Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/510235
1 4 P O W E R S H I F T Go to: www.roadranger.com/ Glider kits are essentially new trucks built around exist- ing powertrains. Glider kit trucks typically cost up to 25 percent less than a truck made by an original equipment manufacturer. Last year, Fitzgerald Truck Sales, Byrdstown, Tenn., manufactured about 2,000 Glider kit trucks. The largest manufacturer of commercial trucks made from glider kits in the U.S., the company makes old trucks new again with the help of Eaton factory-remanufactured transmissions. "We are very particular when it comes to selecting ven- dors," says David Dyer, a 44-year trucking industry veteran and Fitzgerald purchasing manager, parts manager and warranty administrator. That selection is 100 percent genu- ine Eaton when purchasing transmissions and clutches. The Eaton Remanufacturing Process "Each transmission goes through a complete cleaning and inspec- tion process," says Eaton's NAFTA Aftermarket Marketing Manager Bill Fouch, speaking about Eaton's factory remanufacturing process. "We completely disassemble the transmission cores. We have some pretty stringent criteria as we go through all the pieces and parts to determine what can and cannot be reused. "Once we make those determinations, we also look at the latest design improvements that have been made to the product since the time that particular core was manufac- tured, and we bring it up to the latest design levels," says Fouch. "And we run every unit across the dynamometer to make sure there are no noise issues, it's able to shift through all the gears and perform as expected." Eaton Remanufacturer's Guarantee Fitzgerald's Dyer bundles his Eaton factory remanufac- tured transmissions with an Advantage Series clutch and Roadranger-approved lubricant, so he qualifies for Eaton's 3-year/unlimited miles warranty. An Eaton remanufactured transmission is made exclusively with genuine Eaton parts and has more new parts than any competitive rebuild. "Eaton is definitely helping Fitzgerald remain profitable and very much helping us maintain a healthy bottom line," says Dyer. "I get Eaton transmissions galore in here, and every one is pretty much bullet proof in terms of durability." Eaton manual transmissions are the only transmission anyone will ever see on a glider kit made by Fitzgerald Truck Sales. "We would never even consider changing," says Dyer. "You cannot buy a product in the market that is better than Eaton." Fouch couldn't agree more. "One thing is sure," Fouch says. "When you buy an Eaton factory reman, you know what you're getting. It's the next best thing to a new transmission." "You cannot buy a product in the market that is better than Eaton." — David Dyer Next best thing to new Fitzgerald Truck Sales, Byrdstown, Tenn., is the largest manufacturer of commercial truck glider kits in the U.S. For manufacturer of trucks made from Glider kits, Eaton remanufactured transmissions make all the difference Better quality, better process, better warranty What's the difference between remanufactured and rebuilt transmissions? Eaton genuine remanufac- tured transmissions are restored to like-new condi- tion and supported with a like-new warranty: two- years of coverage expandable to three years. Each transmission is disassembled, inspected, cleaned and repackaged to include the latest design im- provements, as well as tested on a dynamometer to assure quality performance. "While there are some really good rebuilders out there, you have to be very, very choosy from whom you buy," says Eaton's NAFTA Aftermarket Marketing Manager Bill Fouch. "Where we find problems is with rebuilders who are inconsistent," says Fouch. "Sometimes they use genuine parts, sometimes they don't. Some rebuilders may test the product before it's sold, some don't. You're really not sure what you're getting. It comes back to consistency. Eaton's re- manufacturing operations are very process driven. You're going to get the same high quality process over and over and over again." REMAN TRUMPS REBUILT