Commentary

Dealers could be expected to invest six figures to support electric trucks

Class 8 linehaul trucks may not be electric for a long time, but yard trucks? Those could be electric now. Same for delivery box trucks and lighter weight regional hauls with short routes and evening terminal returns.

September 22, 2021

Electric charging station

How e-commerce self-service can benefit manufacturers in these difficult times

The manufacturing industry has faced a lot of new challenges lately. Whether it’s the labor shortage, supply chain disruptions, or rising costs — it’s a difficult time to be in the industry.

September 7, 2021

Online e-commerce capabilities

It’s that time of year

This is the time of year that we at MacKay & Company update our aftermarket parts model with the latest data from our field work and other sources, revising our aftermarket forecast for 2021 and for five years out ...

August 26, 2021

Will ending additional unemployment benefits fix the labor shortage?

I’m sure in the early months of the pandemic there were workers who decided they would be more secure if they took the additional unemployment benefits and avoided returning to work. I don’t think that’s the case today.

August 26, 2021

Classified now hiring ad

Parts shortages? Prices increases?

For our latest survey, we probed a little further into what is actually happening and what the impact is from these parts shortage issues. Specifically, are distributors and dealers losing parts sales? And are fleets parking trucks because of this?

July 12, 2021

Solid-state worth the wait?

Depending on use cases, fleets thinking of investing heavily into electric trucks and vans may want to consider holding out for solid-state batteries.

June 26, 2021

Freightliner eCascadia

Five crucial e-commerce metrics for distributors

Monitoring performance is the lifeblood of any business. A business cannot adjust or make improvements without having a solid process of communicating and objectively reviewing performance.

June 21, 2021

Computer with data graph

Apple, Facebook and Google are remodeling how businesses leverage consumer data

What’s at stake is how companies use technology and algorithms to track individual users.

June 8, 2021

Recruiting electric truck techs? Good luck with that

The trucking industry long has had an issue recruiting and retaining diesel technicians.

May 24, 2021

diesel techs working on truck

Washington can solve the infrastructure crisis

My biggest fear is the two sides work out an arrangement on what needs to be funded but can’t agree on how to pay for it.

May 15, 2021

Road Construction

Survey data highlights how COVID-19 fundamentally altered trucking employment and operations

Throughout the severe pandemic months of 2020, parts sales, service sales and miles driven all took a hit. A huge hit. But the balance of last year was met with perseverance, grit and creative problem solving and business returned to more normal levels.

May 17, 2021

Mac Kay & Company

The incredible opportunity to capitalize on e-commerce in 2021

Sellers are quickly realizing how they sell a product is becoming just as important as the product they are selling. Building an e-commerce platform that satisfies a variety of audiences is key to finding aftermarket success.

May 9, 2021

Man Looking At Computer Data

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

Shutterstock Engine

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

Shutterstock Laptop In Warehouse

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.

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

Ccj 42943375384 9ee0c3f249 K 2019 12 18 11 25

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

Mac Kay & Company

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

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Customer looking at truck

Making the most of a booming used truck market

Sale prices on used trucks have stabilized; however, experts says it’s still the halcyon days for used truck sales as heavy vehicles remain in high demand.

TMC experts share guidance on preparing a facility for EV service

Warehouse worker on laptop

Communication vital to serving customers during parts shortage

Transerve empty warehouse shelves

How parts departments are learning from the parts shortage

Classified now hiring ad

Will ending additional unemployment benefits fix the labor shortage?

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.

Used Truck Guide Cover

Want to get started with PM work?

Fullbay’s new ebook shows you what data to gather and how to present potential PM services to your customers.