Truck Part & Service 0517

Inland Truck Parts expands network | Meritor debuts e-commerce site

Transparent transmissions

TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING COMMUNICATION DURING A SERVICE EVENT MAY 2017 |

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Making it with all-makes 20

GET XACTLY THE PARTS YOU NEED. FAST. AT MeritorPartsXpress.com.

For the fastest access to commercial vehicle parts ordering and information, visit the new MeritorPartsXpress.com.

Our responsive user experience offers easy ordering for all Meritor® brands, including more than 100,000 parts with exact specifications and competitive parts cross-references. Access 360° parts images, line drawings, installation guides and literature. Voice to text search is available for mobile devices, plus you can save and share parts order lists. Now that’s Xceptional! Run with Innovation.

Run With The Bull.

©2017 Meritor, Inc. All rights reserved.

Volume 53 | Number 5 | May 2017

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Cover Story

@TPSMagazine /truckpartsandservice Truck Parts & Service

Editorial

Editor: Lucas Deal Equipment Editor: Jason Cannon Associate Online Editor: Jonathan Willis editorial@truckpartsandservice.com

Design & Production

Art Director: Richard Street Advertising Production Manager: Leah Boyd

Developing transparency in customer interaction

production@truckpartsandservice.com

Trucking Media

Vice President of Sales, Trucking Media: Brad Holthaus sales@truckingmedia.com

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Corporate

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Features 16 TMC’s Service transparency RP update 20 Making it with all-makes

Departments 1 2 6 12

Editorial Staff Editorials Industry Focus Tech Updates

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Marketplace Classified Ads Product Spotlight Advertisers’ Index

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Editorial | Lucas Deal

Worth your time?

By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

W

e’re going to start this month’s column by rewinding back to another piece I wrote last year.

Last February I wrote in this space about ‘California’s Education Revolution,’ an incredible community initiative in central California to develop a comprehensive education and career development program for medium- and heavy-duty diesel truck technicians.

I first learned about the program at Service Opportunities and Learning Days (SOLD) 2016 before Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), where a panel of educators and community activists from the greater Fresno, Calif., area discussed their efforts to fight trucking’s technician shortage by creating a robust career development path for area youth.

The commitment and enthusiasm of the panel was encouraging. California’s Central Valley is home to one of America’s largest agricultural and manufacturing regions. The area is flush with trucks, and dealers and service centers dot the landscape in all directions for hundreds of miles.

It’s an area where the technician shortage has been particularly damaging.

But it’s also an area that’s committed to fighting back.

With three high schools and a college now set to debut National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) accredited and ASE certified medium- and heavy-duty diesel programs next year, I’m excited for all involved

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to begin reaping the benefits of their work — one of the most encouraging, cooperative community-based programs I’ve ever seen.

I get the impression they’re excited, too.

What’s happening in Fresno is extraordinary, not unrepeatable.

“We want our program to be one of the best in the country, and we think it’s going to be one of the best in the country,” says Mike Betts, chairman and CEO at Betts Company, a leading activist throughout his region’s revolution. “We want to make a difference for our entire community.”

After chatting with Betts late last month, I think that goal has already been achieved.

The program coming to the Central Valley is spectacular.

Betts says the Fresno, Madera and Clovis unified school districts will each debut medium- and heavy-duty diesel programs next year along with nearby Reedley College, which has long featured an agricultural curriculum but is new to trucking. Additionally, Betts says Fresno’s own Duncan Polytechnical High School, a “100 percent career technical school,” is likely to feature a late-night curriculum for students and already employed local

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technicians to earn additional certifications above ASE base requirements.

And that’s just in the class room.

Betts says his group also has reached an agreement with the local workforce development board to offer paid summer internships to students who have successfully completed a high school program and enrolled in a college program.

“We’re trying to build the pipeline where the next generation student quickly gets connected to opportunities and employment,” he says. “We want there to be a relationship there, so when the student graduates they can move right in [to the workforce].”

Betts and his colleagues are optimistic.

With total buy-in from the school districts and local industry, student interest is exploding. Each program is likely to debut at near capacity, and area service centers are actively following the progress of the program to see when they can begin hiring the locally developed talent.

The early success has motivated Betts to share Central Valley’s blueprint throughout the trucking industry. What’s happening in Fresno is extraordinary, not unrepeatable, he says.

“A lot of people think this can’t or won’t ever happen where they are. They need to go through an epiphany moment,” Betts says. “They need to understand it can happen, and they can be a part of it.

“This could happen across the nation,” he says. “If you commit to it, you can still do things like this.”

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The control harness runs through the center of the drive, which protects it from potential drive belt failure. And if that weren’t enough, variable speed reduces noise, helping to keep drivers aware and alert. The new RCV250 variable fan drive. So quiet and reliable, you’ll forget it’s even there. Visit HortonRCV250.com to learn more. ©2017 Horton Holding, Inc. All rights reserved.

Editorial | MacKay & Company

Never mind the coming data flood, are you using the data you have?

By Lynn Buck MacKay & Company

T

he headlines lately are all about Big Data. However, many organizations don’t execute on small data effectively.

It always amazes me when I hear stories of how little value is placed on the mining and exploration of data, no matter the company or the industry. Worse yet, companies think they value it, but aren’t dedicating nearly enough resources to producing truly actionable intelligence from it. This may be because the cost of housing data is really expensive, but shouldn’t you want a return on that investment aside from a data holding tank?

It also could be that the wrong people are watching your data.

Undertaking a giant task of looking for stories in data is daunting, so start small. Look for things in the data that match your existing knowledge first. This will give you and those to whom you are providing data some comfort.

Data is like a hiking trail, once you go down a path, keep going until the story in the data stops.

By then, you should have many other connections to explore. In prior lives, I was always the data guy, no matter my official role. I would explore the data queries (searches) of those that came before me and puzzle together what I was looking for. Once I did that, I was off and

running. There wasn’t a stock or purchasing optimization project I didn’t have the ability to gather data for. Mining the data for those projects gives you experience on finding other useful information. Most likely you have someone in your own organization that would like the opportunity to do this for you. Give them a couple hours to see what they can do.

Using [data] effectively can head off problems before they make the light of day Other considerations: ■ Everything is data: purchase orders, sales orders, parts returns, core returns, technician repair data, parts purchases, customer invoices, customer payments, warranty data, employee time off, fleet composition, etc. All of these sources have stories.

■ Data quality matters, a lot. If you are reporting on data that is garbage, it can do more harm than good. Audit the data that is input and make sure it is useful by standardizing inputs where possible.

■ Utilize subject matter experts for the data mining projects, not just database IT personnel unless they are the same people. A technical person without subject matter expertise can lead you in the wrong direction.

