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10 Feb 2012

Using Internet to find the right part, the right way

Most of us have spent time searching on the Internet to find a replacement heavy duty truck part, usually when we need it right now. You can either search a specific website or try your luck on Google, Bing, Yahoo or some other online truck part search engine. Both approaches have value. A specific parts oriented website that allows you to search to the part number level may give you the information you are looking for quickly. Google and other search engines may give you multiple sources for a truck part.

But both channels have real drawbacks. If you find a part on a specific heavy duty truck parts oriented site, you don’t have the opportunity to get competitive pricing or availability. To get competitive pricing you need to search yet another part site. Also, the company might be an Internet-only company that ships from a long distance away when you need the part today. Search engines, as we all know may give a real part number or, just as likely, a serial number for a toaster (sometimes I think these folks must be having a good laugh at my expense).

There is another problem that will confound both; the part number you are using may not be the right part number for that site. For example, a D2 Governor can be found under all these legitimate part numbers: 0908160, 275491N, 275491X, AV275491, 275491RX, HDX275491X, R955275491, HA275491RX. And there are a lot more numbers (representing 17 brands), but you get the idea. You will get a different search result depending on which part you enter, and different sources depending on the brand.

So what’s the best way to search? There are a couple of options. You can search truck parts specific web sites that can have part numbers they carry. If you don’t find your part number, you can give them a call. There is the truck parts dealer website that has part information for your equipment. This is a good option for OEM truck parts, not as good for aftermarket parts. The game changer are sites like www.tractor-part.com and PartsRiver Part Search and which use powerful search technology, large databases of parts, and an extensive list of dealers and distributors. The search results are based on zip code, so you should find a seller near you. All three options have merit and I would love to hear what you have found to be the best option.

Tags: Online truck part search engine, Part Search

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03 Feb 2012

The Independent Distributor – How to survive and thrive in this new online age?

On the way back from attending the HDAW (Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week), I was struck by a theme I heard from several distributors; one of the primary challenges facing independent distributors for heavy duty truck parts is competing with the long reach of the national companies. National companies have the marketing muscle and competitive pricing to challenge the independent distributor. Both have their role in the supply chain, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for the independent to remain competitive. One of the advantages that the local independents have is the ability to offer personal service that comes from long relationships with their customers. Location will always have a real value because local customers will always have needs, especially for value added services, that can only be provided by a local truck part supplier.

However, as more buyers rely on the internet to search for and buy truck parts, it is important for the independent distributor to have an effective online presence. The good news is that if done right, an online presence can increase market share and sales for independents and help them stay competitive.

There are some key things that every good sales oriented website must do to build a good customer base. First is to establish credibility. Sure, buyers are looking for a good price, but not without quality and reliability. Let them know who you are and how you built your hard earned reputation. Second, sell quality through simplicity. Buyers buy from websites that are easy to navigate and are not all cluttered up with irrelevant “trash and trinkets”. Third, a good website must have a good search tool. The last thing you want is to come back with a “no results found”. That is a sure way to send the buyer looking elsewhere. And fourth, make sure there is a human being just a click away. Your phone number must always be visible and clickable. Once your new customer makes contact with a real person and experiences your first class customer service, you can develop him or her into a loyal customer.

Obviously there are more important things that make a sales website successful but I think these are essential to begin with. More on the others another time. Over to you. What do you think are the attributes that make an independent truck part distributor successful?

In the meantime, happy selling.

Tags: HDAW, Independent Distributor, Local Sellers, Truck Part

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20 Dec 2011

Christmas Trucks Lead Santa’s Sleigh in Annual Christmas Convoy Trucker’s Parade

Photos: Times-Standard.com

In a holiday tradition more than two decades old, Christmas trucks decked with boughs of holly­—and thousands of lights—rolled down the streets of Eureka, CA in the annual Christmas Convoy Trucker’s Parade this past Saturday, December 10^th.

Nearly 80 trucks were entered in the parade, some lit with as many as 40,000 lights requiring three generators just to run them according to Dale Bridges, parade coordinator. And just in case you didn’t have a perfect vantage point to see the truckers’ Christmas creations, you could have heard them for miles, with drivers blowing their horns as they traveled the parade route to get the crowd excited.

