>> SUMMER 2016 VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 Up Close with Western Star's 5700XE [ PAGE 30 ] TCI Tabbed One of Region’s Fastest Growing Companies [ PAGE 26 ] Trucking and Politics Round-Up [ PAGE 40 ] Spec it Right with the 40SI TM Available in 240, 275 & 300 Amp Heavy Duty Starters & Alternators Specing the right alternator upfront pays big down the road. Highest output at low RPM: Manages heavy electrical OPTION CODES loads at low engine RPMs, reducing battery charge time 240 Amp: 124-1E8 Remote Sense: Drastically reduces battery charge time 275 Amp: 124-1E7 Brushless durability: 13 fewer moving parts, eliminating 300 Amp: 124-1G1 components that wear out, while extending product life Efficiency and power density: Highest combination in its class, providing substantial fuel savings Warranty: 3 years/unlimited miles Go to SpecItRight.com OE Spec Codes l Try Our Products l Technician Training Delco Remy is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation licensed to Remy LLC GI continue to haveREETIN the honor of presenting many of our Customer Support Association, and works tirelesslyGS milestone service awards to our employees at all nine of by traveling non-stop on behalf of DTNA, all dealers, and our mutual customers to improve the customer our dealerships. I recently had the opportunity to take my experiences and services within our network. youngest grandson, Justin Hopkins II, with me on a recent trip to South Bend and Evansville, Ind. It was a busy day for We are nearing the end of several due diligence a young guy who will turn 5 in late November. projects in conjunction with our planned purchase of 19.5 acres of property in South Bend, Ind., that will Presenting these long time service awards is the most rewarding part of my place us prominently at the interchange of US 31 and responsibilities as CEO. When I look at the number of GREAT employees that we the I-80/90 toll road. We are excited about the easy have been blessed with and the absolute passion they each have for aiding our on/off access to this major truck traffic corridor and customers 24/7 and how many of them have brought their sons, daughters, and the opportunities that it will bring to better serve our now, grandchildren, into our family business, it makes me very proud to be part of current and future customers via a new facility with our company. Again, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your ongoing supporting amenities nearby. commitment to our company and valued customers. In early July, I had the opportunity to mark off one Recently, we were the victims of a phishing/social engineering attack in excess of of my bucket list goals. Myself, my son Justin, $100,000 via wire fraud. The attack occurred on a legitimate truck transaction with several other employees, and customers were able another dealer we have conducted business with before. We have processes and to play/walk 85 holes of golf in 47 hours at Bandon procedures in place that were strictly followed and we believed to be impenetrable; Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon. The ocean views were however, we unfortunately learned that these perpetrators phish accounts and everything that I imagined. Of course my golf game socially engineer imposter accounts that impersonate the “trusted” party on the came and went about 85 times as well, but it did other end as well as our leadership and change the wiring information to an offshore not matter playing in such magnificent surroundings. account. I am sharing this as an example of how good these crooks are and how The layouts are very similar to the Scottish Links easy it is to get into any system if we, as employees, are not extremely aware of courses. If ever given the chance and you enjoy golf these phishing emails that they gain entry through. Thankfully, our loss was not even plus God’s great beauty, put Bandon Dunes on your larger and, of course, now we have changed our procedures once again moving must-do adventure list! forward for added protection. On August 29-31, 2016, TCI’s leaders will Credit Card fraud also remains a huge challenge to us as dealers and even in spite participate in the unveiling of the NextGen Cascadia of our constant employee training on these matters, operating 24/7 can be a real in Colorado Springs. We are all excited to see challenge. Our losses in this area are caused by not following the clearly outlined firsthand the improvements Freightliner has built procedures at all locations during all shifts. Our current loss stands at nearly in to this product that is expected to once again $60,000. More intensive training and safeguards are now in place; but, as always, it exceed the expectations of our customers and offer still comes down to each one of us following the necessary protocols and