Heavy Duty Trucking

MAY 2014

The Fleet Business Authority

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F inding and training techni- cians, purchasing tools and equipment, maintaining a parts inventory, dealing with OSHA and the EPA. These are just a few of the headaches fleets that maintain their own trucks face, accord- ing to Kurt Jorgensen, vice president of JX Enterprises, a Peterbilt, Hino and Volvo dealer with 16 locations in Illi- nois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. "This business has become so much more complex that it makes outsourc- ing maintenance and repair much more attractive," he says. While it may make sense to leave the maintenance and repair of your vehicles to someone else, you need to choose the right service provider. Here are some key things to consider. Assess your options You'll need to do some homework to find the service provider that best fits your needs. Start with the basics. John Wensel, president of Wensel's Service Centers, an HDA Truck Pride Truck Service Expert and independent repair garage with locations in Pennsylvania, suggests going to the company's website. "If they are a professional company, they usually have a professional-looking website." Next, call some of the companies you are interested in to observe how they answer the phone and respond to your request for information. That will give you some insight into the overall culture of the company. Prepare a basic list of questions to ask. According to Ken Edmonton, vice president of service operations at Power Train Co., a heavy-duty parts distribu- tor and HDA Truck Pride member with service locations in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, that list should include the type of services they provide, labor rate, hours of operation and technician certifi- cations. Ask about their service backlog. Find out how soon they get to vehicles and the expected turnaround time for various repairs. Once you've narrowed the list, Ed- monton suggests you set up an in-person meeting. "Express your needs and expectations," he says. "Let them know what kind of work you want them to perform and the type of vehicles they'll be working on for you. See if they have experience with those types of vehicles." Jim Pascale, president of Pascale Service Corp., a heavy-parts distributor and service provider, in Pawtucket, R.I., and a member of Vipar Heavy Duty, 58 HDT • MAY 2014 www.truckinginfo.com Denise L. Rondini • Aftermarket Editor Finding Vehicle sophistication, the technician shortage and the cost of diagnostic tools are making outsourcing more attractive to many fleets PHOTO COURTESY OF JX ENTERPRISES Select a service provider who has certified technicians and who has invested in the latest tools and diagnostic equipment. O u t s i d e p r o v i d e r s _ m a y . i n d d 5 8 Outside providers_may.indd 58 4 / 2 9 / 1 4 4 : 5 2 P M 4/29/14 4:52 PM

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