Truck Parts and Service | Heavy Duty Trucking, Aftermarket, Service Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/737160
21 As an owner-operator from Chattanooga, Tenn., Hodge relies on the internet more than ever and has easy access to it almost anywhere he goes. "We used to rely on catalogs or the local parts stores when we needed something," says the 40- year driving veteran. "But that's all changed. When I am out on the road and need some- thing I can hit a few buttons and fi nd what I need and where I need to go to get it." And Hodge isn't alone. There are more than 350,000 owner- operators in the United States and every day more and more of them convert from traditional buying practices into online shoppers as a matter of convenience. For independent distributors who have always serviced these customers and hope to keep them, an equal change is required. The digital age is upon us. It's time to get onboard. At Truck-Lite, Marketing Com- munications Specialist Andrew Liuzzo says his company recently completed an overhaul of its online presence to better position itself, and its distribution channel, in front of digital shoppers. "We are trying to revamp our entire web presence," Liuzzo says. "We just launched a new website in June. It's central to how we do business." The new, comprehensive website includes more information on all Truck-Lite products, more tech bulletins, a Frequently Asked Questions section and a distributor lookup tool. "We also have added localized distributor searches so that will help people fi nd distributors in their own area," Liuzzo says. That section can be particularly helpful to drivers on the road. "I don't know how many times I have been out on the road and just kept searching until I found the parts store that was closest to me," says owner-operator Randy Morgan. Morgan hauls across the country through a regional freight service but has been an owner-operator for more than 15 years. In that span of time, he has seen several changes that have made life on the road easier. "Technology has changed a lot of what we do and has made things W W W . T R U C K P A R T S A N D S E R V I C E . C O M O c t o b e r 2 0 1 6 | T R U C K P A R T S & S E R V I C E A s Gary Hodge lies in his sleeper cab after a long day on the road, he often pulls out his cell phone or laptop to research products he needs. Sales & Marketing