Probably true. It’s usually what happens. But if there are changes, it’ll just be cosmetic.
But, being the new guy here, I could use your help. More on that a few paragraphs later.
I’m Andrew Joseph, I’ve been a newspaper and magazine writer and editor since I graduated from college 30+ years ago. I’m married, have a 16-year-old son who wants to be a mechanic, have a dog and a cat, collect comic books, love watching sports, taught piano and clarinet, and done my fair share of youth sports coaching.
I’ve also done judo, kyudo (Japanese archery), kendo ( Japanese fencing), and Taekwondo—though that last experience helped me blow out a meniscus in a knee.
I like hockey, baseball, basketball, boxing, and soccer … and am more of a casual football fan of the Steelers since back in the days of Mean Joe Greene. I also enjoy F1 and NASCAR and Indy, but will always stop to watch some quarter-mile racing with dragsters and funny cars.
While I love technology, I hate the idea of my vehicle driving for me — I dislike being the passenger. I trust myself as the driver. I enjoy the sights, the sounds, and the smells of the open road. It makes me feel alive.
I won’t lie to you and pretend to know everything about the service truck industry because I don’t. You readers are the true experts, and I’ll be leaning on you to ensure we get the facts correct.
Enough about me. Let’s talk shop.
Service Truck Magazine, as I hope you are all aware, is owned by Farms.com media, a company I joined late last summer to work on many of its media properties, including the Service Truck Magazine web- site. So, I’m not a complete neophyte to the industry.
As the new editor of this magazine, I want your input to ensure we are covering the type of news and features you want to know about.
While the magazine covers the mobile repair and maintenance within the service truck industry keying in on the private operators who provide such service—as noted within our wonderful Spec My Truck feature pulled together by writer Dan Anderson, and by companies such as Canvec (a feature article in this issue)—we seem to be lacking input from all the truck manufacturers themselves who sell roadside service and maintenance for customers who buy its fleet.
This issue does have, for example, a news piece on Volta Trucks, a 100 percent electric truck manufacturer that has out- lined its plans to hit the North American market. Within its “roadmap to success”, the company announced that it would pro- vide service and maintenance for customers who purchase trucks from them. But what about the other truck manufacturers?
So, truck manufacturers—please contact me with news that tells the service truck audience—what makes you and your service so special.
In that same vein all the service truck operators out there, feel free to reach out and explain your concerns for the industry—IE, your livelihood. Big or small operator, your viewpoint matters.
Ditto for all you service truck bodies manufacturers. We know there’s a real shortage of new and available service trucks out there! There’s a parts shortages hindering the construction of said vehicles. And what about tires manufacturers and distributors shortage of rubber or metals?
Fuel suppliers? Sure, some fleets are going electric because of the high price of diesel or gasoline, but many vehicles are also shifting to propane as the propulsion juice of choice.
And … who the heck can provide the assistance to get an electric truck back on the road?
For all you suppliers to the service truck industry, whether it’s tools, oils and lubes, tires, driver comfort, lights, utility vehicles, truck bodies, liftgates, etc, tell us about it.
Security! Not just a lock and key— though there’s nothing wrong with that— we know all the fleets, and the service trucks out there carry a lot of valuable tools and equipment. How is it being protected? Sure, you know—but obviously not every-one does. And cybersecurity, too! This issue does contain a story on that.
Service Truck Magazine is supposed to include news about those who provide on-site maintenance and repairs to the mining industry, or to the wind sector—so tell us. When you buy new onsite mining equipment, tell us about it. Tell us who is going to maintain and repair it—and how.
If you are part of the service truck industry, that’s all that matters. Service Truck Magazine is your magazine. Help us (and me) by providing us with your news that we can share.
Since communication is a two-way street, I can be reached at andrew.joseph@ servicetruckmagazine.com.
