Spec trailers for longevity, not for price
When purchasing new trailers, it’s important to calculate initial costs versus the longevity of the construction process and life of materials.
Glider kits are back
With the recent shortage of good, quality used trucks combined with the desire to operate like-new trucks at less cost, fleets of all sizes are generating a resurgence for glider kits.
Stock parts, sell parts: the winning formula
Peterbilt of Sioux City, Peterbilt’s 2010 North American Dealer of the Year for Parts & Service, offers the right quality parts, competitive pricing and convenient locations for truck operators.
Tractor-trailer lighting advances through new technology
Whether repairing or replacing lights, under the new regulatory environment, longevity and reliability are now crucial elements to consider when choosing a light for your tractor-trailer.
Gaining parts buying value-adds and differentiations
A fleet parts manager’s relationship with key parts vendor(s) is absolutely vital. “We’re still dealing with the emotional, so when a part is just a part, the difference can be the person you’d least expect: the delivery person or the counterman. You might do 99% of the right things but have a delivery person with
Fleet managers can better manage warranties
Industry experts clarify what constitutes a warranty claim and how fleets can streamline the warranty process.
Onboard safety: avoiding distractions
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports show that "driver distraction is a primary contributing factor in 25% to 30% of crashes." The FMSCA report FMCSA-RRR-09-042 further indicates that "most transportation researchers believe the actual percentage of distraction-related crashes may be higher than 25% to 30%." According to a U.S. Department of Transportation-funded study by
Tire programs help small fleets compete on price and service
Purchasing tires and getting service as a large national fleet is one matter, but how do small-to-medium-sized fleets “compete” on price and “special” services versus the big, national fleets with reported “extras?” Here are some helpful programs, all with info-packed websites: “We offer the small to medium size fleets uptime-critical services that keep them running
Partnership grows the number of skilled truck technicians
“Technicians play a critical role in the overall success of any trucking operation,” said J. Scott Steurer, global manager—service and customer support, Eaton Corp. and Roadranger. “Specifically, they can be instrumental in maximizing the trucks’ fuel efficiency (proper tire inflation, lube levels) and making an important safety contribution (properly operating braking systems). “In the past,
Solving the fleet technician shortage
Technicians are critical to fleets and to dealership service operation. For dealerships, they are an essential piece of the fleet customer support puzzle, according to Duane Kyrish, general manager, Kyrish Truck Centers (International), Austin, Texas. “Technicians are incredibly hard to source. We’ve tried trade schools and vo-tech institutions, but we never give up and must
Got parts? Part 2: OE dealers
Now for the other half of the parts story – the OE dealers’ thoughts on why fleets should purchase their parts from them. We began this series with the premise of, “It’s choice, not chance, that can determine your (fleet’s) destiny,” and now OE dealers wish to express their differentiators – in the spirit of
belts, hoses and coolant
Longer life, maintenance-free, no surprises or road emergencies—those would be the goals from your truck’s belts, hoses and coolant. But achieving such worry-free operation requires some planning and forethought on your part. Certainly, start by buying the products from a reputable manufacturer, dealer or distributor. • Flexfab’s Bill Morrissey says, “Many of our fleet customers