Page 28 - RB-94-20-3

USA
The Unsung Tireless Frontline Heroes by Ron Elliott
During this COVID-19 pandemic, there is no question that our healthcare professionals, grocery workers, civil servants, truck drivers and teachers are heroes for sure, but there has been little to no news about how retreaders and tyre dealers are heroes as well. Retreaders and tyre dealers throughout North America have been out there on the frontlines non-stop keeping
the rubber on the road, and there have been numerous articles that give a 30,000 foot view from new tyre and tread manufacturers and very little, if any, from the dealers on the frontline. We decided to reach out to retreaders/tyre dealers and give them an opportunity to tell us in their own words what it is like on the frontline. So, let’s hear from a couple of them now;
Shane – I think only the big guy upstairs knows that. Just when we all thought everything is opening back up, the virus shows up more, and seems to be putting the economic rebound on hold. Business is not bad but could be a lot better. There is just a lot of uncertainty with people, especially those that have to make large monetary decisions.
What vocations have you serviced the most during the pandemic? IE; Waste, Long Haul, Regional, Construction, Dump Trucks, Last Mile, Tankers etc.
Craig – As we cover all facets of the trucking Industry, it seemed like the smaller fleets and Independents kept right on going, and our work for those guys was about the norm. Also, those that were related to the grocery industry added miles, and that gave us extra sales and service for those fleets. However, a few of the larger fleets, and especially flatbed haulers, cut back on some of the yard service and fleets checks we do for them.
How has COVID-19 affected the way you go to market?
Craig – Our Commercial Team started working remotely and started calling all our customers. We set up each customer’s guidelines on how
on the geographic locations of our centres. Some are close to normal, while a few are still down.
If so, what have been the most common issues? Have you experienced an interruption in your supply chain?
Shane – Back to the fact that our customers are priority number one for us, we did what we had to do. To be sure, we never let them down. We immediately ordered 3-5 months’ worth of new MRT and Goodyear Retread products the first day things started looking like a shutdown was coming. And as Goodyear is our major supplier, we worked sometimes daily and each week with them on availability and planned production once they ramped back up. Thankfully, we never experienced any delay that was longer than a week in getting what we needed.
How has the pandemic affected your plant operations?
Craig – Only the fact that one of us, Shane, I, and my two sons, Ridge and Trace, have been at
the plant about every day since this began. If any family member or close contact of an associate was getting tested, we sent them home until the results came back. And if that test was positive, then we would send
Wilks Tire & Battery Service has served the automotive tire and service industry since 1952. They have a retread plant in Albertville, Al. as well as 3 commercial truck centers and 4 automotive centers, located throughout Alabama
Below responses provided by; Shane Wilks - President Wilks Tire & Battery Service Inc and Craig Wilks - President Wilks Treading Inc.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic and the local and federal actions impacted your overall business?
Shane – As we are both Consumer and Commercial, both had some different impacts. When the shutdown began, consumer business was down 30% and commercial dropped about 20%. As soon as the Stimulus Checks went out, consumer business bounced back. Commercial is still roughly 10% down at most locations, mainly in new MRT and Service. Retreading never slowed down, and we have had five straight months of record production.
Were you forced to shut down? If so, for how long?
Shane – Thankfully no, we cut back some overtime. Some locations closed on Saturdays, and we changed a few locations’ opening and closing hours for a short period of time. As soon as we got the PPP money, we went back to normal hours and days of operations. Our associates are like family to us, and we wanted them to work as much as they wanted to.
Have you seen a switch from New TBR tyres to retreads during the pandemic due to the economic and environmental benefits of retreading? If so, what have you seen specifically?
Craig – Some of the larger fleets we service pretty quickly started retreading some casings they were holding and cut back on new tyres.
Were you forced to furlough and or lay off employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Shane – No, we as a family run business value our associates, and would have done almost anything to keep them employed, so they can support their families. It is also currently impossible to hire any quality help, so keeping the great ones we have was priority number one.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, what if any support have you received from your suppliers?
Shane - Most all our suppliers were great, we had lots of communication with them each day, they also shipped lots of product from various DC’s when the local did not have it.
When do you expect a rebound to happen?
they wanted communication and deliveries to be made. As we are very much a people person company, our guys did a great job of working with each manager of our customers’ shops and did whatever was needed to supply them in a safe and secure manner.
Since trucking was deemed as essential, have you seen an increase in road service calls?
Craig – The first few months’ road service was off 20-30%, depending
them to be tested. Thankfully no plant associate as of today has tested positive. So long days, some nights, we have run every Saturday and a few Sunday mornings.
Commercial sales reps play a critical role under normal circumstances so, how are they navigating through the pandemic?
Shane – Back to what Craig said earlier, our guys have done a great job of working with our customers. Knowing what they need, when they
Left to right; Craig Wilks - President Wilks Treading Inc. and Shane Wilks - President Wilks Tire & Battery Service inc
28 Retreading Business