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Top 5 most recommended tools and equipment

Feb. 12, 2015

Tools and equipment topping the list helped shops perform repairs they were unable to complete prior to the product purchase.

Erica Schueller

I recently had the opportunity to moderate a panel at SOLD15, a two-day training event for commercial vehicle aftermarket service professionals. This third annual event is held in conjunction with Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week, or HDAW ’15, in Las Vegas every year.

SOLD15 featured learning sessions on how to run an aftermarket vehicle repair business more efficiently. Events included a five-hour seminar by the legendary Bob Greenwood, along with educational seminars on repair and maintenance for natural gas vehicles, a discussion on the use of genuine versus will-fit parts, and the results of an attendee survey on the most crucial tool or piece of equipment purchased within the last year.

Organizers of SOLD15 approached PTEN magazine to represent the tool and equipment presentation, requesting assistance with moderating and organizing the session. The session featured brief presentations from company representatives on each of the Top 5 products, to give attendees an overview of features and benefits for each.

The Top 5 most recommended tools and equipment seminar featured the following products:

Temper Tool Doctor Preload (No. 707M-FF)
STEMCO APE Axle Pro Equipment
Noregon Systems JPRO Commercial Vehicle Diagnostics
Bee Line Company LC7500 Laser Guided Computer Wheel Alignment System
Rotary Lift MCH413 Mobile Column Lift

While the theme of the week was clearly heavy duty (which is evident by this list), these tools play a crucial role in day-to-day operations for a number of shops.

Successful products to market not only need to be innovative. They also need to assist a technician or shop with the capacity to get the job done properly, quickly and efficiently.

Manufacturers continually produce new and updated tools and equipment to help you run your operation. Attendees of SOLD15 indicated that these specific product purchases made within the last year allowed their shops to perform repairs and maintenance they were unable to complete prior to the purchase.

Is there a tool you or your shop have purchased in the last year that you just can’t live without? I’m interested to hear about it.

About the Author

Erica Schueller | Editorial Director | Commercial Vehicle Group

Erica Schueller is the Editorial Director of the Endeavor Commercial Vehicle Group. The commercial vehicle group includes the following brands: American Trucker, Bulk Transporter, Fleet Maintenance, FleetOwner, Refrigerated Transporter, and Trailer/Body Builders brands.

An award-winning journalist, Schueller has reported and written about the vehicle maintenance and repair industry her entire career. She has received accolades for her reporting and editing in the commercial and automotive vehicle fields by the Truck Writers of North America (TWNA), the International Automotive Media Competition (IAMC), the Folio: Eddie & Ozzie Awards and the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) Azbee Awards.

Schueller has received recognition among her publishing industry peers as a recipient of the 2014 Folio Top Women in Media Rising Stars award, acknowledging her accomplishments of digital content management and assistance with improving the print and digital products in the Vehicle Repair Group. She was also named one Women in Trucking’s 2018 Top Women in Transportation to Watch.

She is an active member of a number of industry groups, including the American Trucking Associations' (ATA) Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC), the Auto Care Association's Young Auto Care Networking Group, GenNext, and Women in Trucking.

In December 2018, Schueller graduated at the top of her class from the Waukesha County Technical College's 10-week professional truck driving program, earning her Class A commercial driver's license (CDL).

She has worked in the vehicle repair and maintenance industry since 2008.