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VIPAR Heavy Duty Supplier Advisory Council Reviews Performance, Strategy
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By Counterman
The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, with support from the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, announced the establishment of the Pat Biermann Memorial Heavy Duty Scholarship. This new heavy-duty scholarship honors the life and contributions of Pat Biermann. The Alliance described Biermann was a visionary leader in the heavy-duty aftermarket, a trusted advisor to the Alliance and a beloved colleague. Biermann passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the age of 75.
Honoring a Heavy Duty Scholarship Leader and Mentor
The Alliance said Biermann devoted more than 40 years to the heavy-duty aftermarket, leaving an indelible legacy through his leadership, innovation and dedication. As a co-founder and long-serving president of HD America (HDA), he helped propel the organization to a position of industry leadership. After retiring, he continued to contribute his expertise as a heavy-duty advisor and consultant for the Alliance. The Alliance added that Biermann exemplified the true spirit of “Heavy Duty”—facing challenges head-on, fostering growth and mentoring the next generation.
Pat Biermann’s Career Spanned Decades of Impact
A graduate of Washington University, Biermann rooted his career in engineering. His work spanned leadership and strategic development and significantly impacted the commercial vehicle and heavy-duty industry. Biermann’s efforts strengthened the industry’s foundation and prepared it for future growth.
Scholarship Supports Future Heavy-Duty Professionals
In tribute to Biermann’s memory and his direct contributions to the Alliance, the scholarship offers a one-time award of $2,500. It supports a student actively pursuing a career within the vital heavy-duty industry. Eligible career paths include Diesel Technician, Truck Driver (CDL training), Fleet Manager, Heavy Duty Parts Specialist, or a similar heavy duty-related field.
Legacy Invests in Skilled Hands-On Careers
“Pat Biermann was not only an industry giant but also a trusted advisor and friend to the Alliance’s Commercial Vehicle and Heavy Duty program. His insights were invaluable, and his passion for this industry was infectious,” said Mario Gonzalez, CVHD program manager for the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.
“Pat truly understood that the backbone of the heavy-duty world lies in the skilled technicians, drivers, parts specialists, and fleet managers who keep things moving.
By establishing this memorial scholarship—with the generous support of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation—we honor Pat’s legacy in a practical way: by investing directly in the dedicated individuals pursuing these essential, hands-on careers. It’s a tribute he would have deeply appreciated.”
The Alliance said it encourages students who are committed to building careers in these essential roles to apply for the scholarship.
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By Counterman
RBR Truck Parts, with three locations in Texas, recently joined
link hidden, please login to view. Founded in 2018, RBR Truck Parts LLC is a heavy-duty parts distributor serving the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. The company provides aftermarket parts for all truck makes and models. RBR caters to owner-operators, local fleets, service centers and municipal accounts. It offers high-quality products to keep their customers’ vehicles running efficiently. Strategic Location in a Major Trucking Hub
The Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex is home to 8.5 million people across more than 200 cities. It is a major hub for the trucking industry. RBR’s Hutchins, Texas, location sits near Interstate 45, just 250 miles north of Houston. Houston ranks among the nation’s largest ports. RBR also operates near a large rail/container yard and major warehouse operations. This allows the company to serve the region’s trucking needs effectively. Its heavy-duty network connection strengthens its position in this critical market.
Product Selection and Facilities Support Growth
RBR serves a diverse customer base throughout North Central Texas. The company stocks a wide selection of aftermarket truck parts. These include engine components, suspension parts, brake systems, wheels and tires, filters, fluids and accessories. The Hutchins location includes a 14,000-sq.-ft. showroom and warehouse. A 5,000-sq.-ft. facility in Duncanville and a 7,000–sq.-ft. branch in Fort Worth support operations. Owner Rony Santos and general manager Cesar Perez lead the RBR team.
Partnering with Power Heavy Duty for Continued Success
“RBR Truck Parts is a well-established business known for honesty, integrity, and their strong ties in the community,” said Jim Pennig, vice president of business development,
link hidden, please login to view Heavy Duty Family of Companies. “They are dedicated to growing their business with quality parts from Power Heavy Duty’s network of supplier partners, and we look forward to supporting them with great programs and true group value.”
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By Counterman
Since its inception in 2011, the NAPA Partnership Event (formerly known as the NAPA Vendor Summit) has recognized outstanding suppliers through its Supplier Awards Ceremony. NAPA said the event provides an opportunity to honor the exceptional contributions of NAPA’s valued supplier partners—those who champion innovation, quality and excellence in everything they do.
link hidden, please login to viewadded that the Spirit of NAPA award, in particular, has a rich history and is awarded to a trusted supplier that embodies NAPA’s values. This year’s Spirit of NAPA award winner, Dorman, stood out for its dedication to innovation, commitment to quality and lasting impact on the industry. Below is the complete list of winners:
Innovation Award: Milwaukee Tool Quality Award: East Penn Manufacturing Cataloging Award: Old World Industries Sales Award: TERREPOWER Service Award: Weitron Indirect Supplier Award: Pricefx Spirit of NAPA Award: Dorman Partnership Award: Neal Williams The post
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By Counterman
FleetPride, Inc. announced its annual supplier awards during its recent Supplier Summit at the Gaylord Texan Hotel and Resort in Grapevine, Texas. These companies were selected for their outstanding support and partnership with FleetPride over the last year, the company said.
