A MESSAGE FROM JONATHAN ENGELS: Why Luber-finer and First Brands Group are Built to Do More in 2022

Welcome to the first online edition of the Finer-Print newsletter!

I’m Jonathan Engels, senior director of sales for Luber-finer’s Commercial Vehicle business unit. This fall, I took on the role of overseeing our U.S. and Canadian sales teams following the departure of Chris Reamsnyder, former VP of Sales – Commercial Vehicle.

These past two years have been history-making in many ways. First, we marked Luber-finer’s 85th year in business, and I can say with renewed confidence that we are in as strong a position as ever to meet the needs of heavy-duty owner/operators and parts distributors. While we are all still coping with the lingering challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am energized by the resources we now have in place that will help us stay ahead of supply chain issues and provide an improved customer service experience.

In July 2020, we joined First Brands Group, a global automotive parts manufacturer that includes Raybestos® complete brake solutions, Centric® Parts replacement brake components, Carter fuel and water pumps, and TRICO® and ANCO® wiper blades. Being part of a bigger company means we have more resources, which translates to more comprehensive parts coverage and personalized service. Now in addition to Luber-finer filters, you can access an even wider range of popular heavy-duty parts through our network.

With the busy holiday shopping season behind us, the industry appears to continue to move in a positive direction. In October, Truck shipment volume trended slightly above pre-pandemic levels at 3.2% higher than in October 2019 and freight expenditures were up 37% year-over-year. This means rebounding revenues for fleets and distributors alike. In addition, recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which many trucking groups have advocated for, is a step in the right direction toward addressing our nation’s more systemic supply chain issues. More heavy-duty trucks will be needed to help build better roads, which by extension, should improve routes for many fleet operations across the country.

We look forward to sharing more good news and insights with you that will help you make more informed and better decisions in 2022 and beyond!

Sincerely,
Jonathan Engels

Sr. Director of Sales
Commercial Vehicle Unit
Luber-finer