Send us a text Episode 341: How are tariffs affecting heavy-duty parts companies? In this in-depth discussion, we talk about the history of tariffs, the real reasons behind them and whether they will go up in the near future. After preparing for this episode, Jamie Irvine and Scott Boltz discovered that tariffs are not what they thought and there i…

Send us a text Episode 340: The team at SSR Lighting was encouraged to look into options for interior trailer lighting after safety concerns from companies like Ford. After trial and error and thinking through obstacles like forklift strikes, extreme weather, and batteries that can’t sit for months unused, they now have a great product that can lig…

Send us a text Episode 339: At the Heavy Duty Consulting Corporation, we have partnered with TRAITS to help you with your people and organization. Having the right people is so important when predicting the success of your heavy-duty business. TRAITS is a psychometric assessment tool that can help you evaluate your team based on their personality f…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In the first remote and video-equipped episode of their paranormal podcast, hosts AJ and Jamie navigate technical challenges to explore the eerie history of the Paris Catacombs. Sharing tales of skeletal mazes and ghostly encounters, they discuss the chilling death of Philibert Asper and the macabre l…

Send us a text Episode 338: We’ve been working hard at the Heavy Duty Consulting Corporation to create the only business development system of its kind that is exclusively dedicated to the heavy-duty parts industry. We are proud to announce that we have developed a training program specifically for Parts Managers. In line with that new course offer…

Send us a text Episode 337: Having the right people in your business is very important for success. The ‘right people’ must have a combination of experience and expertise, but more importantly, must have a great attitude and the personality traits needed to be successful in their role. Speaking of a great attitude, our interview with successful tru…

Send us a text Episode 336: Financial headwinds are slowing the trucking industry down. Parts companies must improve their value proposition, and one of the quickest ways to accomplish this is to bring innovative products to the attention of customers and help them lower their total cost of operation. From the fleet’s perspective, finding ways to r…

Send us a text Episode 335: Technology is revolutionizing the heavy-duty parts industry, but how can it keep pace with the challenges of accurate parts identification? Join us as Joe Steward from Betts Truck Parts shares his experience of using modern tools, training, and exceptional customer service to bridge the knowledge gap left by retiring exp…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! AJ and Jamie explore the chilling story of Vanessa Mitchell and her haunted house, The Cage. This episode covers Vanessa's harrowing experiences with paranormal activity, including unnerving noises, shadowy figures, and ghostly encounters. Previously used during the witch-hunting era, The Cage is like…

Send us a text Episode 334: Technology is not only changing on commercial vehicles, but it is changing parts manufacturing and distribution as well. In our interview we will be airing a rerun of one of our most popular interviews in the last year from when our host visited the Clarios booth at AAPEX 2023 and talked about low voltage battery technol…

Send us a text Episode 333: What if a simple brake inspection could save lives on the road? In this episode we talk about the life-or-death importance of Brake Safety Week, running from August 25th to August 31st, 2024. This safety week is organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). We emphasize the crucial role of brake upkeep, esp…

Send us a text Episode 332: What happens when a passion for racing go-karts evolves into a career in the machining industry? Our featured guest Alan Speyrer, owner of AES Machine, transformed a love for problem-solving and machining into a successful business. Discover how a simple conversation about Peterbilt hood hinges led to him engineering sup…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of 'From the Word Ghosts,' hosts AJ and Jamie tackle the heat and dive into the paranormal tales surrounding Northern Ireland's Mourne Mountains. They discuss the famous Tollymore Forest Park, home to the eerie Blue Lady and the troublesome Children of the Forest. The episode also expl…

Send us a text Episode 331: When you run a heavy-duty parts and service business you are often faced with decisions where you have to weigh two competing things and make tough decisions. The trucking industry faces this on a national level. With so many new environmental regulations coming in, can the heavy-duty industry really come up with new tec…

Send us a text Episode 330: In this episode we talk training – why it is so necessary, ways to make it accessible to employees and customers, and why some companies refuse to train their people. Our host, Jamie Irvine, starts by discussing 3 myths that some believe about training – namely that it is too expensive, not worth the time, or that it is …

Send us a text Episode 329: Being reactive costs the trucking industry millions of dollars every year. Once something breaks down, it is costing you so much more money than if you planned for it in advance. Most people understand this for fleets and owner-operators, but we see this all the time as we consult with heavy-duty parts manufacturers, dis…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of 'From the Word Ghost,' host AJ and co-host Jamie dive into the haunting and mysterious events experienced by the Lee family in their Black Forest Colorado home. The podcast explores lights, footsteps, shadowy figures, and chemical odors experienced by the family. Despite installing …

