CANTON, Ohio — With a growing number of configurations and axles in the heavy-duty marketplace, quickly recognizing the type of wheel-end and parts needed is crucial to any fleet manager or maintenance provider.
Canton, Ohio-based Timken Co., which offers a full line of wheel bearings for the trucking industry, says it places a premium on training distributors and end-users alike on wheel-end service best practices for this very reason.
In 2010 alone, Timken says its sales and engineering teams trained more than 1,500 fleet employees on proper wheel-end service. Training focused on bearing handling, installation, ongoing maintenance, removal and damage analysis.
"It is our goal to train as many end-users as possible each year," said Phil Varner, manager of heavy- duty aftermarket. "Sound procedures help fleets get maximum performance from our products, and they also pay off for customers in improved safety and business performance."
The standard training session combines printed materials, interactive media and hands-on exercises to help participants work adeptly with Timken’s products. In 2011, Timken said it expects to train 5,000 more fleet employees in heavy duty wheel-end services through continued on-site activities, as well as an expansion of the company’s multimedia training capabilities.
"Training is a key part of our strategy in the heavy-duty marketplace. It allows us to spend quality time with those who have put their trust in the Timken brand, while demonstrating our unparalleled expertise to new prospects," said Tom Tecklenburg, director of the heavy-duty aftermarket. "Training creates new opportunities for Timken, our distributors and fleet customers, providing a venue to showcase our value proposition, and it brings more business prospects to our channel partners throughout the distribution chain."
