Voluntary Agreement Signed to Address Availability of Heavy-Duty Vehicle Service Information

September 14, 2015 | By Business Wire News

CHICAGO & JACKSONVILLE, Fla.

The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), together with the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI), the Auto Care Association (AutoCare), and Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada (HDAC) announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today on access to heavy-duty vehicle service information. The MOU addresses the availability of service information for Model Year 2010 and later trucks and buses over 10,000 lbs. sold in the United States and Canada.

The landmark MOU will ensure that vehicle owners and independent repair facilities have access to the OEM-controlled service information, tools, and parts that they need to safely and properly repair commercial vehicles. The MOU also memorializes the current industry practice of providing diagnostic tool information to third-party aftermarket tool manufacturers, thus providing owners with service options when maintaining or repairing their vehicles.

“The MOU establishes a workable approach to providing independent service providers with access to information they need to repair heavy-duty vehicles properly and safely,” said Mr. Jed Mandel, EMA President. “The MOU was developed to address concerns expressed by independent service providers that they have better and more-timely access to OEM-controlled information. The MOU helps ensure that access, thereby eliminating any need for state, provincial, or federal regulation.”

Mr. Marc Karon, Chairman of the Commercial Right to Repair Coalition sponsored by CVSN and representing independent service providers across the United States, stated that the MOU is a significant accomplishment for all parties. “With today’s complex, computer-controlled heavy-duty vehicles, having access to the correct information and latest diagnostic tools is essential to being able to complete repairs for our customers. The MOU addresses our need for reasonable access to OEM service information and diagnostic tools. I am pleased that we were able to finalize a practical and workable solution through the MOU process.”

Under the terms of the MOU, the participating industry associations will work together to monitor the exchange of service information and address any information access issues with the goal of helping to ensure that vehicles are properly and safely maintained with the correct parts and tools.

“One of the significant benefits of the MOU is that it addresses the unique characteristics of the heavy-duty vehicle manufacturing industry as well as the special needs of independent heavy-duty repair shops,” Mr. Mandel continued. “With that accomplished, we can avoid a patch-work and potentially disruptive effort to regulate service information through government action.”

Mr. David Scheer, CEO of Inland Truck Parts and Service and a longtime advocate of independent provider access to service information, added, “We were able to craft an MOU that benefits independent repair facilities and OEMs as well as our joint customers – heavy-duty vehicle owners and operators.”

The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association is the trade association representing worldwide manufacturers of internal combustion engines used in applications such as trucks and buses, farm and construction equipment, locomotives, marine vessels, and lawn, garden, and utility equipment as well as the manufacturers of medium and heavy-duty trucks greater than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. EMA works with government and other stakeholders to help the nation achieve its goals of cleaner fuels, more efficient engines, cleaner air and safer trucks and roadways.

The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), with close to 70 members and over 400 warehouse locations across North America, is the voice of the independent aftermarket distributors. The mission of CVSN is to strengthen its members’ business through training and education and building strong relationships between members and their supplier partners across North America. CVSN is co-owner of HDAW and hosts the Aftermarket Distribution Summit every September for top distributor and supplier executives.

Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada (HDAC) is the national trade association representing the Canadian heavy duty aftermarket industry. Formerly known as the Heavy Duty Distributor Council, the association aims to protect the integrity of the industry and to create an environment that encourages improved efficiency and safety in the distribution, maintenance, and replacement of heavy duty parts across the country. For more information, please visit hdac.ca.