10-4 Magazine October 2021

10-4 Magazine / October 2021 37 first question all of us should be asking is why? Right along with why is, WHY ME?! I’m no different than the rest of you, and if you’re an owner operator you are already looking at the rising cost of fuel, insurance, labor, and the list goes on and on. Inflation is rising and the cost of repair parts is steadily going up. That is even if you can find parts or people to do the work in a timely fashion. During the time of Covid, we the people who were deemed “essential” have covered more miles and delivered relief to the masses. Early on we were praised, now, not so much – it is back to business as usual. What I really wanted to address is the lack of parts available for repairs. I’m having difficulty getting the simplest of parts, things like wheel seals and hub gaskets. I replaced my brakes and drums late last year and at the time my supplier told me I received the last of their supply. They didn’t know how long before more would arrive. Not only did they not know when another shipment might arrive, but more concerning was who would be the manufacturer. I like to purchase parts made in America by long standing companies known for quality. The best price is not always your friend. I usually buy extra for emergency use, as well. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Trust me, a couple dollars spent for inventory parts are well spent when you need them out on the road – dare I even say priceless. It never fails, when I find an issue, it’s almost always late on Friday night or Saturday after the parts store or dealer has called it a week and gone home. If we were to take a survey of who has extra chrome, lights or stainless at home versus who has repair parts like wheel seals or fan belts, who do you think will win? The winner of the survey will be chrome and stainless, but the winners of the group will most certainly be the ones with real replacement parts. We have covered this topic before, but now it’s even more important than ever. Not only are we having difficulty finding the right parts, but finding good parts are even more scarce. What makes a part good? I’m not sure right now. I always made a point to buy American made when I could, but today, even the traditional manufacturing companies are having difficulty finding replacement components to build with. Remanded parts are becoming questionable as to their quality. The lack of labor returning to work is also creating more stress to the supply chain. I have even considered doing my own rebuilds, when possible. Don’t get me wrong, I know that not all of us are going to have the tools or the knowledge to do our own rebuilds, but I have always said that knowledge is the most important tool in your arsenal. Most manufacturers label parts as New Old Stock (NOS) if not previously used or reconditioned. They are more expensive to purchase than rebuilt parts, unless you can get “core value” for your old part. But, be weary of unscrupulous parts stores that will not tell you about the core charge or credit. Who knew there are people out there that will cheat hard working folks like you! Well, be advised, they are out there. There are also some who will take parts out of the original packaging and sell them to you as an accessory kit. Peterbilt stores are notorious for this. Do some research on your own before running down to the parts store. I have found the dealers are some of the worst at sticking it to us drivers. However, if you order online from the dealer, the parts come complete because they are shipped from a warehouse by the supplier, not the actual dealership. That’s where a little preplanning can pay off. Common sense normal use items like an extra brake drum or a set of brake