Parts & Service Special

OEMs Can Help

      Trends toward vertical markets will eventually cause fleets to lose some choice among parts suppliers. The fact that all the original equipment manufacturers have parts supply programs going through the dealer to the fleet is an indication of this trend.
      Some fleets find it in their interests to access third-party providers for maintenance and inventorying, and OEMs are offering a variety of programs to fill that need.
      Fleets using more than one brand of power unit may find it necessary to maintain agreements with more than one dealership. And certainly power units are not the only equipment with parts needs. Trailers and other capital equipment must also be figured in.
      International, for one, provides this capability for trailers as well as other brands of power units through its Diamond Connection Solutions program. It uses bar code scanning and Windows-based point-and-click operations to help fleets reorder the right quantities at the right time to reduce inventory investment and maintenance and administration costs.
      Tom Feifer, vice president of district operations, says International has a variety of programs, including a contract parts and service program for small fleets.
      Kenworth's PremierCare Connect maintenance system is designed to enable fleets to manage parts inventory and maintenance operations. Three versions are available, for small, medium and large fleets.
      Peterbilt's TruckCare Connect does not rely upon batch processing to fill parts orders from its customers. Parts orders are filled in real time through an integrated web-based system in order to provide high service levels, according to Scott Pearson, assistant general manager of sales and marketing. Besides aftermarket care for Peterbilt power units, the system also works for a customer's trailer fleet.

Parts & Service continued...