Fullbay

11R22.5 tires. Big opportunity or a fast track to margin problems? One shop owner asked this question in Fullbay's Diesel Community. Here's what experienced owners who have been there had to say.

Diesel Connect 2026 is a wrap. Couldn't have done it without the sponsors who showed up for this industry: Whip Around True North Fleet Services Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, Inc. WrenchWay Truck Genius Ascend Consulting Heavy Duty Consulting Corporation Azuga, Inc. ASE - National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence Stripe Dieselmatic Heavi See you next year. #DieselConnect2026

Day 3 is a wrap, and so is this year’s Diesel Connect! After a hearty breakfast, attendees returned to a half-day of heavy-duty awesomeness. Cash flow, brand-building, and even a deep dive into preventive maintenance were on offer, along with an excellent presentation on recruiting the next generation of technicians. Last — but certainly not least — we got to sit down with a panel of experienced shop owners from all over the country who told us their stories and answered questions. What’s the secret to running a successful operation? Hard work helps, but communication REALLY helps. (So does coffee. Our attendees would agree, as they helped us go through 199 gallons of it in THREE DAYS. 199! Gallons! Of coffee!) It was a great few days, and we’re looking forward to doing it again next year. Block your calendar for May 18-20, 2027 — we’ll see you there.

What’s better than a day of diesel industry awesomeness? TWO days of diesel industry awesomeness. We started earlier this morning — 9 AM on the dot — and got a rundown on the state of the diesel industry from ATRI’s Dr. Alex Leslie. From there, the heavy-duty pros had their choice of seminars and workshops to attend; some learned how rising costs and hidden revenue leaks were draining profits, while others realized they should be marketing to both customers AND potential techs. Attendees learned new ways to build accountability in their shops from Dave Anderson (pro tip: “Ambiguity is the enemy of accountability.”). They also figured out what happens when shops work with each other (instead of against), and even talked about when it might be time to put the biz up for sale. Oh, yeah, and the food was amazing. What’s going down on Day 3? Wait and see…

Truck Genius — 4:00 PM 📊 The Numbers Don't Lie Most shop owners are drowning in data and starving for insight. Bill Kerry shows you how to cut the noise and focus on the reports that actually move the needle — what blind spots are costing you, which numbers deserve your attention every week, and how to build a reporting rhythm that keeps you ahead of problems instead of chasing them. Close out the day sharper than you started it. 📍 Gold Sponsor Session | Today, 4:00 PM

True North Fleet Services — 2:15 PM Should You Sell? Every shop owner thinks about it eventually. Few know what it actually looks like from the inside. True North CEO Gary Price and CDO Rick Jacobs sit down with shop owners who've been through it — covering timing, what buyers really want, the truth about PE, and what founders wish they'd known before signing anything. The most important conversation you'll have all week. Gold Sponsor Session | Today, 2:15 PM

Join Whip Around at 10:30 AM Get Ahead of the Breakdown The best shops aren't waiting for the phone to ring — they're already in the loop. Join Whip Around at 10:30 AM as they break down how real-time driver inspection data turns defects into repair orders, faster diagnostics, and stronger fleet relationships. Learn how to own the inspection-to-repair workflow. Become the go-to partner. 📍 Gold Sponsor Session | Today, 10:30 AM

Most employees don’t create real output. In this episode of Diesel Stories Podcast, host Peter Cooper invites Jamie Irvine from The Heavy Duty Parts Report and Heavy Duty Consulting Corporation to break down a hard truth about team performance and where real output actually comes from. Growth does not scale productivity evenly. Adding more people does not mean adding more output. A small percentage of your team drives most results. The rest often maintain operations, not revenue. This imbalance exists in every organization. Ignoring it creates hidden inefficiencies. Your top performers carry more than you realize. They influence speed, quality, and customer outcomes. The right combination of roles drives real profit. Strong technicians, communicators, and parts support matter most. Performance is built on alignment, not headcount. 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/eAK6RfTE #DieselIndustry #Leadership #TeamPerformance #ShopManagement #HeavyDuty #BusinessStrategy #Workforce #Operations #Aftermarket #Growth

Day 1 of Diesel Connect is in the books, and It. Was. Amazing. Legendary NASCAR pit crew chief Larry McReynolds shared lessons learned from the racetrack. Peter Cooper showed shop owners how to stop thinking like techs and start thinking like business owners — and how to focus on bringing out the best in their people. And attendees got a first, exclusive look at some pretty exciting news about what’s next for Fullbay. That’s just three sessions, by the way. There were several others, ranging from dealing with cores to how AI is changing the industry. We even learned how TMC’s Recommended Practices are developed. It was inspiring. It was exciting. It was heavily caffeinated. Seriously. As one attendee said in passing, “Coffee first. Nope, don't start talking yet. I need coffee first.” Us too, man. Us too. It’s been a great first day, and we’re just getting started. Stay tuned for more highlights tomorrow!

The expo floor is open at Diesel Connect 2026. All of our sponsors are all on the floor today in Chandler — come find them between sessions. Go say hi to: Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) of American Trucking Associations, Inc. Whip Around True North Fleet Services Truck Genius Azuga, Inc. Stripe Dieselmatic Heavi They are all on the floor today in Chandler — go find them between sessions. #DieselConnect2026