Could finance departments be contributing to higher costs?
I have been involved with a couple of bulk fleets that use blowers to unload their products. Upon visiting the two fleets I was amazed at the volume of expensive blowers just laying around. Many of them were just sitting on the ground and on pallets, and what disturbed me the most was they were
How to troubleshoot your transmission jack
Transmission jacks are powerful, multitask lifting systems that are essential in most repair shops. But like any equipment, they are most effective when properly maintained, regularly inspected for damage and used correctly. Even the best-maintained transmission jacks occasionally give mechanics trouble. Knowing the potential issues and troubleshooting steps can minimize downtime and get your technicians
Three preventative maintenance tips to keep your trucks rolling
Any mechanic who works in fleet maintenance will tell you that preventative maintenance will save you time and money. Managers who run a well-maintained fleet have trucks that break down less and save fuel. However, many fleet managers still come up short when it comes to fleet maintenance. As a mobile mechanic, I have worked
The case for fuel additives to combat rising repair costs
Today, the cost of truck maintenance and repairs can easily equate to thousands of dollars. Fleet managers understand that some parts, like belts, hoses, and air filters, just to name a few, are inevitably going to need to be replaced. However, frequent and premature replacement of parts like these could lead to expenses skyrocketing. Likewise,
Bridgestone launches Firestone Direct mobile vehicle service
Bridgestone Americas has launched Firestone Direct mobile vehicle service for car owners and fleet operators. The company says Firestone Direct brings the capabilities of the company’s 2,200 Bridgestone retail operations automotive service centers directly to vehicle owners’ homes or workplaces. The new offering uses custom-designed and specially-equipped vans operated by certified technicians to perform a
Mitchell 1 Manager SE TruckEdition now includes online reports
The latest release of the Mitchell 1 Manager SE TruckEdition truck shop management software adds the capability to access select shop reports from the cloud. This feature allows users to view reports to check shop activity, in-progress status and performance remotely, wherever an internet browser is available to use. Mitchell 1 says its most popular
Springtime truck maintenance tips to recover from winter’s toll
Every autumn, we talk a lot – justifiably – about preparing trucks for winter’s harsh conditions. But as spring arrives across North America, it’s just as important to take preventive maintenance steps and address the tolls that a season of wild temperature swings and corrosive road chemicals can take on your vehicles. This installment of
Electric truck service: What your technicians need to know
So, once you know what steps to take to prepare your shop for the arrival of an electric truck (and if you don’t, read our story on how to do so), the next step, and it is a crucial one, is making sure that your technicians have all the information they need to safely and
How electrification will change your service operation
One of the most promising pieces of good news to come out of 2020 was the announcement of the availability of multiple medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks. OEMs like Daimler, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt and Volvo all announced battery electric trucks that are either available now or will be in the foreseeable future, and several of
Truck maintenance tips to reduce tire wear
In our high-tech age, it is all too easy to overlook the purely mechanical aspects of a truck that have needed to be maintained ever since some ingenious person mounted a wheel to an axle in order to move a load that was too large to be carried or dragged. Since that great breakthrough, when
TRP names Store of the Year
PACCAR Parts recognized TRP Sauk Rapids of Allstate Peterbilt Group in Sauk Rapids, Minn. as the 2020 Global TRP Store of the Year. TRP is PACCAR Parts’ brand of aftermarket replacement parts for all makes of trucks, trailers and buses, and includes 235 stores in 42 countries around the world. TRP Sauk Rapids is located
Tips for servicing steel and alloy wheels
When it comes to mounting tires, not all commercial truck wheels are the same, and it is important a shop’s equipment has the right features to handle different components with care. According to Coats Garage: “With the majority of commercial tires mounted on steel or alloy wheels, your technicians need to know the key differences
