its own. Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification, and/or certification on proprietary engines, are the low-hanging fruit. If you’re not promoting the fact you have “certified” service, that is square one. Square two takes a more proactive approach. Let’s assume the vast majority of service shops already employ ASE and similar certified techs. It’s tough to distinguish yours from theirs. Those patches all look the same. What do you do? Get more patches.

Meritor earlier this year rolled out its Meritor Service Point certification for independent shops that sell and service its equipment. To achieve certification, garages need to have current tooling and equipment for Meritor-approved services, and technicians will need to show they’ve completed Meritor online or in-person training

Certification, or certificationlevel training, isn’t a superpower limited to technicians or service personnel. Eaton, through its Roadranger Academy, provides service professionals with instructor-led and computer-based training on Roadranger drivetrain products. While graduates aren’t “certified” with anything, your ability to market completion of training designed to cut

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downtime is limitless. Certification, or certification-level training, isn’t a superpower limited to technicians or service personnel. Look at the boxes on your shelves. You should be an expert on all products that move at a high volume, and you — or someone you have immediate access to — should be more than knowledgeable about everything else. Every customer-facing employee should be able to quote a company’s shipping window without thinking about it. It’s not the level of certification that’s helping dealers win business. It’s their level of commitment to a standardized level of excellence. The ability to make a faster diagnosis with easy access to parts isn’t necessarily a windfall for dealerships. The aftermarket can get similar parts and triage a truck just as quickly. Right to Repair gives the aftermarket access to once-proprietary data. The playing field now is as level as it has ever been. Speed and ability are not proprietary, and neither is a dedication to excellence. Parts sales personnel in the classroom aren’t selling parts, and service techs with their head buried in a book aren’t logging billable hours. But once you can add that level of certification and education to their business cards, or to their work shirt, you’ve begun the process of standardizing excellence and fighting fire with fire.

Industry Focus

Dealer News Valley Freightliner (VFI) has acquired five locations from Pacific Power Group. VFI bought Pacific Truck Centers’ Oregon locations in Ridgefield, Coburg and Redmond, and assumed the lease of the company’s Medford and Kapolei, Hawaii locations. MHC has expanded its truck leasing operation in a second location in Dallas. Summit Holdings has acquired Frontier International Trucks locations in

Wisconsin Kenworth has started construction at its new facility in Windsor, Wis.

Tulsa and Muskogee, Okla. Bruckner Truck Sales has acquired Mack Truck Sales of Tulsa, giving the company managerial control of both

the Volvo and Mack dealerships in Tulsa. The Pete Store has opened a new fullservice dealership in Hagerstown, Md.

GenNext, CVSN Introduce Groundbreaking Training Expo GenNext’s commitment to educating the next generation of heavy-duty aftermarket leaders is being kicked up a notch. In conjunction with the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), GenNext has announced it will hold an exclusive aftermarket sales training expo for heavy-duty aftermarket distributors next year. Scheduled for April 29 to May 2, 2016, in Atlanta, GenNext says the innovative training event is designed to provide distributor sales professionals (outside salespeople, parts managers, branch managers, etc.) one-on-one opportunities to meet and talk shop with up to 24 of the aftermarket’s strongest suppliers. The event will feature a two-day trade show where all 24 suppliers will offer individual sales guidance and instruction to distributor attendees, two keynote speakers, four individual one hour-long classroom training sessions with specific suppliers, stockholder presentations for VIPAR Heavy Duty and HDA Truck Pride members, as

well as networking events, meals and entertainment. “The expo is designed for aftermarket distributor parts managers, branch managers, and outside salespeople that sell these products every day,” says GenNext President Steve Hansen. “This is their opportunity to ask suppliers engaging questions and learn how to truly help their customers by recommending the right parts for every job. Ultimately, they will sell more parts to more people and they will have happier customers that appreciate their knowledge and input.”

Hansen says there are 150 distributor spots open for the event, with a limit of 10 employees per distributor business. The expo is first open to all GenNext and CVSN members. If registration has not filled up by Nov. 15, 2015, it will open up to all heavy-duty aftermarket distributors. Businesses who would like to send employees but are not members of either group are encouraged to join both organizations to gain access to the event. For more information, and to register as a supplier or distributor, please go to www.gennexthd.com.

Continental, Navistar Reach Partnership Agreement Navistar and Continental Tire have signed a Letter of Intent for a five-year supply agreement where Continental tires will be the standard tire offering on all International brand medium-duty, severe service and heavy-duty trucks and all IC Bus brand school buses.

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“Continental tires are well-regarded by customers in a wide range of applications and duty cycles throughout the commercial vehicle industry and we’re proud to make them the standard offering across our entire vehicle line-up,” says Bill Kozek, president, Navistar Truck and Parts.

Industry Focus

VIPAR Heavy Duty Continues Expansion In Mexico Distribuidora ARESCO, S.A. de C.V. is the newest company to join the VIPAR Heavy Duty network of distributors as a stockholder. Distribuidora ARESCO, S.A. de C.V. was founded in 1985 and is owned by Jorge Arochi. The addition of Distribuidora ARESCO supports VIPAR Heavy Duty’s efforts to further expand its North American footprint in Mexico. “We are pleased to welcome Distribuidora ARESCO to the VIPAR Heavy Duty

network,” says Jim Pennig, vice president of business development. “Their customer base is primarily fleets, subdistributors and maintenance facilities.

They currently carry a broad range of products for both heavy- and light-duty trucks, and are interested in expanding this to include many other parts.”

