New TMC Chairman Thrift Sets His Sights on More Use of Recommended Practices

This story appears in the Feb. 22 print edition of Transport Topics.

TAMPA, Fla. — Jerry Thrift, the new chairman of the Technology & Maintenance Council, wants trucking companies and truck makers to get their money’s worth and make full use of the council’s more than 3,000 engineering and maintenance recommended practices.

A senior manager for Ryder System Inc., Thrift said in an interview here during TMC’s annual meeting that he has been working closely with motor carriers and original equipment manufacturers for the last 14 months and found many were unfamiliar with TMC’s signature repository of experience and accumulated wisdom.

“I was disappointed they were not more cognizant of what we’ve done with the RPs,” Thrift said.

While he said he gives his two immediate predecessors, Steph Sabo and Brent Hilton, credit for advancing relationships between fleet managers and maintenance service providers so they work together better, Thrift said he wants to work on gaining more prominence for recommended practices.

“Fleets should utilize the RPs to help with spec’ing their truck purchases for the lowest total cost of ownership. And from the other side, there’s a company here on the exhibit floor that’s telling people their product meets the standards of an RP. They’re using it as a tool and boasting about it,” Thrift said.

Thrift added that he wants fleets to tell dealers they want components and systems that meet RP standards, and OEMs should point out to buyers when aspects of their vehicles meet the specifications of a recommended practice — either as standard equipment or as an option.

Thrift, 58, who has a mechanical engineering degree from Georgia Tech, does not have the classic responsibilities of a maintenance manager. His job with Ryder covers new product development.

Ryder and Penske Truck Leasing are the two largest companies in full-service leasing. As such, the Ryder fleet is much larger than that of the usual trucking company. Thrift said the company has 50,000 Class 8 tractors, another 50,000 straight trucks and about 50,000 trailers.

Therefore, Thrift evaluates Ryder’s rolling stock and its components.

“My job is to stay on the cutting edge of technology and keep costs down and the equipment running,” he said.

Thrift has been in trucking for 32 years and a member of TMC for 28 years. He started with Yellow Freight System, a predecessor of YRC Worldwide Inc., and switched to Ryder 17 years ago.

He is the second Ryder executive to hold the TMC chairmanship in the past decade. Jim Salas, retired from Ryder and now a consultant, ran the council in 2001-02.

“I talked to Jim about being chairman. He said he got more out of it than he put into it. He said it was a lot of work, but worth it, so I took his advice,” Thrift said.

Thrift has worked on the trailers and future trucks study groups and on a corrosion task force. He said the TMC work has allowed him to build relationships with OEMs, their suppliers and other fleet executives.

“I think it leads people to be a bit more candid and frank with you,” he said.

Changes to engines have dominated Thrift’s working life in recent years, he said, referring to the January 2007 and 2010 changes in emissions regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The 2007 rule brought the introduction of diesel particulate filters, which require periodic regeneration cycles, plus more thorough cleanings.

As for the newest engines, engineered to meet the federal government’s tightest emissions regulations, Thrift said he was able to test 12 early versions during 2009, which helped cut down surprises about the new technology.

His responsibilities and challenges began almost immediately. Caterpillar Inc., the long-time diesel engine manufacturer that left the business at the end of last year to concentrate on other markets, was the subject of some discussion.

Problems related to Caterpillar engines came up at this TMC meeting and the one before in September.

Thrift said TMC personnel have spoken with Caterpillar and requested that they participate in the meetings, as do representatives of Cummins Inc., Detroit Diesel Corp., Navistar Inc. and Volvo Powertrain. Thrift said he was told by Caterpillar that the company prefers to work directly with its customers rather than through industry events.

He said the situation with Caterpillar and whether it is standing behind its engines is a serious one. He said it is not hopeless and that he will continue to press Caterpillar on it.