PartsRiver, which has developed a database of more than 8 million heavy-duty truck parts in its work for companies like FedEx and Schneider National, is now opening that database up to the industry to help repair shops find parts quickly.


When a truck breaks down on the road, it often takes time to identify the part and find a local supplier for it. PartsRiver's Part Search is a free online search tool that allows users to find parts even if they have only partial part numbers or a partial description of the part. Once the part number and description are retrieved from the database, Part Search gives users contact information for local dealers and distributors who carry the part.

When asked why this is better than simply using a broad-based search engine such as Google, company officials noted that parts number searches often come back with results such as phone numbers or "a serial number for a toaster." Parts vendors that do show up in such a search are often online retailers that ship parts. The Part Search database is designed to help users find parts available nearby that they can get right away.

The interface is user-friendly, resembling consumer buying sites, complete with local vendor locations displayed on Google maps. Other parts databases, say PartsRiver representatives, are more cumbersome, in spreadsheet format.

When users register for a free account on Part Search, they will get enhanced results by being able to narrow the search using their exact address. In addition, a premium version, available for $99 per month, offers access to alternate part suggestions and VMRS classification codes.

PartsRiver also will sell ads on the site that appear based on the search terms.

In the next phase of development, PartsRiver plans to include the ability to actually sent requests for quotes through the system, eliminating phone calls altogether.

More info: www.partsriver.com.