■ Ensure your reports give you the data you need and are easily accessible by everyone who needs them. If not, why not?

■ It is dangerous to have one person control all reporting or data.

■ Make time for implementing actionable data projects. Producing reports without a goal is a waste of time.

■ Internal staff who know what they are doing are 10 times more valuable than expensive reporting software systems with recognizable names.

Listen to your staff.

The bottom line is data can be a nebulous and scary term. It makes people uncomfortable—sometimes because it can produce stories that defy an expected narrative.

Don’t be afraid of it. Using it effectively can head off problems before they make the light of day, help you stay more competitive, discover a customer’s unmet need and optimize products and processes. If these things aren’t happening at your organization, explore options to make your data usage more effective.

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 Neosho Freightliner is now Freightliner Elite Support Certified.

TrailersPlus has opened the company’s 50th dealership in Bakersfield, Calif.

Pozzo Truck Center recently celebrated its 95th anniversary as a Mack dealer.

Hino Trucks has named new Certified Ultimate dealers, which include: H.K. Truck Services, Inc., South Plainfield, N.J.; Bentley Truck Services, Inc. New Castle, Del.; Lynch Truck Center Waterford, Wisc.; Matheny Motor Truck Co Mineral Wells, W.V.; Industrial Power Truck & Equipment, Ft. Worth, Texas

Thermo King has named its top North American dealerships. The winners included: Eastern Region, Thermo King Chesapeake of Delmar, Del.; Western Region, Thermo King of Dallas, Texas; Bus Dealer of the Year, Thermo King of Indiana, Elkhart, Ind. Reliable Truck & Trailer has relocated to a larger Indianapolis facility.

XL Specialized Trailers recognized Pinnacle Truck & Trailer of La Vergne, Tenn., as its Dealer of the Year for 2016.

TP&S Accepting Distributor of the Year Nominations Truck Parts & Service has begun accepting nominations for our 16th annual Distributor of the Year Award. The nomination period will be open until June 30, 2017.

All independent heavyduty distributors except last year’s winner (Blaine Brothers) is eligible for this year’s award. All are welcomed and encouraged to nominate a finalist at www.dotynominations.com.

The Truck Parts & Service Distributor of the Year award is sponsored by Minimizer and Meritor. This year’s finalists will be announced in July, and the 2017 winner be named at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) 2018.

MERA Expands Member Base The Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA) announces it has added eight new members.

The new members are Area Diesel Service, Bridge IP, Denso, G-Cor Automotive Group, Flux Branding, Heri Automotive, Melett Precision Engineering, and Praxair. The new members bring the organization’s membership total to more than 125 members.

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Thomas Bus Sales of Georgia in Jefferson, Ga., was recently certified Platinum Support by Thomas Built Buses

Carrier Transicold South of Lake City, Ga., and Refrigeración Especializada para el Transporte de Occidente S.A. de C.V. (RETO) of Guadalajara, Mexico, earned Dealer of the Year honors for North America and Latin America at Carrier Transicold’s recent annual meeting.

HDA Truck Pride Adds Vendor, Distributor HDA Truck Pride recently added a new supplier program with Trux Accessories as well as a Florida-based distributor, Tri-States Automotive Warehouse.

Trux Accessories is a manufacturer of aftermarket parts targeting the heavy-duty truck industry. HDA Truck Pride members will have access to the breadth of the Trux Accessories program, including chrome accessories, LED lighting, fenders, exhaust, mud flap hangers, wheel accessories, and stainless steel accessories.

“Trux Accessories’ excellent customer service aligns with the HDA Truck Pride values of exceptional customer service.

Trux is constantly expanding their product offering and SKU base which allows our members to expand their reach and offer new and exciting products to their marketplace,” says Tina Alread, HDA Truck Pride vice president of Marketing.

A member of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance (AAPA) under the Auto Value brand, Tri-States Automotive Warehouse operates 19 total locations serving Northwest Florida, Southern Alabama, and Southern Georgia.

“We’re pleased to welcome the Tri-States Automotive operation into our membership,” adds Tom Tecklenberg, HDA Truck Pride chief commercial officer. “They will be able to support customers in both the Automotive and Commercial Vehicle markets with unparalleled aftermarket presence – a major objective of the recent formation of the Aftermarket Distributors Alliance (ADA) in conjunction with the AAPA.”

Industry Focus

People In The News João V. Faria has been appointed president of Eaton’s Vehicle Group, effective May 1. He succeeds Kenneth F. Davis, who has announced he will retire on August 1.

Faria Phillips Industries has hired Jeffrey McKeown in the new position of OEM trailer and technical sales manager, and David Diaz as director of marketing. Pete Joy of Phillips also will be honored this September Diaz as the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) 2017 President’s Award recipient.

Bergstrom announces Joe Kirby has been promoted to the role of director of Fleet Sales and Market Intelligence, and George Lamoureux, PMP, is now the director of New and Advance Product Introduction.

Federal-Mogul Motorparts has appointed Bryon Osterland to the position of vice president, Global Chassis, and Craig Frohock to the position of vice president, Global Sealing, Engine and Underhood Service.

The Universal Group, LLC, has added Jeff Gammage as director of business development and Matt Krawczak and Jeff Taylor as regional sales managers.

John Pacione has assumed the role of president and CEO at Karmak.

Delphi Product & Service Solutions appointed Alex Ashmore as president.

Kenneth D. Griswold has joined MacKay & Company as the organization’s director, market strategy Ashmore and sales.

Talbert Manufacturing has named Bob Luttfring its southeast regional sales manager.

Jeff Eudy has been hired as vice president and general manager of Reliable Truck & Trailer of Luttfring Indianapolis.

Todd Courts has been named president of Pace Trailer Sales & Service.

Summit Holdings has hired Steve Dupuis as its new chief operating officer.

Transervice Logistics, Inc. has appointed Bill Rodriguez as director of sales for the company’s Western region.

Joe Howeth has joined the Leyman National Accounts sales team as a national accounts manager based in Dallas, Texas.

Mack Trucks has named Rick Hoyle as vice president of National Accounts.

Navistar has named Jeffrey A. Dokho to its board of directors and promoted Phil Christman to president, Operations.

Keith Ball has been appointed as regional sales manager – South Central for Omaha Standard Palfinger.

PSI Purchases Tire Pressure Monitoring Company Pressure Systems International (PSI) has completed the acquisition of Truck System Technologies, a provider of tire pressure monitoring (TPMS) and mobile asset management systems technology.

