Category: Read

Commercial Vehicle Pro / CVBNetwork / FordPros / Read / Scelzi

Reasons for Optimism Abound

Many Trends Heading in a Positive Direction for Work Truck Upfitters As we reach the end of 2024 many things seem to be trending in the right direction for the U.S. work truck industry. The road ahead will likely have some twists and turns, but looking at the big picture we have good reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Some of those reasons include: FALLING INTEREST RATES: The interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve in November led to an overall loosening of credit and gradual...

Commercial Vehicle Pro / FordPros / MHCCA / Read

Stay Iterative… to Achieve Extraordinary Outcomes

By Kirk Mann, Executive Vice President and Head of Transportation, Vendor Solutions Mitsubishi HC Capital America Early in my career, I had the chance to shadow the CEO of the equipment finance company for which I was working. He was incredibly intelligent, kind and motivating. I loved listening to him, gaining perspective and applying what I absorbed in many areas of my life. One day, I learned one of the most important keys to success in business – perhaps life – not from a tip...

Commercial Truck Training / Commercial Vehicle Pro / CVBNetwork / FordPros / Read

Navigating Our Evolving Landscape

As we rapidly approach 2025, our industry finds itself at yet another crossroads, this of technological innovation, shifting customer expectations, and economic challenges. Dealers, fleet managers, and sales professionals must not only adapt to these changes but also leverage them as opportunities to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. Here’s a look at key trends shaping the industry and strategies to stay ahead, especially for those managing sales teams or seeking training to excel in 2025 and beyond. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sales...

Commercial Vehicle Business Summit / Commercial Vehicle Pro / CVBNetwork / FordPros / Read / Work Truck Solutions

DEALERSHIP SUCCESS: Empowering Commercial Dealers to Deliver Exceptional Customer Experiences

The commercial vehicle landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace. Customers, from small business owners to large fleet managers, demand more than just a vehicle; they expect efficiency, convenience, and personalized solutions tailored to their specific needs. Commercial dealerships are rising to this challenge, but they need strong support from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to truly excel. My thoughts today are inspired by insights from the “What We Want For Customers and Need From OEMs” fireside chat at the CVBS Fall 2024 Summit, which explored...

Commercial Vehicle Business Summit / Commercial Vehicle Pro / FordPros / Listen / Read / Watch / Work Truck Solutions

Collaboration and Innovation in Commercial Vehicles: Key Takeaways from CVBS Fall 2024

The commercial vehicle industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven by factors such as sustainability concerns, technological advancements, and evolving workforce needs. In this dynamic environment, collaboration has emerged as a critical driver of innovation. The CVBS Fall 2024 fireside chat, “Reciprocity in Action: How Collaboration Drives Innovation,” offered valuable insights into how collaborative efforts are shaping the future of the industry. Shared Challenges: The Catalyst for Collaboration The panelist’s discussion highlighted a common theme: diverse stakeholders in the commercial vehicle sector, including...

Commercial Vehicle Business Summit / Listen / Read / Watch / Work Truck Solutions

Partnership Perspectives: What We Want For and From Commercial Dealers

The Fall 2024 CVB Summit hosted a fireside chat called “What We Want for Dealers, and from Them.” The discussion between industry leaders explored the evolving relationship between commercial vehicle dealers and their partners, focusing on the dealer’s role in the shift to bundled services, EV adoption, and offering complete lifecycle support to customers. The overarching theme of the CVBS Fall 2024 was “Reciprocity,” and sometimes, that’s as hard to define as it is to say. Although the dictionary definition of reciprocity is “the practice...

Commercial Vehicle Pro / FordPros / Read / Scelzi

Avoiding Wounds Caused by Cutting Edge Technology

If You Are Having Trouble Keeping Up With It All, You Are Not Alone Technology today appears to change so quickly that even tech-savvy professionals are struggling to understand it all. If it was JUST computers, our odds of “staying current” would be higher. But today there is so much more that affects the work truck industry than just the latest smartphone features or truck camera options. Electric Vehicle Technology (EV) There is EV technology, which is reaching a state of maturity among passenger vehicles...

AltFuel / Commercial Vehicle Pro / CVBNetwork / EV / FordPros / Read / Toolbox

Propane Powers the Future of Fleet EV Charging

After decades of reliably providing energy as a vehicle fuel, propane is now reducing emissions as an EV charging solution. By: Jim Bunsey, Senior Manager, Business Development at PERC As electric vehicles (EVs) increasingly become integral to fleet operations, the demand for reliable and sustainable charging solutions is rising. However, the electric grid is struggling to keep pace with the rapid expansion of EVs, creating significant challenges for fleet owners. In some cases, fleets may be waiting up to three years before infrastructure can be...

Commercial Vehicle Pro / FordPros / MHCCA / News / Read

Mitsubishi HC Capital America Targets AI Predictive Purchase Model

Company implements automated process to streamline technological efficiencies Mitsubishi HC Capital America, the largest non-bank, non-captive finance provider in North America, continues to make significant strides in its digital transformation efforts with the recent integration of MuleSoft Robotic Process Automation (RPA). In a move to strengthen business development and customer retention, Mitsubishi HC Capital America has embedded Mulesoft RPA to serve as an incremental catalyst to surfacing sales opportunities through its customized AI predictive purchase model. Mitsubishi HC Capital America leveraged the technology to identify...

Columns / Commercial Vehicle Pro / CVBNetwork / FordPros / Read

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: Using the “Tools” at Your Disposal

In the world of work trucks and vans, we have lots of tools – some of which are new(er) and some that date back to the origins of our business. But no matter the age of the tools we have at our disposal, it’s best to employ them in a fashion that best serves our customers, which will almost always be good for our business too; and this is true regardless of what your business is, from dealerships, to upfitters, to OEMs, to any vendor...