Majority of air-ride suspension parts supplied by truck dealers. How do your parts buying practices compare to those of your peers? Annual results from the FLEET OWNER Aftermarket Survey showed that respondents purchased 55% of their air-ride suspension parts from truck dealers in 1995, compared to 42% in 1994.
Nineteen percent used heavy-duty distributors as a source for these parts in '95, compared with 42% in '94. Independent garages were next in frequency, used by 7% in '95 and 6% in '94. Other sources reported in the '95 data were trailer dealers (6%), jobbers/parts houses (5%), spring/suspension specialists (5%), manufacturers direct (1%), used parts sources (1%), and tire dealers (1%).
Differences by fleet type Fleet type segmentation of the 1995 data showed substantial variation in sourcing patterns. Although truck dealers were the most frequently used source of air-ride suspension parts for for-hire fleets, private fleets, and owner-operators, there were differences in the degree to which each type used them. The for-hire segment relied on truck dealers for 72% of their air-ride suspension parts; private fleets, 42%; and owner-operators, 40%.
Private fleets were the biggest users of heavy-duty distributors (28%), compared to for-hire fleets (10%) and owner-operators (20%). Owner-operators were by far the biggest users of both independent garages and jobbers/parts houses, using each source 15% of the time, compared to 4% and 3%, respectively, by for-hire fleets, and 8% and 4% by private fleets.
The Aftermarket Monitor divides components into 15 major groups and sends out more than 4,000 questionnaires each month to commercial vehicle operators. Parts categories covered are: diesel engines; gas engines; electrical and lights; air brakes, wheel seals and bearings; hydraulic brakes, wheel seals and bearings; manual transmissions and clutches; automatic transmissions; drive axles, universal joints and drivelines, and PTO drives; exhaust components and engine cooling systems; front suspension and shock absorbers; rear suspensions and springs; engine oil and filtration systems; tires; electronics, wheels and fifth wheels; seats, mirrors, tanks, and leak detection equipment; and paint.
For more information on FLEET OWNER's Aftermarket Monitor, call Tom Duncan at 914-287-6710.
The following individuals recently received prizes for participating in last month's survey:
R. Davis, Clear Creek ISD, League City, Tex.
James Dixon, Dixon Brothers Inc., Newcastle, Wyo.
Ike Glass, Glass Trucking Co., Newkirk Okla.