“We see the TST acquisition as a perfect complement to our automatic tire inflation systems,” says Tim Musgrave, president and CEO at PSI. “The ability for our customers to customize their tire management

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solutions from a single systems provider is increasingly important with the pending Greenhouse Gas Phase 2 trailer regulations becoming effective January 2018.”

The Truck System Technologies’ product line includes telematics and tracking solutions that will provide fleet management teams the ability to locate assets and track various inputs of their choosing.

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Heavy Duty Leadership Registration Open Registration for the fifth annual Heavy Duty Leadership program from Northwood University is now open.

Scheduled for July 9-14, 2017, at Northwood’s campus in Midland, Mich., the next Heavy Duty Leadership program will bring together mid-career professionals in the commercial truck aftermarket for a week of business, management and leadership education.

The school says Heavy Duty Leadership is open to any early- to mid-career management-track professional in the commercial vehicle aftermarket. The program’s curriculum is designed to foster the development of the next generation of heavy-duty parts distribution, manufacturing, service, association and fleet management professionals, the school says.

For additional information and to register for Heavy Duty Leadership, please click on the “Course Calendar” link at www.universityoftheaftermarket. com, or call 1-800-551-2882.

UAP Acquires Quebecbased Distributor UAP Inc.’s Heavy Vehicle Parts Division has acquired the distribution activities of Service de Freins Montréal Ltée (Freno).

The four Freno stores located in Anjou, Boucherville, St-Laurent and Mirabel will be integrated into UAP’s Traction store network, as well as all of the employees involved in sales, distribution and delivery.

“We are very pleased to welcome the Freno team to our Traction network,” says Pierre Rachiele, executive vice president, Heavy Vehicle Parts Division, UAP. “There are numerous synergies between our two companies and this agreement will allow us to better meet the needs of our customers and continue our growth.”

Industry Focus

HDMA Debuts Tool & Equipment Council The Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) has formed a Heavy Duty Tool & Equipment Council (HDTESC).

HDMA says the purpose of the HDTESC is to provide a forum, under the guidance of its Board of Governors, for the discussion of key trends and issues affecting manufacturers of tools and equipment used to service heavy-duty vehicle applications.

“The HDTESC is being formed due to an established need

for such a program for this market sector, based on member feedback over the past two years,” says Tim Kraus, president and COO of HDMA. Founding companies and their primary representatives include John Iliff, American Forge and Foundry (HDTESC Founding Chair), Jeff Steer, Goodall Manufacturing, Kirk Dawson, Rotary Lift, and Chad Osier, Schumacher Electric.

Continental Adds Test Center

Westrans Joins CVSN The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) has added Westrans Company.

Westrans is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The company is a leading remanufacturer and supplier of parts for commercial trucks and trailers, passenger cars and trucks, agricultural equipment, and heavy-duty industrial equipment. Westrans also has branches in Regina, Saskatchewan and Thunder Bay, Ontario.

“Westrans, has joined CVSN to support its efforts to help the independent distributor in the heavy-duty industry grow their business, to network with other key industry leaders, and take advantage of the CVSN training and best practices education opportunities,” says Westrans CEO John Williams.

“We are very excited to have Westrans, one of the top distributor companies in Canada, join the impressive list of CVSN distributor members,” adds Angelo Volpe, CVSN executive vice president. “A strong membership base is key to helping CVSN continue its fight for the independent commercial vehicle distributor on key legislative issues like Right to Repair and continue to provide training programs.”

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Continental has announced the investment of approximately $10 million in a new indoor tire test center located in Uvalde, Texas, at the company’s U.S. proving grounds.

“The new test center will support our vision of being the preferred technology partner for Continental’s OE customers for tires, as well as increasing our speed in developing new technologies specifically designed for the Americas market,” says Dr. Boris Mergell, head of research and development for Passenger and Light Truck Tires at Continental.

Strategically located on Continental’s proving grounds for tires in Uvalde, the new test center is designed to provide indoor test capacity for all tires manufactured in Continental’s North and South American plants.

Industry-Best Output at Low Engine Speeds The innovative new IdlePro™ and IdlePro Extreme™ high-efficiency/highoutput alternators feature exclusive technologies that help extend battery life and increase vehicle uptime.

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Industry Focus

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

May 3-7 June 4-6 Aug. 8-11 Aug. 24-26

HDA Truck Pride Annual Meeting, Orlando Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada Annual Business Conference, Markham, Ontario ADS International Convention & Trade show, Las Vegas Great American Trucking Show, Dallas

Distributor Training Expo Another Success

Inland Truck Parts expanding service network Inland Truck Parts & Service has completed four service shop acquisitions.

The new facilities are located in Grand Island, Neb., Casper, Wyo., and Oklahoma City, where two are found in the metro area. The company is relocating two of the facilities within their cities at this time and plans to move the others in the coming months.

“This recent round of acquisitions is one more testament to our ongoing dedication to expand our full-service repair offerings and our geographic footprint itself,” says President and CEO Greg Klein. “We’re also proud that as we’ve continued to grow, we’ve continued to be the same employee-owned business that our customers know and trust.”

The expansions bring Inland’s service shop operations to a total of 27 locations out of 30 the company currently operates all throughout the Great Plains.

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GenNext and the Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) held its second joint Distributor Training Expo last month in Atlanta.

This year’s event featured 23 suppliers training 175 distributor sales people.

Distributors attended 13 training sessions (seven one-hour sessions and six 30-minute sessions), a training lunch with their respective buying group and one hour of exclusive access to the exhibit floor.

For the second consecutive year, attendee response was positive.

A final-day survey showed 95 percent of attendees viewed the event as very satisfying (64 percent) or somewhat satisfying (31 percent), and 82 percent said they were very likely to recommend the event to colleagues. An even higher number, 87 percent, said they would attend again.

Meritor Debuts E-Commerce Website Meritor has launched MeritorPartsXpress.com, a new e-commerce platform for U.S. and Canadian customers. The new website replaces MeritorPartsOnline.com.

Meritor says the website improves search functionality offers quick identification of replacement parts by Meritor part number and product line, competitor part number or keyword. Catalog navigation can be used to correctly identify replacement parts from Meritor’s large selection of product families. And to assist in the part-selection process, Meritor says the website hosts more than 40,000 images, including photographs,

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line drawings and three-dimensional and 360-degree visuals of Meritor’s family of aftermarket products.

“Our goal is to deliver a best-inclass, time-saving and user-friendly website that reduces the amount of effort needed for customers to identify the exact replacement parts they need,” says Brett Penzkofer, vice president, Aftermarket, North America for Meritor.

