The average cost for operating a semi truck is about $1.38 per mile, which doesn’t sound too painful until you realize that $1.38 per mile amounts to an annual cost of $180,000. Although the trucking industry is a profitable one, at such high operating costs, there is a fine line between profit and losses if you don’t take steps to help keep your operating costs down.
Of that $180,000 per year, about 10 percent goes to repairs and replacement parts alone. Wasting money on poor quality parts or overpaying for parts can very easily put you in the red zone if you’re not careful. That’s why it’s important to have a trustworthy source for all your semi truck parts. But how do you know if your parts supplier is reliable and trusted to sell quality parts? Below are a few things you can check to make sure your source for semi truck parts in Ocala, FL is reputable:
- Do your research: Call around, read reviews and check track records. You can learn a lot about a parts supplier just by checking with people who have done business with them before. Ask about the service, the prices, the quality and how knowledgeable the staff seemed. Chances are, someone you know has done business with them before, and the best recommendation comes from someone you can trust.
- Check their inventory: A reputable source for semi truck parts in Ocala, FL should have everything you’ll need for your semi truck or a means of getting what you need fast. Some semi truck parts are in high demand or are difficult to find. A parts supplier won’t do you any good if they have a small inventory and never have the parts you need in stock.
- Find out what brands they sell: Don’t go with the supplier that has brands you’ve never heard of. Pick a supplier that is an authorized dealer for well-known industry brands like Wabash, Hyundai, Lufkin, Great Dane and Stoughton. If the supplier you’re looking at is selling brand names you’ve never heard of, it’s best to keep looking.
- Ask questions: When you go in, ask questions—even if you ask questions you already know the answer to. You’ll want to buy parts from a supplier that is knowledgeable and experienced in the industry. If you go in and the staff gives you the runaround if you ask questions, or if they sound like they don’t know what they’re talking about, this is a sign of potential problems in the future. It’s best to choose a supplier that is knowledgeable not only about semi truck parts, but about semi truck maintenance and repairs as well.
Don’t waste time or money on a parts supplier that can’t give you what you need. Be smart, do your research, ask around and choose a reputable supplier for your semi truck parts in Ocala, FL. In the long run, taking the time to find a quality parts supplier is worth the effort. Visit J & M Trailer Repair today to check out our stock and learn more about the services we can offer your semi truck!