Universal Lubricants announced the appointment of industry veteran Sonny Mays to lead the company’s technical support and sales in the heavy-duty market to meet increasing demand.

As the new director of heavy duty technical sales, Mays will be responsible for providing technical support, customer training, performance analysis and sales planning for thecompany’s full line of heavy-duty lubricants in the U.S. and Canada.

Mays’ knowledge of the heavy-duty industry is grounded in first-hand experience. The Texas native was raised in a trucking family and began working on general truck maintenance at the age of 12. He has driven trucks to the northwest and Canada and built two over-the-road trucks from the frame rails up.

Mays began his career at Darr Equipment Co. where he worked his way to northern regional manager of Holt Caterpillar truck engine shop. With time spent as a heavy equipment shop supervisor and component-rebuild specialist for truck and heavy equipment, Mays began training new personnel in fuel systems, electronics and failure analysis.

He moved to Castrol HDL at the end of 2000 where he began his career in lubricants as a field engineer in heavy-duty lubes.

In 2006, Mays joined Universal Lubricants with dual roles in the company’s technical and operations departments, and helped develop the company’s new Engine Guard fleet maintenance program, which allows customers to track their oil and lubricant performance information online.