Tech Updates

SAFETY RECALLS Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain 2016 Vision and All American school buses, equipped with certain QS11, QSCR11, QSJ11, and Davenport school bus seats that include three-point lap/shoulder seat belts. These seats may have a loose or missing D-ring mounting nut, allowing the shoulder belt D-ring to detach in a crash. A loose or missing shoulder belt D-ring may prevent the seat belt from adequately restraining the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain 20172018 Vision school buses, designed to run on propane. The fuel control valve solenoid may short circuit, shutting off the flow of propane to the engine, causing the engine to shut off. An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain 2017-2018 Vision transit buses, designed to run on propane. The fuel control valve solenoid may short circuit, shutting off the flow of propane to the engine, causing the engine to shut off. An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-TLiner HDX transit and school buses. The upper pinch bolt that secures the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels may not have been properly tightened. The loose pinch bolt may result in a loss of steering and vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

DTNA is recalling certain 2015-2016 FCCC S2G trucks equipped with an 8.0-L propane engine and an Allison transmission. The transmission grade brake on these trucks may not deactivate when the disable switch is depressed, which can cause a loss of traction in certain icy, or other slippery conditions, due to aggressive downshifting. If the transmission grade brake stays engaged, unknowingly to the operator, in low-traction conditions, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Daimler Vans USA is recalling certain 2013-2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans. These vehicles were manufactured without a reinforcement plate and protective bracket on the air bag control unit. As a result, the air bag control unit may not remain functional after the initial impact, possibly preventing additional air bags from deploying in response to a secondary impact. If additional air bags do not deploy as intended, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.

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

Daimler Vans USA is recalling certain 20162017 Mercedes-Benz Metris vehicles. These vans were to be equipped with the Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) feature, however, the installed instrument cluster and steering wheel does not support the function, and thus, the BSM system does not work on the vehicle. If a vehicle is in the driver’s blind spot, but the BSM system does not warn the driver, there would be an increased risk of a crash.

Daimler Vans USA is recalling certain 2016 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles and Freightliner Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The bracket for the center support bearing of the drive shaft may not have been properly welded. If the event of a crash, the bracket may detach and the drive shaft may damage the fuel system, increasing the risk of a fire.

Forest River is recalling certain 2017 Rockwood and Flagstaff recreational vehicles. The Federal Placard may indicate an incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 2,200 lb. when the correct GAWR actually is 3,000 lb. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.” Inaccurate GAWR information on the Federal placard can increase the risk of a crash.

Forest River is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cherokee recreational trailers. The Federal Placards on these vehicles incorrectly state a Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of 3,970 lb., when the actual capacity is 3,500 lb. The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is also incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.” The incorrect information may result in a user unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of the crash.

Great Dane Trailers is recalling certain 2018 Everest SS refrigerated trailers. A plug for the front brake chamber service port may not have been properly tightened, possibly reducing the service brake pressure. A reduction of service brake pressure can lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Hino Motor Sales is recalling certain 2013-2017 XFC710L, XFC720L, XFC730L, and XFC740L vehicles. The clutch drum spline of the front module of the Hybrid Vehicle (HV) motor may wear out.

If the clutch drum spline wears out, the vehicle will lose the ability to move under its own power, increasing the risk of a crash.

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McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing is recalling certain 2014-2016 Standard (REL-10), Heavy Duty (REL-11), Extra Compaction (XC/REL-13), 3.5 yd Tag Axle (TG/REL-16), Atlantic Front Loader (FEL-29), Zero Radius (ZR/ASL-48), AutoReach (AR/ASL-49), Pacific Ultra Front Loader (FEL-76) and Pacific Full Eject Front Loader (FEL-87) refuse trucks, and Bridgemaster(BMV) and Standard (STD) concrete mixers, equipped with Cummins ISX12G compressed natural gas (CNG) engines. These vehicles may have been built with an incorrect fitting to connect the low pressure CNG hose to the CNG fuel filter. The incorrect fitting may result in a CNG leak, which in the presence of an ignition source, may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, the hose may disconnect from the filter and result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Navistar is recalling certain 2016-2018 International LT, 2016-2017 International ProStar, 2017 International LoneStar, and 2017-2018 International RH heavy-duty diesel trucks. The air dryer mounting bracket may fracture, causing air system leaks or a loss of air pressure to the brake system. A loss of brake air pressure could lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Thor Motor Coach is recalling certain 2017 Palazzo 36.1 and 36.3 motorhomes. The Federal certification label on these vehicles indicates an incorrect front tire rim size. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.” If the front rim is replaced based on the incorrect label information, it can cause an unsafe driving condition, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tiffin Motorhomes is recalling certain model year 2017 Allegro Open Road motorhomes. A sticker on the tow hitch may list the incorrect weight capacity for the hitch. The sticker states a capacity of 10,000 lb., and a maximum tongue weight of 1,000 lb., when the correct towing capacity is 5,000 lb., with a maximum tongue weight of 500 lb. If the hitch is loaded to the weight on sticker, the hitch may fail and the towed vehicle can separate from the motorhome, increasing the risk of a crash.

Tiffin Motorhomes is recalling certain 2012 Phaeton motorhomes with floor plans QBH, QKH, and QTH, built on PowerGlide chassis. The affected vehicles have an exhaust pipe that is mounted too close to the underside of the floor.

Insufficient spacing between the exhaust pipe and the floor may result in the insulation melting and an increased risk of a fire.

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Cover Story

By Lucas Deal, Editor lucasdeal@randallreilly.com

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Cover Story

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eeping a customer informed during a repair is an important task for any service shop.

Customers become anxious when they aren’t provided regular updates on their vehicles, and in the case of larger repairs, there’s only so much a service technician can do before a customer’s approval is necessary.

To keep a shop humming and wrenches turning at near peak efficiency, service providers can develop simple, repeatable processes for transparent communication that informs and alerts vehicle owners to service event progress and moves each repair order toward conclusion.

Pre-service communication

Techniques for improving communication during a service event 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

A practical service event transparency plan begins long before a truck enters a bay. The first meeting between a customer and service provider, especially with new customers, should feature the latter asking the former questions to learn how they would prefer to communicate in the future.

Presented during active discussion or as part of informational documents new customers are required to complete, these probing questions provide a service provider with multiple methods of contact information, preferences for when and how that information is used and financial barriers where repairs must be individually approved.

The goal is to acquire enough information up front that future periods of phone tag and waitingbased downtime are greatly reduced, if not removed entirely.

Failing to do so is a headache for both parties, says Mike Payne, director of Continuous Improvement at Velocity Vehicle Group, and co-chair of the Technology & Maintenance Council’s (TMC) ‘Service Event Data Transparency’ task force.