processes them significant advantages with performance and each and every time. efficiency. Daimler Trucks North America continues to lead our Industry with investments in developing I would like to acknowledge our TCI Warranty Team for their continued advancements new products that our customers want and need and they are making to keep us current with our 2500 claims per month that we are we are extremely proud to represent DTNA and offer filing and for working with DTNA JADs, fellow dealers, and DTNA leaders to simplify our customers the products that we firmly believe all the processes and rules that must be followed to be paid by our OEMs. In my 46 are the best available on the market both before and years of involvement with TCI and our OEMs, warranty has always been one of the after the sale. Top-3 challenges that a dealer faces in meeting the extensive requirements and rules for warranty claims while also working diligently to get our mutual customers Thank you to each of our valued customers and we cared for in a timely manner. The workload in 24/7 operations for retail labor and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve you warranty is continuing to increase but we are firmly committed to following the and we will constantly strive to do better each and necessary protocols for warranty without compromising customer uptime. every day. We recently completed a major warranty audit for Freightliner and Detroit for our two largest dealerships, Troy and Morton, and our Warranty Team did an exceptional job of meeting the audit requirements. Thank you! And I would also like to extend a special note of thanks to Luke Bazin, who represents all DTNA dealers through our John Hopkins www.truckcentersinc.com >> DRIVEN SUMMER 2016 1 >> SUMMER 2016 VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 TCI TOC NEWS & Features NEW Patent- News from TCI Brake Safety Week Returns Pending CRT™ vents increase 06 Notes from Our General 36 National Checks in September air-flow to further Managers Patented wear reduce operating indicator saves temperatures Presidential Election Hot time and helps you get maximum life Garry Jarrell Memorial 41 Topic from your drum 15 Tribute to One of TCI’s Finest Transportation is Key Debate for Election Year Industry News & Notes 16 Virtual Technician Anniversary, Customer News Freightliner Ride of Pride, 42 Events and Accolades Ron Donze “Star Performer” TCI-Effingham Service Awards 46 Construction Begins on New 20 TCI Team Recognitions Dealership TCI Earns Two TCI Team Notables 26 Recognitions 52 Celebrating What Makes Our Dual Rankings by St. Louis Team Proud Business Journal The Latest Inside TCI Runs 15% cooler Western Star 5700XE 58 What's Happening 30 Up Close and Personal for better braking Jerry Duft Memorial Real Life Transformer 63 Fishing Tournament performance 33 Western Star MBT-40 Another Year in the Books Switches Bodies in Minutes and Ask the Technician ATA Safety Investment 72 Testing Alternators 25% longer life! 35 Billions Contributed Annually The written and visual contents of this magazine are protected by copyright. You may ® not reproduce any articles online or in print without first obtaining written permission from Truck Centers, Inc. Please contact Michelle Petroff at [email protected] for more information on the rights holder for the specific piece that you are interested in. www.webbwheel.com MANAGING EDITOR: MICHELLE PETROFF | DESIGNER: FEE MCCASKILL Contact your local Webb Wheel Products supplier for training that can cut your operating costs! >> ©2015 Webb Wheel Products Inc. Check out the NEW TruckCentersInc.com 2 SUMMER 2016 DRIVEN << www.truckcentersinc.com CRT ad.indd 1 6/24/15 3:54 PM TRUCK CENTERS, INC. HAS 12 LOCATIONS INCLUDING 9 FULL- SERVICE DEALERSHIPS IN THE ST. LOUIS METRO, DID YOU KNOW ILLINOIS, AND INDIANA. OVER $13M A, EUREK IN STOCKED IL SOUTH BEND, ELKHART, IN MORTON, PARTS IL HUDSON, IN IL INVENTORY TO MINIMIZE SPRINGFIELD, IL YOUR DECATUR, IL DOWNTIME ST. PETERS, MO EFFINGHAM, IL (Under Construction) EVANSVILLE, IN ST. LOUIS, TROY, IL MO MT. VERNON, IL INDUSTRY– BEST HOURS OF OPERATION INCLUDING 24 HOUR MOST DEALERSHIPS OFFER 2 HOUR SERVICE IN EXPRESS ASSESSMENT TROY & ST. LOUIS 4 STATE- OF-THE-ART COLLISION CENTERS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAINING CENTER WWW.TRUCKCENTERSINC.COM www.truckcentersinc.com >> DRIVEN SUMMER 2016 3 TCI_Ads_New.indd 2 8/9/16 9:31 AM • Another factor in the sales equation is plummeting used truck values. Just since the start of the calendar year, the industry has experienced a 30-40% decrease in trade values and that is crucial JUST THE when customers are looking at whether or not to sell, trade, or just continue running aged equipment. • Freightliner will soon debut our new NextGen Cascadia and it will begin production in CY2017.