HDAW '09 is addressing its theme of "Maximizing Opportunities in Challenging Times" with several sessions of the education program focused on distributor solutions for the upcoming technology storm in the commercial vehicle industry.


HDAW '09 will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel and the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 16-19, 2009.

Three of the seven education sessions have been developed to specifically focus on advanced technologies most distributors will need to fully understand to remain competitive in the marketplace.

First up, the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Forum presented by MacKay & Co. will present options for repositioning distributor business strategies to accommodate the sweeping changes in technology and other market forces in the heavy duty industry. The program will also include a "Back to the Basics" discussion focusing on offering products and services that others cannot or will not do.

Another session, Transforming Technology into Profits, moderated by Steve Sturgess of Heavy Duty Trucking and Heavy Duty Aftermarket Journal magazines, focuses on new truck technology trends driving fleet demands. The session will concentrate on how to generate profits, shifting gears from broad service sales to more high tech specialization of parts and service offerings.

A third technology session, "The Service Distributor Workshop, Improving Your Operation and Profitability," will focus on shop profitability with contributions from service industry experts and distributors. The workshop will include actual demonstrations of the latest technical advances in vehicle repair diagnostics. Understanding this new equipment and its importance to the customer and repair shop could develop into a product opportunity for all distributors.

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.