APA’s Steve Tucker: ‘We See Demand Continuing To Be Strong’
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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.
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By NAPA
Mason Massey delivered a strong performance in the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, finishing fifth overall in a stacked ARCA Menards Series combination race that combined the national tour with the ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW). Massey’s second straight top-five result keeps in him on top of the AMSW standings by six points after two events.
Competing in a 40-car field, Massey qualified 14th and quickly worked his way forward and cracked the top ten by lap 11 as four yellow flags slowed the field in the first 29 laps. He advanced to eighth by lap 21 while managing a loose race car that kept the rear end moving under him through the corners. After several laps battling traffic, Massey worked his way into seventh and remained a factor near the front of the field as the race progressed. Following the lap-75 halfway break, Massey restarted inside the top five and maintained his position among the leaders.
A late caution set the stage for an overtime finish, where Massey found himself battling three-wide for position in the closing laps. Despite the chaos around him, he held his ground and crossed the line fifth after 157 laps. The result marked the second highest finishing position among AMSW regulars and capped a competitive afternoon against the top competitors from both tours in one of the largest fields expected this season.
“I’d like to thank Bill (McAnally, owner) and the entire BMR team for giving me such a fast race car tonight,” Massey said after the race. “It feels great to get into these BMR cars and know that I can go out there and compete with anyone on any given night. Tonight was a lot of fun. We will take a Top 5 and move on to the next one.”
Start / Finish: 14 / 5
Points Standing / Total: 1st / 86 pts. (+6)
Next Race: Saturday, April 11, Tucson Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 9:00 p.m. ET on
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By Advance Auto Parts
ARGOS will be available in all Advance and Carquest U.S. locations and online by early 2026
RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers, today announced the launch of ARGOS, its new owned oil and fluids brand designed to meet growing consumer demand for high-quality, affordable auto care products.
In developing ARGOS, Advance conducted extensive customer surveys, market analysis and field testing with both do-it-yourself enthusiasts and professional customers. Both groups said that they need a product that is affordable, reliable and strong. Their feedback played a role in shaping the final product lineup, reinforcing Advance’s commitment to listening to its customers.
“Affordability, reliability and strength are the three clear priorities we hear from our customers when it comes to quality automotive products,” said Bruce Starnes, executive vice president, chief merchant at Advance Auto Parts. “ARGOS delivers on those qualities. It’s a product line built for today’s drivers, DIYers, and professional technicians. We’re excited to help our customers’ cars last longer, for an affordable price.”
The average age of vehicles on U.S. roads has reached an
link hidden, please login to view of just under 13 years, creating increased demand for maintenance and repair products that are both reliable and affordable. ARGOS meets those needs by offering engine protection and performance comparable to national brands, but at a price that provides meaningful savings for both DIYers and professional customers. ARGOS will be available exclusively in all Advance and Carquest locations in the U.S. and online, starting with synthetic blend and full synthetic heavy-duty motor oil in mid-February, followed by passenger car motor oil in a variety of blends in early March. A full portfolio will become available by May, including automatic transmission fluid, bulk fluids, gear oil, small engine oil and performance chemicals.
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By NAPA
Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts team qualified fourth for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Elliott earned points in stage one, ending it in the fifth position. In the second stage, the team was issued a pass-through penalty for an uncontrolled tire following a green-flag pit stop. Elliott finished the stage in 25th and earned the free pass to get back on the lead lap. He gave it his all in the final stage, but making up the lost track position proved to be difficult. Elliott ultimately finished 18th. With two races left in the Round of 8, Elliott sits sixth in the standings, 23 points below the cutline. Chase Elliott and the No. 9 link hidden, please login to view team unloaded a fast Chevrolet for the race weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Elliott qualified fourth for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race and held strong inside the top five after the green flag waved for the 267-lap race. Running fourth when green-flag pit stops got underway, Elliott made his way to pit road on lap 34 for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Once the field cycled through stops, Elliott was scored sixth. From there, the 2020 Cup Series champion improved to fourth before the caution came out on lap 72. Crew chief Alan Gustafson called Elliott in for four tires and fuel. The 29-year-old driver restarted from the second row on lap 78 and finished the first stage in the fifth position.
Under the stage break, Elliott reported positive feedback regarding his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy’s balance. Staying out, he lined up on the outside of row three to start the second stage. After initially losing a couple positions, Elliott made his way back up to fifth. The Dawsonville, Georgia, native was running in sixth when teams began making green-flag pit stops. Elliott brought the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevy to the attention of his crew for four tires and fuel on lap 118. Unfortunately, the team was issued a pass-through penalty for an uncontrolled tire. Once Chase served the penalty, he was scored a lap down but was still fast enough to race with the front-running cars to try to unlap himself. Elliott was ultimately unable to pass the leader before the stage ended, but he was awarded the free pass for being the first driver one lap down.
After pitting for four tires, fuel and a chassis adjustment, Elliott lined up at the tail of field to take the green flag for the final stage on lap 173. He made his way back inside the top 20 on lap 193 and was scored 17th when green-flag pit stops began on lap 210. Elliott remained on the track until pitting for four tires and fuel on lap 218. He was up to 15th at the time of a caution on lap 237. The team made its final pit stop of the day for four tires under the yellow flag. With some teams opting for two tires, Elliott restarted 18th on lap 245 before a multi-incident slowed the race. The No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet received slight damage to the left rear when Elliott was navigating through the melee. The team opted not to pit, and Elliott chose the outside lane for the restart. He slipped back to 20th before climbing to 18th to end the race.
“We started our day strong,” Elliott said after the checkered flag. “I thought we had the balance of our No. 9 NAPA Chevy in a really good spot. I was just happy with the way it was driving. Unfortunately, we got a pit road penalty in stage two and we just got back in traffic. I needed something pretty different, balance-wise, to be good back there. I probably missed a little bit on my first read and we only had a couple shots to try and help that. We’ll regroup and try again next weekend at Talladega (Superspeedway).”
With two races remaining in the Round of 8, Elliott sits sixth in the playoff standings, 23 points below the cutline.
Start / Finish: 4 / 18
Points Standing / Total: 6th / -23 below cutline
Next Race: Sunday, Oct. 19, Talladega Superspeedway
How to Watch or Listen: 2:00 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM or MRN
NAPA:
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