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link hidden, please login to view values our strategic supplier partnerships. Our annual supplier awards are an opportunity to recognize those who consistently provide exceptional support to us through field work, supply chain, digital or strategic initiatives,” says Michael Keller, FleetPride vice president of category management and strategic sourcing. “Congratulations to all of our award winners. We greatly appreciate your partnership.”
link hidden, please login to view named Dana Spicer Inc. as its Supplier of the Year, noting the company’s excellence in communication, partnership, innovation, training and growth. This included fielding thousands of customer calls via a real-time call center; driving product innovation while supporting program enhancements, special initiatives and marketing opportunities; and supporting FleetPride’s digital efforts using scorecard reporting to drive continuous improvement. “Dana Spicer excelled in all areas of partnership,” Keller says. “Their efforts were consistent through their support of our programs, marketing opportunities, field work, and other initiatives such as data management, and they committed to building strong working relationships. FleetPride values their partnership and we are pleased to name them as our supplier of the year.”
“We are honored to receive the supplier of the year award, recognizing our dedication to our strategic partnership with FleetPride,” says Bill Nunnery, senior director, aftermarket sales and marketing for Dana Spicer. “This award underscores our commitment to our customers, product innovation, superior marketing, and progressive digital solutions. It’s a testament to the hard work of our entire team. We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration and delivering outstanding results together.”
FleetPride awarded several other suppliers for consistently driving communication, partnership, innovation, training and growth throughout the year:
Atmus Filtration: Focused on collaboration, strategic alignment and program management to deliver strong sales growth. Consistently aligned with FleetPride objectives by focusing on increased brand awareness and customer engagement. Conducted business reviews and provided field support, product expertise, training, hands-on assistance and marketing support. Baldwin: Delivered exceptional customer support as FleetPride’s most front-facing supplier in 2024. Worked closely with the Supply Chain team to ensure consistent shipping performance, and with our marketing team to create a strong digital program. Bendix: Provided valuable guidance related to product assortment and effective stocking strategies. Increased field engagement and created customer-specific training sessions with consistent focus on continuous improvement. Continental Battery: Focused on communication across the FleetPride organization to create value-add programs and drive high levels of internal and external customer satisfaction. DA Lubricants: Supported FleetPride’s sales team by creating and filming training videos while working closely with the supply chain team to ensure consistent and reliable on-time delivery and high in-stock rates. Dayton: Focused on mutual growth and building product assortment while supporting initiatives tied to providing data, supporting FleetPride’s digital platforms, and expanding various product categories. Grote: Launched innovative technology in the warning and visibility spaces, making roadways safer. Ensured FleetPride branches were equipped with new product displays by supporting restock efforts. Helped capture new business with ride-along opportunities. MAT: Supported FleetPride in reducing manual processes at the branch level to improve productivity. Managed a nationwide, dedicated training program, which supported customer-facing certifications and showed commitment to successful partnerships with sales teams. Focused on effective communication at every level of the organization. Muncie: Prioritized continuous improvement by identifying and overcoming challenges to ensure evolving supply chain and manufacturing processes. Supported our front lines by making numerous branch visits, conducting training and fieldwork, and fielding thousands of calls regarding sales opportunities, application requirements and technical support. Odyssey: Created new programs to gain incremental volume. Built strong partnerships at the strategic account and customer levels. Proactive approach with large customers produced unique, tailored solutions that underscore commitment to innovation and customer success. Ranger Brake: Actively collaborated with the field sales teams to meet special program and customer needs. With a “win-win” mindset, consistently proved their ability to keep pace with FleetPride’s sales growth, maintaining overall service levels, on-time delivery rates and first-fill rates. Stoughton Parts: Executed an assortment strategy that added thousands of products specifically for strategic accounts. They also focused on building relationships throughout FleetPride, helping drive year-over-year incremental growth.
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By Counterman
Automotive Parts Headquarters Inc. (APH) recently held its annual conference, convening 500 store owners, managers, sales representatives, suppliers and support staff under the theme “Say Yes.” The event featured an awards banquet that recognized outstanding achievements in supplier performance for 2024, among which was Gates Corporation being named Supplier of the Year.
APH said its annual conference reinforced the collaborative spirit that drives APH’s continued growth and success.
Corey Bartlett, CEO of
link hidden, please login to view, along with key leaders including Kevin Mack, vice president of merchandising; Jim Becker, merchandising manager; Jim Gruber, general manager of BENCO Equipment; Lonnie Kocmick, president of Refinish Supply Co.; and Jason Vogel, president of APH Stores, presented the awards based on evaluations from APH’s store teams and support center staff. “We are delighted to recognize our top suppliers who exemplify the spirit of ‘Say Yes’ through their exceptional support of
link hidden, please login to view,” Bartlett said. “Strong partnerships with companies such as Gates, BBB, PICO, East Penn, Bosch, the Alliance, Standard, Reelcraft, and SATA are essential to our continued growth.” Supplier Awards Presented:
Supplier of the Year: Gates Corporation Spirit of APH: BBB Industries Rising Star: PICO Outstanding Sales Support: East Penn Manufacturing Outstanding Marketing Support: Bosch Outstanding Technology Support: Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Outstanding Training Support: Standard Motor Products In addition, the BENCO Equipment Supplier of the Year award was presented to Reelcraft, and SATA was honored with the Refinish Supply Co. Supplier of the Year award, according to APH.
Photo (from left): John Bartlett, chairman emeritus of APH; Colby Florea, vice president of sales at Gates; Colin Foster, zone sales manager at Gates; Angela Raney, director of sales at Gates; Kevin Mack, vice president of merchandising at APH; Mike Brage, territory sales manager at Gates; and Corey Bartlett, CEO of APH.
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