Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week. Photo: Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week
">At the recent Heavy Duty Aftermarket in Las Vegas, a panel of distributors, dealers and service providers spoke about how they are focused on handling distruption.
Scott Gates, senior director and general manager at Ryder; Bill Long, president and COO of the Automotive Aftermarket Supplier Association; Bill Nolan, chairman and CEO Power Brake & Spring Service Co.; Matt Treadwell, general marketing manager at Paccar Parts; and Buzz Warner, dealer principal at Warner Trucks fielded questions from Tom Kraus, president and COO of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association, John Blodgett, vice president, sales and marketing at MacKay & Company, and the audience.
When asked to name one disrupting force in the truck parts aftermarket all members of a panel of aftermarket executives said technology whether on the vehicle, in the shop or in back office.
These technology changes are shortening the shelf life of employee skill sets. Gates told the audience it is critical to find people with an aptitude for technology and to continually train them. Nolan says, “We work in conjunction with our suppliers. We need their support. Product training is critical because products are changing so quickly.” Nolan has developed what he callas a reverse mentoring program. “Instead of providing mentorships for millennials, we did it in reverse to see how we could tap into their innovation and understanding of technology.”
Treadwell says, “It is our responsibility to work with our suppliers to get training for our dealer employees.” Warner says training must start with the fundamentals. “You have to make sure your employees understand the fundamentals first. Then we have a program that helps move them through the ranks.”
Talk then turned to the growth of e-commerce with Nolan saying he thinks e- commerce is the price of admission for anyone who wants to be
