Fleet maintenance professionals pointed to the lack of truthful conversations and face-to-face meetings, along with the poor quality of some parts as the main challenges they face when dealing with parts suppliers and manufacturers.

Amanda Schuier, strategic maintenance director, Jetco Delivery said she welcomes customer support that helps fix problems. “We just don’t want random LinkedIn messages,” she said during a panel discussion at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Dialogue in Grapevine, Texas.

Nick Forte, vice-president, maintenance, Stevens Transport/Paragon Leasing, agreed, urging the return of “Trucking 101” – meeting customers face-to-face. He said it is frustrating when a problem arises, and he cannot get a real person to fix it and has to figure it out himself.

Fleets also face other hurdles. Schuier said her top two are technician staffing and the cost of labor.

Joe Phillips, vice-president, fleet maintenance and equipment, Eagle Transport agreed, saying labor costs a are high, and it’s difficult to find qualified people.

Problematic parts

Forte said not finding quality parts is what keeps him up at night. Parts were hard to find during the pandemic, but it is no longer the case. He feels quality has slipped since then.  

These maintenance professionals also lifted the hood on parts that were causing more problems than others.

Phillips noted that air dryers and air system components were top of his list. Schuier echoed issues with the same components. Phillips has also had problems with safety systems and electronics.

Forte’s fleet runs 2,400 trucks and 4,000 trailers. With so many moving parts, there are more pain points. He highlighted disc brakes, callipers and batteries. There also have been issues with radar harnesses and connection packs, air systems and air dryers.

Sourcing strategies

When it comes to sourcing parts, the fleet representatives had different strategies.

Schuier said her fleet uses a mix of OEM and aftermarket parts. “It depends on what the part is, what we’re looking for and what costs we’re willing to pay,” she said.

Forte said he receives better results, customer service and products in the aftermarket sector.

Phillips said he sources both OEM and aftermarket parts. But with his tank fleet, some parts are very specialized and there are very few options to choose from.

Forte made a strong case for aftermarket parts, saying he has seen them outperform genuine OE parts. “When you look at quality, it does not matter if it’s genuine or aftermarket. It comes back to the point of who’s building the part,” he said.