-
Similar Topics
-
By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view introduces a new line of Transtar Brand 100% all New Components Torque Converters which it said are engineered specifically for 2011-up Ford Trucks and Vans equipped with 6R140 transmissions. Designed to meet the demands of modern gas and diesel powertrains, these converters deliver consistent, dependable performance for today’s rebuilders and come with a 12-month/unlimited mileage warranty.
Developed by an engineering team with decades of experience supporting global automotive programs, all converters are manufactured to OE specifications and designed to meet or exceed factory performance standards,
link hidden, please login to view said. Applications & Coverage
2011-Up Ford F250, F350 and F450 with 6r140 transmission. 2016-Up Ford E350 and E450 with 6R140 transmission. Available Part Numbers
TS-FM1261 (6.2L; 6.8L Gas Engines) TS-FM1262 (6.7L Diesel Engine, 6 Mounting Studs) TS-FM1265 (7.3L Gas Engine) For optimal performance, pair with Transtar Low Viscosity Fluid.
link hidden, please login to view. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
Scheduling of delivery drivers can be one of the more difficult personnel-related tasks for any manager. Often at the lower end of your pay scale and frequently staffed by part-time employees, these positions can be difficult to screen, fill and maintain. They are a critical link to commercial success, yet their value is easily overlooked when weekly schedules are created.
In many retail environments, analysis of prior hour-by-hour sales figures often shapes the forecast for staffing future shifts. Adequate staffing at the front counter is critical to assisting customers and moving merchandise efficiently, but in order to accurately forecast demand for delivery drivers, we must ignore the majority of retail sales, which occur in-store or, increasingly, as online purchases. Unless your business model includes “home delivery” to retail customers, staffing your delivery needs will revolve exclusively around your commercial accounts.
Having adequate delivery capability to maintain (or strengthen) your commercial relationships can look different for each location. Vehicle and personnel numbers will vary based primarily on that individual store’s customer mix and the type of market served. Wholesale jobbers generally serve a broader geographic area than retailers, due in part to their smaller store network. A chain retailer is more likely to have a greater concentration of individual stores per square mile, each serving a smaller area, while the jobber maintains a larger commercial customer base spread across a larger geographic area.
As a result, jobbers tend to make better use of scheduled route delivery, in contrast to focusing on frequent short “on-demand” deliveries in the immediate area. These schedules are much easier to forecast, as they are somewhat consistent throughout the business day. When scheduling for the “hot-shot” portion of your delivery needs, however, the natural ebb and flow of your store’s daily routine become an important factor. There are key points throughout each day that require additional delivery staffing.
Many stores enjoy some form of overnight warehouse delivery, and those daily orders will be expected at shops across your territory as soon as possible the following morning. Between those “first thing in the morning” deliveries and the daily ritual of vehicle pre-checks, the first hour of the workday can be a beehive of activity for your delivery staff. By the time your trucks are returning from their early rounds, orders generated from those 8 a.m. diagnostic appointments at shops across your market have begun to filter in, resulting in another rush. Customer calls ramp up again before and during the traditional lunch hour, as shops try to arrange deliveries to arrive before technicians return from their breaks. Another flurry of dispatches will be in response to the afternoon’s diagnostics, with shops hoping to wrap up repairs before end of day, and to beat the overnight order deadlines for the next day’s business.
In addition to customer-driven rushes, we may also see a spike in driver demand centered around our own incoming deliveries. Stores with midday warehouse deliveries will see a surge in demand around these times, as well as those created by UPS or FedEx drop-offs. Most of our best customers already know what time to expect such special orders, and the volume of “where’s my stuff?” calls will add to the sense of immediacy felt by everyone on staff!
Delivery scheduling can also be adversely affected by seasonality and holidays. Freezing or snowy weather not only creates delays in parts deliveries from the warehouse and at store levels, but it can also limit an individual driver’s ability to report for duty as scheduled, creating a gap in coverage. Coupled with the longer delivery times required for the remaining staff to complete routes safely, it can create temporary bottlenecks. Holidays also create personnel issues, as we attempt to find coverage for those days that everyone wants to spend with family and friends. Travel-intensive holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day also create an increased demand from shops prepping vehicles for extended trips, with added pressure for everyone to complete repairs, often at the last minute.
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced that American Truck Parts LLC, a full-service heavy-duty truck and trailer service and parts provider based in Porterville, California, has joined the Power Heavy Duty network. American Truck Parts offers in-house service capabilities, including a full-service truck and trailer service department, flywheel resurfacing, driveline services, hydraulic hose fabrication, mobile truck repair and machine shop services. Located near major freeways in California’s Central Valley, the company supports a diverse customer base across on-highway, off-highway, industrial and agricultural applications, serving fleets and owner-operators in one of the nation’s most active agricultural regions.
