Commentary

Solving your workforce challenges takes more than recruitment

The global talent pool is shrinking; competition for talented young workers has never been steeper. Your company's long-term success will require technological adoption to maximize efficiencies within your workforce.

May 5, 2022

Jamie Irvine at HDATP meeting

How distributors can leverage e-catalogs for aftermarket success

An e-catalog gives customers up-to-date information, increases efficiency, and simplifies the purchasing process. It transforms the online experience, and the best part is distributors already have the information they need to implement one.

April 28, 2022

e-commerce button

Distributors can’t wait any longer to get into e-commerce

What industrial customers and partners are looking for in a purchasing experience has changed drastically over the last few years. Whether due to the pandemic or the rise in digital transformation, buyers are looking for more from distributors.

March 24, 2022

Warehouse worker online

Overdrive survey details purchase preferences among small fleets, drivers

The used truck market might be the preferred source for owner-operators and small carriers, but once a customer decides it’s time to buy another used truck, a franchised truck dealer has little to no advantage in acquiring their business over anyone else.

March 23, 2022

Trucks available through rear mirror

Autonomous truck aftermarket

The team at MacKay & Company has conducted a data experiment to evaluate how aftermarket parts and service demand for the Class 8 for-hire carrier truck population would change if all tractors in use were autonomous. See their insights here.

March 23, 2022

2022 Aftermarket Outlook

We are almost to the end of the second month of the 22nd year of this century — so time for an update on our outlook for this year.

February 24, 2022

The service dilemma developing in the used truck space

Because so many used truck purchasers are racing to fill a contract or grab a load at an insane profit, some also are grabbing trucks and putting them right into service ... before conducting due diligence maintenance procedures.

February 10, 2022

Three trucks on roadway

What a changing buyer demographic means for distributors

As the current generation of purchasers heads towards retirement, they will be replaced by buyers with different expectations. Being proactive in adapting to this shift will be critical for attracting and maintaining customer relationships.

February 4, 2022

Young person e-commerce

2021 Aftermarket Recap

What about 2022? Inflation is a concern, COVID is never going away and how we deal with that is a concern. Our recent MacKay & Company forecast has the aftermarket up more than 17 percent for 2021, and rising again in 2022 ...

December 29, 2021

Why the 'bullwhip effect' is exacerbating the supply chain crisis

"I have had the opportunity to work at several levels of the international supply chain for more than 20 years and have bought hundreds of containers of goods from over 25 Asian suppliers. I’ve never seen anything like 2021."

December 17, 2021

Container ship waiting to be unloaded

The noise around truck weight

Having taken that diesel system weight out, there are a variety of estimates for what goes back in for a BEV based on many sources, often in disagreement.

December 7, 2021

trailers at a warehouse dock

Nuclear power anybody?

When it comes to battery electric and hydrogen vehicles, price is always a hurdle when compared to internal combustion vehicles. The long-term question remains: Will fleets buy if they do not get financial incentives to purchase?

October 11, 2021

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

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Truck in urban area

Used truck market pulls back for first time in April

The used truck pricing wave has crested. After nearly 18 months of record-setting gains, prices for used trucks sold in the auction and retail channels slowed in April, J.D. Power announced Monday in its May 2022 Commercial Truck Guidelines report.

Employee taking parts inventory in warehouse.

Battling inflation while maintaining customer relationships

Electricity from wheel ends routing to batteries

Regenerative braking: Catch up on the future of slowing down

Freightliner eCascadia truck

Freightliner unveils new electric eCascadia

Goodyear soybean-oil developed tires

Goodyear integrating soybean oil compound into transit bus tires

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

Learn about Turbo Solutions All Makes Turbocharger Program

Turbochargers for all engine applications. Click to learn more!