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Check out the latest news from North America's Leading Truck Parts Network.
6/3/2025
VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies Partners with AACF to Bring Support in Times of Need
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies is proud to announce a new partnership with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), extending the foundation’s reach to the heavy duty aftermarket community to provide critical support to industry members and their immediate family during times of personal crisis.
Since 1959, AACF has helped individuals and families facing financial hardship due to unexpected adversity such as natural disasters, catastrophic medical conditions, life-changing accidents, and devastating fatalities. Through this new partnership, AACF’s support will now be available to individuals working in the heavy duty aftermarket and their immediate family members during the hardest moments of their lives.
The process to apply for financial support is simple and can take as little as five to seven days. Once eligibility is established, an application is completed and sent to the AACF Recipient Committee for review. If approved, the funds can be sent to the recipient or directly to a business, such as hospitals, funeral homes, or landlords.
“We pride ourselves in our efficiency because we know that when people need help, time is not always on our side. We can help much faster than most employers and government programs and will do everything possible to expedite the process,” said John Kairys, Executive Director, AACF.
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies is honored to help promote the foundation's mission by raising awareness of these valuable resources, providing support through charitable giving efforts, and serving as a liaison within the heavy duty aftermarket.
The AACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With the exception of two full-time staff positions, AACF is run entirely by volunteers from the aftermarket industry.
“Our partnership with AACF furthers our commitment to supporting the heavy duty aftermarket community—not only in business, but in life. It reflects the heart of this industry – a community that shows up for one another when it matters most. We encourage everyone in our network to spread the word about this important resource, and when able, support its mission to help those in need in our industry,” said Chris Baer, VIPAR Heavy Duty President and CEO.
For more information, please visit https://hd.aftermarketcharity.org.
VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies Welcomes New Program Manager Tom Ruud
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies announced Tom Ruud has joined its team as Program Manager. Tom will be working in multiple capacities including Program Management, Global Parts Network (Product Distribution Center and Brake Related Product Management), and Business Systems. He will report to Larry Griffin, Vice President of Program Management.Ruud brings 13 years of heavy-duty industry experience to the team, with a proven track record in product and program management, supply chain management, and production and warehouse operations. He previously served as Director of Supply Chain at Wheelco Truck & Trailer Parts and Service, which was acquired by FleetPride, Inc. last year. Most recently, he was Sr. Manager of FleetPride’s OE Operations. Over the course of his career in the heavy-duty aftermarket, he has gained valuable experience in product pricing and procurement, globally sourced products, rebate management, and ERP software implementation. “We are excited to welcome Tom to the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies. His extensive industry experience brings valuable insight that will support our continued growth. In addition to his role as Program Manager, Tom will be involved in several strategic initiatives that are critical to our long-term success. Having team members on board who understand the complexities of the supply chain and today’s evolving business systems is essential, and Tom’s previous experience positions him well to help navigate those efforts. We look forward to his contributions to the success of the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies for many years to come,” said Griffin.
Ruud will be based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“What I’ve always loved about the heavy-duty industry is that, while it’s large and complex, it still feels like a small, tight-knit community. It’s a relationship-driven business, full of good, reliable, hardworking people. When I first entered the industry 13 years ago I was amazed at how quickly things were evolving, especially in areas like marketing, supply chain, and technology. I’ve seen firsthand how this industry has not only caught up, but in many ways, has surged ahead,” said Ruud.
“As for VIPAR Heavy Duty, I’ve known the organization and its leadership for many years, and the decision to join their team was easy. It’s the culture that drew me in—VIPAR Heavy Duty is a well-run organization that genuinely cares about its people and its role in the industry. Surrounding yourself with good people makes all the difference.”
VIPAR Heavy Duty Further Invests in Product Data Platforms, PARTSPHERE PIM & PARTSPHERE DAM
VIPAR Heavy Duty has completed a major upgrade to its product information management system, PARTSPHERE® PIM, and released a new digital asset management platform, PARTSPHERE DAM.
VIPAR Heavy Duty’s recent product data platform upgrade accomplished three major goals:
A more user-friendly PARTSPHERE PIM, with enhanced search and filter functionality to more easily navigate its 1.2 million parts.
A robust PARTSPHERE DAM to efficiently access 1.4 million supplier-provided visual assets.