Leadership and staff
Owner and president Brandon Tharp leads a staff of 12 including four technicians, two counter staff and one outside sales representative.
“Our vision is to continue building a strong, reliable parts and service operation that our customers can depend on day in and day out,” said Tharp. “We’re focused on expanding our parts inventory, growing our service capabilities, and strengthening our presence throughout the Central Valley. At the same time, we want to stay true to our roots providing honest service, building long-term relationships, and continuing the legacy our family has built in this industry.”
Roots in Central Valley trucking
Tharp purchased the business in 2025, but is no stranger to the trucking and heavy-duty parts industry.
The roots of American Truck Parts are closely tied to a long-standing Central Valley trucking and heavy-duty tradition. The Tharp family’s involvement in trucking dates back to 1935, when E.M. “Gene” Tharp began his career in commercial hauling. Over the decades, the family’s operations expanded into truck sales, service and parts, ultimately leading to the formation of American Truck Parts in 1979. From there, after a series of acquisitions, American Truck Parts became available as an independent business opportunity.
Today, American Truck Parts continues that legacy as an independent operation focused exclusively on parts and service, while remaining connected to generations of industry experience.
Network perspective
“American Truck Parts and their broad service capabilities, strong regional presence, and commitment to supporting mixed-vocation customers make them an excellent fit for our growing network,” said Joe Meyer, vice president of business development for the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies. “The Tharp family legacy provides a strong foundation, and Brandon’s leadership brings fresh perspective and momentum that position the business well for long-term success.”
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
The Auto Care Association announced the release of ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0, the latest updates to the industry’s data standards, along with supporting reference database schema updates. The new versions follow a comprehensive, yearlong industry review and introduce enhanced capabilities designed to support more accurate, flexible and scalable data exchange across the automotive aftermarket. Updated schemas in this release include VCdb 2.0, Qdb 2.0, PCdb 2.0, PAdb 5.0 and Brand Table 2.0.
Standardized data for evolving global and regulatory needs
ACES (Aftermarket Catalog Exchange Standard) and PIES (Product Information Exchange Standard) serve as the industry’s standardized, machine-readable (XML) methods for exchanging product fitment and product information data across the Americas. These standards are used by manufacturers, distributors, retailers, e-commerce platforms and solution providers across multiple sectors.
“ACES and PIES are foundational to how the aftermarket communicates product data,” said Jonathan Larsen, vice president, digital products and standards,
link hidden, please login to view. “These updates are focused on helping the industry to deliver richer content, improve data accuracy and adapt to evolving global and regulatory needs.” New in ACES 5.0
Support for vehicle- and part-specific non-diagram digital assets within the App Segment; Multiple descriptions for a single digital asset; and Expanded multilingual capabilities for the “MfrLabel” field. New in PIES 8.0
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging data to support regulatory compliance; Multiple package configurations at a single pack level; and Digital asset file hashing and record sequencing to improve data validation and organization. Increased accuracy and efficiency across the supply chain
Together, these updates to ACES and PIES make it easier to deliver richer product content, improve data consistency across partners and better support compliance and evolving market demands. The result is more accurate product listings, fewer errors and a more efficient flow of data across the supply chain.
Compatible with Catalog Assessment Reporting Tool
In addition, the AutoCareVIP.com Catalog Assessment Reporting Tool now supports ACES 5.0 and PIES 8.0 files. This free tool helps users evaluate and improve the quality of their ACES and PIES data.
Full details on the ACES and PIES release are provided in the Auto Care Association’s latest
link hidden, please login to view To learn more about Auto Care Data Standards and book a complimentary meeting with an Auto Care data expert, click
link hidden, please login to view.
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
-
By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the release of 131 new part numbers in the first quarter of 2026, expanding coverage for more than 27 million vehicles in operation across North America. The new part numbers span key product categories including rotating electrical and engine management, with coverage across a wide range of late-model domestic and import applications. These additions continue to strengthen WAI’s ability to deliver timely, in-demand solutions to the aftermarket.
“Our product development efforts remain focused on identifying opportunities that help our customers service the vehicles they see every day,” said Ron Bernstein, president, North America, WAI Global. “By continuing to introduce new coverage aligned with current vehicle trends, we ensure our partners have access to dependable 100% NEW solutions that keep their businesses moving forward.”
High-impact late-model applications released during the first quarter include WPM5013L wiper motor for Chevrolet, 11980N alternator for Hyundai and 31294N starter for BMW, supporting vehicles through the 2025 model year.
These launches represent more than expanded coverage, they reflect
link hidden, please login to view’s proactive strategy to bring high-VIO, late-model parts to market at the earliest point in the replacement cycle, ensuring customers are prepared before demand peaks, the company said. WAI added it delivers reliable solutions that help reduce comebacks, protect shop reputations and support long-term customer trust. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.