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Looking at the service industry as a whole, Payne says, “Sometimes we don’t know or we don’t ask [how to communicate]. We get caught up and forget. Then their preference is email but we end up calling and we’re on hold for an hour.”

“You never want to be sitting there just waiting,” adds Tim Grabow, vice president of operations at Blaine Brothers.

Pre-service conversations also have expectation-related value, says Blaine Brothers’ President Dean Dally.

“Each customer is differUsing software to input and distribute service information to ent in their expectations for a customers in real-time is a significant boost to service event transparency. repair, both for communication and price,” he says. “With new customers, that’s a big challenge for customers to describe a customer’s our shop supervisors.” repair order, with thorough pricing Dally says Blaine Brothers has a explanations and a completion date detailed presentation it uses with new estimate.

The presentations also are transcribed, which Dally says creates a reference point for both parties if questions arise during a repair.

TMC Recommended Practice on service transparency nears completion In 2014, the Service Provider study group of the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) began work on a new proposed recommended practice (RP) for ‘Service Event Data Transparency.’

The task force formed to create the RP spent its first weeks attempting to narrow the scope of such a broad topic. Eventually, task force co-chairs Bruce Love and Mike Payne, along with Service Provider study group chairman Kenneth Calhoun, determined the best direction for the RP would focus on technology —— specifically a clear guideline for service and fleet management systems to build application program

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interfaces (API) that would allow dissemination of data from both sides through the entirety of a service event.

Calhoun says the scope hits on a conversation point he’s been discussing with fleet customers and industry colleagues for years.

“We [service providers and fleets] are both constantly inputting vehicle information and service information into our systems.

Why in the world can we not just get those systems to talk to each other?” he says. “We are living in the age of technology. Why don’t we approach this from a technological standpoint?”

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He adds, “As an industry, we are way too sophisticated to continue to rely on phone calls as the method for customer updates.”

A consensus was met for the proposed RP in February at TMC’s Annual Meeting, and the document will go to ballot at the organization’s fall meeting in September. If it passes there —— Calhoun, Payne and Love are optimistic —— it will then go through a brief appeals process and will be published early next year.

The proposed RP will apply to all customer types, and has been developed to sync with several other TMC recommended practices regarding fleet/service provider relationships.

“We want to leverage the technology and processes we already have to make [the RP] work,” Payne says.

Among these documents is RP 802E, which features guidelines for using Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS). Three VMRS code keys —— Code Key 17 (Repair Site), Code Key 24 (Repair Status) and Code Key 76 (Reason for Delay) —— are featured throughout the document.

Decisiv’s Michael Riemer says standardizing the document’s language with VMRS is a no brainer.

“When you can structure information in a standard way it is much easier to deal with,” he says.

Cover Story

Each customer is different in their expectations for a repair, both for communication and price. With new customers, that’s a big challenge for our shop supervisors.

– Dean Dally, president at Blaine Brothers

“It is very, very important that our customers know exactly what we’re doing,” he says.

But pre-bay work should not be limited to first-time customers. Regulars also should be periodically quizzed about contact information and parameters to make sure their data is current. And when changes are made, everyone in the service shop needs to know.

Grabow says Blaine Brothers uses a customer database to track its customers’ preferences. In cases where a customer profile requires an update, the facility receiving the update notifies the company’s other locations so their individual databases can also be changed.

Another transparency tactic paying dividends in the aftermarket is data presentation. By tracking repair performance over time, service centers can determine realistic expectations for future work from their own internal data. When provided to customers, this information substantiates estimates and assuages customer stress.

The approach has become a key tenet in building customer relationships for Fairfield Auto & Truck Service, says CFO and COO Chris Sterwerf.

“It’s sort of like our batting average for the shop. It shows how we’re doing and where we’re besting our performances each year,” he says. “[Customers] seem to like to see that information because many people aren’t doing it.

“They like that you know and have a pulse of your shop.”

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Maximize technology Service providers also can leverage available technology to better achieve transparency.

The days of loose-leaf invoices and repair notes written on yellow legal pads are waning, if not gone. Today’s service event management software for independent and OE dealer shops allows for exhaustive service event data tracking, and can be programmed to distribute detailed updates to customers throughout a repair.

These updates can be set to transmit data automatically or be managed by a service professional. They can include images, documents and text, and can be sent via email or SMS message.

How much information is sent, and when, is determined by the parties involved.

Sterwerf says Fairfield Auto & Truck Service has instructed its software to send automatic status updates at pre-determined points in a service event, as well

as specified customer-requested times.

The messaging strategy has been well received, and has cut down on the number of occurrences where a customer calls in requesting more information.

“We used to have a website where customers could plug in a number and see the status of their repair. We have since found that being more proactive and pushing that information to them works a lot better,” he says.

In fact, removing customer calls into a service center was the genesis of TMC’s ‘Service Event Data Transparency’ task force, says Kenneth Calhoun, vice president of Customer Relations at Truck Centers of Arkansas.

Calhoun says the idea for the task force was first broached by a fleet representative

Moving service writers and technicians away from hand-written notes provides an immediate productivity and transparency advantage.

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during a meeting of TMC’s Service Provider study group — which Calhoun chaired — earlier this decade. Calhoun says the fleet’s request was TMC develop a recommended practice (RP) service providers could use to better forward service event data to vehicle owners so the latter wouldn’t be forced to call.

A task force was formed to accept the challenge, and in the years since, Payne, co-chair and DP Solutions President Bruce Love and a large group of industry volunteers have worked to build a RP to help meet this customer need. Written as a blueprint for service and fleet management systems to connect and transmit data, Love says the document is hopefully just months from approval.

“We’ve had good collaboration from the industry, and I think when we’re done we’ll have a solid RP,” he says.

As a service event solutions provider, Decisiv participated in the development of the proposed RP and is eager to see it used, says Michael Riemer, vice president of Product and Channel Marketing.

Riemer believes transparency issues in the service channel exist not because of a lack of information, but because of improper proliferation and organization of data that is already being produced.

He says any effort by the industry through TMC or individually by software companies will improve the service communication experience for all involved.

“If there is a level of transparency that exists throughout the channel, that eliminates a lot of the stress, headaches

Fairfield Auto & Truck Service provides corporate repair statistics to customers on a regular basis in an effort to build customer relationships and increase transparency.

and frustrations that impact people,” he says.

Be adaptable Transparency isn’t achieved by maintaining the status quo. As customer expectations change, so must service provider habits and processes.

Calhoun acknowledges it’s hard.

Updating customer intake processes requires project planning and development. Employee training. Performance monitoring and follow-up reporting. It’s a daunting task.

But attempting to maintain a customer base without evolution is nearly impossible.

