Scholarship Winners

For 10 years, MacKay & Company has offered two scholarships to students who are interested in pursuing a career in the aftermarket, the commercial vehicle industry or a related field. This year’s winners are both business majors at Northwood University:

• Jack DeWildt is from Zeeland, Michigan, where he has developed a strong interest in the parts industry and a clear vision for his future. As he prepares to enter his junior year this fall, he is already setting ambitious goals, including his aspiration to one day own and operate his own parts business.

• Trey Williams is from Grand Blanc, Michigan, and has a strong interest in building a career in the automotive aftermarket industry. As he prepares to begin his sophomore year this fall, he is already focused on gaining the knowledge and experience needed to succeed in this field.

We encourage other companies to support students pursuing their degrees and working to strengthen the future of the industries we serve. For information regarding scholarship opportunities or to make a donation, please visit the University of the Aftermarket foundation at www.uofa-foundation.org.

2026 DataMac® Medium & Heavy Duty Tire Distribution Report

MacKay & Company recently released its 2026 DataMac® Medium & Heavy Duty Tire Distribution Report for vehicle Classes 6-8 and Trailers.  

In January 2026, tire distributors were surveyed on several metrics to measure their 2025 business. These metrics include changes in tire prices, tire sales, margins, and inventories.  

“Tire distributors report positive commercial tire sales in 2025 following a decline in 2024,” said David Kalvelage, Sr. Market Analyst at MacKay & Company. “Increased total operating populations of commercial trucks and trailers continues to drive commercial tire demand. Unless we have an economic slow-down which would impact vehicle utilization, commercial aftermarket tire demand should continue to increase, albeit slowly.” 

Tire Prices Up

New tire prices increase 3.9% year‑over‑year, a substantial acceleration from the 0.7% rise recorded in 2024. Retread tire prices are 1.2% higher than in 2024, a slight moderation compared with the 1.8% increase reported the previous year.  

Overall, half of the survey respondents report no change in new tire prices, while 67% report no change in retread prices. Forty-six percent (46%) of respondents note an increase in new tire prices, while only 28% of respondents indicate higher prices on retreads. Historically, very few tire distributors have reported YOY decreases in prices.   

Tire Sales Up

Tire distributors report new tire sales increase by 2.2% in 2025, while retread sales rise by 1.9%. Historically, with some minor variations, about half of the tire distributors report no change in tire sales. 

Tire Inventories Down

In 2025, new tire inventories decline by 3% with retread tire inventories down 1%. New tire inventory in 2025 stands at 30.4 days. Tire businesses indicate 0.2 days of sales, more than they desire for new tires. Retread tire inventory days of sales are 22.2 days. Current inventory level of retread tires matches what businesses desire.  

Brand Selection Rationale

According to tire distributor businesses, the top four brand selection rationale are “Longest Original Tread Life,” “Past Experience Using Brand,” “Lowest Price for Preferred Grade” and “Lowest Cost Per Mile.” These have consistently remained the leading factors over the last five years. 

Building Customer Loyalty

When asked about the top factors in building customer loyalty to tire brands and related services, tire distributors consistently rank "Customer Service" as the most important. This priority has remained unchanged for several years. “Price" is the second most critical factor in fostering fleet loyalty based on this year’s survey. 

Please contact John Blodgett or David Kalvelage if you are interested in purchasing this report. You can view the report’s TOC here!

2026 Aftermarket Parts Branding Study

Over the past several months, MacKay & Company has worked with Study participants to ensure that their areas of interest are included in this year’s survey to fleets and parts distribution channels.

As of mid-June, we have finalized the surveys for the 2026 Aftermarket Parts Brand Study! And, this is our most comprehensive survey yet. We have added multiple Aftermarket and Tier One brands, many components and additional new questions covering a variety of topics:

• The importance of country origin when choosing a part brand

• What additional percentage fleets are willing to pay for a preferred brand

• What factors are driving the use of remanufactured parts

• What percentage of cost savings is needed to switch parts brands

• ….and more

Reach out today to Travis Kokenes or John Blodgett to learn more about this in-depth look at parts brands.