Volvo Trucks Upgrading Production Facility Volvo Trucks North America announces it will make several plant upgrades and open a new Customer Experience Center as part of a $38.1 million investment in the New River Valley (NRV) truck assembly plant in Dublin, Va., where all Volvo truck models for North America are assembled. “This unique Customer Experience Center will showcase our innovation leadership, our brand, and our products in a dynamic and engaging way,” says Göran Nyberg, president of Volvo Trucks North America. “Together with the NRV plant and our Customer Experience Test Track, the new Center will give customers — and prospective customers — an unforgettable Volvo Trucks brand experience.” In addition to the Customer Experience Center, Volvo says the new investment also will fund several plant upgrades to further improve the safety, quality and efficiency of NRV’s manufacturing processes.

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SKF Trucknowledgy Sharing technical expertise to take your fleet farther SKF provides more than just premium solutions that improve wheel-end reliability and driver safety. We’re also a resource for the latest technical, product and industry information and training. Delivering valuable knowledge and a broad range of solutions, we take the world’s top fleets farther. Find out how we can do the same for you. Contact your SKF distributor or visit www.vsm.skf.com.

www.skfpartsinfo.tv

@skfpartsinfo

The Power of Knowledge Engineering ® SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group | © SKF Group 2014

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Industry Focus

Remy’s Tosie Honored by Midwest Wheel Midwest Wheel Companies has announced Nick Tosie of Remy International as the recipient of its 22nd annual Don Shoemaker/Scott Wilson Sales Professional of the Year Award. Tosie joined Remy International as a regional sales/service manager assigned to the Midwestern region in 2012. Midwest Wheel says Tosie is one of the youngest individuals to receive this award, and represents the highest level of customer support in the heavy-duty industry. Judging for the annual award is conducted by Midwest Wheel’s branch managers, sales professionals and product managers. The honor is awarded on the basis of meeting a number of criteria

North American Truck OEMs Skipping 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show

including proven loyalty, adherence to policies, exemplary professional conduct, demonstrated product/industry knowledge, professional selling skills and the consistent display of respect and courteousness throughout their business dealings, the company says.

Webb Debuts Brake Adjusters Website Webb Brake Adjusters has created a new website to highlight its complete line of clearance sensing automatic brake adjusters. The company says the website is designed to be a comprehensive and industry leading resource for automatic slack adjusters. The new Webb Brake Adjusters website delivers an overview of their adjuster product line, a part number search function including competitive PNs, and an online catalog. The site also contains

explanations/illustrations of how automatic slack adjusters work, how clearance sensing adjusters outperform stroke sensing adjusters, and how Webb’s adjusters feature the industry’s finest adjustment for optimum brake lining and drum wear.

The 2016 Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) will take place next year without representation from Class 8 truck manufacturers. Following up prior announcements by Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), Volvo Trucks North America and Navistar, Paccar nameplates Peterbilt and Kenworth both announced last month they also will skip the 2016 show. DTNA cited its preference to see the annual MATS show adjust its cycle to odd-numbered years, a move that would relieve conflict for global truck OEMs also attending the IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hannover, which is held on even numbered years. That sentiment was shared by the Paccar team, says Peterbilt Public Relations Manager Derek Smith. “Peterbilt is a Paccar company, a global leader in the manufacturer and support of commercial vehicles, and the bi-annual MATS show strategy will be complemented by Paccar’s participation at IAA, held every other year in Hannover, Germany,” Smith says.

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

Jan. 24-25 Jan. 25 Jan. 25-28 Feb. 29-March 3

Service Opportunities and Learning Days, Las Vegas Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue, Las Vegas Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week 2016, Las Vegas TMC Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tenn.

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Industry Focus

Canadian Wheel, J. David Bell of Erie Drivetrain. The new supplier director is Walt Sherbourne of Dayton Parts. Pat Griffin has been named president at Marmon-Herrington.

Griffin

Fontaine Trailer has promoted Alan Briley as president of the Fontaine Commercial Platform Business.

Super-Rugged End Mounts

John W. Stuart has replaced the retiring Dave Briley Crompton as president at Reyco Granning. Horton Holding has named Cordell Dietz as its new chief operating officer. Four Star Freightliner service manager Bert Owens has been Dietz promoted to director of service operations — east. Shawn Butler is the new director of product marketing and strategy at Procede Software. The Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) has named Peter Einisman its new manager of government relations.

Accuride Launches ProductFocused Mobile App

Gabriel® designs feature a solid steel eye ring with a 360° reinforced arc weld4 rather than the more common split eye ring and two-place welding. This allows for greater tensile strength2,an exceptional bond between the eye ring and piston rod and superior structural integrity that reduces end mount failures. 2

Accuride Corporation has launched a free mobile application to increase access to its product information for customers worldwide. Accuride has taken the features and functionality of its website and developed a user-friendly interface for iOS, Android and other mobile devices. The new app provides a helpful, easy-to-use resource for Accuride’s commercial vehicle industry customers and company representatives alike, the company says. “This simple, user-friendly tool gives customers ready access to detailed information about our products, tools to help them calculate their added value, plus a series of videos that explain how to install and maintain them,” says Accuride President and CEO Rick Dauch. Customers may quickly download Accuride’s free mobile app through the Apple App Store or Google Play from a mobile phone or tablet.