A special guest appearance by Santa himself helped ramp up the excitement for the hundreds of kids who lined the streets, waiting to catch a glimpse of the jolly old elf before he got ready to make his annual deliveries.

The nationally known Trucker’s Parade is a favorite every year, with Bridges telling the Eureka Times-Standard, that groups of tourists come by busses into Humboldt County every year just to see it. ”On the parade route you can see all the young kids and all the adults have the same enthusiasm on their faces,” he said. “I have seen people throw parties to just see the parade.”

Not only a good time to see Christmas trucks, the parade also helps the Boys and Girls Club of the Redwoods, with the $25 entry fee from each light-covered truck donated to the organization. It looks like Bridges, and all the truckers who painstakingly wrapped their trucks in Christmas lights, will be on Santa’s Nice list again this year.

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20 Dec 2011

A Day in the Life of a Mom and Pop Truck Repair Shop Parts Buyer: Part 1

While developing PartsRiver and our Part Search database, we spent a lot of time researching how the big fleets service their trucks and search for the replacement parts for those trucks. We found that while they are servicing a large number of vehicles, the big fleets typically deal with more familiar vehicles for which they often stock replacement.

The small “mom and pop” truck repair shops, on the other hand, had a much more challenging time, worked with a variety of different vehicles, and logged a lot more hours on the phone searching to try to figure out what parts were needed and who had them in stock.

The more we looked into it, the more we saw the same thing happening, day after day, at every shop we studied. And we started calling it:

A Day in the Life of a Mom and Pop Truck Repair Shop Parts Buyer

6:00 am: Arrive at work. Find several parts on the counter, and the mechanics are bringing in more. Parts they’ve pulled off a truck and “need immediately to get this truck back on the road.

6:13 am: Parts are sorted into those I’ve seen before and can identify, those I have a good idea about, and those with no part numbers or descriptions. The “No Clue” pile.

6:14 am: Fill coffee cup

6:15 am: Try my luck on Google. No luck. Pick up the phone and start making calls. Get in touch with suppliers of the parts that are identified, ask about the others. Set up deliveries. Alert mechanics. Leave messages for suppliers who don’t answer.

7:42 am: Looking through catalogs trying to find parts similar to those in the “No Clue” pile. Try different websites.

8:23 am: Calling around town trying to find someone who can identify parts. Repeating same conversation over and over. “It’s an alternator, but it looks like it has a different…”

10:37 am: Mechanic asks about “No Clue” parts.

11:54 am: Fielding call backs, still waiting for others.

12:38 pm: Lunch at desk. While looking though catalogs for parts and fielding call backs.

1:11 pm: Mechanic asks about parts.

1:12 pm: Refill coffee cup.

1:34 pm: Still looking through catalogs for “No Clue” parts, and fielding call backs from suppliers who may or may not have what we need.

2:36 pm: Still looking through catalogs and fielding call backs.

2:54 pm: Call back from supplier who thinks he has a few parts that may be one of the “No Clue” parts. He’s sending three different parts that might work.

3:25 pm: The three parts arrive. Mechanic takes them in the back to try for fit.

3:42 pm: Refill coffee cup.

4:06 pm: Mechanic comes in. One of the parts works.

4:09 pm: Call supplier to arrange for credit and pick up of other two parts.

4:12 pm: Rinse out coffee cup. Head home.

But this is just one side of the story. On the other end of the phone are the suppliers who are juggling a half dozen calls from buyers seeking parts for their repair shops. And trying to track them down anyway they can. I’ll outline their side of the equation in Part 2 of this story, next week.

Meanwhile, if you’re a parts buyer, we’d like to hear from you. Does this story sound familiar? Did we capture a day in your life?

