The popular Heavy Duty Aftermarket Forum will again lead off the education program for Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week in 2009.


The popular 90-minute segment presented by MacKay & Co. includes an economic overview with a recap of 2008 and the prognosis for 2009, key heavy duty distributor issues, trends, strategic suggestions for improvement and additional business opportunities.

HDAW '09 will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel and the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Feb. 16-19.

"We will introduce suggestions to distributors for repositioning their business strategies to accommodate the structural changes in the heavy duty industry, as well as a 'Back to the Basics' discussion focusing on offering services that others cannot or will not do," said Stu MacKay, president of MacKay & Co. "Every market has an opportunity and listening to the customers will tell you what they are."

HDAW is the largest North American gathering of the independent heavy duty industry. More than 1,800 managers and executives from 17 countries including distributors, manufacturers, service providers, educators and media attended the 2008 conference.

HDAW is presented by a joint operating committee comprised of industry leaders from American Council of Frame and Alignment Specialists (ACOFAS), Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), Heavy Duty America (HDA), Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA), Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA), Heavy Duty Remanufacturing Group (HDRG), International Truck Parts Association (ITPA), Overseas Automotive Council (OAC), Power Heavy Duty, Service Specialists Association (SSA), Truck Pride, Truck Frame and Axel Repair Association (TARA) and VIPAR HD Parts.

For more information visit www.hdaw.org.