HD selects NASTF for OEM-to-independent service info help

The heavy duty/commercial vehicle industry recently announced agreement in a Memorandum of Understanding (HD MOU) between the Commercial Right to Repair Coalition and the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), where original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of heavy duty vehicles would provide service information to independent service providers by way of their OEM technical websites. To assist in managing the understanding, search and feedback related to this cooperative effort between HD OEMs and independent HD service specialists, the National Automotive Service Task Force (NASTF) was asked to expand its scope with the addition of heavy duty to its similar service already being provided to the light vehicle industry.

“The HD MOU is a perfect fit for NASTF and its mission,” said Charlie Gorman, Immediate past Chairman of NASTF. “NASTF provides the framework for communication and cooperation by making existing services available to HD technicians. We invite and welcome EMA and its members to take full advantage of what NASTF has to offer.”

Initially, NASTF will concentrate on updating its popular OEM Service Website index, www.nastf.org/OEMtechsites, with the addition of technical website URLs for all heavy duty vehicle and major component OEMs. Concurrently, NASTF will begin accepting questions from independent HD technicians on the NASTF Service Information Request (SIR) feedback feature, www.nastf.org/FileSIR. As HD OEMs and independent HD service techs gain experience in their new level of shared service information, NASTF will attempt to add helpful features to www.nastf.org to assist HD techs in finding the OEM resource they need, and to assist HD OEMs in successful delivery to those techs of what they have made available.

“The Commercial Right to Repair MOU is only the first step in ensuring the independent aftermarket is in an equal position with the dealers to service commercial vehicle customers,” said Marc Karon, President of Total Truck Parts, Inc. and representative of the HD coalition. “The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN), which led the fight in right-to-repair for commercial vehicles, is committed to seek out the best solutions to help our industry achieve that equality. NASTF is recognized as being uniquely qualified to provide the linkage to the vehicle manufacturers for software downloads and initially reconciling conflicts dealing with the access to information. CVSN will also work with NASTF on education issues to make sure technicians working in the independent aftermarket are of the highest caliber.”

A press release announcing the HD MOU can be found www.cvsn.org/pressreleases-detail.asp?id=140.

NASTF was established in 2000 to identify, communicate and resolve gaps in the availability and accessibility of automotive service information, service training, diagnostic tools and equipment for the benefit of automotive service professionals and their customers. NASTF was incorporated in 2006 as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization. Additional details can be found at www.nastf.org.

About CVSN: CVSN (www.cvsn.org), with close to 70 members and over 400 warehouse locations across North America, is the voice of the independent aftermarket distributor. The mission of CVSN is to strengthen its members’ businesses through training and education and building strong relationships between members and their supply partners across North America. CVSN is one of the owners of HDAW and hosts an Aftermarket Distribution Summit every September for top industry distributor and supplier executives.