A categorization refinement to better organize parts and enhance customers' e-commerce experiences.
PARTSPHERE PIM was originally launched in 2019 to provide streamlined access to and delivery of highly-sought product data. VIPAR Heavy Duty identified early on that good data builds accuracy and efficiency, and affects many different areas within a distributor's business including sales, training, inventory, shipping, and delivery.
Jeff Paul, VIPAR Heavy Duty Vice President of Marketing, said that the heavy duty industry has made great strides in providing access to product rich data over the last five years.
“Most of the challenge is in creating an efficient way to exchange and communicate product information between suppliers and distributors. Naturally, suppliers want to be in control of their intellectual data, and how it is shared by distributors to end users. In turn, distributors want to receive that data with specific standards so it can be uploaded to whatever platform they are using – for e-commerce or as part of their business system, for example. This release of PARTSPHERE PIM and PARTSPHERE DAM allows our distributors and suppliers to further capitalize on e-commerce opportunities and integrated data management system efficiencies, and most importantly, makes it easier for end-user customers to find the right heavy duty aftermarket parts.”
Distributors report that acquiring and organizing product data including descriptions, images, interchanges, and attributes, is a major undertaking, as it comes from suppliers in various formats. Some have even taken thousands of photos of parts themselves to use in their e-commerce platforms. Many suppliers have responded by working with VIPAR Heavy Duty's Content Services Team to actively build new product data and review existing data within the platform.
“This upgrade and development are the result of feedback we received directly from our distributors who use PARTSPHERE PIM to sell and market parts to the heavy duty aftermarket. Their input was the driving force behind our latest platform enhancements and will help guide future development goals,” said Andrea Lily, VIPAR Heavy Duty’s Manager of Content Services.
“This launch is evidence of our continued investment in PARTSPHERE solutions and the benefits to both our distributors and supplier partners. VIPAR Heavy Duty is committed to being a leader in product information management and data standardization efforts within the heavy duty aftermarket, and we will continue to evolve our platform to best support our network,” said Paul.
For more information on VIPAR Heavy Duty, visit www.vipar.com or email: info@vipar.com.Connect via social media on LinkedIn and Facebook.
VIPAR Heavy Duty Further Invests in Product Data Platforms, PARTSPHERE PIM & PARTSPHERE DAM
VIPAR Heavy Duty has completed a major upgrade to its product information management system, PARTSPHERE® PIM, and released a new digital asset management platform, PARTSPHERE DAM.
VIPAR Heavy Duty’s recent product data platform upgrade accomplished three major goals:
A more user-friendly PARTSPHERE PIM, with enhanced search and filter functionality to more easily navigate its 1.2 million parts.
A robust PARTSPHERE DAM to efficiently access 1.4 million supplier-provided visual assets.
A categorization refinement to better organize parts and enhance customers' e-commerce experiences.
PARTSPHERE PIM was originally launched in 2019 to provide streamlined access to and delivery of highly-sought product data. VIPAR Heavy Duty identified early on that good data builds accuracy and efficiency, and affects many different areas within a distributor's business including sales, training, inventory, shipping, and delivery.
Jeff Paul, VIPAR Heavy Duty Vice President of Marketing, said that the heavy duty industry has made great strides in providing access to product rich data over the last five years.
“Most of the challenge is in creating an efficient way to exchange and communicate product information between suppliers and distributors. Naturally, suppliers want to be in control of their intellectual data, and how it is shared by distributors to end users. In turn, distributors want to receive that data with specific standards so it can be uploaded to whatever platform they are using – for e-commerce or as part of their business system, for example. This release of PARTSPHERE PIM and PARTSPHERE DAM allows our distributors and suppliers to further capitalize on e-commerce opportunities and integrated data management system efficiencies, and most importantly, makes it easier for end-user customers to find the right heavy duty aftermarket parts.”
Distributors report that acquiring and organizing product data including descriptions, images, interchanges, and attributes, is a major undertaking, as it comes from suppliers in various formats. Some have even taken thousands of photos of parts themselves to use in their e-commerce platforms. Many suppliers have responded by working with VIPAR Heavy Duty's Content Services Team to actively build new product data and review existing data within the platform.
“This upgrade and development are the result of feedback we received directly from our distributors who use PARTSPHERE PIM to sell and market parts to the heavy duty aftermarket. Their input was the driving force behind our latest platform enhancements and will help guide future development goals,” said Andrea Lily, VIPAR Heavy Duty’s Manager of Content Services.
