CAT dealers form all-makes truck service network

[kscarbel2]

Commercial Carrier Journal (CCJ)  /  July 19, 2019

A group of seven Caterpillar dealerships have formed the RIG360 independent truck service centers network, designed to provide an all-makes approach to truck parts and service. The network initially will consist of 65 locations with 450 service bays across 12 states, with potential for other Cat dealers to join.

The RIG360 network has a “90-Minute Promise,” which states it will make an initial diagnosis of a truck’s condition, troubleshoot the issue, and deliver a verdict within 90 minutes. Within an additional 90 minutes customers will receive an initial estimate on cost and time to repair.

“These dealers liked the on-highway business and wanted to stay in it,” says Ed Cullen, strategic consultant. “They had the facilities, the people and the training, and they also recognized there’s a lot of power in working together.”

Cat announced it would exit the on-highway diesel engine business in 2008 and had short-lived foray into vocational trucks, which ended in 2016.

Initial RIG360 participating Cat dealers are Cleveland Brothers Equipment, Foley Equipment, MacAllister Machinery/Michigan Cat, Ohio Cat, Thompson Machinery, Thompson Tractor and Yancey Bros.  Other Cat dealers will probably join the network as the initiative progresses, Cullen says.

Caterpillar itself has no affiliation with or investment in this venture.

“In doing our research, we found that folks can bring a truck into a repair facility and it will sit there,” Cullen says. “So we decided to make a commitment that if someone comes into a shop we’ll give an initial diagnosis so they can make an informed decision about what to do next. They’ll know where they stand within the first 90 minutes.”

Cullen says RIG360 also offers truck owners necessary service capacity. “With all the vertical integration that’s happened in the trucking industry, there’s been a strain on the truck manufacturer’s dealer networks. We’ve got the bays and we’ve got the technicians, so that really positions us well to be able to turn trucks around more quickly.”

Each dealer has its own identity in the network, such as Cleveland Brothers RIG360 Truck Centers and Foley RIG360.

“We are excited to help form and launch the new RIG360 network and bring even more truck parts and service capabilities to our customers,” says Jon Robinson, vice president of Foley Equipment and RIG360 board chair, in a release announcing Foley’s participation in the network.  “Combined with our HDA Truck Pride launch last year, we have expanded our ability to serve all makes and models from radiator to rim, whether that is in Kansas, Missouri or beyond.”

.

[DailyDiesel]

Guess these guys got bit but the truck bug back when Cat made trucks. 😏

[kscarbel2]

They got “bit” by CAT when the construction equipment maker forced them to all build truck shops, at considerable investment, and then pulled the plug on trucks.

This effort is an idea, an attempt to make use of their investment, and they all feel CAT dare not complain.

[blackdog2]

Local dealer tell customers dont bring any thing we cant get reimburse for warranty  and she is the only one that can sell dirt cat parts ?

[RoadwayR]

Like when Fiat/Chrysler conned all their dealers to pick up Fiat franchises.  Of course, they had to build separate facilities.......  They pay day was supposed to come when Alfa knocked Audi out.  Wonder how that's working out.

 

[TS7]

There is a market out there for new Cat truck engines. I can say this what I see at the Cat dealer I use (Michigan Cat) the truck side works on Cat truck engines, Cat truck engine owners want new trucks with new Cat engines. They do not want gut less X15 and DD15 engines. Owners of 15-20+ year old trucks with Cat engines keep fixing them. There are just less trucks out there with Cat engines in them, the trucks are wearing out. 

[Maxidyne]

Problem is the market for C15/C18 Cat truck engines isn't big enough to justify making them meet current emissions standards, which would be no small task given that they don't meet even Euro6, never mind the tougher EPA2010. Cat's Progress Rail division that owns EMD locomotives was late bringing a Tier4 locomotive to market and the railroads ain't buying it due to reliability problems. Meeting emissions standards ain't Cat's strong suit, and as the standards tighten Cat will become more a legend than a serious player in the engine market.

[RoadwayR]

G.E.'s Tier 4's don't seem to be any better.  

[Maxidyne]

Yup, but the railroads can and are buying them.

[RoadwayR]

Some, but many are going straight into storage while older Tier 3 units are being rebuilt.  The Tier 4's are getting poor fuel economy and both EMD and (former) G.E. units are proving more troublesome.  Storing new units means their warranties do not begin until the locomotive is put into service.  

EMD was at a disadvantage because they had to come up with a new 4 cycle prime mover to meet Tier 4.  They are catching up, I have heard crews like the SD70ACe-T4's.  U.P. ordered 100, but I think some are going straight into storage.

It's going to be a horse race, now that G.E. Locomotives are not part of G.E., their pockets are not as deep.  Cat seems pretty serious.  In any event this is all against a backdrop of slowing locomotive sales.  Rebuilding Tier 3's makes more economic sense than buying Tier 4's.  

Funny Siemens didn't make a move for G.E.'s locomotive business.  

  

[Maxidyne]

And if any railroad is interested, Cummins had a Tier 4 locomotive engine before they were required.

[Maxidyne]

Don't sound like they're parkin' 'em:  https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/locomotives/wabtec-delivers-1000th-tier-4-locomotive/

[TS7]

I happen to own a Cat machine that meets Tier 4. There is a market for Cat truck engines, Cat has deeper pockets than Cummins, Daimler or Volvo. Volvo puts the same junk in there equipment as they do there trucks. Cat dealer truck engine people I talk to think Cat could make C15 meet Tier 4 in a truck.

[Maxidyne]

Tier 4 is easy, they have to meet EPA2010 in the US and Canada.