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PROVEN

through & through

People In The News Stellar Industries has promoted Steve Schnieders to vice president supply chain and operations. Donaldson has named Sheila G. Kramer vice Schnieders president of human resources. Brake Parts Inc. (BPI) has named Tom Sheppard chief information officer. Hogebuilt has promoted Joe Gotmer to sales and marketing manager. Sheppard MAHLE Aftermarket has appointed Andreas Huber general manager for MAHLE Service Solutions. The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) has installed its new executive team and three Huber new directors. The new executive team is Edward Neeley, president, from Truck Supply Company of S.C.; Andy Robblee, vice president, from Six Robblees’; Troy Zurbuchen, treasurer, from Midwest Heavy Duty; and Angelo Volpe, executive vice president of CVSN. The new distributor directors installed are Ken Duval of

Heavy-Duty Durability

In Gabriel Testing, gabriel.com/benchmark-testing Excluding 83000 series

Gabriel has been perfecting shock absorber technology since inventing the first one in 1907.

www.gabriel.com

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Tech Updates

SAFETY RECALLS Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2016 Vision school buses manufactured on Aug. 16, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning. An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Thomas Built Buses FS-65, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EF, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour DRW school buses manufactured Jan. 3, 2006, to Aug.1, 2014, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position. If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator. DTNA is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Freightliner Business Class M2, 108SD, and 114SD trucks manufactured April 30, 2013, to Sept. 14, 2015. Due to incorrect positioning, the rear disk brake calipers may contact the spring suspension, reducing rear brake performance. A reduction in braking performance can increase the risk of a crash. DTNA is recalling certain model year 2016 Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2, 108SD, 114SD, and 122SD, Western Star 4700 and 4900, Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, and Freightliner MT55 vehicles manufactured Aug. 7, 2015, to Aug. 26, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with certain Cummins ISB6.7, ISL9, ISX12 or ISX15 engines whose engine control module (ECM) may short circuit and blow a fuse resulting in the engine stalling without warning. An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash. DTNA is recalling certain model year 2016 Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2, 108SD, 114SD, 122SD, Coronado Glider, and Columbia Glider vehicles manufactured June 29, 2015, to Sept. 7, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the steering arm bolts may not be properly tightened. If the steering arm bolts are not properly tightened, the steering arm may separate from the knuckle causing a loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

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

DTNA is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Cascadia, Business Class M2, Coronado, and Columbia Glider vehicles manufactured April 5, 2010, to June 15, 2013. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage. If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash. DTNA is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Freightliner Cascadia, Business Class M2, 108SD, 114SD, and Western Star 4700 trucks manufactured Jan. 4, 2015, to April 24, 2015, and equipped with Eaton Fuller FR 10-speed manual transmissions. In the affected vehicles, when the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to neutral, the reverse gear may stay engaged. When the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to a forward gear position, the transmission may mechanically lock because both the reverse gear and forward gear are simultaneously engaged. Even though the transmission has been shifted out of reverse into neutral, the vehicle may unexpectedly move backwards, increasing the risk of a crash. Fontaine Trailer Company is recalling certain model year 2015 Traverse HT trailers manufactured March 4, 2015, to Aug. 6, 2015. The affected trailers have a suspension member that may separate from the trailer as a result of cracks in the trailer. If the suspension member separates from the trailer, there would be an increased risk of a crash. Great Dane Trailers is recalling certain model year 2016 Dry Freight and Converter Dollies trailers manufactured June 19, 2015, to Sept. 22, 2015. During production, the axle nut retaining clips may not have been properly seated or may have been omitted from the axle assemblies. Without a properly seated axle nut retaining clip, the wheel nut may loosen resulting in excessive wheel end play and a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Mack Trucks is recalling certain model year 20112014 Pinnacle (CHU and CXU) trucks manufactured Sept. 10, 2010, to June 17, 2013. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage. If the fifth wheel and locking

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mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash. Navistar is recalling certain model year 20112014 International ProStar trucks manufactured May 18, 2010, to April 5, 2013, 2012-2014 International LoneStar trucks manufactured Sept. 7, 2011, to March 25, 2013, and 2011-2013 International TranStar trucks manufactured Oct. 18, 2010, to Feb. 20, 2013. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage. If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash. Navistar is recalling certain model year 2016 International ProStar trucks manufactured Aug. 5, 2015, to Aug. 14, 2015, DuraStar trucks manufactured Aug. 7, 2015, to Aug. 13, 2015, Paystar trucks manufactured Aug. 11, 2015, to Aug. 14, 2015, and LoneStar trucks manufactured Aug. 10, 2015, to Aug. 14, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning. An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash. Paccar is recalling certain model year 2016 Kenworth T370, T660, T680, T800, T880, and W900 vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to Aug. 12, 2015, and 2016 Peterbilt 337, 348, 365, 367, 382, 386, 389, 567, 579, and 587 vehicles manufactured Aug. 4, 2015, to Aug. 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the engine control module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning. An engine that stalls without warning increases the risk of a crash. Paccar is recalling certain 2016 Kenworth T680, T800, and T880 trucks manufactured Jan. 5, 2015, to Jan. 7, 2015 and 2016 Peterbilt 367, 384, 567, and 579 trucks manufactured Jan. 2, 2015, to Jan. 9, 2015 and equipped with Eaton Fuller FR 10-speed manual transmissions. In the affected vehicles, when the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to neutral, the reverse gear may stay engaged. When the transmission shift lever is moved from reverse to a forward gear position, the transmission may mechanically lock because both the reverse gear and forward gear are simultaneously engaged. Even though

Tech Updates the transmission has been shifted out of reverse into neutral, the vehicle may unexpectedly move backwards, increasing the risk of a crash. Paccar is recalling certain model year 20122013 Peterbilt 579 and 587 trucks manufactured Feb. 14, 2011, to Dec. 5, 2012 and 2011 Kenworth T700 trucks manufactured Sept. 21, 2010, to Oct. 1, 2010. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage. If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash.

or possibly fail. If the mounting points crack and tear or the attaching bolts loosen or fail, the power unit may detach from the truck, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash. Volvo Trucks NA is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Volvo VN trucks manufactured