“This launch is evidence of our continued investment in PARTSPHERE solutions and the benefits to both our distributors and supplier partners. VIPAR Heavy Duty is committed to being a leader in product information management and data standardization efforts within the heavy duty aftermarket, and we will continue to evolve our platform to best support our network,” said Paul.
For more information on VIPAR Heavy Duty, visit www.vipar.com or email: info@vipar.com.Connect via social media on LinkedIn and Facebook.
VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies Partners with AACF to Bring Support in Times of Need
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies is proud to announce a new partnership with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), extending the foundation’s reach to the heavy duty aftermarket community to provide critical support to industry members and their immediate family during times of personal crisis.
Since 1959, AACF has helped individuals and families facing financial hardship due to unexpected adversity such as natural disasters, catastrophic medical conditions, life-changing accidents, and devastating fatalities. Through this new partnership, AACF’s support will now be available to individuals working in the heavy duty aftermarket and their immediate family members during the hardest moments of their lives.
The process to apply for financial support is simple and can take as little as five to seven days. Once eligibility is established, an application is completed and sent to the AACF Recipient Committee for review. If approved, the funds can be sent to the recipient or directly to a business, such as hospitals, funeral homes, or landlords.
“We pride ourselves in our efficiency because we know that when people need help, time is not always on our side. We can help much faster than most employers and government programs and will do everything possible to expedite the process,” said John Kairys, Executive Director, AACF.
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies is honored to help promote the foundation's mission by raising awareness of these valuable resources, providing support through charitable giving efforts, and serving as a liaison within the heavy duty aftermarket.
The AACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With the exception of two full-time staff positions, AACF is run entirely by volunteers from the aftermarket industry.
“Our partnership with AACF furthers our commitment to supporting the heavy duty aftermarket community—not only in business, but in life. It reflects the heart of this industry – a community that shows up for one another when it matters most. We encourage everyone in our network to spread the word about this important resource, and when able, support its mission to help those in need in our industry,” said Chris Baer, VIPAR Heavy Duty President and CEO.
For more information, please visit https://hd.aftermarketcharity.org.
VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies Welcomes New Program Manager Tom Ruud
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies announced Tom Ruud has joined its team as Program Manager. Tom will be working in multiple capacities including Program Management, Global Parts Network (Product Distribution Center and Brake Related Product Management), and Business Systems. He will report to Larry Griffin, Vice President of Program Management.Ruud brings 13 years of heavy-duty industry experience to the team, with a proven track record in product and program management, supply chain management, and production and warehouse operations. He previously served as Director of Supply Chain at Wheelco Truck & Trailer Parts and Service, which was acquired by FleetPride, Inc. last year. Most recently, he was Sr. Manager of FleetPride’s OE Operations. Over the course of his career in the heavy-duty aftermarket, he has gained valuable experience in product pricing and procurement, globally sourced products, rebate management, and ERP software implementation. “We are excited to welcome Tom to the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies. His extensive industry experience brings valuable insight that will support our continued growth. In addition to his role as Program Manager, Tom will be involved in several strategic initiatives that are critical to our long-term success. Having team members on board who understand the complexities of the supply chain and today’s evolving business systems is essential, and Tom’s previous experience positions him well to help navigate those efforts. We look forward to his contributions to the success of the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies for many years to come,” said Griffin.
Ruud will be based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
“What I’ve always loved about the heavy-duty industry is that, while it’s large and complex, it still feels like a small, tight-knit community. It’s a relationship-driven business, full of good, reliable, hardworking people. When I first entered the industry 13 years ago I was amazed at how quickly things were evolving, especially in areas like marketing, supply chain, and technology. I’ve seen firsthand how this industry has not only caught up, but in many ways, has surged ahead,” said Ruud.
“As for VIPAR Heavy Duty, I’ve known the organization and its leadership for many years, and the decision to join their team was easy. It’s the culture that drew me in—VIPAR Heavy Duty is a well-run organization that genuinely cares about its people and its role in the industry. Surrounding yourself with good people makes all the difference.”
VIPAR Heavy Duty Further Invests in Product Data Platforms, PARTSPHERE PIM & PARTSPHERE DAM
VIPAR Heavy Duty has completed a major upgrade to its product information management system, PARTSPHERE® PIM, and released a new digital asset management platform, PARTSPHERE DAM.
