Sept. 16, 2015—The Commercial Vehicle Solutions Network (CVSN) and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), together with the Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI), the Auto Care Association (AutoCare) and Heavy Duty Aftermarket Canada (HDAC) announced on Tuesday the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on access to heavy-duty vehicle service information. The MOU addresses the availability of service information for Model Year 2010 and later trucks and buses over 10,000 lbs. sold in the U.S. and Canada.
The MOU ensures that vehicle owners and independent repair facilities have access to the OEM-controlled service information, tools, and parts they need to safely and properly repair vehicles. The MOU also provides service options to owners by providing diagnostic tool information to third-party aftermarket tool manufacturers.
“The Equipment and Tool Institute is heavily invested in supporting our industry by advocating for the release of diagnostic information to aftermarket equipment and tool companies to ensure that there are options for the safe and effective repair of vehicles. ETI recognizes the importance the aftermarket plays in vehicle repair and the MOU is a viable solution for ETI members, the OEM’s, and independent repair facilities and their customers. It is great to see the positive effects when the aftermarket and manufacturers work together on a common resolution in an effort to eliminate the need for legislative mandates,” said Greg Potter, ETI’s executive manager. “Most of the credit for ETI’s involvement on the MOU goes to my predecessor, Charlie Gorman. Charlie did an outstanding job representing ETI in the negotiations and revisions that led to the final version of this document.”
“The MOU establishes a workable approach to providing independent service providers with access to information they need to repair heavy-duty vehicles properly and safely,” said Mr. Jed Mandel, EMA president. “The MOU was developed to address concerns expressed by independent service providers that they have better and more-timely access to OEM-controlled information. The MOU helps ensure that access, thereby eliminating any need for state, provincial, or federal regulation.”