April 14, 2008, to Dec. 23, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience corrosion of the ball joints due to the seals being compromised, possibly resulting in accelerated wear and failure of the ball joint. Failure of the ball joint may cause separation of the socket and a complete loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

The Expertise of Your Local Truck Parts Professional Backed by the Power of a North American Network

Strick Trailers, is recalling certain model year 2014 Van Trailers manufactured Nov. 12, 2013, to December 9, 2013, and equipped with SAFHolland brand CBX Trailer Suspension Air Ride Axle Systems. The trailer suspension has pivot bolts that may fail at the point where the bolt head meets the body of the bolt. Failure of the pivot bolts may cause the suspension and attached axle to separate from the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash. Strick Trailers is recalling certain model year 2001 Van Trailers manufactured Oct. 11, 2000, and 2009 Van Trailers manufactured March 12, 2008, to March 17, 2008. The affected trailers may be equipped with rear impact guards that may not be strong enough to prevent a vehicle from traveling under a trailer in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 223, “Rear Impact Guards.” If the trailer is rear ended by an automobile, the guard may fail to prevent the automobile from traveling under the trailer, increasing the risk of injury to the driver of the automobile. Volvo Bus Corporation is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Volvo 9700 buses manufactured Aug. 28, 2008, to Dec. 21, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the exhaust clamp at the turbocharger may fail, allowing hot exhaust gas to contact materials in the engine compartment. If hot exhaust gas contacts other components or materials, it can increase the risk of a fire. Volvo Trucks NA is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Volvo VNL trucks manufactured Dec. 1, 2011, to Sept. 1, 2013, equipped with certain electric auxiliary power Units (APU), part number BA600, manufactured by Idle Free Systems (IFS). The affected APUs have metal housings whose mounting points may crack and tear. Additionally, the mounting bolts of the power units may loosen

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There’s no beating the ease of doing business with your trusted local truck parts distributor. As part of North America’s Leading Truck Parts Network®, your local VIPAR Heavy Duty Parts Professional offers the brands you want and the expertise you need, with the strength and resources of a network of over 500 locations throughout the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. The Right People. The Right Parts. The Right Places. Find out more at www.vipar.com

www.VIPAR.com

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By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

DOTY Finalist

Blaine Brothers

ew distributors take on new challenges as effectively as Blaine Brothers. In less than 40 years the company has grown from two brothers with one service truck into a 220-employee operation with a 24/7 on call mobile service fleet, three parts and service locations with retail parts departments, five stand-alone service locations, two trailer sales locations, a truck alignment facility and Hydraulic Specialty, Inc. — a hydraulic-focused distribution and repair business. The growth comes from the company’s commitment to satisfying its customer base, says Vice President of Sales and Marketing Kevin McCarty. Blaine Brothers will do whatever it takes to better serve its customers, and when that means expanding into an area of need, the company is

more than willing. “We want to be able to take care of our customers as soon as they walk through our door. And we want to be able to provide any service that customer is looking for,” he says. But a willingness to expand doesn’t mean the company jumps forward blindly into new opportunities. Dean Dally, president and owner at Blaine Brothers, says the company’s expansion success is the result of careful preparation and research. While Blaine Brothers is open to any growth opportunity, Dally says it won’t actually move forward on a new venture until it has mapped out exactly how to proceed. That’s one of the reasons it has been so successful to this point, he says. Blaine Brothers doesn’t step out on a ledge without a safety rope. “We work hard managing

Blaine Brothers at a glance

Source: Google Maps, Blaine Brothers

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Blaine Brothers has a customer support team on staff 24/7 to provide immediate service and increase customer uptime.

growth opportunities and try to keep our arms around everything that is going on,” he says. This year that management has come in the area of technology. After years of planning, Blaine Brothers is in the midst of a substantial overhaul to its phone, website and computer systems. McCarty says the changes will allow Blaine Brothers to better communicate with new and existing customers, streamline the flow of information from both sides and ultimately increase the speed in which Blaine Brothers fulfills customer requests. The company also has introduced a new customer fleet management system product, proposed by an existing customer looking to outsource its maintenance headache. Blaine Brothers worked with the customer to build the processes and software of the new In addition to its three parts distribution facilities, Blaine Brothers also has sister companies in the truck alignment, trailer sales, and hydraulic industries.

system, says CFO Mike Gray. The system debuted with that customer as a beta test in May. After years of cultivating autonomy and authority within his management team, Dally says he’s enjoying watching that hard work pay off. “For a long time I felt like I knew pretty much everything that was going on around here. Now I feel like I only know a speck of what’s going on,” he says. “At times it can be little concerning — we don’t want to lose control — but at the same time it is fantastic. “Our guys are willing to take the bull by the horns and I love that. I love seeing things happening; bringing more value to the table.” More information on Blaine Brothers, which is headquartered in Blaine, Minn., can be found at www. blainebrothers.com.

By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

DOTY Finalist

Valley Truck Parts

alley Truck Parts succeeds because it is never satisfied. The Michiganbased distributor is “always defining and refining our process,” says General Manager Gary Troost. “We focus on those things and then accountability. We can always be better.” And yet, with more than six decades of aftermarket experience and 16 combined retail and wholesale locations, it’s clear the company has had its fair share of success. A Truck Parts & Service Distributor of the Year finalist for the first time in 2015, Troost says success at Valley Truck Parts — in the parts, remanufacturing, and service markets — comes back to the company’s relentless determination to improve. As a company, Valley Truck Parts uses a strong focus on

product, process and purpose knowledge to grow, and Troost says the company’s hiring and training is built around that message. “The overall company vision is communicated with our employees,” he says. “We set yearly and quarterly company initiatives, along with personal goals to stay in alignment with the overall company vision.” Valley Trucks Parts was founded in Grand Rapids, Mich., in the 1950s as a wrecker and salvage business. The company grew to add retail parts sales, service and remanufacturing capabilities in the decades that followed before expanding throughout Michigan with four more stores — Traverse City, Gaylord, Warren and St. Joseph — in the early 90s. Each Michigan facility sells new, used and in-house remanufactured products.

