The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network continues to work to ensure that independent service providers and fleets get access to repair information under a recent agreement signed with truck and engine makers, the group announced at Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week.

Independent service providers and fleets have long complained that they were unable to get access needed to make certain repairs without having to go back to the dealer. A resolution to the issue, known as "right to repair," was spelled out in a memorandum of understanding that was signed last August between CVSN and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, along with the Equipment and Tool Institute, the Auto Care Association, and Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada.

Speaking to reporters during HDAW in Las Vegas last week, Marc Karon, president of Total Truck Parts and chairman of the Commercial Right to Repair Coalition led by CVSN, announced a partnership with the National Automotive Service Task Force. NASTF has begin integrating heavy-duty vehicle original equipment manufacturers into programs offered on its website.

Karon says one of the reasons behind the partnership is that managing the repair information in question and getting it in the hands of independent shops “is easier said than done. The OEs have direct relationships with dealers, but do not have agreements with diverse and disparate independents, so we took to NASTF to help implement what OEs said they would provide by signing the MOU."

Karon explained that all OEM and supplier website links will be indexed on the NASTF website, "directing commercial vehicle technicians easily to service information, tools and software. In addition, the NASTF Service Information Request feature will provide a bridge to manufacturers when the necessary service information or software is not accessible.”

As of late January, all manufacturers have been contacted about providing information. Truck OEs and suppliers who already have links posted on the NASTF website include: Bendix, Caterpillar, Cummins, Eaton, Hino, Isuzu, Mack, Mitsubishi Fuso, Paccar Engines, UD Truck, and Volvo. Those who say they will be participating but who still need to provide details of what participation will look like include: Allison, Daimler, Detroit Diesel, Freightliner, Kenworth, Meritor, Navistar, Peterbilt, Sterling, Wabco and Western Star. To access links you must join NASTF, but membership is free. Go to wwwnastf.org to sign up.

However, manufacturers are allowed to charge for the information once you access it via the links on the NASTF site.

In other news, Karon says although OEMs have to provide information and tooling, they do not have to provide training. Speaking at the beginning of an education session at HDAW, he said that CVSN will offer training “for all levels of technicians.” The training will likely be modular in nature “and we believe that training will cost less than $3,000 per technician.”