Fleet Maintenance - 32

sure management systems, and coupling products,
along with a full line of genuine and premium
aftermarket parts to support all of those products.
When considering replacement part options,
Eric Coffman, senior product manager at Meritor,
says it's important to recognize that "same as"
is not always "equal to." For example, "Meritor
Genuine RSD friction [brake pads] are carefully
engineered and selected for their application,"
Coffman points out. "Meritor RSD frictions deliver performance that is capable of exceeding the
250-foot regulation by 25 feet, representing nearly
two car lengths."
On the other hand, if a fleet is exploring the
value of all-makes parts options, Coffman says the
offerings of proven industry leaders can provide
some peace of mind. The aftermarket all-makes
offerings of OE component suppliers provides
opportunity from shared engineering, testing
facilities, and technical support. For example,
"Meritor's PlatinumShield III offers premium
protection against rust-jacking, and is available
in both OE and aftermarket [parts]," Coffman says.

The case for aftermarket parts

SAF-Holland's Keller agrees that premium aftermarket parts should only be considered if designed

» Wabco's packaging
makes it easy to
identify a genuine
Wabco part. Pictured
are Wabco air
dryer cartridges.

» The SAF-Holland product offering includes
genuine replacement parts and Gold Line
Quality Parts, an offering of premium
aftermarket parts that are designed and
manufactured to the quality standards
expected for extended performance.
Photo courtesy of SAF-Holland

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32 Fleet Maintenance | July 2019

and produced by a trusted
manufacturer that understands the importance of Photo courtesy of Wabco
safety and uptime.
"The decision to use premium aftermarket parts
should be based on more variables than just price,
although price plays an important role," Keller
says. "Our Gold Line Quality Parts, for example,
are designed and manufactured to the quality
standards expected for extended performance."
Parts vendors can help fleets make wise purchasing decisions. "Our job is to provide as much choice
as possible for any make of truck, including OE, a
national branded part, or a high-quality aftermarket part," says Larry Gruendike, director of category
management for Rush Enterprises.
In addition to Rush Truck Centers, Rush
Enterprises also operates Rig Tough Parts, a
premium line of aftermarket parts for all makes
and models of heavy duty trucks. Robb Nixon,
vice president of aftermarket sales for Rush
Enterprises, says Rig Tough Parts are backed by
a warranty that is as good or better than other
parts sold by Rush Enterprises.
While some fleets will only go back to genuine
parts, others have a different philosophy that
more strongly emphasizes operating cost. Partsrelated decisions often hinge on vehicle age, as
well as the type of component.
"A cosmetic part is typically less of a concern
to a fleet," Rush Enterprises' Eppes says. "If a
high-quality aftermarket part is available,
they'll often use it over OE. On the other hand
is something like an internal engine or transmission part. Should that part fail, the cost of
downtime far outweighs the cost savings of
going with an aftermarket part."
Abe Aon, regional aftermarket sales leader
for Wabco North America, says his team likes
to approach fleets with an ownership lifecycle support perspective. Wabco is a manufac-

Good parts suppliers
provide a good selection,
insightful advice, and
a shopping experience
that makes it as easy
and fast as possible to
find the right part.

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Fleet Maintenance

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