Valley Truck Parts at a glance

Source: Google Maps, Valley Truck Parts

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Truck refurbishing is just one of the value-added services Valley Truck Parts offers through its three service locations.

Three also have service centers offering comprehensive repairs, as well as collision and body work and truck refurbishing. The company’s remanufacturing operation also is one of largest by an independent distributor. Valley Truck Parts is an Eaton Authorized Rebuilder, Allison Authorized Rebuilder and offers its own line of Platinum Series remanufactured components. Valley Truck Parts also backs its Platinum Series with its own parts and labor warranty. This helps ensure a customer’s experience with Valley Truck Parts is a positive one. “It’s our job to deliver on our successful formula of availability, quality and service to that customer and earn their trust,” Troost says. The culture at Valley Truck Parts also seeks out other opportunities that will help the business improve. Troost says training is a priority for the company. With such a large product offering, Valley Truck While its retail distribution centers are all based in Michigan, Valley Truck Parts also has 11 nationwide wholesale distribution centers for its remanufacturing products.

Parts is regularly scheduling and seeking out the best training opportunities for its team. Valley Truck Parts also has the unique advantage of a national wholesale network that adds to the company’s market presence. Added recently, the 11 wholesale locations serve the company’s national accounts, and distribute the company’s remanufactured product lines. Valley’s focus on continuous improvement can be found in those locations as well, says Troost. “Valley has a successful formula of availability, quality, service and internal cost control through defined process. Our customers rely on us for same day or next day service and have confidence the product they are selling has value,” he says. More information on Valley Truck Parts, which is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., can be found at www.valleytruckparts.com.

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By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

Cover Story

The aftermarket’s

next hurdle

Telematics will shape the future of vehicle maintenance, and the aftermarket

eavy-duty trucking’s technological renaissance is about to shake up the aftermarket. Again. The Right to Repair debate might be solved, but the independent aftermarket’s fight to access vehicle maintenance information is only beginning. Another issue lingers on the horizon. What is the aftermarket going to do about telematics?

Telematics products were first introduced in the trucking industry in the late 1980s to aid in vehicle monitoring and logistics. Originally aftermarket hardware, these first telematics systems created a revolutionary level of transparency between drivers and fleet dispatchers. By knowing where their trucks were located at all times, fleets were able to optimize scheduling, route efficiency and asset utilization.

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“The early systems were very much track and trace, says Jimmy Fortuna, vice president of product management at Omnitracs. In the decades since, more telematics providers have emerged and the capabilities of their products have increased. Logistics remain a priority but now share the spotlight with asset and driver usage data, fuel economy information and live vehicle

maintenance reports, says Garland Jackson, general manager-OEM at PeopleNet. What started as a solution to fleets’ logistical questions has evolved to answer so much more, says Velociti President Deryk Powell. “At a base level [telematics] is still ‘Where is my truck?’ but in truth it’s so much more than that. It’s also ‘How is my truck doing?’ ‘What kind of shape is it in?’” Powell says. “[Telematics] is a total

Cover Story connectivity of a driver and a truck” to its terminal and/or dispatcher. The uptime potential of that connectivity is enormous, and as such, North American fleets have started to take note. Asset tracking and hoursof-service monitoring with electronic on-board recorders (EOBR) still account for the lion’s share of telematics usage within North American fleets. But the popularity of maintenance-centric products — available through factory and retrofit installation — is growing. And that market proliferation has only increased of late, Fortuna says. “There has been a pretty rapid uptake [in adoption] in the past two years, especially in the last year or so, and we think it is only going to accelerate from here,” he says. “For a long time telematics were just being used by the big fleets, but in the last 24 to 30 months fleets of every shape and size have started to adopt systems,” adds Powell. “That has really changed the landscape.” Once its advantages are fully realized, telematics will revolutionize heavy-duty trucking maintenance across

Telematics systems today are installed during vehicle production and through retrofitting. But like any component, they also must be monitored and maintained to ensure they are correctly capturing and transmitting data.

all service channels. A recent study by ABI Research determined “it is just a matter of time” before the first United States commercial telematics provider exceeds one million vehicles under management. The study also predicts telematics software will be present on more than 73 million vehicles worldwide by 2020. This is technology that isn’t going to remain on the backburner much longer. The maintenance upside of telematics is driven from data acquisition. By recording vehicle performance and fault codes,

telematics providers have access to expansive amounts of maintenance-related records. Zonar Systems COO Vikas Jain says his company works in conjunction with its OEM partners to analyze the data it collects to uncover trends across specific vehicle configurations and duty cycles. Jain says this research is particularly valuable in determining the severity of fault codes. Not every fault code immediately requires service, and trends found within data allow telematics providers to advise customers on if they need to pull over immediately,

There has been a pretty rapid uptake [in adoption] in the past two years, especially in the last year or so, and we think it is only going to accelerate from here. – Jimmy Fortuna, vice president of product management at Omnitracs