Send us a text Episode 328: In these volatile times it is more important than ever to pay attention to the important things in your business rather than only focusing on the urgent day to day tasks. Being proactive and having a solid plan can be the difference between your business struggling or even failing during hard times or emerging from those…

Send us a text Episode 327: Retaining skilled technicians in the heavy-duty repair industry is a challenge that many businesses face. High turnover rates can be costly and disruptive, impacting the overall efficiency and productivity of repair shops. Our host, Jamie Irvine, starts out this episode with a list of 7 things that owners and managers ca…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this emotional yet humorous episode of 'From the Word Ghost' podcast, host AJ and co-host Jamie discuss Aaron’s departure and its implications. Personal anecdotes, frustrations with the banking system, and future plans for the podcast are shared, promising an exciting year ahead despite the current…

Send us a text Episode 326: We start this episode discussing the essential phases of remanufacturing—including disassembly, thorough cleaning, failure analysis, reassembly, and testing—and reveal how you can apply these steps to identify and resolve issues in your heavy-duty parts business. Our featured guest is Joe Kripli, President of APRA, the A…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of From The Word Ghost, hosts AJ and Jay delve into the chilling history of Malvern Manor, a once family-owned hotel turned notorious paranormal hot spot in Iowa. They discuss the manor's troubled past, including its time as a place for individuals suffering from alcoholism and mental …

Send us a text Episode 325: Brake Safety Week is coming up at the end of August. Last year, over 500 commercial vehicles were removed from North American roads after just one day of surprise inspections for having brake components that were unsafe. To help us prepare ahead for this year we talked to brake expert Don Orrell, Founder and CEO of TorqS…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of the 'From the Word Ghosts', hosts Aaron and Jamie dive into the strange and unsettling story of Donnie Decker. Known as the 'Rain Man,' Donnie seemed to possess the eerie ability to control and summon water, leading to inexplicable paranormal events witnessed by multiple people, inc…

Send us a text Episode 324: In this episode, we talk about contaminants that need to be filtered out – out of your business and out of your commercial vehicle air and fuel system. In our That’s Not Heavy Duty segment, Jamie tells a story of an irate and unreasonable customer and talks about a solution he found for customers that are impossible to p…

Send us a text Episode 323: In this episode we discuss the need to change with the times in order to avoid being left behind. Things are certainly changing fast with technology in the trucking and parts industry and there are certain things that just don’t work anymore. There are also ways of doing things that are better than before and that can sa…

Send us a text Episode 322: Tracking parts cost trends is vital in the heavy-duty parts industry. The last 6 months of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024 were flat or even down for many heavy-duty parts companies as the freight recession affected the industry. Encouragingly, there seems to be an uptick in activity over April and May which gives us …

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of From the Word Ghost, hosts AJ and Jay delve into the paranormal events experienced by the Herman family in 1958, which inspired the horror movie franchise, The Poltergeist. Set in the quiet town of Seaford, New York, the family experiences unexplained occurrences such as bottles and…

Send us a text Episode 321: In this week’s episode we start by talking about 3 common ideas in heavy-duty parts that need to be challenged. First, how total cost of operation should be considered over purchase price. Second, how salespeople are not usually able to both capture new business and nurture existing business; these take separate skill se…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions!From The Word Ghost

Send us a text Episode 320: When you sell heavy-duty parts, you often sell a lot of the same lines as your competitors. How do you make your company stand out? One way is by finding ways to invite your customers into your business and making them partners of your success. This week we spoke with Curt Westphal from HDA Truck Pride and Jason Rose fro…

Send us a text Episode 319: Group training and coaching can be great for not only learning more about a specific topic but also gaining perspective by hearing other’s experiences. Learn about Heavy Duty Consulting Corporation's remote group training programs which foster knowledge-sharing and mentorship in the truck parts industry. Our host Jamie I…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! The hosts share and discuss the horrifying story of a demonic presence that tormented the Moffat family for over six years. The narrative starts with a light-hearted conversation between the hosts about personal anecdotes and then moves into the main story which follows Debra Moffat's encounter with a…

Send us a text Episode 318: In a heavy-duty business, maximizing productivity involves using data to make decisions and take needed action. By making the most of data, heavy-duty companies can work more efficiently and save time and money. Join the conversation with our host Jamie Irvine, and featured guest, Brian Mulshine, Sr. Director of Maintena…