“We will always have to fight that battle — feeling way too busy to find a more effective and efficient way to do business,” Calhoun says. “But I think the [service providers] who are truly trying to grow their businesses understand that change is about driving out waste.”

If there is a level of transparency that exists throughout the channel, that eliminates a lot of the stress, headaches and frustrations that impact people.

– Michael Riemer, vice president of Product and Channel Marketing at Decisiv

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Riemer agrees.

“I think people are recognizing that there needs to be change. As for their propensity to adopt new processes?

That’s a different question,” he says.

“Change is hard. I know some guys in the market who have been doing everything the same way for 25 years.”

At Blaine Brothers, Grabow says his team tries to evolve based on customer requests. He references a recent trend among customers to request images during service as one area where the company has changed. Since those requests became commonplace, Grabow says Blaine Brothers now regularly photographs trucks during repairs and automatically inputs those images into their system — ready to be transmitted in a moment’s notice if asked.

“We want to meet their expectations and get their information to them right away,” he says.

The good thing about transparency, Love says, is it benefits everyone. And it’s a whole lot easier to change when the benefits are universal.

“I think overall everybody wants to see this process improve,” he says. “It’s a difficult process to improve because there are a lot of moving parts. But that’s the bottom line.”

Blaine Brothers, 2016 Distributor of the Year

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By Jonathan Willis, Associate online editor jonathanwillis@randallreilly.com

Making it

work All-makes products play pivotal role in meeting customer needs 20

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | M a y 2 0 1 7

Sales & Marketing

T

he aftermarket continues to be vital to the operating success and viability of fleets and their parts supplier partners.

Warehouse distributors, dealers, fleets and owner-operators are constantly being squeezed at every turn to increase margins, while at the same time, reducing costs.

Truck owners, many of whom have trucks on the road for years at a time, are often focused on quality replacement parts availability and overall lifecycle costs when looking for replacement parts. They also want a supply distribution channel with product support and, more than ever, vehicle owners demand greater before-and-after-the-sale support.

Over the years, suppliers have managed to offer smart new business and supply practices to keep up to speed with the fast-changing market climate. One tactic that’s paid dividends for aftermarket suppliers are all-makes parts brands, which add speed to repairs and drive parts sales into stores.

The all-makes concept has evolved and opened new resources for fleets to find parts and new opportunities for suppliers.

Today’s distributors serve more

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

markets, offer more services and support more applications than ever before. It’s not practical for any warehouse to maintain an inventory of every single OEM replacment part.

When suppliers implement the concept of all-makes parts, end users can enjoy the benefits of ‘one-stop shopping,’ while dealers and distributors can streamline inventory and capture more business regardless of a fleet’s brand make-up.

Bendix, for example, has offered a variety of all-makes products in the past, and two years ago launched All-Makes by Bendix CVS. Within the All-Makes by Bendix CVS line, the company offers compressors — the largest segment of the portfolio — along with valves and cartridges. The compressor line has expanded to include more than 100 part numbers.

“The addition of All-Makes

by Bendix CVS enabled us to further expand our remanufacturing capabilities beyond our core

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Sales & Marketing

All-makes parts, such as these being produced at Dayton Parts, play a crucial role in the aftermarket as distributors look to meet the demands of customers looking for quality parts, often at lower pricing points.

products into product categories that may have a limited number of dependable solutions,” says Henry Foxx, director of Remanufactured Products at Bendix.

“Bendix entered the all-makes category to provide our distribution partners with a reliable offering for specific product categories from a single source.

And, our customers have confidence in our all-makes products because they’ve had a good experience with Genuine Bendix products.”

In particular, second- and third-vehicle owners are turning to all-makes parts due to pricing advantages. All-makes parts undergo many of the same rigorous lab tests that OE parts require, but generally cost less.

“As the vehicle ages, owners continue to look for cost-effective ways to maintain desired performance,” Foxx says. “[All-makes] parts give the customer a value-based product from a reputable manufacturer with a longstanding history of providing quality and service.

Customers can feel reassured that the product they’ve purchased met their budgetary needs without sacrificing quality or performance.”

Walt Sherbourne, vice president of marketing for Dayton Parts, says there is a market that demands all-makes parts.

“There is a customer base for the third and fourth owners,” Sherbourne says.

“The second, third and, especially the

22

fourth owners, don’t really go back to the them find the part they need and make it dealer anymore. Usually, they are looking easier on them,” Crotzer says. for parts that are not quite as costly.”

Sherbourne echoes those sentiments.

Sherbourne credits the evolution of “We received a great deal of feedback the all-makes product to the increased about the importance of making the inlife cycle of today’s vehicles. As trucks stallation process easier for the installer,” perform longer, more and more prodhe says. ucts are needed to meet a fleet’s needs in “We have to make it easier for the end keeping those vehicles on the road. user so that it’s not frustrating for the The increased longevity and demands installer.” needed to service today’s fleets forces Another key component in the suppliers and distributors to add to their growth of all-makes parts has been the product offering. expanded use of the internet to pur“You can’t just have bits and pieces,” chase parts.

Sherbourne says. “Distributors are lookMore fleet operators have become ing to have everything that a tech needs comfortable with shopping and buying their parts on the internet and often go to do a particular job. They need to be online to make comparisons. Whether able to offer everything needed to complete that job, so all the parts can be looking for parts availability or purchased from a single source.” learning and training tools, Dayco’s director of U.S. online information sales, Richard Crotzer, says providing all-makes products that make the end user’s job easier is a key component as well.

Dayco has developed a series of online tools and videos to help customers know when belts need to be replaced, while also ofAll-makes parts parts like these fering all product line calipers have grown in popularity in recommendations. recent years as the longevity of a truck’s use has increased.

“We want to help

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | M a y 2 0 1 7

Sales & Marketing

continues to play a greater role in the aftermarket.

“With the internet becoming a more important aspect, we are seeing the market change where folks are buying online,” Sherbourne says. “As they do, they are often looking for several parts from one source.”

Many suppliers have developed online catalogs and ordering systems featuring OE and all-makes product lines where customers can place orders, check product availability and much more. Dealers and independent shops have access to this information as well, allowing them to see instances where an all-makes product would be a proper sell.

“That has made a tremendous difference,” Crotzer says. “That’s why we have developed our app and created several ways that customers can look up their parts on our website.”

The proliferation of all-makes parts also has impacted how software providers develop products for the trucking industry.

Kristy LaPage, business manager for Mitchell 1’s commercial vehicle group, says providing access to all-makes repair information is important to technicians and the customers they serve.

