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
The importance of spec’ing durable, long-lasting wheel ends and bearings
Wheel ends are an important component of your trucks, but preferably one you’d rather not think about too much. In an ideal world, the wheel end will be a steady component that keeps doing its job, keeping your trucks rolling and your loads moving. For that to be the case, it’s important for wheel ends
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
Long Live the King Pin—With Maintenance and Proper Repair
A “king pin” may be defined as “a thing essential to the success of an operation,” so it’s no surprise that the steer axle king pin in a commercial vehicle is a supremely significant part. Proper maintenance is the key to prolonging the life of the crucial king pin, but no part lasts forever. When
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
Podcast: Why tracking the right metrics is key for your truck maintenance operation
What makes tracking the right metrics in a fleet maintenance shop so important? According to Jacob Findlay, founder and CEO of Fullbay, a provider of shop management software, it’s important to evolve from a gut feeling, shoot-from-the-hip style of business to a more precise one where the right metrics are tracked, or your shop risks
Noregon launches JPRO Technician as a Service
Noregon has debuted a new service to remotely assist technicians with diagnosis and repair work: the JPRO Technician as a Service (TaaS) program. JPRO TaaS is available as a monthly or annual subscription, which provides users with unlimited calls to Noregon’s U.S.-based technicians. Noregon’s technicians are ASE, OE and JPRO certified and have experience in
Avoid corrosion in liftgate electrical systems
Trucks and trailers outfitted with liftgates typically have critical delivery and pickup schedules, so it’s important that the electrical connections and cable are dependable, keeping the liftgate working throughout the vehicle’s daily route. The liftgate power cord and electrical connections are the gateway for power to travel from the tractor to the trailer to charge
Don’t overlook those vital truck service incidentals
It’s no surprise how many variations there are when it comes to truck maintenance schedules. The operating conditions for the individual vehicles, or the fleet vehicles in general, help to determine what systems need to be serviced and when. In addition, the truck service information source will point out specific components that need to be
Podcast: Four takeaways from Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week
This week was Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, an annual event that is usually held in Las Vegas but, this year, took place virtually. And while the show was absent from its usual backdrop of the sights and sounds of Vegas, the heavy-duty aftermarket insight was as strong as ever. Here are four of the biggest
HDAW: The importance of tracking the right metrics in your fleet’s shops
Precise data: it’s one of the most important keys to running a good business, in the fleet world or elsewhere. After all, how will you know where to start improving your business if you don’t have a real sense of where the business is now? This was the theme of a recent talk by Jacob
