The Modern Maintenance Manager
What does it take to be a successful modern maintenance manager — and to be ready for what the future brings? Heavy Duty Trucking is exploring the topic with a series of articles that examines the different aspects of being a shop manager in today’s trucking industry.
Everyone knows that today’s technicians need to know how to do much more than turn a wrench. With trucks turning into sophisticated equipment resembling computers on wheels, plus increasing emphasis on uptime, controlling costs, and safety and compliance, it’s an ever-more-demanding job.
But what of the upper-level managers who are responsible for making sure the company has the right technicians in place, that they’re properly trained, that they’re operating at peak efficiency, and that the shop and the trucks are operating at the highest level of efficiency and safety?
What does it take to be a successful modern maintenance manager — and to be ready for what the future brings?
For 2016, Heavy Duty Trucking will explore the topic with a series of articles that will look at different aspects of being a maintenance manager in today’s trucking industry. Installments will cover the use of data in the shop, safety and CSA compliance, and using Lean and other efficiency strategies in the shop.
In the Magazine
Part 1, February HDT:Managing Today's Technicians
Part 2, March HDT:The Connected Shop
Part 3, April HDT:Safety Matters
Part 4, May HDT: Cutting Waste in the Shop
More Maintenance
Shell Prepares Rotella Oils for 2027
New CL-4 and FB-4 formulations will begin arriving in early 2027, with improved protection against oil breakdown, wear and deposits, according to Shell.
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Mack Expands Extended Coverage With Four Chassis System Plans
Mack Trucks' new system-specific coverage options allow heavy-duty fleets to select protection for driveline, cab, HVAC, electronics, and advanced safety components.
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What an Out-of-Service Order Really Costs, and How to Plan for One
The repair invoice is the first number you see — and often one of the smallest. Here’s what else an out-of-service order can cost a fleet, and how planning can reduce the damage.
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International Launches Online Truck Parts Store
Fleetrite.com lets fleets and repair shops find OEM and all-makes parts, check prices and availability, and order without calling a parts counter.
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Continental Introduces New Regional Truck Tires
Continental says its new Generation 5 steer and drive tires for regional operations offer longer tread life, with estimated mileage gains of 22% and 19%, respectively.
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How AI Can Help Your Techs’ Efficiency
The technician shortage isn't going away, and no single fix can close the gap on its own. Trent Broberg makes the case that AI's real job in the shop is protecting the billable hours and job satisfaction of the techs you already have, not asking them to work faster.
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Wrong Repair Prompts Recall of Freightliner, Western Star 4x2 Trucks
DTNA is recalling more than 2,400 trucks that received an incompatible software fix instead of the hardware repair required to address brake valve corrosion.
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Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert
Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.
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The Maintenance Checks Trucking Fleets Should Prioritize Before Fall Freight Picks Up
Making it through August isn’t the same as being ready for the next several months of operation. Find out what systems may have suffered from summer heat and need to be checked out before fall.
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What Three Fleets Are Doing Differently When Buying Truck Parts in 2026
With freight improving but costs still climbing, fleet maintenance executives explain how they're balancing price, quality, and supplier relationships.
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