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Author: Professional Technician Staff

  • Heavy-duty aftermarket providers FleetPride & TruckPro merge

    Heavy-duty aftermarket providers FleetPride & TruckPro merge

    FleetPride Inc. and TruckPro, LLC recently jointly announced the closing of a merger of the two companies effective Oct. 28, creating the nation’s leading independent distributor and service provider in the heavy-duty aftermarket parts industry. The combined company will operate under the FleetPride name and will deliver enhanced value to its customers through greater parts availability, deeper technical expertise, best-in-class service and an enhanced ecommerce experience, according to a statement from the two companies.

    Operating under the combined ownership of American Securities and Platinum Equity, the new FleetPride will be led by Tom Greco, who joined the company as chief executive officer in July. Chuck Broadus, TruckPro’s president and CEO, will continue to lead the TruckPro business, reporting to Greco.

    With over 450 locations, more than 110 service centers and six distribution centers, FleetPride’s expanded footprint positions it to serve customers nationwide across the U.S. and Canada with a comprehensive assortment of parts. Through its enhanced ecommerce platform and logistics network, FleetPride can provide faster access to critical parts, deeper inventory visibility and tailored solutions designed to keep trucks on the road and fleets operating efficiently, the merger announcement said.

    “Today’s announcement marks an exciting new chapter for our team members, customers and valued supplier partners,” said Greco. “This strategic merger is about more than combining two businesses, it’s about building a culture that values people, brings best practices from both organizations and drives innovation. Together, we are creating a stronger, faster-growing company that will deliver greater value for customers and growth opportunities for our team members and suppliers.” 

    “The strategic merger with FleetPride marks a tremendous step forward for our business and customers,” said Broadus. “We are bringing together the strengths of both organizations as we align our knowledgeable team members, extensive networks and resources to deliver best-in-class service to the heavy-duty aftermarket. We are eager to embrace the many growth opportunities this combination offers and we are excited about our future together.”

    The newly combined company will be headquartered in Irving, Texas with a satellite office in Memphis, Tennessee.

  • Funding available for propane engine training

    Funding available for propane engine training

    As fleets continue to shift away from diesel and toward cleaner, reliable energy sources, a new generation of skilled automotive service technicians is needed to maintain alternative fuel vehicles, like those running on propane autogas. The Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program, offered by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), is providing schools across the country with valuable training and resources needed to prepare students to work on propane autogas buses, trucks, vans, and more.

    This grant program provides U.S. educational institutions with up to $7,500 in funding to integrate propane-specific curriculum and equipment into their existing automotive training programs. The goal is to equip students with real-world experience maintaining and servicing vehicles powered by propane autogas, according to a
    statement from PERC.

    “The Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program gives students an opportunity to learn these technologies in-depth, preparing them for successful careers after graduation supporting fleets that are increasingly turning to propane autogas,” said Joel Stutheit, senior manager of autogas business development at PERC. “This program also supports fleet owners by building a pipeline of talented and qualified technicians who can keep propane autogas trucks, vans, and buses on the road for years to come.”

    Now in its second year, the grant program has already supported 24 schools in 16 states, training hundreds of students to inspect, service, and maintain propane autogas engine systems. Each participating school receives propane-specific curriculum, as well as funding to purchase propane autogas training equipment and to send an instructor to a “Train the Trainer” course. Eligible institutions must already offer an automotive program.


    PERC said in a statement that more than 60,000 propane autogas vehicles are in operation across the U.S., providing dependable service to transit agencies, delivery companies, emergency response fleets, utility crews, and more. Propane autogas is not only reliable but also clean, producing up to 96 percent fewer nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than diesel, according to PERC. It offers lower fuel and maintenance costs, supports better air quality, and contributes to more consistent uptime, the association said.

    “Enhanced curricula made possible by the Propane Autogas Vehicle Inspection Grant Program have given both students and schools a leg up,” Stutheit said. “Schools are able to expand their course offerings without increasing costs to students, while students gain new, valuable skill sets that position them for long-term success in a rapidly changing transportation industry.”

