By Anthony Howard
Regional Parts Manager
Allstate Peterbilt Group

In a world where shopping online has become the norm at home, why shouldn’t the trucking industry take advantage of the same time-

saving opportunities at work?

Across the industry more and more dealers and manufacturers are providing web portals for their customers. Some of these sites are very simple, while others offer a whole suite of services. Regardless of the complexity, all of these sites aim to help make doing business easier. From ordering your parts, printing a copy of an invoice, or simply shopping for chrome, these sites can save you valuable time.

When it comes to ordering replacement parts for your truck you shouldn’t shy away from ordering online. Most truck manufacturers are providing their parts manuals and vendor catalogs online

for free. Until now this information was only for large companies or those willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars per year for a subscription or scour the internet for product information. The best part about online catalogs, they are available when you want them, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

One customer stated that ordering online has allowed him to prioritize his day and run his shop more efficiently. Because he could order first thing in the morning before he opened, he could get his parts delivered same-day, even within a couple of hours.
There are more advantages to online parts sales than just placing orders. Online sites today offer many other useful tools to help manage your account and your business. In many cases, you can access order history, check your credit, and print copies of invoices on-demand. Previously the only way to get information like this was to sit on the phone with your dealer.
The key is, don’t overlook how these online ordering systems can help your business. The resources will continue to be more and more user friendly and improve in functionality. Ask your local dealer what their system can do for you.