Wednesday January 30 2008

Resources

HD Aftermarket Hall of Fame Inducts Jim Callison of Midwest Wheel Companies

HDAW HQ, Orland Park, IL-During the HD Aftermarket Industry Awards Luncheon, at HD Aftermarket Week ’08 in Las Vegas, James (JW) Callison of Midwest Wheel Companies, Des Moines, Iowa was inducted in to the Industry’s Hall of Fame.

Presented by Polk (RL Polk and Company) for the second year, this award recognizes individuals, companies, or organizations that have made a significant contribution to the industry. The criteria used are length of service in the industry, significant impact on the industry, commitment to industry participation, and thought leadership. The award sponsor hosts a panel of industry experts responsible for the process for selection of the inductee. A formal nomination and judging process culminates with the award being presented during the industry’s premier event, HD Aftermarket Week.

Rebuilding Preset Hubs

LAS VEGAS. Although they’re considered maintenance free, ConMet’s PreSet hub assemblies usually require servicing at around 500,000 mi., but the only available options have been to replace the pre-tensioned hub assemblies with conventional ones, according to Mike McGrath, president of SKF’s VSM automotive division. However a new all-in-one rebuild kit for the assemblies introduced at the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Show here this week will now allow fleets to return the Pre-Set hubs to OEM specifications, McGrath said.

The new kit includes two SKF tapered bearing sets, an SKF Scotseal Plus XL seal, an SKF hubcap and a new machined PreSet spacer, as well as detailed instructions on performing the rebuild. Online installation support is also offered. Using the kit simplifies and speeds up installation while providing up to three times the service life of standard wheel end components, the company said.

Aftermarket's Future Bright, Distributors Learn

The U.S. commercial vehicle aftermarket is $53.1 billion, according to Dave Fulghum, vice president of MacKay & Co. This figure includes light-, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, as well as construction and agricultural equipment.

Speaking before distributors Tuesday, Jan. 22, at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, Fulghum talked about the size of the aftermarket, where service work is being performed and where parts are purchased.

Perspectives Aplenty on Access to Information

Panelists presented distributor, manufacturer and end user points of view on the controversial access to information issue during the 2008 Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week session, “Access to Product and Service Information, an Industry Perspective.”

“Is this a real issue? Some would argue that it’s not a major issue and that the information is available if you just know where to look,” said Dave Scheer, president of Inland Truck Parts Company and session moderator. “We at Inland face this issue every day. We know where to look. We’re very resourceful.”

Top 5 Aftermarket Products Honored

Five aftermarket companies have won awards for their product innovation and contributions to aftermarket parts distributors and service providers. The Top 5 Aftermarket Awards are sponsored annually by Heavy Duty Trucking magazine, in conjunction with Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week. Winners are selected by Heavy Duty Trucking editors.

The top five this year are: Bendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC, for the Formula Blue brand launch; Phillips Industries, for its Permalogic TC Battery System for trailer power management; Grote Industries, for Theft-Resistant LED Lighting; Ancra International, for its Safety-Oriented Flatbed Winches, and EMP, for its Vocationally Sensitive Extreme Engine Cooling Package.

HDAW Panel to Distributors: Know Your Liabilities in Selling Non-Branded Parts

Many aftermarket distributors think they can’t be held liable for selling counterfeit parts or if a consumer is harmed by a defective component. “That’s a myth,” Sarah Bruno, an associate with Arent Fox and Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association general counsel, told attendees at a panel discussion held during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas. “You can be held liable even if you had no knowledge the product was defective.”

In assigning liability, courts consider several factors: where the goods were purchased, whether they were sold with authenticating documentation and whether the quality differs from what’s expected by consumers, Bruno said. Unusual pricing, coding, or language on billing slips are also red flags, she said.

Karon, Total Truck Parts: ‘Truck Parts & Service’s’ 2007 Distributor of the Year

Marc Karon, president of Total Truck Parts, West Palm Beach, Fla., was named Truck Parts & Service magazine’s 2007 Distributor of the Year during the awards luncheon held during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in Las Vegas.

Karon, a former Distributor of the Year finalist, was selected through votes cast by aftermarket representatives from suppliers, distributors, organizations and the editorial staff of Truck Parts & Service.

2007 Technician of the Year Honored at HDAW

LAS VEGAS, NV – Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, Dayton Parts, LLC (DP, LLC), Haldex, ODYSSEY Battery and SKF recently recognized Britt Olson as the 2007 Technician of the Year award recipient. Olson is a technician for the Southeastern Freight Lines location in Albany, GA. He was honored during an awards program and reception held during Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week.

With more than 20 years of service to Southeastern Freight Lines, Olson is a two-time Quality Achiever within the company’s Quality Improvement Process program. He has logged more than 85 hours of training since 2002, earning certification in various areas such as Volvo A/C troubleshooting, Haldex brake/ABS, Meritor PSI tire inflations system and ConMet wheel ends, to name a few. Additionally, Olson is an ASE-certified technician.

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