Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/712830
24 Service Bay counteracting unwanted vibrations from the road, instead of simply acting as a shock absorber, as conventional air ride truck seats do. In the aftermarket, it's a product that can sell itself. "The need for driver comfort and ac- commodation has grown over the years," says Ralph Tricomi, Bose's aftermarket marketing manager. "We fi t the driver with very good protection and isolate the road vibra- tions so that the driver feels very little of it. This technology prevents whole body vibrations." Martin says seats are the top selling driver comfort item at 4 State Trucks. "Most of the time drivers are look- ing for leather and memory foam. Some want the massage options and other features. But, you've got to fi gure that some of them are in these seats for 16-18 hours a day whether it's driving, sitting at a stop or resting in them when they are off the road." He says premium seats can be pricey. But, that price can be worth it for some- one who spends a great deal of time in the seat. Baker says he has noticed a dramatic change in how he feels after a day on the road now, as opposed to when he fi rst began driving almost 30 years ago. "When I started, the truck would bounce and jar you all over the place," he says. "Then at night, the mattress was awful and it was always hot in the cab, so I never got a good night's rest. "Now, I sleep as good or better than I do when I'm at home just because the mattress and seat are so much better than what we had years ago." Martin says smaller items are also big sellers — items like computer laptop stands and better quality CB radios and GPS units. "It's not always the high dollar crea- ture comfort item that someone needs," he says. "But people are always looking to be as comfortable as they can be on the road and there are hundreds of things they can get to help them do that." Marketing of these products also has changed greatly through the years. Many companies now use websites and social media to reach their customer base, while some still use product catalogs. "We have seen our growth through the internet and staying on top of the trends involving search engines," says Petropoul. "We have had to change with the times, but I think we have been able to do that." Martin says 4 State Trucks uses some billboard advertising as well as direct mailings and magazine ads, but has found its website to be its most successful tool. "We have been in business for 36 years and the products have all changed so much," he says. "Every year the bar is raised a little higher on everything. So we have changed and adapted." T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E | A u g u s t 2 0 1 6 Bob and Linda Caffee, of Silex, Mo., have been team drivers since 2005. Bob was a diesel mechanic for 20 years while Linda worked in their local courthouse. Since hitting the road as expediters, the couple has given their 2015 Freightliner a home-like feel.