Blog Archives




 

  • Ever been through a retread tire plant?
    By David A. Kolman - Friday February 15, 2013
      Seems everyone has an opinion about retreaded tires. I do, and mine comes from my time working in the tire industry and from using retreads on trucks I have owned. I'll just say this: Retreaded tires have improved considerably from what there were years ago. But don't take my word for it. You can see for yourself. The Retread Tire Association (RTA) is offering, at no cost, a DVD titled, Reputable Retreading . It contains a tour of a modern truck tire retread plant in which viewers see what is involved in the retread process. RTA is a member-owned, non-profit international organization whose mission is to promote the environmental and economic benefits of top quality retreading and proper tire repairing. The tour starts at...

  • What’s in a sign?
    By David A. Kolman - Monday February 11, 2013
    I was on the Pennsylvania Turnpike the other day, driving back from the City of Bridges (Pittsburgh) when I spotted a rig parked in one of the rest areas. What caught my eye was the large graphic on the driver’s side of the rig’s white van trailer. In very large, dark blue letters was the message: “Our most valuable resource sits here.” To the left of the message was a sizable arrow pointing to the rig’s cab. It was an impressive sight that instantly conveys a strong message. That got me to thinking. Why don’t vehicle service and repair organizations do something similar on their equipment. Does your company? Do you know of a company that does?  

  • Aftermarket outlook
    By David A. Kolman - Thursday February 7, 2013
      Who wouldn’t like to know what the future will bring? Armed with such knowledge we could better prepare for what is to come. Thus far, however, no one has been able to reliably peer into the future. As Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics, observed: Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future. Nevertheless, businesses gather information, track trends and make forecasts, analyze all this and then make a “best bet” outlook. As part of this Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue (HDAD), which took place in Las Vegas in mid-January prior to this year’s Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW), there was a session entitled, The...

  • What thoughts does your company name bring to mind?
    By David A. Kolman - Monday January 28, 2013
      With so many choices confronting a business’ prospective customers and clients, the question is: Why should they choose you? One way is to recognize and promote your true competitive advantage while building a category-leading brand identity. That was the message David Avrin, a marketing professional known as the Visibility Coach, delivered in his presentation to SOLD (Service Opportunities and Learning Day) - a day-long program especially designed for the owners and managers of shop operations in the parts and service industry. SOLD was held the day prior to the opening of Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) - North America’s largest gathering of the independent heavy duty aftermarket - which took place in Las Vegas, NV...

  • The arrival of an additional work force?
    By David A. Kolman - Monday January 21, 2013
      The more people in an area, the larger the labor pool to draw from. If your operation is in a handful of cities, you might want to up your employee recruiting efforts. Penske Truck Rental , a leading global transportation services provider, has released its annual list of top moving destinations within the United States. The list is compiled through its online consumer truck rental reservations and through Penske Truck Rental call centers. Once again, Atlanta, GA topped the list. It has been the number one moving destination for each of the three years that Penske has compiled its ranking. The Dallas/Fort Worth area made the jump from fourth to second place. Four markets (Chicago, Houston, Denver and Seattle) retained...

  • A rodeoing I went
    By David A. Kolman - Monday January 14, 2013
      For the seventh time, Rush Truck Centers put on its annual Tech Skills Rodeo. The event was created so that the company’s technicians can test their skills against one another and compete for valuable prizes, cash and an increase in their hourly pay. Rush Truck Centers is North America’s largest network of heavy and medium duty truck dealerships. In order to be able to take part in the rodeo, Rush’s 1,400 technicians from its 70 locations in 15 states who meet certain training requirements attempt to qualify through written exams in the test areas. This year the test areas were: heavy duty vehicles, medium duty vehicles and CNG/LNG-powered vehicles. For this year’s event, held in in San Antonio, TX, 400 technicians took...

  • A walk through an axle plant
    By David A. Kolman - Monday January 7, 2013
      I am one of those editors that truly enjoy plant tours. I am fascinated how raw material comes into a plant at one end and then, after a typically circuitous journey through many stations, is transformed into a product comes out the other end. So, when I received an invite from Meritor to tour its Fletcher (Asheville), NC, manufacturing facility I jumped at the chance. However, I was concerned about walking the entire plant, the size of which is slightly more than a half million square feet. The first thing that struck me about the plant was its relative quietness and how clean it was. I was also impressed by the number of automated processes and robotic systems, and with the emphasis on safety throughout the plant. The...

  • My New Year’s resolutions
    By David A. Kolman - Monday December 31, 2012
      I do not like to see another year end and a new one start. Each passing year is yet another reminder that I am aging, and I don’t need reminding of that. My body reminds me of that as I get out of bed each morning. Nevertheless, with each New Year I always do several things. One is to ruminate on something my dear father told me a long time ago: “The end of a year is neither an end nor a beginning. Rather, it is a going on with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” Another is to remember to write the correct year on all my paperwork. A third thing is to conscientiously try to be a better person, not to take things so seriously and continue to learn new skills and abilities. Another of my traditions is...

  • T’was Christmas Eve at the maintenance facility
    By David A. Kolman - Monday December 17, 2012
      T’was the night before Christmas and all through the maintenance facility, Not a creature was stirring, and there was no technician-manager hostility.   The stockings were hung in the lunchroom with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.   The technicians were all at home nestled snug in their beds, While visions of new technology and government regulations danced in their heads.   When out in front of the maintenance facility there arose such a clatter, The 24/7 shop manager sprang from his desk to see what was the matter.   The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.   When what to the manager’s eyes did appear on the maintenance...

  • Have some holiday fun
    By David A. Kolman - Monday December 10, 2012
      How well do you know your holiday trivia? Why not test yourself with this fun quiz? 1. What do the songs Jingle Bells , Sleigh Ride and Winter Wonderland have in common? 2. Approximately what percentage of American homes eat turkey on Christmas? 3. What one reindeer is never mentioned in the poem ’Twas the night before Christmas ? 4. How many reindeer does Santa Claus have? 5. Name the eight reindeer mentioned in the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas ? 6. When did the U.S. Marine Corps' Reserve Toys for Tots program start? 7. What president began the annual tradition of the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the White House lawn? 8. What newspaper assured a reader: “Yes, Virginia, there is a...

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