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13 Dec 2011

Women In Trucking Association Hosting Third Annual Salute to Women Behind the Wheel

Photo: Women In Trucking

If you’re a woman who logs long hours behind the wheel of a truck, The Women In Trucking Association (WIT), wants to salute you. The non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging the employment of women in the trucking industry is making plans for its third annual Salute to the Women Behind the Wheel. According to the group, the event will be held in Louisville, Kentucky on March 24, 2012 at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

The event they held earlier this year drew nearly 500 attendees and 204 professional female drivers to the celebration, and over 100 of those women were honored for their number of safe driving miles. Sixty-eight women had one million safe driving miles, 26 had more than two million, and eleven had driven over three million miles without incident. For the first time ever, two women were recognized for their four million miles of safe driving, Heather Hogeland, a driver for UPS Freight, and Alice Adams, who drives for Walmart’s Private Fleet.

“Our goal in hosting the Salute to Women Behind the Wheel is to recognize these women for their years of service to this industry,” said Ellen Voie, WIT’s President/CEO. “More importantly, these drivers are role models for those who will follow in their footsteps as more women become aware of the opportunities waiting for them in the trucking industry.”

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman, Deborah A. P. Hersman, attended this year’s event as well, experiencing a taste of life on the road by traveling to the show with five different drivers who took her from Washington, DC to Louisville. She addressed the audience and thanked the women truck drivers for their professionalism and passion for safety. “I gained a lot more respect for these professional drivers behind the wheel and I want them to know that I will keep an eye out for them whenever I’m out on the interstate,” Hersman said.

Next March’s celebration is expected to draw even more female professional drivers from all over North America. There is no cost to attend or to participate—all expenses are covered by the event sponsors, such as Walmart, Freightliner and Frito-lay.

If you are a driver, male or female, and you’re interested in attending March’s event, you can visit Salute2women.com for more information. And if you want to join the Women In Trucking Association visit Womenintrucking.org for more information.

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11 Dec 2011

I Talk with Midnight Trucking About Truck Parts, Search Engines, and Helping Fleet Owners

Eric Harley of the Midnight Trucking Radio Network (left) and I during the interview (Photo: Midnight Trucking Radio Network)

At this year’s ATA Management Conference and Exhibition, I sat down with Eric Harley from the Midnight Trucking Radio Network to talk about PartsRiver and our new Part Search database for finding truck parts easier and faster.

Make sure to listen to the full interview here, and because many of you have been asking about Part Search, here are some of the highlights you’ll hear:

How PartsRiver helped large fleets like FedEx and Penske manage a parts database for procurement since 1999. And how wanting that database of over 8 million parts on a one-off basis to address their unscheduled maintenance problems lead us to develop Part Search. (We figured if these guys wanted it, then every fleet owner would find it valuable, and should have access to it.)

I also talk with Eric about the powerful search engine we developed that’s tied to the database to make it faster and easier for parts buyers to find a part, alternative part and a local seller, even if they just have a partial part number. And how this service is invaluable for situations like a truck breaking down on the road and needing to find a part nearby or in another city quickly, just to get that truck back on the road fast.

We talk about the three people who will most benefit from Part Search:

1. Owner/operators who only make money when their trucks are rolling,
2. Maintenance shops who can get the parts they need faster and easier, even if they only have a partial part number or need a part from a supplier in a different city, and
3. Part dealers because it makes it possible for a larger number of buyers to find them.

Most importantly we go over how to take advantage of this 8 million part database. How you can use it immediately and for free. And sign up for a premium membership to unlock even more benefits.  All kept painstakingly updated by us, to make sure we have only the most up-to-date information on changed parts, obsoleted/superseded parts, and seller locations for you.

And as I say in the interview: we love to hear feedback from you on how the service is working. It improves the process and in turn improves the information we provide you. So make sure to let me know in the comment box below, or by contacting us online.  I’ll make sure everyone gets a response.

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09 Dec 2011

Increase Warranty Claim Acceptance by Up to 50% with Accurate Tractor Trailer Parts Numbers

Having your warranty claims denied has to be one of the biggest headaches in our industry. And it’s a very, very costly headache. In fact, according to one large fleet owner I spoke to recently, he estimates it costs him around $20 million each and every year in warranty claims he has to eat. Why? Because the replacement parts he used to repair his tractor trailers had part numbers that didn’t match the warranty company’s “required” part number. Even though the part was identical.