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within a number of hours, or if a fault code has possibly been presented in error. “When a driver sees a check engine light, he might not know what that means,” says Jain. “But we capture that fault code and can see exactly what it says … and what it means.” Fortuna gives OEMs credit for this opportunity, as every new ECU installed on a vehicle enhances the data set from which a telematics system can analyze. “You can get a much better picture of what is going on within a vehicle overall when you look at all of those systems in combination,” he says. In cases where the maintenance issue requires downtime, Jackson says the amount of data that can be immediately transferred to necessary parties is enormous. Everything from asset

N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 | T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E

Cover Story information (VIN, model year, spec’ing information, etc.) to ECU data on system and component performance is automatically communicated to fleets through today’s telematics systems. Dealer service departments can receive this information, too. OEMs have the ability to route maintenance information gleaned though factoryinstalled telematics systems to a fleet’s preferred dealer service facility, Jain says. Decisiv Vice President of Channel Marketing Michael Riemer says the time-saving benefits of this communication are two-fold. Either the fleet or dealer is required to manually record the asset information at the beginning of the repair, and by providing fault code information in advance, the service department gets a head start on diagnosing the problem. “It allows you to get the right information into the right hands,” he says. And Powell says that’s just the beginning. As vehicle

Telematics allow for faster diagnostics because they transmit vehicle performance data to a fleet and OEM well before the vehicle reaches a service bay.

ECU technology continues to grow, so too will the amount of data mined from these systems. A world where telematics providers can leverage comprehensive component, system and fleet data against live asset reports to predict future problems is just around the corner. Prognostics is the future of fleet maintenance,

Telematics systems also allow fleet managers and drivers to access the vehicle data at any time, albeit through entirely different platforms.

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and telematics will make it possible. “We can analyze data trends and in certain cases we can anticipate faults before they actually happen,” says Jain. “We can find where there is a high probability of a certain kind of fault, and with the OEM, we can notify the fleet” of the potential breakdown risk. “If something happens repetitively, that’s probably

an area you want to address,” adds Jackson. Fortuna says telematics also will supplement the industry’s burgeoning interest in vehicle autonomy, collecting and distributing data to track vehicle movement and the performance of collision avoidance systems. Telematics won’t eliminate downtime, but coupled with prognostics and autonomics, it will unquestionably minimize it. Yet how the independent aftermarket figures into this uptime revolution remains to be seen. Most data transferred using telematics goes directly to vehicle owners. OEMs guide fleets with factory-installed telematics systems to dealers when relevant, but the service provider only acquires the information if the fleet agrees to outsource the work.

Cover Story

Logistics and asset management remain a key driver for telematics systems in today’s commercial trucking marketplace.

At this point the independent aftermarket is out of the loop. Jain says there is application program interface (API) technology available today to allow telematics providers to transfer data to independent service provider systems. He says both dealer and independent service facilities are the logical next step for the proliferation of telematics data. The reason only the former is seeing the fruits of this technology isn’t an industry bias or preference, it’s simple economics. Jain says heavyduty OEMs have financially committed to telematics. They’ve allocated funds to analyzing data as a way to help customers. “I think OEMs are going to continue to add more to what they provide,” adds Riemer. “I think they understand to drive uptime they need to

do more from a predictive perspective. They need to be thinking ahead for their customers. They recognize that and are moving in that direction.” The independent aftermarket hasn’t yet done the same. The recently signed heavy-duty access to vehicle information Memorandum of Understanding offers the independent aftermarket a substantial amount of proprietary vehicle system information, but lacks any guidance regarding telematics. Commercial Vehicle Right to Repair Coalition leaders said OEMs showed a willingness to tackle telematics at a future date when the MOU was confirmed, but a timeline for those discussions is unknown. In the meantime vehicle owner reliance on

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telematics shows no sign of slowdown. Powell says he believes fleets who understand the potential of telematics will only continue to leverage the technology in relationships with suppliers. That will include

an expectation from OEMs to offer data analysis, prognostics and an open channel of maintenance information to all service providers. Offering the latter at cost to the independent aftermarket seems the most logical and beneficial solution for the industry, Riemer says. “Information sharing is valuable for everyone in the ecosystem,” he says. And now that the technology is available, Fortuna says it isn’t going away. “Telematics is now a data transport for a lot of things going on within the vehicle, and as time goes by I think the line between telematics and the functionalities [such as maintenance] it enables will become even blurrier,” he says. “In the future, the idea that a vehicle wouldn’t be connected with telematics will just be weird.”

The type of telematics systems installed in today’s trucks vary depending on the data collected and needs of the vehicle owner.

N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 | T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E

By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

Service Bay

What’s the

magic number? Methods for finding a component’s applicable aftermarket part number 20

inding an aftermarket replacement for an OEM component isn’t always a flawless process. In situations where a product is damaged, poorly labeled or just plain mysterious, independent aftermarket distributors and service providers must answer a challenging question: How do you replace what you can’t clearly identify? The short answer is to find the component’s aftermarket part number. The long answer is below.

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For any aftermarket business struggling to replace an unknown part, here are five steps that can send you on a path to the aftermarket part number of your salvation.

Just ‘Google’ It The Internet is your friend. An online search of the text on the component (if any exists) or the part’s physical characteristics is one way to get a lead. John Minor, president and COO at Midwest Wheel, says his team does

Service Bay this when a part number found on a component doesn’t turn up any results in the company’s inventory. “We have had experience with just Googling a casting number, sub number and a part number, and in most cases the search results will show the [aftermarket] number and even pictures,” he says. An Internet search also is great due to its speed. Inputting a part’s characteristics into a Google image search might not immediately offer an OEM or aftermarket stocking number, but it’s a good bet to at least show you what it is. It also gives you options for a next step.