Send us a text Episode 317: We're thrilled to announce that The Heavy Duty Parts Report is now presented by the Heavy Duty Consulting Corporation. Our consulting company works with manufacturers, distributors and repair centers to solve problems in their business. Our featured guest, Len Gonzalez, Director Aftermarket of Sales at MGM Brakes, has sp…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In an engaging podcast episode, hosts AJ and Jamie delve into the intriguing history and paranormal tales surrounding Epping Forest. These tales span from ancient times with Queen Boudicca's ghostly presence to more modern hauntings, such as the story of the Lindsay Street Pond and the notorious highw…

Send us a text Episode 316: We have two heavy-duty experts ready to share the most important tips for heavy-duty people to succeed in the industry. Get ready to take notes because we’re talking about business relationships, fundamental skills needed to stay relevant, and how to adapt to ever-changing technology in the industry. Join this heavy-duty…

Send us a text Episode 315: This episode announces the recipients of the HDPR scholarship for WyoTech students. Dalton Fisher and Blake Klamm, aspiring diesel technicians, are highlighted for their embodiment of heavy-duty traits. They understand the importance of our industry and are answering the call for more qualified technicians. We all know t…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of 'From the Word Ghost', hosts AJ and Jamie delve into the chilling story behind the 1970s horror movie classic, 'The Exorcist', focusing on one of its inspirations - the exorcism of Roland Doe (also known as Ronald Hunkeler). The podcast kicks off with some light banter between AJ an…

Send us a text Episode 314: Join us on an electrifying journey as our host, Jamie Irvine, interviews renowned engineer Ali Javidan, CEO and Founder of Range Energy. Javidan sheds light on the importance of electric trailers for fleets and on how they support drivers to feel confident and comfortable on the road. With his extensive experience and co…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode, hosts AJ and Jamie share a lively mix of personal banter, paranormal storytelling, and trivia games centered around the Stanley Hotel's haunted reputation and its influence on Stephen King's 'The Shining.' The episode kicks off with casual conversation, including reminiscing about old…

Send us a text Episode 313: At TMC 2024, we interviewed exhibitors who highlighted innovative solutions for fleets in the trucking industry, focusing on fuel efficiency, clean air systems, and streamlined maintenance. These advancements are vital for cutting operational costs, minimizing downtime, and ensuring regulatory compliance, ultimately impr…

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this different from the usual, more candid, episode of 'From the Word Ghost', the hosts take a relaxed approach to discuss recent life events and their impact on the podcast's schedule. Starting with a light-hearted introduction, they quickly dive into more serious matters, revealing a series of pe…

Send us a text Episode 312: We were happy to attend this year’s TMC annual meeting in New Orleans, and we have the latest news on how the industry is embracing technology to solve common problems heavy-duty people face. In this episode, Jamie Irvine interviewed industry leaders who have used technology to create solutions that increase efficiency. …

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of 'From the Word Goes,' hosts AJ and skeptic co-host Jamie delve into the haunting story of the Pendle Witch Trials. While attempting to convince Jamie of the paranormal, they navigate through the historical background of Jeanette Preston and the infamous trials in 16th-century Englan…

Send us a text Episode 311: We recently attended the Technology and Maintenance Council’s (TMC) spring meeting in New Orleans where we had the opportunity to delve into the forefront of innovation in the trucking industry. Our host Jamie Irvine had the chance to interview subject matter experts about how the trucking industry is expanding and embra…

Send us a text Episode 310: This heavy-duty roundtable discussion features David Seewack, CEO & Founder of FinditParts, Dan Millar of Hinton Transportation Investments, and Jamie Irvine, sharing their passions, highlighting the importance of building meaningful relationships and encouraging young people to be a part of the industry. Together, they …

Text us your ghost stories & Ideas & questions! In this episode of 'From the Word Ghost,' hosts AJ and skeptic co-host Jamie delve into the eerie world of the paranormal with a focus on the famous haunting of the Snedeker family in Connecticut, 1986. The family moved into a house for their son Philip's cancer treatment, only to find it was a former…

Send us a text Episode 309: The heavy-duty industry is evolving, and mandates are steering the industry towards more environmentally friendly solutions. In the first part of our episode, Jamie Irvine talks about mandates for reduced NOx emissions and the phasing out of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and the plan to replace them with elec…

Send us a text Episode 308: At HDAW’24, we had the privilege of sitting down with some of the heavy-duty industry’s biggest names. Kent Jones, President of SAF-Holland, shared exclusive insights into their merger with Haldex. Additionally, Tim Bauer, VP of Aftermarket for North America at Eaton, and Cengiz Shevket, President of Aftermarket Sales fo…