VIPAR Heavy Duty’s recent product data platform upgrade accomplished three major goals:
A more user-friendly PARTSPHERE PIM, with enhanced search and filter functionality to more easily navigate its 1.2 million parts.
A robust PARTSPHERE DAM to efficiently access 1.4 million supplier-provided visual assets.
A categorization refinement to better organize parts and enhance customers' e-commerce experiences.
PARTSPHERE PIM was originally launched in 2019 to provide streamlined access to and delivery of highly-sought product data. VIPAR Heavy Duty identified early on that good data builds accuracy and efficiency, and affects many different areas within a distributor's business including sales, training, inventory, shipping, and delivery.
Jeff Paul, VIPAR Heavy Duty Vice President of Marketing, said that the heavy duty industry has made great strides in providing access to product rich data over the last five years.
“Most of the challenge is in creating an efficient way to exchange and communicate product information between suppliers and distributors. Naturally, suppliers want to be in control of their intellectual data, and how it is shared by distributors to end users. In turn, distributors want to receive that data with specific standards so it can be uploaded to whatever platform they are using – for e-commerce or as part of their business system, for example. This release of PARTSPHERE PIM and PARTSPHERE DAM allows our distributors and suppliers to further capitalize on e-commerce opportunities and integrated data management system efficiencies, and most importantly, makes it easier for end-user customers to find the right heavy duty aftermarket parts.”
Distributors report that acquiring and organizing product data including descriptions, images, interchanges, and attributes, is a major undertaking, as it comes from suppliers in various formats. Some have even taken thousands of photos of parts themselves to use in their e-commerce platforms. Many suppliers have responded by working with VIPAR Heavy Duty's Content Services Team to actively build new product data and review existing data within the platform.
“This upgrade and development are the result of feedback we received directly from our distributors who use PARTSPHERE PIM to sell and market parts to the heavy duty aftermarket. Their input was the driving force behind our latest platform enhancements and will help guide future development goals,” said Andrea Lily, VIPAR Heavy Duty’s Manager of Content Services.
“This launch is evidence of our continued investment in PARTSPHERE solutions and the benefits to both our distributors and supplier partners. VIPAR Heavy Duty is committed to being a leader in product information management and data standardization efforts within the heavy duty aftermarket, and we will continue to evolve our platform to best support our network,” said Paul.
For more information on VIPAR Heavy Duty, visit www.vipar.com or email: info@vipar.com.Connect via social media on LinkedIn and Facebook.
VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies Partners with AACF to Bring Support in Times of Need
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies is proud to announce a new partnership with the Automotive Aftermarket Charitable Foundation (AACF), extending the foundation’s reach to the heavy duty aftermarket community to provide critical support to industry members and their immediate family during times of personal crisis.
Since 1959, AACF has helped individuals and families facing financial hardship due to unexpected adversity such as natural disasters, catastrophic medical conditions, life-changing accidents, and devastating fatalities. Through this new partnership, AACF’s support will now be available to individuals working in the heavy duty aftermarket and their immediate family members during the hardest moments of their lives.
The process to apply for financial support is simple and can take as little as five to seven days. Once eligibility is established, an application is completed and sent to the AACF Recipient Committee for review. If approved, the funds can be sent to the recipient or directly to a business, such as hospitals, funeral homes, or landlords.
“We pride ourselves in our efficiency because we know that when people need help, time is not always on our side. We can help much faster than most employers and government programs and will do everything possible to expedite the process,” said John Kairys, Executive Director, AACF.
The VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies is honored to help promote the foundation's mission by raising awareness of these valuable resources, providing support through charitable giving efforts, and serving as a liaison within the heavy duty aftermarket.
The AACF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With the exception of two full-time staff positions, AACF is run entirely by volunteers from the aftermarket industry.
“Our partnership with AACF furthers our commitment to supporting the heavy duty aftermarket community—not only in business, but in life. It reflects the heart of this industry – a community that shows up for one another when it matters most. We encourage everyone in our network to spread the word about this important resource, and when able, support its mission to help those in need in our industry,” said Chris Baer, VIPAR Heavy Duty President and CEO.
For more information, please visit https://hd.aftermarketcharity.org.