Supplier search So long as you know who built the part you’re trying to replace, you can typically search for its number within the manufacturer’s catalog. Most print catalogs list both OEM and aftermarket numbers, and some also match components to the spec’ing configurations of the vehicle on which they were installed. Online catalogs provide that same information as well as image galleries, detailed product descriptions and related components. And unlike print catalogs, which are updated just once or twice per year, most suppliers update their online

In cases where a customer doesn’t know exactly what they need, Midwest Wheel will ask a customer for a description of the component so they can search for it online and within their stock.

catalogs constantly. Meritor says distributors and the general public can access more than 250,000 searchable parts on its catalog, meritorpartsonline.com. “Parts are added to the database on a regular basis with the site being updated once per month,” says Justine Scriptunas, director of program management, Aftermarket, at Meritor.

Meritor’s online catalog allows North American customers to search for more than 253,000 parts. The site also groups parts by system and product category for easy access.

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Third-party reference tools The heavy-duty independent aftermarket also is home to multiple third-party parts number databases. These platforms — which house hundreds of supplier catalogs within a single interface — allow you to find not only the aftermarket equivalent of a supplier’s factoryinstalled part, but also corresponding numbers for the same component across most aftermarket brands. This alternative part information is incredibly valuable when the original component in question is a proprietary OEM brand you don’t stock. Rather than being forced to call an OEM or dealer, the system does the research for you. It tells you what you may have on hand that can fill your customer’s need. MOTOR Information’s FleetCross tool fills this role at Midwest Wheel. FleetCross allows users to search OEM, aftermarket and all-makes catalogs

Service Bay

MOTOR’s FleetCross tool not only provides aftermarket part numbers for a supplier’s OEM part, but also other premium branded aftermarket parts.

Phone a friend

When possible it helps to have a customer bring in their unknown part to speed up the search process for a replacement.

for on-highway, off-highway and industrial components and updates constantly and seamlessly with new supplier information, says Patrick Seeburg, product

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manager, truck group, at MOTOR. The system “has been a cross reference star [for us] for the last several years,” Minor says.

If the Internet fails to turn up a lead, there’s always the trusty phone tree. Try calling the parts counter at your other locations, or an industry confidant with whom you have a relationship. See if they can get you on the right track. Just because a part has stumped your team doesn’t mean it will stump everyone. Don Purcell, partner at Stone Truck

N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 | T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E

Service Bay

[Getting the customer back on the road], that’s what matters. If that customer has a unit down and that part is a critical need, we have do to everything we can for them. – Don Purcell, partner at Stone Truck Parts

Parts, says this is where his company is fortunate. By forging strong relationships with other area distributors and dealers, Purcell says the Stone inside and outside sales teams don’t hesitate to call for help when part identification proves problematic. And conversely, his team tries to reciprocate that assistance as much as possible. Getting the customer back on the road trumps any other concern, he says. “Ultimately that’s what matters,” Purcell says. “If that customer has a unit down and that part is a critical need, we have do to everything we can for them.”

Go straight to the source It’s not ideal, but sometimes you just have to call the supplier or OEM directly and ask for help. The aftermarket is introduced to hundreds of new components and systems every year. Even the best counter people don’t know every part every time. And in cases where a part is totally new, it can even be too fresh to be searchable in a supplier catalog or third-party cross reference tool. While it’s rare, Purcell says his team has called OEMs over the years to solve component riddles. “It’s pretty much our last alternative,” he says. “But there have been critical situations where it was needed.” The key is to remain focused on the customer, Purcell says. The OEM is just as focused on customer service in those situations as the aftermarket. “When the manufacturer understands it’s an emergency they are very responsive,” he says.

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5

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Marketplace

Torque-locking hand tools

Fifth wheel for yard trucks Fontaine Coupling Solutions has introduced a new fifth wheel designed specifically for yard trucks. The Armor fifth wheel is stronger, easier to maintain and better protected from kingpin damage than other terminal tractor fifth wheels, the company says, providing increased uptime and lower total cost of ownership. It can be ordered on new trucks or fitted to existing competitor brackets in the aftermarket. While many yard truck fifth wheels are rated to 70,000 lbs., the Fontaine Armor fifth wheel can handle 80,000 lbs. vertical load and 200,000 lbs. drawbar pull. Plus it’s backed by a oneyear warranty, the company says.

New reman air dryer line Meritor announces the launch of genuine Meritor WABCO remanufactured air dryer product line. Meritor WABCO says its System Saver 1200 family of air dryers is for heavy- and medium-duty commercial trucks. Each industry-leading System Saver air dryer is remanufactured with genuine Meritor WABCO components and tested to ensure OE quality and performance, the company says.

Round stop/tail/turn lamp Phillips Industries has released the next-generation Permalite XT 4.0-in. round stop-tail-turn lights with patented Boardfree technology using nine diodes for brighter illumination. The newly designed Permalite XT 4.0-in. round lamps have an even sleeker, more modern profile and minimizes additional components, eliminates opportunities for damage and reduces weight all while maintaining exceptional durability, the company says. They are resistant to impact, corrosion, harsh chemicals and UV exposure.

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Milwaukee Tool introduces two new hand tools, Locking Pliers and Locking C-Clamps, both of which feature the company’s patent-pending Torque Lock adjustment system. Milwaukee says the tools deliver an innovative solution for adjusting the size of the gripping jaws while secured to material. This gives the user the ability to produce maximum locking force with a much faster and controlled set up, the company says.

New polyethylen fender Fleetline has launched a new polyethylen fender designed for wide-base tires. The new fenders are 19 in. wide and constructed of a lightweight high-density polyethylene. They are available in single axle, half and full tandem designs, the company says.