    The application window is open through December 19. To learn more about the grant program or to apply, visit propane.com/autogasgrantprogram.

  • ford’s latest recall: 1.4 million vehicles for camera issue

    ford’s latest recall: 1.4 million vehicles for camera issue

    Ford Motor Co. has recalled more than 1.4 million vehicles for rearview camera display issues, including distorted images and blank screens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

    The recalled models include the

    • 2015 Explorer
    • 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape and Taurus
    • 2015-2019 Flex;
    • 2016 Fusion;
    • 2018-2019 Taurus
    • 2019 Fiesta and 2020 Mustang

    Lincoln vehicles include the 2015 MKZ and 2015-2019 MKT.

    Dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace any defective cameras as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed beginning Oct. 20. A second letter, expected to be sent starting June 26, 2026, will notify owners that the remedy is available.

    The recall is the latest in a series of Ford recalls this year, including several related to faulty backup cameras.

    Since the start of 2025, Ford has issued 134 recalls, more than any other automaker in a single year, according to NHTSA data.

  • Big Brand expansion continues with Brothers Tire & Service acquisistion

    Big Brand expansion continues with Brothers Tire & Service acquisistion

    Big Brand Tire & Service continued its expansion efforts as it acquired Burt Brothers Tire & Service, adding nearly 30 stores to Big Brand Tire & Service’s growing footprint.

    Based in North Salt Lake, Utah, Burt Brothers Tire & Service was owned by Utah-based private equity firm Bestige Holdings.

    Headquartered in Moorpark, California Big Brand Tire & Service is owned by San Francisco, Calif.-based private equity firm Percheron Capital.

    According to a statement from Big Brand, the acquisition “meaningfully expands Big Brand’s footprint and density across the Mountain West, further strengthening its position as one of the largest and fastest-growing providers of non-discretionary automotive services in the United States.”

    Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

    Big Brands has grown this year and last with a string of acquisitions, including:

    • Northridge Tire Pros, Tred Shed Tire Pros, Sierra Nevada Tire & Wheel, and American West Tire Pros in February
    • Reese’s Auto in Arizona in April
    • Robertson Tire and Tires To You last November
    • Tires To You, a seven-location chain in the Austin, Texas area

    Founded in 1969, Big Brand has become one of the largest and fastest-growing non-discretionary automotive service businesses in the country. Since Percheron’s investment in 2021, the company has achieved transformational growth, expanding revenue more than tenfold and profitability more than fifteenfold.

  • HD Repair Forum conference set for March 18 & 19 in Nashville

    HD Repair Forum conference set for March 18 & 19 in Nashville

    The HD Repair Forum (HDRF), a conference and organization dedicated to the heavy-duty and medium-duty collision repair, recently announced the 2026 two-day conference and networking event will take place March 18 and 19 in Nashville at the Music City Center, co-located with the American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council’s 2026 Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition 

    HDRF President and co-founder Brian Nessen said, “This is the first time our event will be held in conjunction with TMC’s Annual Meeting. Based upon the feedback from our advisory board and industry leadership, the HDRF sees this as an opportunity for growth of both programs. While HDRF is supportive of all heavy-duty repair industry associations and groups, OEM involvement at TMC is particularly intriguing.”

    As a result of co-locating with TMC, HD Repair Forum attendees and supporters will have an opportunity to attend TMC’s exhibit floor as well where they will see the latest in new vehicle technology and explore additional business opportunities with leaders in the heavy-duty fleet industry.

    Jennie Lepore, HDRF Communications Director said, “The HD Repair Forum serves all stakeholders in the heavy-duty collision repair industry. We are continually seeking ways to deliver more value to the industry and our collaboration with TMC in 2026 delivers on that commitment.” 

    A schedule of events and speakers will be available by the end of 2025. Registration will open by then as well. 

    HD Repair Group offers a dedicated source of information for those involved in collision repair work for heavy-duty and medium duty/commercial vehicles.

  • ASE webinar on hybrid, battery-electric vehicles Tuesday

    ASE webinar on hybrid, battery-electric vehicles Tuesday

    The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is hosting a webinar on hybrid and battery-electric vehicle maintenance on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 4 p.m. ET.

    The webinar will feature Anthony Mondi with Permatex, while will cover the similarities and differences between hybrid and BEV vehicle maintenance and repairs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles. More specifically, he’ll discuss the differences in the following systems:

    • Electrical
    • Motor
    • Powertrain
    • Brakes

    Mondi will discuss how current products fit into hybrid and BEV maintenance programs.

    As always, those who attend the webinar will receive a certificate of attendance by email about a week after the event. But even if you can’t attend the live session, ASE recommends you register anyway for the chance to view a recorded session. If you register, you’ll receive a follow-up email on attending the session.

    Those who want to go to the “Hybrid and Battery Electric Vehicle Maintenance” webinar can register here.

  • Silver Lake Auto technician to be honored at AAPEX

    Silver Lake Auto technician to be honored at AAPEX

    A Wisconsin professional technician will be recognized this week during a major industry event in Las Vegas.

    The Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) late last week announced the winners of the AAPEX Service & Repair Awards. The award series is an annual program that recognizes exemplary performance among independent repair shop owners, service advisors and repair technicians.

    The AAPEX is Nov. 4-6 at the Venetian Expo and Caesar’s Forum.

    The winners will be honored during the Keynote Breakfast with Wayne Gretzky. The awards will be presented to winners during the Beers and Gears Reception.

    The Technician of the Year award winner is Tony Martinez of Silver Lake Auto & Tire Centers.

    According to a statement from AAPEX, the technician category distinguishes Martinez as a technician with extraordinary diagnostic skills, technical proficiency, and stringent adherence to industry standards and safety requirements. Silver Lake Auto & Tire Centers has several locations surrounding Milwaukee,

    A graduate of Waukesha Technical College’s automobile technology and automobile collision technology programs, Martinez holds six certifications from ASE, including master medium-heavy vehicle technology.

    Also to be recognized at the AAPEX gathering are Service Advisor of the Year Katlyn French of Hillside Auto Repair and Shop Owner of the Year:Tom Palermo of Preferred Automotive Specialists

    First introduced in 2020, anyone in the automotive aftermarket community can nominate a candidate for one of three award categories. A panel of volunteer industry experts then scores each nominee’s application; the highest score wins in each category.

    “Recognition of a job well done is perhaps the most underutilized tool in a leader’s toolkit,” said Auto Care Association President and CEO Bill Hanvey. “The AAPEX Service & Repair Awards are a recurring reminder of the power of recognition.”

    “Given the complexity of a modern vehicle, it’s a remarkable logistical and technical feat to be able to bring our vehicles to a repair facility and be back safely on the road in mere hours and often less,” said President of MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers Paul McCarthy. “Americans are dependent on our vehicles for transportation and in that sense, service and repair professionals like these are underrecognized neighborhood heroes.”

    AAPEX is a trade show that brings together the global automotive aftermarket. The industry is highly competitive and estimated to be worth $435 billion in the U.S. and $2.3 trillion globally. 

  • Diesel technician shortage once again not on trucking’s top issues list

    Diesel technician shortage once again not on trucking’s top issues list

    After appearing on the trucking industry’s list of critical issues in the past, the shortage of diesel technicians did not appear on this year’s recently-released survey results.

    In the 2021 edition of the American Transportation Institute’s annual Critical issues in Trucking, the lack of diesel technicians was rated number 10. The shortage has not made the list since then, and was not in the current version, which was released today. In fact, the 2021 edition was the only time in the past 19 years the tech shortage was mentioned.

    This year’s top 10 list included:

    1. The economy
    2. Law suit abuse reform
    3. Insurance cost/availability
    4. Truck parking
    5. Driver compensation
    6. Compliance safety accountability
    7. English language proficiency for drivers
    8. Diesel emissions regulations
    9. Driver training standards
    10. Artificial intelligence in trucking

    The new study was released Sunday at the opening day of the American Trucking Association’s annual Management Conference and Exhibition going on in San Diego.

  • Arkansas college’s diesel tech program receives $60,000 grant

    Arkansas college’s diesel tech program receives $60,000 grant

    The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently announced three workforce development grants totaling $456,000 that were all awarded to University of Arkansas System two-year institutions.

    One of ARDOT’s Transportation-Related Research and Workforce Development Program’s annual grants the University of Arkansas – East Arkansas Community College (UA-EACC), which received $60,000. UA-EACC Chancellor Cathie Cline, Ed.D. said the grant funding will help continued development of one of the college’s diesel technology programs.

    “We’re thankful for any additional funding we can put toward our mission of assisting local business and industry and in helping to develop the workforce in our region,” Cline said. “UA-EACC’s diesel technology program has been recognized as  one of the best in the nation, and investing in industry-standard equipment enhances our effort to continue to offer best-in-class training opportunities for students, and ultimately providing them a pathway to attaining or enhancing their careers.”

    According to ARDOT, the purpose of the annual grant program is to help support the study of materials and sources to provide resilient and sustainable logistics, processes, materials, and methods to ensure cost-effectiveness and the furtherance of education and economic development in transportation. The grant program also supports industry training, apprenticeship, and educational programs for transportation-related personnel development.

    “The emphasis our regional two-year colleges place on meeting their communities’ educational and workforce needs is truly inspiring,” said UA System President Jay B. Silveria. “Any additional funding realized through these ARDOT workforce development grants is reinvested right back into Arkansas communities through highly effective programming that’s already working to shore up more opportunities for Arkansans to thrive in the workforce.”

  • Nevada community college adds 3 new tech program certificates

    Nevada community college adds 3 new tech program certificates

    Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno, Nevada recently said it is strengthening its commitment to preparing students for careers as diesel and heavy equipment technicians with the introduction of three new stackable skills certificates debuting this fall.

    These additions to TMCC’s Diesel Program provide clear pathways toward certificates of achievement and ultimately an associate of applied science degree, specializing in either diesel technology or heavy equipment technology.

    This fall, TMCC introduced three new certificates the college said are designed to provide students with specialized, stackable credentials:

    • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Diesel Equipment Technician, Heavy Equipment Electrical Skills Certificate
    • Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Diesel Equipment Technician, Heavy Equipment Hydraulics Skills Certificate
    • Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technician Certificate of Achievement

    “These new certificates allow students to quickly gain targeted skills and progress step-by-step toward advanced qualifications and career growth within the diesel industry,” said Jeremy Coggin, Lead Diesel Instructor at TMCC.

    At the heart of TMCC’s Diesel Program is immersive, hands-on training in fully-equipped shops, according to the college. Coursework includes critical heavy equipment systems such as hydraulics, brakes, electrical systems, and fuel diagnostics. Instruction aligns closely with ASE certifications, ensuring graduates possess the competencies employers demand.

    “Students don’t just learn theory—they work on real equipment to master the skills their future employers expect,” Coggin explained.

    TMCC’s Diesel Program benefits from strong partnerships with local and national industry leaders. Companies like MOPAR CAP and Caterpillar provide students access to cutting-edge technologies, internships, and employment opportunities. A recent alliance with Speed of Air, a leader in clean engine technology, exemplifies TMCC’s forward-thinking approach, according to the college.

    “Our updated Heavy Equipment Maintenance Technician CoA and AAS emphasis are designed specifically to meet workforce needs,” said Coggin. “Graduates leave the program ready for high-demand roles.”

    For information, contact the Applied Technology Division .