“In the past, shops were doing extreme work around trying to diagnose issues and to locate parts,” she says. “About 11 years ago, we developed the software to diagnose issues in just seconds. It

The growth of the internet and the ability to purchase products online has been one factor in the increased sales of all-makes parts, as end users look to buy more products from single sources, rather than shopping around to multiple distributors.

works with all-makes, all models.”

LaPage says “time is money” and the quicker a truck can leave the garage, the quicker it can be put back to work.

Mitchell 1’s program diagnoses issues on trucks from model year 1990 to present, complete with estimated repair times and a list of all-makes parts that could allow for the quick completion of a repair.

“It’s important that it functions with all-make products because it allows technicians in any shop that uses this software to work with almost any customer

You can’t just have bits and pieces.

Distributors are looking to have everything that a tech needs to do a particular job. They need to be able to offer everything needed to complete that job, so all the parts can be purchased from a single source.

– Walt Sherbourne, vice president of marketing for Dayton Parts

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and help them quickly get back on the road,” LaPage says.

Just as with the price of the product, the age of the truck should not be the sole factor in determining what type of part to use in a repair.

Fleet managers try to maximize uptime at the lowest prices with the least amount of risk. They can consider the age of the vehicle, trade cycle, performance of the part, quality of the manufacturer and many other aspects in finding the right part.

During the truck life cycle, the definition of the value changes. First or second replacements may value highest quality while later life cycle owners may prioritize lower price as the vehicle ages.

“Everything changes after the vehicle rolls off the assembly line,” Sherbourne says. “Having quality tested all-makes parts available is invaluable to fleet owners, especially to the second and third owners.”

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Marketplace

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

New vocational torque rods Hendrickson introduces its TRAXX ROD, a new benchmark for vocational torque rods in weight and bushing walk-out performance.

Hendrickson says the TRAXX ROD design achieves up to three times longer life versus conventional forged or cast torque rods and are manufactured using high-strength materials using Hendrickson’s expertise in robotically-welded fabrications.

TRAXX ROD bushings and rod bodies are specifically designed for each capacity and application criteria. The flexible rod design can accommodate a straddle or taper pin bushing and package with any hub size and length, the company says.

Tractor windshield sun shades Truck N Shadez introduces a complete line of sun shade products for heavy-duty tractors.

Designed by a trucker for truckers to block the sun out while reducing the heat inside a truck, Truck N ShadeZ says its product line provides full coverage all the way around– covering the windshield and both side doors no matter the truck’s year, make, or model.

The company says installation and removal of the shades take less than a minute, and can be stored in a convenient poly bag when not in use.

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Sliding truck bed toolbox Buyers Products introduces a Slide Out Truck Bed Box line specifically engineered for light-duty truck beds.

The new slide out truck bed boxes boast a reinforced box design that fits comfortably in truck beds for easy access to tools. With a smooth aluminum construction and a rain-gutter design, these toolboxes provide year-round durability and protection.

Various sensors and clutch parts PAI Industries has added more than 200 sensors and several new clutches to its heavy-duty aftermarket product offering.

Some of the new parts include a boost pressure sensor, crankshaft breather sensor, turbo boost sensor, dimmer switch and multiple pressure sensors. The company says it “understands the essential role sensors play when monitoring for proper engine performance and increasing longevity.”

The company also has introduced four clutches. PAI says the four clutches fit several different tractors, including Freightliner M2 trucks with four- and six-cylinder engines, and Mack models.

Sliding tool cart The new Snap-on KRSC430 40-in. shop cart has a sliding lid with two new drawers to offer three levels of multi-purpose use.

The KRSC430 allows techs to work from the lid, drawers and inside the top all at the same time.

The KRSC430 lid comes in stainless steel or a bed liner coated surface. The lid moves independently on 120 lb. capacity ball bearing drawer slides creating a durable cart with smooth operation for tough shop conditions.

Marketplace

New lightweight cast iron brake shoe

Long-haul drive tire

NeoBrake Systems has released its new Matrix NeoCast, a new lightweight cast iron 4707Q brake shoe.

Matrix NeoCast 4707Q is the first lightweight cast iron shoe of its kind, combining the traditional advantages of cast iron shoes with an advanced, high-carbon ductile cast iron that weighs significantly less than cast shoes of old, the company says.

NeoBrake says the Matrix NeoCast 4707Q brake shoe weighs within ounces of its pressed-steel counterparts and promises to boost braking power from the moment it is installed.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has added to its Roadmaster commercial truck tire line with the introduction of a longhaul drive tire that is SmartWay verified.

Cooper says the RM852(EM) has a unique tread compound and 30/32 in. of tread to provide long lasting mileage and features a solid shoulder design to offer improved traction in challenging weather. The tire also features 3D Micro-Gauge siping, with full depth and variable sipe density to help maintain wet traction and stability, the company says.

Wide selection of products Dorman HD Solutions has added several new parts to its heavy-duty product offering.

The new products include bumper covers, bumper cover reinforcements, dimmer switches, cruise control switches and window regulators, which cover various Freightliner, International and Ford trucks.

Visit the new MeritorPartsXpress.com for the fastest access to parts ordering and information on all Meritor® brands, including more than 100,000 parts with exact specs and competitive cross-references. Access 360° parts images and line drawings. Plus mobile voice to text search. Now that’s Xceptional! Run with Innovation. Run With The Bull.

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Marketplace

Expanding hybrid fan product line

Fuel system cleaning product

Horton has expanded its HighEfficiency, Hybrid-Flow (HEHF) fan product line.

Horton says the new compact fans address customer demand for more efficient cooling packages and reduced noise.

Specifically designed to engage more of the radiator core through direct and focused airflow, Horton says HEHF fans move air more effectively around an engine and through the under-hood compartment.

The hybrid-flow design and integrated shroud also improves airflow by more than 20 percent, while significantly reducing fan noise by up to 5 dB in vehicle testing, the company says.

IPA has expanded its fuel transfer and filtration line with a new solution for priming and cleaning diesel fuel injection systems.

IPA says its Diesel-Fuel Injection Cleaner and Primer (9080) allows technicians to fill the fuel tank reservoir with a fuel system cleaning fluid and clean fuel injectors. The product also allows techs to quickly and easily purge air from fuel lines while filling them with clean diesel at the flip of a switch. The unique and ultra-portable design features an internal five-gallon tank, battery compartment and coiled fuel hose with extra space for storing including accessories, IPA says.

Commercial vehicle clearcoat Axalta Coating Systems has introduced Imron Elite 8460S Clearcoat, its newest premium clearcoat for commercial vehicle customers in North America.

Imron Elite 8460S is a two-component, low volatile organic compound (VOC), high solids polyurethane clearcoat.