Multi-size drive tire Yokohama’s new TY527 premium drive tire is now available with three 16-ply size offerings: 295/75R22.5, 11R22.5 and 11R24.5. Yokohama says the benefits of the TY527 include durable, long, even mileage achieved via a directional tread pattern that reduces block movement and resists heel and toe wear under high torque conditions. Also, the tire’s stress wear control grooves alleviate contact pressure on the edge of the outside tread blocks, allowing the shoulder edge to flex easier to prevent irregular wear. The TY527 is also available in its original 14-ply, 285/75R24.5 size, the company says.

Marketplace

Two oil drain tools Femco Drain Solutions introduces a new Click Drain system and Oil Evacuation system. Femco says the Click Drain system consists of a drain plug and a special, “click-on” drainer. Femco drain plugs replace the old, obsolete style of drain plug with an innovative Femco drain plug valve that will provide you a cleaner, safer, and more efficient way to drain fluids, Femco says. The company says its Oil Evacuation units are fully-contained mobile cart systems that connect directly to any installed Femco oil drain plug. Oil is vacuumed directly from the oil pan to an enclosed, tank. Femco says this setup totally eliminates the risk of a costly spill while giving the user a faster, more efficient oil change.

Off The Line Spotlighting a new OEM innovation New Paccar engine coming to North American market Paccar has introduced its MX-11 engine into the North American market. Paccar says the engine complements the company’s popular MX-13 engine and is scheduled to be available with Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks in January 2016. The company has installed more than 10,000 MX-11 engines in DAF trucks in Europe. “The Paccar MX-11 engine is designed to deliver optimum performance and fuel economy, industry-leading

durability and reliability, and a quiet operating environment for the driver,” says Landon Sproull, Paccar assistant vice president. “ The 10.8-liter MX-11 engine has an output of up to 430 HP and 1,550 lb.-ft. of torque, Paccar says.

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Marketplace

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

Brake drum gets new color finish STEMCO has announced its CentriFuse brake drum product line will now have a new, unique blue color. In recent years, overseas manufacturers have begun making brake drums that look like STEMCO Genuine CentriFuse products, but do not perform nearly as well. STEMCO says this leads to customers not receiving the quality, reliability, safety and weight reduction they are used to when purchasing STEMCO products. The new color now protects the integrity of fleet managersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; investments by enabling them to easily distinguish genuine STEMCO brake drums from imitation products, the company says.

Former dealer-only aftermarket components Dorman HD Solutions introduces a variety of new former dealer-only aftermarket parts. Included in the newly released list of products is an electric motor for a vehicle door for International trucks, an engine oil cap for many Volvo trucks, five EGR cooler SKUs for International DT466, a turbo coolant hose for several Freightliner trucks and a HVAC heater control valve for different Kenworth trucks.

New turbochargers, other aftermarket parts NEWSTAR has added several new components to its aftermarket product offering. Among the new parts are a pair of turbochargers for Detroit and Cummins engines, a condenser for International 4600-4900 series trucks, various differential spiders, front steer air bags for Volvo and Hendrickson suspension applications, primary mirrors for Freightliner M2 106 models, leveling valves for other Freightliner trucks, a temperature sensor for Mack and Volvo trucks and D11 and D13 engines, a hood for a Freightliner or Sterling model and hood latches for several Mack trucks.

New trailer fairing system Vehicle diagnostic tool Diagnostic Innovations LLC, has unveiled its new Vehicle Diagnostic Assistant 54P (VDA54P). The new tool helps technicians diagnose and troubleshoot engines, transmissions and braking systems of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fleet vehicles. Diagnostic Innovation says it is a complete diagnostic system featuring a Panasonic Toughbook 54 laptop computer. It is a smart product and can be specifically customized for each customer.

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5

SmartTruck has launched a new fairing designed to manipulate and manage the disruptive airflow created in the gap between cab and trailer, or between two tandem trailers. The LeadEdge Fairing was designed and optimized using sophisticated Computational Fluid Dynamics. Predicted performance metrics were subsequently validated through rigorous coast down testing. Live tandem fleet testing is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Marketplace

Miniature LED work lamp

On/off-road drive tire Continental Tire the Americas’ commercial vehicle tire group has launched the all new HDC1 HT for the U.S. and Canadian markets. This drive tire offers a specialized diamond lug tread design, on/ off-road belt package and 32/32 in. tread depth. It is designed specifically for severe conditions that fit the demands of construction applications, Continental says.

Optronics International has broadened its line of miniature LED work lamps with the introduction of its new Opti-Brite TLL30FB. At just 3.25 in. in diameter, Optronics says the round lens of the new lamps is up to 35 percent smaller than comparable work lamps. The lamp’s four LEDs produce a raw lumen output of 960, and its flood beam has an effective lumen yield of 670. The compact lamp is so small that it can be easily mounted on any vehicle with 4.5 in. of clearance and comes with a durable stainless steel mounting bracket. The lamp is designed to accommodate both 12- and 24-volt electrical systems, the company says.

High-amp alternator Denso is now shipping PowerEdge, its new series of high-amp alternators developed for medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. Compact and fuel-efficient, Denso says PowerEdge alternators have a durability rating of more than 400,000 miles. Denso also says PowerEdge is just 7.7 in. long and weighs up to 10 lbs. less than competitors.

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RIGDIG BI

randallreilly.com/amslideshow

Gabriel GenNext

PPG Commercial Coatings

truckingmovesamerica.com 15 vipar.com

BITIMEC International

877-637-1900

Direct Equipment Supply Co.

800- 992-1478

Femco

855-336-2687

FinditParts

888-535-2635

Midwest Truck Parts

800-934-2727

This advertisers’ index is a service to readers. Although every effort is made to maintain accuracy, Truck Parts & Service cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions.