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  • Velocity Auto Care opens 50th Valvoline Instant Oil Change location

    Velocity Auto Care opens 50th Valvoline Instant Oil Change location

    Franchise Equity Partners , a private investment firm, recently announced its company Velocity Auto Care has reached a milestone of 50 Valvoline Instant Oil Change service centers with the latest located at 2930 W Trenton Road in Edinburg, Texas.

    The Edinburg service center is the 12th location opened since FEP partnered with Velocity Auto Care to acquire 38 Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise locations from Valvoline in December of 2024. The acquisition also included a development agreement to open an additional 75 service centers over seven years, supporting long-term expansion throughout Texas.

    “Reaching 50 locations is an important accomplishment that demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Velocity Auto Care and our shared commitment to thoughtful, long-term growth,” said Mike Esposito, co-founder and co-managing partner of Franchise Equity Partners. “Since the acquisition, the Velocity team has executed an ambitious expansion strategy while maintaining a focus on operational excellence and delivering an exceptional customer experience. We look forward to continuing that momentum across our development territory.”

    Velocity Auto Care has continued expanding throughout its designated territory following the 2024 acquisition, including opening the first-ever Valvoline Instant Oil Change location in the Rio Grande Valley in 2025. The company now operates six service centers in the region.

    Velocity Auto Care currently has 18 additional service centers in development, all expected to open by the end of 2027. Expansion over the next 18 months will focus on Austin, El Paso, Midland-Odessa, the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Las Cruces, New Mexico, and other high-growth markets throughout Central, South and West Texas.

    “Our development pipeline reflects the significant opportunity we see across our territory,” said Robert Fish, CEO of Velocity Auto Care. “We’re building strategically in high-growth communities and remain on track to add an average of nine to 12 new locations annually as we continue working toward our long-term goal.”

    For more information about Valvoline Instant Oil Change, visit vioc.com.

  • Stoops Freightliner-Western Star opens new dealership in northern Michigan

    Stoops Freightliner-Western Star opens new dealership in northern Michigan

    Stoops Freightliner-Western Star is proud to announce the upcoming opening of its newest medium and heavy-duty truck dealership location in Grayling, strategically positioned to serve the transportation, vocational, and fleet needs of central and northern Michigan. This expansion represents a significant investment in the region and reinforces Stoops’ commitment to delivering exceptional service where customers need it most, according to a statement from the company.

    For years, trucking companies, fleet operators, municipalities, and vocational businesses in northern Michigan have faced challenges accessing quality heavy-duty truck sales and service. The new Grayling location directly addresses this gap, bringing Freightliner-Western Star, Cummins, and Allison Transmission expertise closer to the customers who depend on reliable equipment to keep their operations running.

    “We’re excited to establish a strong presence in Grayling and throughout Northern Michigan,” said David Shane, vice president of Operations. “This dealership is designed specifically to meet the unique needs of the region’s municipalities, logging, construction, agricultural, and transportation industries with the quality semi-trucks, expert parts, knowledge, and responsive service they deserve.”

    The Grayling facility features nine service bays purpose-built for the demands on Northern Michigan’s on-highway, heavy-duty, and vocational fleets:

    • Deep bays (70-foot) specifically designed to accommodate Michigan gravel trains and extended equipment configurations
    • Standard bays (40-foot) for conventional semi-trucks and efficient service turnaround
    • Vocational specialists with expertise in logging, construction, and specialized applications
    • On-highway technicians trained on Freightliner and Western Star platforms
    • Experienced staff committed to minimizing downtime and maximizing fleet uptime

    Stoops Freightliner-Western Star Grayling will offer:

    • Daily parts delivery service with dedicated delivery routes throughout the region (goal of 3x weekly minimum)
    • Two delivery vans ensuring fast fulfillment to customer locations
    • All makes and models parts availability, including aftermarket options, and not limited to Freightliner and Western Star
    • Experienced parts staff providing expert guidance and efficient order fulfillment
    • Customer-focused experience prioritizing quick turnaround and accurate orders
    • Online ordering capabilities with insight into on-hand inventory

    The Grayling dealership will serve as a dual-brand location offering:

    • Freightliner trucks, including the renowned Cascadia and M2 box truck configurations, for fleet and regional hauling applications
    • Western Star trucks with focused vocational outreach for logging, construction, dump truck, and specialized heavy-duty applications
    • New and used inventory (used inventory anticipated Spring 2026)
    • Fleet consultation and customized solutions for operations of all sizes
    • Dedicated sales and technical specialists for both on-highway and vocational segments

    The Stoops Freightliner-Western Star Grayling location will serve customers across an extensive regional footprint, including Clare, Gaylord, Alpena, Cheboygan, West Branch, Roscommon, Houghton Lake, and surrounding counties. The dealership aims to serve:

    • Trucking and logistics companies
    • Construction and excavating contractors
    • Logging operations
    • Agricultural businesses
    • Beverage, moving, propane, pickup/delivery/distribution, and utility industries
    • Municipal fleets
    • Independent owner-operators

    In Michigan, Stoops Freightliner-Western Star operates locations in Traverse City, Wayne, and now Grayling.

  • Peterbilt of Atlanta acquires 4 Alabama dealerships, changes name

    Peterbilt of Atlanta acquires 4 Alabama dealerships, changes name

    Peterbilt of Atlanta recently announced the acquisition of the assets of Fitzgerald Peterbilt’s four Alabama locations, including dealerships in Birmingham, Huntsville (Madison), Montgomery (Hope Hull), and Gadsden, Alabama.

    This acquisition represents a significant milestone in the company’s continued growth and strengthens its presence across the Southeast. In conjunction with the acquisition, the company announces it will be changing its name from Peterbilt of Atlanta, LLC to Pearson Peterbilt Group, LLC reflecting its expanded geographic footprint and long-term commitment to serving customers throughout Georgia and Alabama.

    Scott Pearson, president of Pearson Peterbilt Group, said the acquisition marks an exciting new chapter for both organizations.

    “We are honored to have reached this agreement with the Fitzgerald family,” he said. “They have built a highly respected organization with outstanding employees and a strong reputation for serving customers throughout Alabama. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue that legacy.

    “This acquisition is a natural fit for the Pearson Peterbilt Group family. As we expand our presence into Alabama, we believe it is the right time to evolve our identity as well. The transition from Peterbilt of Atlanta to Pearson Peterbilt Group reflects our growth while maintaining the values, customer focus, and commitment to excellence that have defined our organization for years.”

    “We look forward to growing the Peterbilt brand throughout Alabama and investing in these communities, our employees, and our customers. We are excited to welcome the team members and customers from Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Gadsden into the Pearson Peterbilt Group family.”

  • Webinar covers brake inspection & service procedures

    Webinar covers brake inspection & service procedures

    Technicians Service Training (TST) will hoold a free, one-hour webinar Aug. 29 covering inspection and service procedures for modern brake systems.

    Sponsored by Duralast, the webinar will be led by G. Jerry Truglia and Pierre Respaut. Topics will include inspecting and replacing pads, rotors, and hydraulic components; safely retracting brake pistons; performing a brake fluid flush; and using ALLDATA to locate technical service bulletins (TSBs).

    Truglia is the founder and president of TST and has worked as a technician, service manager, shop owner, technical writer, and training developer. Respaut is a Master ASE Certified Technician and L1 diagnostician with more than 55 years of automotive industry experience.

    The webinar is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. EST.

    Click here to register.

  • Last year’s 3rd place finisher wins this year’s Ruan’s technician contest

    Last year’s 3rd place finisher wins this year’s Ruan’s technician contest

    He finished third last year, and this year he’s first.

    Phillip Rorrer of Brooklyn, Ohio, claimed first place by scoring the most points in the top technician competition stafed by Ruan Transoportation. Rorrer, who earned third place at last year’s competition, received a $5,000 cash prize and will go on to represent Ruan at the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC)’s national SuperTech competition in Pittsburgh this fall. 

    Kris Jones of Ramsey, Minnesota, secured second place, while Anthony Gray of San Antonio, Texas, finished third. Both earned cash prizes and will also represent Ruan at the SuperTech competition. 

    “At Ruan, our diesel technicians are the driving force behind everything we do in fleet maintenance,” shared Matt Fleming, Ruan’s Maintenance Operations Leader. “Their hard work, dedication, and technical expertise keep our fleet safe, reliable, and ready to serve our customers every day. Being recognized as one of our top technicians this year is a tremendous accomplishment and a reflection of the dedication it takes to be among the very best.” 

    Additionally, Ruan hosted a student version of the competition as part of our continued commitment to development through our partnership with the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). Student Austin A. took first place in the event and will represent DMACC and Ruan at the national level at TMC SuperTech this year. 

    Ruan is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa and has over 300 locations in 48 states.

  • ASE Connects & Snap-on giving away $11,000 tool set to students

    ASE Connects & Snap-on giving away $11,000 tool set to students

    ASE Connects is kicking off the new school year with a giveaway designed to support the instructors working hard to prepare the next generation of
    technicians for the automotive, diesel and collision industries.

    ASE Connects and Snap-on will provide four lucky schools with prizes including three $250 Snap-on gift cards and a grand prize of a Snap-on cart and tool set valued at over $11,000. The giveaway is open to high school and post-secondary instructors who teach automotive, diesel, collision, technical education or related courses, as well as school administrators.

    To enter, login or create a free ASE Connects (formerly WrenchWay) account and complete the ASE Connects back-to-school form by Oct. 2. The form takes approximately five to 10 minutes to complete.

    ASE Connects helps more than 3,500 schools nationwide build stronger industry partnerships with local shops, dealerships and OEMs, enabling them to easily access the resources their programs and students need. 

    The ASE Connects back-to-school form ensures each school starts the year with up-to-date information and clear requests for industry support. Through the form, instructors can:

    • Review, repost or add requests for tools, shop tours, guest speakers, advisory committee
      members and other types of support.
    • Share program updates with local shops and dealerships, including enrollment numbers, curriculum changes and new certifications.
    • Review account access and add new instructors or staff.
    • Log activities completed during the previous semester.

    Completing the form helps local shops and dealerships understand how they can best support instructors and their students. Schools can create an ASE Connects account for free and begin connecting with local shops and dealerships, requesting support and sharing program updates. To create a free account, visit myshop.wrenchway.com/school-signup.

  • Goodyear opens new Detroit location during Woodward Dream Cruise

    Goodyear opens new Detroit location during Woodward Dream Cruise

    Just in time for the 2026 Woodward Dream Cruise, Goodyear is opening its Goodyear Motor City Garage, its first retail concept store in Detroit.

    The Goodyear Motor City Garage will be open to the public during Dream Cruise weekend on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 8 a.m. Located at 3075 East Grand Blvd. in Detroit, this special Goodyear Auto Service Center showcases the company’s products, technology and heritage and gives a look at the vision for the future of vehicle care.

    “Some of the best vehicles in the world have been laying down Goodyear rubber in Detroit since Henry Ford put them on his 999 race car in 1901. From track to tarmac to trail, Goodyear makes tires worth bragging about, and we’ll be doing just that during the Woodward Dream Cruise,” said Goodyear CEO Mark Stewart. “Whether you’re an enthusiast looking for ultra-high performance or just need help picking the best tires to get your SUV through the school pick-up line, we’re looking to show you how easy Goodyear can make vehicle care. Detroit’s car culture makes it the perfect place to showcase our new retail concept alongside our Mobile Garage service that can install tires and service your vehicle right in your driveway.”

    Inspired by destination concepts such as a Starbucks Reserve Roastery or a Nike House of Innovation, the Goodyear Motor City Garage is more than a traditional tire and service location. The space is designed as a gathering spot where enthusiasts can connect with car culture, explore the latest tire technology and engage with Goodyear in a new way.

    Services the Goodyear Motor City Garage will provice

    • Tire sales and installation
    • Oil changes
    • Alignments
    • Brake service
    • Battery replacement
    • Free vehicle inspections
    • Preventive maintenance

    As a tribute to the city that helped shape American car culture, the Goodyear Motor City Garage will showcase a custom, one-of-a-kind Detroit-themed Eagle racing tire. This tire is laser-carved with a love letter to Detroit that celebrates the city’s automotive heritage and Goodyear’s longstanding connection to the Motor City and its auto enthusiasts. The letter concludes with “We might be from Akron, but we grew up here. Still. Always. Forever.”

    At the Goodyear Motor City Garage during Woodward Dream Cruise weekend, Goodyear will display the famous 1973 Ford Mustang convertible from the opening sequence of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” courtesy of the Ford Motor Company Heritage Collection.

    Also on display from the General Motors Heritage Center and Archive is the 1977 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am W72 “Bandit.” This black-and-gold special edition was inspired by the movie, “Smokey and the Bandit,” starring Sally Field and Burt Reynolds. This Trans Am originally was outfitted with Goodyear GR70/15 GM Custom Tread tires.

    Additional vehicle displays and featured automotive attractions will be announced closer to the event

  • Brake Safety Week is Aug. 23-29. Will trucks you work on be ready?

    Brake Safety Week is Aug. 23-29. Will trucks you work on be ready?

    You have about three weeks to get the brake systems of commercial vehicles you work on up to snuff ahead of a massive inspection effort.

    The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has designated Aug. 23-29 as this year’s Brake Safety Week, a seven-day focused inspection and enforcement initiative designed to improve safety by ensuring commercial motor vehicles on our roadways are operating with properly maintained and functioning braking systems.

    Throughout that week, inspectors in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections with a focus on brake systems and components. Vehicles with brake-related out-of-service violations, or any other out-of-service violations, will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.

    In addition, inspectors will focus on drums and rotors, the emphasis for this year’s brake-safety initiative. Brake drum and rotor issues may affect a vehicle’s brake efficiency. Broken pieces of drums and rotors may become dislodged from the vehicle en route and damage other vehicles or result in injuries or fatalities to the motoring public.

    Brake Safety Week aims to improve commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America, according to the CVSA.The goal is to eliminate roadway crashes by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, large- and small-fleet motor carriers, owner-operators, and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.

  • Stemco unveils ReSpec, new line of thread repair tools

    Stemco unveils ReSpec, new line of thread repair tools

     STEMCO, an Enpro company and manufacturer of heavy-duty components and solutions for commercial vehicles, has launched ReSpec, a new line of patented thread repair tools designed to help fleets and technicians restore damaged threads instead of replacing components.
     
    “ReSpec was developed to solve a common challenge faced by technicians every day: damaged threads that often force the replacement of otherwise serviceable components,” said Michelle Madden, product manager at STEMCO. “By restoring threads quickly and reliably, ReSpec helps fleets reduce downtime, lower maintenance costs, and maximize the value of existing equipment.”

    Unlike traditional repair methods that remove material or alter the original thread structure, ReSpec restores threads through a rolling process that reshapes the existing material without weakening it.
     
    Highlighting the new lineup is the revolutionary RST-70I, the industry’s solution for repairing internal threads on steering knuckle bores, a challenging application that has historically lacked effective repair options.
     
    ReSpec is compatible with metric, imperial, coarse and fine thread types, left-hand and right-hand threads, with standard tool configurations covering diameters from 3 mm to 120 mm.

    Available configurations include:
     
    Series XR: External Repair

    • RST-60X: 10–60 mm (3/8 in.–2 3/8 in.)
    • RST-120X: 50–120 mm (2 in.–4 3/4 in.)
    • RSSR 22-1.5X: 22 mm

    Series IR: Internal Repair

    • RST-70I: approximately 51–70 mm (2 in.–2 3/4 in.

    Independent testing conducted by the Material Testing Institute Hanover (MPA) — an independent German materials testing, inspection, and certification organization — demonstrated that ReSpec-repaired threads can withstand the same static and dynamic loads as new, undamaged threads. The rolling repair process also hardens the thread surface, increasing resistance to future wear while maintaining the integrity of the original component.

    The MPA performs testing and certification for construction materials, mechanical products, pipelines, pressure equipment, abrasives, and other industrial products. It also serves as a notified body under European construction product regulations.
     
    For applications outside the standard product range, STEMCO offers custom-engineered ReSpec solutions for specialized thread diameters, pitches and component geometries.

    ReSpec Thread Repair Tools are available for order now, with shipments beginning in mid-August 2026. For more information, contact your STEMCO representative or visit the STEMCO ReSpec product page.

  • Truck Centers expands vocational offering with Battle Motors partnership

    Truck Centers expands vocational offering with Battle Motors partnership

     Truck Centers, Inc. , a heavy-duty truck dealer network based in Troy, Illinois, announced a new partnership with Battle Motors, Inc., a manufacturer of purpose-built Class 7 and 8 vocational trucks. Through the partnership, TCI will offer Battle Motors’ diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles at its locations in Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.

    The addition of Battle Motors expands TCI’s vocational vehicle portfolio and provides customers with access to a broader range of powertrain options for demanding commercial applications. Battle Motors customers will also benefit from TCI’s, established Midwestern service network, experienced technicians and comprehensive parts and maintenance support.

    “Truck Centers has the regional reach, technical expertise and customer-first service infrastructure that fleet operators depend on,” said Jason Coleman, CRO at Battle Motors. “This partnership strengthens our ability to support customers throughout the Midwest—not only when they purchase a Battle Motors truck, but throughout the vehicle’s entire operating life. We are proud to welcome TCI to the Battle Motors dealer network.”

    TCI’s portfolio includes Freightliner and Western Star vehicles, as well as trucks and equipment featuring Cummins engines and Allison transmissions. The addition of Battle Motors will allow TCI to serve a broader customer base across a range of vocational industries and applications

     “This partnership is an opportunity for Truck Centers to expand our vocational product offerings to a broader customer base across various industries and applications, while providing Battle Motors with a seamless customer experience across multiple markets in the heart of the Midwest,” said Katie Hopkins, president and CEO for Truck Centers, Inc.