Imron Elite 8460S clearcoat can be used over all approved commercial finish base coats. Axalta says suggested applications for the coating include fire and emergency vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and other commercial vehicles.

100-watt light bar Larson Electronics introduces a 100-watt LED light bar for industrial use.

The IL-LED-10X2E-CPR LED light bar from Larson Electronics is designed for heavy equipment use in demanding, industrial work sites. Larson Electronics says the 100-watt light bar features ultra-bright CREE LEDs with a sturdy aluminum build featuring a spot beam configuration. The LED light bar is capable of emitting up to 8,000 lumens of light and operates on DC voltages ranging from 9 to 64 volts.

Fuel processors for multiple engines brands Davco introduces two new fuel processor models – Fuel Pro 485/487 and Diesel Pro 245.

The Diesel Pro 245 is engineered for 2017 Detroit mediumduty DD5 and DD8 engines and 2017 Cummins medium-duty ISB

26

T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | M a y 2 0 1 7

and ISL engines; optional features include a 12 or 24 VDC preheater, a 120 VAC overnight heater and a water-in-fuel sensor.

The Fuel Pro 485 and 487 models are engineered for 2017 Detroit heavy-duty DD13, DD15

and DD16 engines in Next Generation Cascadia, Classic Cascadia, Western Star and M2 114SD/122SD chassis; optional features include a 12 VDC preheater, a 120 VAC overnight heater and a WIF sensor.

Marketplace

High-pressure leak tester Bosch has released the HPT 500 HighPressure Diagnostic Leak Tester for North America, offering high-pressure diagnostic leak detection for heavyduty vehicles According to Bosch, the machine delivers leak detection smoke at up to 30 psi, producing higher pressures than standard machines and simulates truck boost to safely test with the engine off, Bosch says.

With dual operating modes, Bosch says technicians can alternate between smoke-only and air-only cycles to confirm repairs. The machine also features a flow control valve, remote shut off, a flow rate gauge and system pressure and test pressure gauges.

Off The Line Spotlighting a new OEM innovation

Cummins, Eaton announce joint venture The partnership between Eaton and Cummins is getting stronger.

The two companies announced last month they have agreed to form a joint venture for automated transmissions for mediumand heavy-duty commercial vehicles called Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies. Cummins and Eaton will each own 50 percent of the new organization. Under the terms of the agreement, Eaton will receive $600 million in cash from Cummins for 50 percent interest in the joint venture.

“Customers are focused on powertrain solutions that provide the best combination of technology, performance and quality,” says Craig Arnold, Eaton chairman and chief executive officer. “Our joint venture with Cummins will leverage the technical strengths and experience of two industry leaders with long histories and deep industry expertise to provide superior automated transmission technology for our global customers.”

“Our growth strategy includes expanding our product offerings and extending our global footprint by becoming the world’s leading powertrain supplier,” adds Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO at Cummins.

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T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | M a y 2 0 1 7

Various engine parts AFA Industries has released a crop of liquid forged aluminum pistons for Cummins engines and grooved fan belts for Caterpillar, Cummins, Detroit Diesel and Navistar engines.

AFA says the pistons are available in AFA’s piston kits, cylinder kits, in-frame kits and complete overhaul kits, the company says, and has CPL part numbers 1564, 1658, 1811, 1819, 1820, 1905, 1918, 1919, 1922, 1949, 1950, 1999, 2034, 2102, 2105, 2114, 2158, 2169, 2191.

Additionally, AFA says the grooved belts are available from approximately 50 in. to more than 80 in. long and in a variety of styles.

Different model suspension parts World American is now stocking suspension parts for Hutchens’ H-7700 series and the Binkley Duralite 9000 trailer suspension.

Regarding Hutchens, World American says it has nearly 20 part numbers for the suspensions, including bushings, u-bolt kits, adjustable and rigid torque rods, equalizers, top plate of various widths, bottom plates, axle seats, front, center and rear hanger undermounts and straddle mounts, and delrin liners.

The company also has nearly 20 Binkley part numbers, all for 5 in. round Binkley Duralite axles. The parts include air springs, bushing, torque arms, flange lock nuts and more. Each part is in stock and ready to ship today, the company says.

Marketplace

Mobile work shop station Milwaukee Tool has added a 52 in. mobile work station to its popular offering of steel storage solutions.

Milwaukee says the new station features a unique raised work surface that allows users to easily clamp materials for extreme productivity. The raised work surface includes two pullout trays underneath for fast access to frequently used tools.

For additional versatility, Milwaukee

says the space underneath the work surface easily fits two Milwaukee Jobsite Organizers as an extra option for accessory and fastener storage.

Specialty grease line WD-40 Company has introduced WD-40 Specialist Greases, a family of convenient solutions for heavy-duty professionals dealing with a variety of specialized lubrication challenges.

The WD-40 Specialist Greases line includes Superior Performance True Multi-Purpose Grease, Heavy-Duty High Temperature Grease, Heavy-Duty Extreme Pressure Grease and Marine-Grade Water Resistant Grease.

The company says the products are interchangeable with each other, meaning they won’t cause cross-contamination issues that compromise performance and effectiveness. The greases also excel in extreme conditions and protect against rust and corrosion.

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May 2017

PrideandPolish.com

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www.TruckPartsandService.com

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Ad Index Company

Contact Info

Page

Company

Contact Info

Automann

888-288-6626

32

Prestolite Electric

Automann

888-288-6626

BC

CVSN Aftermarket Distribution Summit cvsn.org Distributor of the Year Award

dotynominations.com

19

800-633-5953

13

hortonrcv250.com

3

Great American Trucking Show Horton

11

Page

idleproextreme.com

9

ProMiles

800-324-8588

29

Rig Dig BI

randallreilly.com

27

800-621-1553

IBC

BITIMEC International

877-637-1900

30

Direct Equipment Supply Co.

800- 992-1478

30

S & S Truck Parts, Inc.

Classifieds

Meritor, Inc.

meritor.com

IFC

Meritor, Inc.

meritor.com

25

Meritor, Inc.

meritor.com

32

Midwest Truck Parts

800-934-2727

7

Majestic Lubricants

713-674-3333

31

Minimizer

800-248-3855

5

Meritor, Inc.

meritor.com

30

Sponsored Product Spotlight

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.

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Included are 100 page torque rod section with both size and type charts (listing bushings, angles and possible alternative); comprehensive suspension bushing chart for quick identification; separate section that lists all Fifth Wheel components and 65 page cross reference with over 10,000 crosses from 137 different makes.

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©2017 Meritor, Inc. All rights reserved.

MPX TPS LITREV.indd T R U C K PA R T S & S E R V I C E | M a MECV-160579 y 2017

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