So you ask, “How on Earth can they not recognize the part? It’s the exact same one!” Well, here’s what happens all too often: The manufacturer may have one number assigned to a given part, but the problem arises because the truck dealer assigns that same part a different part number. Then the national part supply store adds on their own suffix code to that number to comply with their in-house numbering conventions. And it trickles all the way down to the small mom and pop store, who give that part their own unique number, because their computer system can only handle a certain number of characters.

So you end up with the exact same truck part having a half dozen numbers assigned to it. And your warranty company only recognizes one of them.

There is a way around the problem. A pair of solutions that can get you an increase in your warranty claims by up to 50%. And help get rid of those headaches and stop the flood of your company’s expenses.

Warranty Claim Solution #1: Cross reference your part number with the correct OEM number.

Every tractor trailer part starts with an OEM number. And most warranty companies require that part to be used in repairs. But like I said earlier, that part can end up with several numbers assigned to it. Well, if you were to cross-reference the part number you used to repair your truck with the correct OEM number, showing how they are the exact same part, there a lot less likelihood of a disagreement on your warranty claim.

Regularly updated databases, like Parts Search, allow you to do that. Enter the number of the part you used, and it will give you the OEM number you can submit to your warranty company with your claim eliminating confusion.

Warranty Claim Solution #2: Submit your claim using the VMRS code.

The VMRS codes (Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards), are finally being accepted by some warranty companies in place of part numbers when claims are filed. The advantage is tremendous. Say for instance, you have to replace your rear brake pads. You give your warranty claim company the part number, and in their system that pad is coded for front brakes, even though the pad works on either. They can, and might, deny the claim because you used the “wrong” part.  However, if you supply the claim company with the correct VMRS code, showing the pads are the same for either front or back, the chances of your claim being approved can increase greatly.

Finding the VMRS codes used to be a huge undertaking. But now there are two companies, PartsRiver being one, that are authorized by the American Trucking Association to apply the VMRS. Now it’s as easy as accessing a website and entering your part number.

So just by using these two simple, fast, solutions—cross referencing your truck part numbers and submitting the VMRS along with your claim—you can increase the chances of your warranty claim being accepted by up to 50%. How’s that headache feeling, and bottom line looking, now?

You might be interested in 5 Tips to Successfully Implementing VMRS.

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06 Dec 2011

It’s Deer in the Headlights Season. Here’s What You Need to Know

It’s become cliché to describe anyone who is stunned or paralyzed by confusion as being “like a deer in the headlights.” And we laugh at the visual: Someone standing wide-eyed and motionless, mouth open, not enough sense to get the heck out of the way…

But the truth is deer really do freeze when they get caught in our headlights, and the result is anything but funny. For the deer or the driver.

I bring this up because according to an article on FleetOwner.com this is deer-in-the-headlight season. Apparently during the last three months of each year, the number of deer-related traffic accidents rise dramatically. Why so many during this time? Not because they are out doing last minute holiday shopping and are distracted… it’s because late October through early December is deer mating season. And they are running around trying to find mates, making them more active and more likely to run across highways.

The article mentions statistics that show vehicle collisions with deer are higher in the last three months of the year than in the other nine months combined. Matt Tholen of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources says:

“The does are running around and the males are focused on finding female deer. This time of year, the deer are moving a lot more because of weather patterns, too. In the next couple of weeks it’s going to be prime time for deer-involved crashes.”

It seems like Tholen is right. FleetOwner says that some states are reporting higher than usual deer vs. vehicle crashes this year. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports the number of motor vehicle crashes involving deer are on the rise in their state. In the month of October alone, there were 69 reported.

And hitting a deer is no minor incident. Sometimes the results can be more than fender damage and a cracked windshield. They can be tragic. According to the Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse (and the fact that there is a Deer-Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse should tell you something), deer-vehicle crashes (DVCs) in the US are a “significant and increasing transportation safety problem.”

How significant? The article points to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistic that reports there are about 1.5 million vehicle accidents with deer each year that kill more 200 Americans and result in more than $1 billion in vehicle damage. That’s enough to keep anyone’s eyes peeled for deer.