Aftermarket Parts Market Shows Steady Growth Amid Challenging Farm Conditions

Here’s to wishing that the news on the Agriculture Equipment economy was better.

The agricultural economy remains under pressure heading into 2026. While 2025 was expected to deliver a rebound, most commodity markets—excluding cattle—softened due to global surpluses, weak export demand, declining crop prices, and rising input costs. As a result, farm profitability remains constrained. Outlooks from the Farm Bureau and University of Illinois indicate limited improvement, with the crop sector effectively in recession and continued risk of bankruptcies and consolidation if conditions do not improve.

Let’s turn to the agricultural equipment aftermarket parts business.

Total U.S. agricultural equipment aftermarket parts demand reaches $8.9 billion in 2025, representing 2.7% growth year-over-year. This increase is driven primarily by pricing rather than volume. The model assumes a 4.0% price increase (the highest since the pandemic); excluding pricing, underlying demand would have declined approximately 1.3%. Looking ahead, the market is expected to maintain modest momentum. In 2026, aftermarket parts demand is forecast to rise 2.4% to $9.2 billion, supported in part by a more moderate price increase assumption of 2.5%.

Farmers continue to perform the majority of equipment maintenance internally. When outsourcing, OEM dealers serve as the dominant service channel, followed by independent repair shops. There have been small share shifts within distribution channels in the past year and are likely due to a number of reasons. Yearly shifts in the mix of parts needing replacement may explain some of the variation. In addition, external influences such as pricing, availability, tariffs, and conditions in the farm economy can play a role, as farmers may seek out the most cost-effective option when sourcing parts.

In 2025, OEM dealers hold a 70% share of the retail aftermarket parts demand, a similar share held in previous years. This share accounts for parts sold over the counter and through the shop. The Independent Shop enjoys a 7% share, while both Auto Parts stores and Specialists hold 6% shares. Farm Fleet holds a 4% share and Co-ops have 2% of the parts demand.

DataMac Truck Mexico

Our research partners in Mexico are initiating the field work!! As in past years, survey data is gathered through
face-to-face interviews with vehicle maintenance personnel in truck and bus/coach fleets operating in Mexico.

MacKay & Company is anticipating releasing the DataMac Truck & Bus Mexico: 10th Edition by the end of the year. Our report will cover retail Medium and Heavy Duty retail sales, vehicle universe information, replacement demand, aftermarket by product category and more! Product categories include Power Generation, Power Transmission, Undercarriage, Electrical, Cab & Chassis and Other.

Subscribers will receive the electronic report, a final presentation of the findings, and access to our DMAC online application.

If you wish to receive a detailed prospectus on DataMac Truck & Bus Mexico: 10th Edition, please contact John Blodgett, directly.

2026 Commercial Vehicle Market Overview Roadshow

MacKay & Company’s annual Roadshow is gearing up to hit the road! DataMac Truck subscribers can start planning now by reserving a date and time—either online or on-site—that works best for them. Roadshows typically kick off after Labor Day weekend in September.

We value the opportunity to connect with our DataMac clients during this annual presentation. These sessions also give clients a chance to explore the aftermarket in greater depth, ask questions specific to their business and strategic plans, and discuss additional areas of interest.

Our Market Overview includes insights on the economy, utilization trends, the Aftermarket Index, DataPulse Plus (our monthly indicator based on dealer, distributor, and fleet activity), and, of course, the aftermarket itself.

If you’d like to check availability, please share your preferred date and time (include Time Zone) to Marlein Gomez. Also, let us know your preference for an online or on site Roadshow.

We will still reach out to clients in August with full Roadshow details, but if you’d like to secure the date that best fits your company and team, now is the perfect time to do so.