Valuable Insight Released from the Minimizer Industry Research on Aftermarket Parts & Accessories

It probably comes as no surprise that, in a recent survey, fleet managers and owner-operators of heavy-duty trucks said “perceived quality” was the most important thing they look for when buying aftermarket parts and accessories.

Almost half of those who responded to the survey reported quality as their top consideration, with pricing ranking second at 28%. The survey was conducted by Minimizer, a manufacturer of aftermarket parts and accessories for the trucking industry.

The aftermarket trend is upward.

Of course truck owners want quality and a good price. What is perhaps less obvious but more interesting is that trucking industry experts predict the parts segment of aftermarket demand will increase and evolve significantly in the new few years.

That’s because the average age of heavy-duty trucks is now between 9 and 10 years, higher than it’s ever been before, as more fleets and independent owners continue to run older vehicles rather than purchase new. More older trucks means a greater need for replacement parts, especially engine-related parts. And greater demand affects price and availability.

What might that mean for you?

Regardless whether you’re managing a large fleet or you’re an independent contractor, if your goal is to extend the life of your truck(s), you’ll be looking for parts suppliers who have what you need in stock and can respond quickly to your needs. You can’t save money by keeping your truck longer if you can’t keep it on the road where’s it’s earning revenue.

Building a solid working reputation with your dealer is the place to start. You know they have the right parts, and you know they have your back when it comes to critical issues like uptime. You can rely on them for quality aftermarket parts and accessories as well as quality advice on achieving the lowest possible lifecycle cost for your truck. And if your dealer offers a loyalty rewards program, you’ll get direct financial benefits as well.

Some of these emerging trends may also affect you:

• Most manufacturers and several larger independent distributors are developing private-brand parts to ensure your dealer can supply exactly what you need for your older truck or even offer you more alternatives from a “known” entity.
• A growing number of fleet managers are price-shopping parts online. You may be one of them. However, industry watchers warn that focusing only on the lowest possible price for aftermarket parts and accessories could cost you more in terms of shorter component life, increasing rather than reducing your total cost of ownership.
• Industry watchers say online learning and training tools are also more prevalent now, but have you talked with your dealership about how they can help train employees on proper service and replacement procedures to extend your truck’s lifespan?
• Specialized software is now being used to help customers spec parts that will deliver the best overall performance for your applications.
• Remanufacturing is also a growth industry, for trailers and chassis as well as glider kits to extend tractor productivity.

And here’s one more thing to think about if you expect to retain your fleet vehicles longer. If those trucks are newer now, they’re probably equipped with advanced electronic technologies that will eventually need service along with the mechanical and physical parts of your truck. Getting recommendations from your dealer on the “what and when” of servicing electronics will help you plan the most cost-effective maintenance schedule.