What to Expect in Heavy-Duty Parts in 2026

Send us a textEpisode 360: In this episode, Jamie and Jennifer Irvine kick off 2026 by breaking down the biggest challenges and opportunities facing heavy‑duty parts businesses. They discuss the rapid rise of AI, the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain skilled people, and the critical need for strong marketing systems that actually convert leads. They share real-world stories, insights from their consulting work, and a five‑step plan for companies looking to grow despite rising costs, market volatility, and shifting customer expectations. The conversation emphasizes strategy, people, technology, and the importance of eliminating internal barriers that prevent sales and growth.Links·         HeavyDutyConsulting.com·         Minecart - Tromml·         Knomatic Software·         TRAITS Sponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 359: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, Jamie Irvine speaks with Aaron Rivers, CEO of Emotiv Mobility, and Tim Kelly, the company’s lead engineer, about their development of a hybrid power transfer case designed to modernize commercial vehicle electrification. Aaron explains how the idea emerged from recognizing the limitations of all‑electric commercial vehicles—especially in vocational applications where range, idle time, and auxiliary power needs make full electrification impractical. Tim breaks down how the system captures rotational energy from the transfer case to generate usable electric power, improving efficiency, reducing fuel and maintenance costs, and enabling new operational flexibility. The conversation explores engineering challenges, OEM interest, the importance of education in technology adoption, and the broader role commercial vehicles play in supporting society. The episode closes with a look at future enhancements and a call to recognize the critical role commercial vehicle innovation plays in global mobility.Links·         EmotivMobility.comSponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 358: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, Jamie Irvine speaks with Bryan Thueson of OptiCat and Moritz Mahler of TecAlliance about the long‑standing challenges in warranty processing across the heavy‑duty parts industry. They explain how manual, inconsistent, and inefficient warranty workflows create high process costs, poor transparency, customer frustration, and inaccurate quality tracking for both distributors and suppliers. Moritz describes how TecCom’s standardized digital warranty platform—already widely adopted in Europe—streamlines claim creation, centralizes communication, integrates with ERPs and e‑commerce systems, and reduces claim processing time to under 90 seconds. Bryan highlights the improved customer experience, reduced costs, and better data accuracy that come from adopting a unified system rather than each supplier building their own. Links·         https://www.jnpopticat.com/ Sponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity. GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 357: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, host Jamie Irvine speaks with John Whittet, Chief Customer Officer at Fullbay, about the growing trend of repair shops expanding into parts distribution. They discuss how shops often begin by stocking basic items for their own repairs and then evolve into full parts and service providers, driven by customer demand for one-stop solutions. Whittet highlights challenges such as inventory visibility, pricing control, and workflow alignment, emphasizing how Fullbay’s cloud-based platform helps shops manage real-time inventory across warehouses, retail counters, and mobile service units. The conversation also explores the impact on staffing, the need for process mapping, and the importance of balancing cash flow with inventory management. Ultimately, the episode underscores that while expanding into parts distribution adds complexity, with the right systems and practices, shops can scale successfully and meet modern fleet expectations.Links·         FullBay.comSponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 356: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, host Jamie Irvine sits down with Chris Miller, President of The Hub Corp, to discuss the launch of their groundbreaking XTRACTOR™ hubcap. Unlike traditional hubcaps that simply seal the wheel end, the XTRACTOR™ introduces a built-in multi-stage magnetic and mesh oil filtration system designed to actively remove contaminants from hub oil. Chris explains how dirty hub oil leads to premature wear, reduced fuel efficiency, and costly downtime, particularly for small fleets. By combining advanced filtration with a patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge for easier servicing, The Hub Corp aims to lower total cost of operation and extend component life. This conversation highlights how innovation in even the smallest parts can have a massive impact on fleet performance and profitability.Links·         TheHubCorp.comSponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 355 : In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, host Jamie Irvine speaks with Kris Harrington, CEO of GenAlpha, about how buying habits in the heavy-duty parts industry have evolved over the past five years. They discuss the acceleration of digital sales channels driven by customer expectations for convenience, speed, and accuracy, emphasizing the need for businesses to provide self-service, remote, and in-person options. Harrington highlights common misconceptions about e-commerce—such as viewing it only as a shopping cart—arguing instead that a digital platform should serve as a comprehensive business transformation tool offering product information, service history, and efficiency gains. The conversation also explores challenges with ROI measurement, internal adoption, and competitive pressures, while differentiating GenAlpha’s Equip360 solution as industry-specific, consultative, and continuously evolving. Finally, they address the role of AI in discoverability, customer support, and productivity, stressing that companies must adapt to remain competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.Links·         GenAlpha.com·         Episode 61·         Episode 140·         Episode 202·         Watch the Video Version     Sponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 354: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, host Jamie Irvine interviews Bill Frymoyer, Vice President of Public Policy at MEMA, to explore the impact of recent U.S. government policies on the heavy-duty trucking industry. They discuss the positive effects of tax reforms that encourage investment, but raise concerns over increased H-1B visa fees that hinder access to skilled labor, especially in engineering and technology. Frymoyer highlights the disruptive nature of rapidly changing tariffs, including new ones on steel, aluminum, and potentially heavy-duty trucks and parts, which threaten supply chains and competitiveness. The conversation emphasizes the importance of preserving trade to maintain strong economic ties between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and calls for balanced, common-sense policies to support innovation and stability in the trucking sector.Links·         MEMA.org Sponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com. Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 353: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, host Jamie Irvine speaks with Rick Hanna, Business Unit Leader at SureWerx, about the critical importance of safety when lifting and supporting commercial vehicles. Rick shares insights from recent shop visits where near misses highlighted the need for proper lifting practices, emphasizing the dangers of load shifts caused by fuel tanks and uneven weight distribution. The conversation also covers the importance of planning safety into every job, especially in smaller operations, and how SureWerx provides hands-on support, after-sales service, and product development driven by technician feedback. Rick concludes by underscoring that the ultimate goal is ensuring every technician goes home safely at the end of the day.Links·         SureWerx.comSponsors of this EpisodeThe Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 352: In this episode, host Jamie Irvine interviews Randy King, National Sales Manager at MGM Brakes, who shares insights from his 47 years in the heavy-duty parts industry. The episode explores the differences between MGM’s brake actuator models and their vocational applications, highlighting innovations like the dual thread release bolt and external breather tube technology that enhance performance and durability in tight, debris-prone environments. Randy also discusses the growing adoption of air disc brakes, particularly in transit fleets, due to improved stopping distances and reduced maintenance costs. A key focus is MGM’s E-Stroke electronic brake monitoring system, which provides real-time diagnostics to detect issues like overstroke, dragging brakes, and sensor faults, helping fleets reduce downtime, prevent component damage, and improve safety. Links·         MGMBrakes.com Sponsors of this Episode The Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner. The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.   Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com.Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission. Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.

Send us a textEpisode 351: In this episode of The Heavy Duty Parts Report, Jamie Irvine welcomes back Dan McClave, President of Switchblade Turbochargers. Dan is a returning guest on the show. If you want to learn all about the origin story of Switchblade Turbochargers and how they create fuel savings for commercial trucks, listen to episode 286 and episode 336. In episode 351, Dan discusses how their patented turbocharger design helps fleets reduce fuel costs. A recent three-month test with Flint Creek Transport showed a 12% improvement in fuel efficiency, with drivers reporting better performance and reduced turbo lag. The test was carefully controlled, using the same truck, driver, and routes to isolate the impact of the turbo upgrade.Dan also shares how recent tariffs have positively impacted their U.S.-based manufacturing business, encouraging fleets to source locally and avoid overseas supply chain risks. He outlines Switchblade’s three pillars of success—people, process, and product—and explains how empowering employees and streamlining operations have enabled the company to scale production and serve larger fleets.Show Notes: Visit HeavyDutyPartsReport.com for complete show notes of this episode and to subscribe to all our content. Sponsors of this Episode The Hub Corp: Introducing the new standard in wheel-end protection: The Hub Corp's revolutionary XTRACTOR™. The only line of heavy-duty hub caps with a built-in 3-Stage Magnetic Oil Filter that safeguards critical axle components under extreme loads for longer. And with the patent-pending HexThread™ cartridge, the XTRACTOR makes hub oil servicing and inspections faster, easier, and cleaner.  The Hub Corp: Challenge The Standard. Visit TheHubCorp.com to learn more and join the waitlist.  Fullbay: Fullbay is built for the heavy-duty world, giving your operation the tools to keep your fleet or independent repair shop running. Features like streamlined scheduling, real-time inventory tracking, technician efficiency insights, and detailed reports are how Fullbay helps shops reduce downtime and keep your vehicles on the road where they belong. Check out Fullbay.com/power to maximize your shop’s productivity.GenAlpha: Equip360 by GenAlpha helps manufacturers and distributors grow their parts sales and make life easier for their customers. With real-time insights into inventory, pricing, and order tracking, it keeps customers coming back. Plus, it saves time by automating routine tasks and making repeat purchases simple. Explore Equip360 at GenAlpha.com. Disclaimer: This content and description may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, The Heavy Duty Parts Report may receive a commission.Follow the podcast to never miss an episode. If you'd like to work with Jamie Irvine directly, you can schedule a meeting with him today.