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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 Counterman
Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. (APH) welcomed more than 500 store owners, managers, sales representatives, supplier partners and support staff to its
link hidden, please login to view, held under the theme “All In!” A highlight of the three-day event was the awards banquet, which celebrated key accomplishments and recognized team members whose leadership and performance helped drive the company’s success in 2025.
“We are incredibly proud to recognize the team members who live the ‘All In’ mindset every single day,” said Corey Bartlett, CEO of APH. “Their dedication to serving customers, supporting one another and strengthening our company is evident in the way they show up and lead by example. They inspire those around them, and having the opportunity to pause and celebrate their achievements together makes the moment especially meaningful.”
Award recipients were selected through a comprehensive review process evaluating overall performance, leadership and contributions to sales, operations and team success across the organization. Members of APH’s leadership team presented the awards.
The evening’s top honor, the 2025 Store Manager of the Year award, was presented to Chelle Desmond of Thorp, Wisconsin. Desmond has been part of the Thorp location since 2019 and has served as store manager since 2023.
“Chelle is a tremendous advocate for her customers and her team,” said Jarvis Ruthven, regional manager for east central Wisconsin. “She approaches every challenge with a solutions-first mindset and a genuine desire to help. Her leadership, perseverance and positive attitude make her incredibly deserving of this recognition.”
In addition to Desmond,
link hidden, please login to view recognized the following individuals for outstanding contributions in 2025:
• Impact Player of the Year: Dustin Kremer, Sioux Falls, SD
• Regional Manager of the Year: Mark Tangen, Northern Minnesota Region
• Outside Sales Representative of the Year: Tabitha Parker, Tomah and Sparta, WI
• Counter Sales Representative of the Year: Ben Blackmon, Minot, ND
• Driver of the Year: Loren Vandervilet, Central City, SD
• Support Person of the Year: Tim Neumann, St. Cloud Store Support Center
• BENCO MVP of the Year: Matt Kubasek, St. Cloud, MN
• Refinish Supply Co. MVP of the Year: Tom Peterson, Sioux Falls, SD APH’s annual conference serves as both a strategic planning session and a collaborative forum, bringing together supplier partners and store teams to align on goals and initiatives for the year ahead. The “All In!” theme underscored the company’s shared commitment to partnership, performance and continued growth across APH’s family of stores.
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By Counterman
The
link hidden, please login to view has released its 2024 American Driving Survey, which quantifies daily driving in 2024 and compares results to 2023 and 2022. Similar to 2023, the brief analyzes the age of vehicles driven and explores differences by population groups. This year, new analyses of vehicle engine type are included. Vehicle age and engine type are important components of both crash risk and environmental impact, as newer vehicles are equipped with more advanced safety features and alternative engines can reduce emissions. Key Findings Included:
94.2% of U.S. residents ages 16 and older drove at least occasionally in 2023, statistically unchanged from 2023 and 2022. In 2024, drivers made an average of 2.44 driving trips per day, spent 60.4 minutes driving and traveled 31.1 miles daily, with no statistically significant differences from 2023. Projecting these results to the national population, drivers collectively made 232 billion trips, spent 96 billion hours driving and drove 2.95 trillion miles in 2024. Some of the travel patterns reported by population groups were consistent with both previous years’ trends:
Male respondents reported more minutes, miles driven and trips taken as compared to female respondents. Drivers from the Northeast made more and longer trips, while drivers from the South spent more time driving. Other travel patterns, stabilized post-2021, have continued in 2024:
Drivers with a bachelor’s degree or higher took more trips and spent more time behind the wheel compared to other groups. White non-Hispanic drivers recorded the greatest number of trips and miles driven, while Black non-Hispanic drivers spent more time behind the wheel than other groups. Younger drivers continued using older vehicles (greater than 14 years old), whereas older, retired drivers tended to use newer cars ( less than four years old). Findings Related to Engine Type Included:
In 2024, gas-powered vehicles made up the majority of driving trips (91.0%), while hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for a smaller share (6.4% and 2.5% respectively). Respondents driving EVs recorded the longest average trip times (16.0 minutes) and distances (32.9 miles), indicating that EVs were often used for longer journeys. For more information on the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, visit
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By Counterman
The
link hidden, please login to view, Inc. kicked off its 2025 Alliance Winter Shareholder Meeting at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida. The annual event unites shareholders, channel partners and industry leaders for four days, December 7-10, 2025, for a variety of events designed to foster collaboration, strategy and celebration.
“The Winter Shareholder Meeting remains one of the most important events of the year for the Alliance,” said John C. Washbish, president & CEO of the
link hidden, please login to view. “Each year, we come together to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas and build on the collective momentum that continues to move our organization forward.” This year’s Winter Shareholder Meeting features a robust agenda filled with Alliance member committee sessions, department updates, information technology and marketing workshops and networking events designed to drive innovation and strengthen partnerships across the aftermarket industry.
The event includes various steering committee meetings, shareholder and channel partner general sessions, meals and receptions and concludes with the Alliance’s annual channel partner awards banquet.
The Alliance Winter Shareholder Meeting is a valuable event for collaboration and innovation within the aftermarket,” said Eric Johnson, president and managing partner of Arnold Motor Supply. “There is real value in taking time to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and align on strategies for the future.”
The banquet will celebrate the industry’s top performers, including the announcement of the Channel Partner of the Year Award and other supplier recognitions.
“The Channel Partner Awards Banquet is more than just an awards ceremony — it’s a celebration of teamwork, dedication and the relationships that drive our success,” said Justin Hebert, vice president of category management at the Alliance. “It’s a privilege to recognize the outstanding achievements of our partners.”
The 2025 Winter Shareholder Meeting not only celebrates the Alliance’s achievements but also sets the stage for the year ahead—uniting shareholders, channel partners and suppliers in a shared vision for progress and success across the aftermarket.
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By jack552
Hey everyone,
I’ve been checking different options for good-quality auto parts and also exploring some driving-related stuff recently. It’s interesting how real some driving simulators visit: bussimulator-apk.com can feel — great for anyone who loves vehicles and the road experience.
Also, where do you guys usually buy your parts — local shops or online? Would love to hear your thoughts.
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