It may have only been two years since Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week was held live, but a lot has changed. Supply chain challenges, rising costs and evolving technology talking points all take center stage at this year’s show. Come along with this Live Blog where I’ll chart the big takeaways and bring you sights of the show. So let’s get it started.
“This industry has seen more change and challenges over the past two years than every before, and strength was absolutely required,” said David McCleave, director of aftermarket, Hendrickson.
“For distributors and suppliers in the heavy-duty market, strength drives resiliency,” agreed Bill Nolan, president, PBS Truck Parts and CommPar.
Tim Kraus enters the Hall of Fame
Panel one. Paving the way: How the heavy-duty aftermarket can profit from telematics
I hosted a panel! Sandeep Kar, chief strategy officer, Noregon, and Ben Johnson, director, product management, Mitchell 1, provided excellent insight about the impact of data on the heavy-duty service process and how all players–service providers, parts suppliers and distributors, fleets and technology solutions providers–can come together, work with data, and turn truck service around quicker. Stay tuned for the video of the panel.
Upping your retention and recruitment game in these changing times.
Tony Lee, vice president of editorial, Society for Human Resource Management, noted that 50% of all employers are offering sign-on bonuses. Then he went onto point to reasons that you might want to rethink the sign-on bonus strategy.
“Once you start offering sign-on bonuses, it’s really hard to stop. The market expects,” he said, listing the challenges sign-on bonuses present. “No. 2, either you offer it to everyone or you offer it to no one. And No. 3, what about current employees that have been there for years? Then you have to reward your long-term experience. Then there are employees who take sign on bonuses and then disappear.”
Lee recommended turning to HR performance analytics. He noted that talent analytics focus on decision points that guid investment decisions that impact the workplace.
Remote work
“How many have had an employee that said ‘I want to work remote?’ It’s everywhere,” Lee said. “The good news is it expands your hiring capabilities. And if you want the best talent, you might have to accomdate those people.
He also noted that many business leaders are “going with the flow.”
How do you navigate remote work?
Take it one employee at a time was Lee’s advice. He ran down a list that could help manage it:
1. Find out how each employee functions best.
2. Align with your employer branding.
3. Learn what employees have missed at work.
4. Suspend pre-pandemic rules when necessary.
5. Don’t mistake physical physical presence for loyalty.
How Is our Industry adapting to supply chain challenges?
On the panel:
Doug Dole, general manager, aftermarket product strategy, Meritor
Cliff Hovis, president, Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Inc.
Mike McDonald, director of maintenance, Benore Logistic Systems
I’ll let them speak for themselves:
The trade show floor opens
Join us on FE‘s obligatory trade show floor walk around video:
