Commentary

Cetane Improvers: The (not so) good, the bad and the ugly

The most common question? “Does the performance of a cetane booster outweigh the potential damage it could cause in the fuel system?” The answer may surprise you.

May 4, 2021

Commentary

Five ways for distributors to improve conversion rates

Your marketing team has been busy getting traffic to your eStore. Now the real work begins. How do you translate traffic to transactions that generate revenue?

April 9, 2021

Home

Performance evaluation a coaching, retention tool

Depending on whether the technician is hitting this goal, you may need to change the goal or provide the tech with additional training.

April 8, 2021

A properly structured performance evaluation can help technicians improve performance and allow managers to lay out career development opportunities.

Commentary

Fleets desire to reduce service outsourcing in 2021

Commercial Carrier Journal recently surveyed nearly 450 fleet professionals to uncover how commercial fleets have managed the rollercoaster of the past year and how their recent experiences have changed their vehicle maintenance practices.

April 5, 2021

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Commentary

The Good and the Bad (I did not get to the ugly)

A little over a month ago in this column, I mentioned I believed there was a light at the end of the tunnel to this pandemic. I now believe we are almost out of that tunnel and that we are about to turn the corner.

March 31, 2021

Commentary

How washing a truck can lead to corrosion

How does a service provider avoid doing more harm than good when pressure washing a truck’s undercarriage?

March 12, 2021

phillips industries socket with visible corrosion

Commentary

Are soft credit pulls the new trend in heavy equipment pre-qualification?

David Strand, Equipment Funding Solutions founder, says you may be chasing off qualified leads if you’re waiting to get a full credit application that utilizes a hard credit pull.

March 9, 2021

Commentary

2021 Aftermarket Outlook: What's ahead for the industry?

From a reporting perspective on the aftermarket, the last eight to nine months have actually been fairly positive as the biggest negative impact to the aftermarket and economy occurred in the second quarter of 2020.

March 1, 2021

Commentary

Understanding the longer term purchase potential for alternative powertrains

Despite a status quo for alt-fuel sales in 2021, that doesn’t mean the trucking industry has abandoned its interest in non-diesel fuels and powertrains. Fleets that have adopted alternative solutions within their operations remain committed to them.

February 26, 2021

A person inserting an electric charging cable into a charging port on a Volvo VNR

Home

Grid vulnerabilities for commercial EVs are troubling

Electric trucks and vans have a much lower TCO than conventional but grid vulnerabilities demonstrated this week in Texas and other states could bring on serious setbacks for fleets that are eager to embrace all-electric powertrains.

February 18, 2021

Commentary

The time is now to work on your online presence

“Online is something you can no longer ignore if you have been up until this point,” said Brie Anderson, owner, BEAST Analytics.

February 4, 2021

Commentary

TPS is evolving to serve you better

We've made some changes around here. Welcome to the new Trucks, Parts, Service.

January 28, 2021

Commentary

Questions you need to answer when business planning in 2021

Here are a few things to consider before you finalize your business plan and notify your team of their expectations for the year ahead.

January 28, 2021

Commentary

HDAW 2021 is next week. Are you ready?

This year's Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, HDAW'21, will be a fully virtual event will start Monday, January 25, 2021. Details here on Trucks, Parts, Service.

January 21, 2021

Commentary

Commentary: California’s aftermarket in 2023

John Blodgett of MacKay & Company offers insight and analysis for the aftermarket in California for the year 2023. Read more here on Trucks, Parts, Service.

January 19, 2021

Commentary

Commentary: Bring on 2021

Most of MacKay & Company’s aftermarket activity measurements have been more positive than we forecasted, and while our forecasts are not always on the mark, we don’t mind as much when things are better than forecast.

December 9, 2020

Commentary

Commentary: Targeted Parts Programs

Get to know your customer and increase your parts and service sales.

October 23, 2020

Commentary

Commentary: Aftermarket Outlook: Still down, but improving

We have completed our second quarter fleet utilization survey, and while significant drops were seen across all vocations, they weren’t quite as bad as initially predicted.

September 25, 2020

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truck tech outside of dickinson fleet services truck

Outfitting the optimal mobile service truck

Properly outfitting a service truck is an essential step in building a viable mobile business. Sending a truck to a unit down customer for service can potentially shave hours or days off their downtime, but only if the truck and tech are prepared.

Daimler, Paccar, Utility Trailer hit with NHTSA recalls

How dealers can manage competition from customers

To help bring an end to the global chip shortage, engine and vehicle manufacturers have asked the Biden administration to focus more on addressing their needs for semiconductors.

Manufacturers call on Biden to fix chip shortage

Fleets desire to reduce service outsourcing in 2021

Learn how to move your used trucks faster

With unsold used inventory depreciating at a rate of more than 2% monthly, efficient inventory turnover is a must for dealers. Download this eBook to access proven strategies for selling used trucks faster.

Download

How to Grow & Scale Your Repair Shop

Ever thought about starting your own diesel repair shop? Fullbay’s expanded guide will show you the necessary steps to bring your new business into the world.