Modern trucking depends on more than just the truck itself.
Mobile applications now play a critical role in:
👉 The right trucking apps help reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and support safer decision-making on the road.
Below is a breakdown of widely used trucking apps in 2026, organized by function.
Continue reading Best Apps for Truck Drivers in 2026 (Navigation, Fuel, Weather & More)These are some of the most in-demand diesel engine components in 2026.
Each product below is selected based on:
Most diesel technicians assume a brand-new cylinder liner comes out of the box perfectly round and ready to install.
However, advanced dimensional analysis shows that even new production liners contain small amounts of geometric variation throughout the liner surface.
While these variations are often microscopic, they can still influence:
That is exactly what Highway and Heavy Parts explores in Black Series Lab– Episode 1. In this episode, we examine:
Most engine rebuild conversations focus on the parts everyone can see.
Pistons. Rings. Bearings. Cylinder heads. Gaskets. Liners.
But one of the most important surfaces in the entire engine is almost invisible once the rebuild is complete.
The cylinder liner crosshatch.
That microscopic pattern machined into the cylinder wall plays a major role in oil retention, piston ring seating, compression control, blow-by prevention, and long-term engine durability.
In Black Series Lab Episode 3, we look closer at that surface and explain why the liner wall is not just a smooth bore. It is an engineered sealing surface.
Being a diesel mechanic is not an easy career – but that is also part of what attracts many people to it.
Modern diesel technicians are expected to understand:
At the same time, the work can be physically demanding and fast-paced.
However, for many technicians, the challenge is also what makes the career rewarding.
Continue reading Is It Hard to Be a Diesel Mechanic?Yes: diesel mechanics can absolutely make over $100,000 per year.
However, that level of income usually depends on several factors, including:
Not every diesel technician earns six figures, especially early in their career. However, highly skilled technicians in the right industries can reach or exceed 100K consistently.
Continue reading Can a Diesel Mechanic Make $100K a Year?The diesel industry is entering another major emissions transition.
Beginning with EPA 2027 heavy-duty emissions regulations, diesel engines will face some of the strictest nitrogen oxide () standards ever introduced for commercial vehicles.
One of the biggest technologies helping manufacturers meet these standards is the 48-volt heated aftertreatment system.
This system is designed to:
Modern diesel engines already rely heavily on aftertreatment systems.
However, EPA 2027 standards require emissions systems to become even more effective during:
That is where heated aftertreatment systems become important.
Continue reading What Is a 48-Volt Heated Aftertreatment System?Interviewing for a diesel mechanic position is different than interviewing for many other jobs.
Most employers are not just looking for someone who can replace parts.
They want to know if you can:
Some questions will be basic interview questions. Others will focus heavily on diagnostics, troubleshooting, and experience with diesel systems.
This guide breaks down common diesel mechanic interview questions and explains what employers are typically trying to learn from each one.
Continue reading Diesel Mechanic Interview Questions: What to Expect and How to PrepareSome diesel engine problems only appear when the engine is working hard. A truck may:
…but suddenly lose power while:
This happens because high-load conditions place maximum demand on:
Under light driving conditions, weak components can sometimes “hide.” However, when engine demand increases, those weaknesses often become obvious very quickly.
Continue reading Diesel Problems That Only Show Up Under High LoadA lot of people are interested in becoming diesel mechanics because they:
However, many people only see one side of the industry. They see:
…but they do not always see the reality of the day-to-day work.
Continue reading What Is Day-to-Day Life Really Like as a Diesel Mechanic?Many diesel repair shops focus heavily on:
However, the strongest shops usually track much deeper operational data.
Why? Because profitability problems rarely appear overnight.
Most issues start as:
Tracking the right diesel repair shop KPIs helps identify these issues before they become major financial problems.
Instead of waiting until the end of the month to see whether the shop made money, many successful diesel repair shops monitor key performance indicators weekly.
That allows owners and managers to:
A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is a measurable metric used to track business performance.
In a diesel repair shop, KPIs help measure:
Good KPI tracking turns shop management into a data-driven process instead of guesswork.
One of the most important diesel repair shop KPIs is Effective Labor Rate (ELR).
ELR measures:
👉 What the shop actually collects per billed labor hour.
Many shops focus only on their posted labor rate.
However:
…can significantly reduce the actual collected labor revenue.
Effective Labor Rate is commonly calculated as:
ELR=Total Billed HoursTotal Labor Sales
A low ELR may indicate:
Strong ELR tracking helps shops understand what they are truly earning: not just what they charge on paper.
This measures how many billable hours a technician produces compared to paid hours.
Technician Efficiency=Paid HoursBilled Hours×100
Efficiency helps determine:
For example:
Low efficiency may indicate:
Efficiency and productivity are not the same thing.
Productivity measures:
👉 How much time technicians actually spend working on vehicles.
A technician may be efficient while still losing productivity because of:
Strong shops track both efficiency and productivity together.
RO Count measures:
👉 How many repair orders the shop closes during a specific period.
This KPI helps monitor:
A sudden drop in RO count may indicate:
Average Repair Order measures:
👉 The average revenue generated per repair order.
ARO=Total Repair Orders Total Revenue
A low ARO may indicate:
A strong ARO usually reflects:
One of the most overlooked diesel repair shop KPIs is parts margin.
Many shops focus heavily on labor profitability while ignoring:
However, parts sales often represent a major portion of total shop revenue.
Weak parts margins can quietly destroy profitability.
Common causes include:
Strong shops closely monitor:
ARPO measures:
👉 Average parts revenue generated per repair order.
Low ARPO may indicate:
Strong ARPO numbers often reflect:
Comeback rate measures:
👉 How often vehicles return for the same repair issue.
This is one of the most important quality-control KPIs in any diesel repair shop.
Comebacks damage:
Repeat repairs also increase:
Strong diesel repair shops focus heavily on:
…to minimize comeback rates.
Turnaround time tracks:
👉 How long trucks remain in the shop from arrival to completion.
This KPI is especially important for:
Long turnaround times may result from:
Dwell time measures:
👉 How long a truck sits before work actually begins.
A truck sitting idle in the yard generates:
Reducing dwell time often improves:
Gross profit margin helps determine:
👉 How much profit remains after direct costs are removed.
Strong shops monitor:
Tracking gross profit helps shops identify:
Inventory turns measure:
👉 How often inventory is sold and replenished.
Slow-moving inventory ties up:
Strong inventory management helps reduce:
Many successful shops review KPIs weekly instead of monthly.
Weekly tracking allows shops to identify:
…before they become larger operational issues.
Many diesel repair shops use KPIs together to forecast revenue.
Labor revenue commonly depends on:
Parts revenue commonly depends on:
Tracking these numbers weekly helps shops predict:
Good KPI tracking also improves:
The goal is not simply increasing numbers.
The goal is building:
The best diesel repair shops do not rely on guesswork.
They track KPIs consistently to understand:
Some of the most important diesel repair shop KPIs include:
Tracking these metrics weekly helps shops identify problems early, improve workflow, and build stronger long-term profitability.
Call 844-304-7688 or visit highwayandheavyparts.com to get the right diesel engine parts for your application.
From diagnosis through delivery, we’re Highway and Heavy Parts.