So what can you do to prevent a deer from becoming a hood ornament on your rig? State Farm has a list of precautions drivers should take in order to avoid a deer-induced accident. They suggest that drivers:

• Be aware of posted deer crossing signs. These signs are placed in known active deer crossing areas.
• Be aware that deer are most active during the evening, between 6 and 9 p.m. At night, use high-beam headlamps as much as possible to illuminate the sides of the road where deer can linger.
• Be aware that deer often move in packs — if you see one deer, there is a good chance several more are just a few yards behind.
• Do not rely on vehicle-mounted “deer whistles.” Studies have shown deer are not affected by this deterrence method.
• If a collision with a deer seems inevitable, it may be best not to swerve. The risk of personal injury is greatly increased by swerving, which can place you in the path of oncoming vehicles or may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Where are you most likely to encounter a love-lorn deer crossing the road and need these tips? According to a list State Farm compiles each year West Virginia is the top DVC state for the fifth year in a row. (Either there are a lot of  confused deer there, or incredibly distracted drivers on those roads, or both.) Rounding out last year’s Top 10 are Iowa, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Montana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wyoming. So if your travels take you through any of those states this month, make sure to stay extra alert. A “deer in the headlights” look may be truly funny when your friend doesn’t get a joke, but an actual deer in your headlights isn’t laughable at all.

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02 Dec 2011

Brake Safety Week Finds Out-of-Service Rate for Brakes Rises

Any trucker who has been on a downhill grade with a full load behind him will tell you how important brakes are for safety.  And how important it is that they’re in good working order to protect your safety and the safety of others on the road. But according to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), the rate of vehicles placed out-of-service (OOS), for 2011 because of brake issues has risen from last year after dropping from 2009 to 2010.

This issue was found during inspections held for Operation Air Brake’s recent “Brake Safety Week.” Brake Safety Week is a prominent event of the Operation Air Brake campaign, an ongoing, international effort dedicated to improving truck and bus brake safety throughout the US and Canada. According to the CVSA, for the second year in a row, commercial vehicle inspectors conducted a record number of inspections, checking 30,872 vehicles.

They take the data gathered each year from across North America to provide a snapshot of the industry’s rate of compliance with safety and repairs. The data also highlights areas that need continued focus with regard to brake safety regulations and relevant maintenance practices.

This year, the inspectors found that although the number of OOS defects for both brake adjustment and brake components are down slightly, the overall OOS rate for brakes rose from 13.5% last year, to 14.2%. This rise is underscored by the fact that brakes were cited in 29.4 percent of crashes as an associate factor in the crash, according to the Large Crash Causation study conducted in 2006.

“Brakes continue to be the number one OOS defect and Brake Safety Week is a reminder of the critical importance they serve in the safe operation of commercial vehicles,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s executive director. “The Operation Air Brake campaign remains the premier joint effort among federal, state, and local commercial vehicle enforcement and industry to promote commercial vehicle brake safety.”

Overall results of the inspections show:

30,872 vehicles were inspected in 2011. This exceeds the 2010 mark of 30,472 vehicles, the previous record since the program started in 1998.

2,605 (or 8.4%) of vehicles were placed OOS for brake adjustment, down from 8.9% in 2010 and 9.0% in 2009).

2,453 (or 7.9%) of vehicles were placed OOS for brake components, down slightly from 8.0% in 2010 and 9.2% in 2009.

4,385 (or 14.2%) of vehicles were placed OOS for brakes overall, up from 13.5% in 2010 but still lower than the 15.1% found in 2009.

The OOS rates for Canada were again significantly lower than in the U.S. for 2011. This year, 8.7% of vehicles inspected in the U.S. during Brake Safety Week were placed OOS for poor brake adjustment, compared to 3.7% in Canada. Inspections in Canada resulted in 7.3% of vehicles being placed out of service for brakes, compared to 4.4% in 2010.

I don’t know about you, but we think having 4,385 trucks and buses on the road with brakes considered bad enough to pull them out of service is far too many. And considering they cause nearly a third of accidents, brake maintenance should be a critical part of any fleet.

How often do you have the brakes serviced on your vehicles? Let me know in the comment box below.

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