HDAD 2026

MARK YOUR CALENDAR for HDAD 2026 on Monday, January 19, 2026!

“This event has become a critical touchpoint for commercial vehicle suppliers to gain perspective and prepare for what’s coming,” said Shannon O’Brien, senior director, commercial vehicle aftermarket at MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers. “HDAD continues to grow as a forum for real conversations about market dynamics, customer needs and the strategies that will define our industry’s future.”

MacKay & Company’s signature Aftermarket Industry Economy & Outlook session will once again anchor the agenda, providing the latest macroeconomic indicators and heavy duty aftermarket trends. Additional sessions and speaker announcements will be shared in the coming weeks.

“Dialogue is where forward-thinking leaders go to connect the dots and make sense of the fast-changing aftermarket landscape,” said John Blodgett, vice president of sales and marketing at MacKay & Company. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with MEMA and deliver content that’s both data-driven and decision-focused.”

Early bird registration is now open, with volume discounts available and discounts for MacKay & Company clients/MEMA members.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the insights and connections that will drive your business forward in 2026 and beyond.

Register at mema.org and please reach out to Molly MacKay Zacker or John Blodgett if you have any questions

The Economy

With the Federal government shutdown entering its third week, several questions have reached us about its effects on the economy.

The short answer is that the shutdown is another headwind that joins tariffs, dilatory monetary policy, erratic fiscal policy, and political volatility on the list of items inhibiting our ability to generate growth.

How and when the effects of the shutdown are felt depends both on the agencies involved and the length of the shutdown.

The direct effects of the shutdown are on the agencies of the Federal government and their employees.

Certain activities such as air traffic control, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Social Security have been designated as essential and will continue without interruption. Other activities such as small business loans, Federal statistical services, and the national parks have either been suspended or curtailed.

A large number of Federal employees have been furloughed from their jobs with no pay. Those still working will not receive a paycheck until after the shutdown ends and there has been some question whether some or all of them will receive backpay when funding has been restored.

Most of the indirect effects of the shutdown stem from Federal purchases of goods and services from the private sector ceasing or being sharply curtailed during and after the shutdown.

Until we know how long the current shutdown has lasted, it will be impossible to calculate the effects, both direct and indirect, on overall economic activity. However, in the prior three shutdowns of 1995, 2014 and 2018 that lasted at least two weeks, GDP growth slowed sharply in the quarter in which the shutdown took place.

To elaborate slightly on the short answer above: the longer this lasts the larger and more far-reaching the negative effects will be.

YES, that is a Chicago deep dish pizza!

In the next couple of weeks, we will be reaching out to our DataMac clients for input on our products.

What subscription deliverables are most important?
What do you find most valuable in our online DataMac application?
What would you like to see in the future?

This is where the pizza comes in. When you respond to the survey, we will put your name in a drawing for a Chicago deep dish pizza delivered to you!

Watch for an email, provide us with your response and be entered to win.

Q2 Mexico HD Aftermarket Pulse Just Released

Are you looking for detailed and timely information on the Mexico aftermarket? For the U.S. and Canada, we publish monthly reports that provide our customers with insights on aftermarket activity. Like DataPulse Plus, the Mexico Heavy Duty Aftermarket Pulse will provide readers with insights into aftermarket activity, based on quarterly feedback from truck dealers and independent parts suppliers, with the potential of adding fleets in the future.

Paralleling topics in our DataPulse Plus report, on a quarterly basis, we will examine:

Dealers’ Parts Sales: year-over-year, month-over-month, year to date and 2-3 month outlook
Dealers’ Service Labor Sales: year-over-year, month-over-month, year to date and 2-3 month outlook
Dealers’ Inventory Levels: year-over-year, month-over-month and 2-3 month outlook
Independent Garages/HDDs’ Parts Sales: year-over-year, month-over-month, year to date and 2-3 month outlook
Independent Garages/HDDs’ Service Labor Sales: year-over-year, month-over-month, year to date and 2-3 month outlook
Independent Garages/HDDs’ Inventory Levels: year-over-year, month-over-month and 2-3 month outlook

This report is designed for those with an interest in the heavy duty aftermarket in Mexico, but not the need for the detail (or the associated cost) provided in MacKay & Company's DataMac Truck & Bus Mexico report.

Q1 and Q2 reports have been released highlighting responses from a growing number of dealers and distributors. The report can be purchased with an annual subscription (4 reports). Discounts will be provided to DataMac Truck & Bus Mexico 2023 subscribers.

Please reach out to John Blodgett for more information.

MacKay & Company Commercial Vehicle Market Overview

In addition to our DataMac products, our proprietary studies, and our multi-client market studies, we offer a complete view of the Medium and Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicle Market. Utilizing data and information from a variety of our service and reports, this Overview provides a 360-degree look at the market.

We detail the Size and Profile of the U.S. market by Vehicle Class, Vocation, Channel, Product Group and Service Channel. Additionally, we detail the structure of the Distribution Channel - the dealers, parts suppliers, distributors, and customers.

We also dive into the factors impacting the Market such as populations, utilization, retails sales, mileage, the economy to name a few.

This presentation can be tailored to meet your individual company needs - whether you are looking to expand your business, gain an overall perspective of the market or learn more about the market players, this Overview provides you with a foundation of market data.

Contact John Blodgett for more information.

Proprietary research

Fun fact! Over 50% of our business is proprietary research! Each year, we complete numerous projects centered on the specific research needs of our clients. Be it customer input from an unbiased third party, examining fleets’ interest in a new product, sizing a potential market, exploring new technology or brand recognition, we have extensive experience in tailoring our skill set, knowledge and tools to meet your research needs.

Our experienced team can help you with your research and data needs. Please reach out to John Blodgett for more information.

For many years, MacKay & Company, through the University of the Aftermarket Foundation, has offered two scholarships to college students. When possible, we target our scholarships to Northwood University students, given the university’s focus and dedication to the Aftermarket. Providing these scholarships is a meaningful way to give back to the industry and provide support to those who are working hard to be the future foundation of our industry.
MacKay & Company is grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of these scholarship offerings.

We are pleased to announce this year’s recipients - CONGRATULATIONS, Ian and Logan!

Ian Hart is studying Automotive Marketing and Management at Northwood University and intends to pursue a career in the Automotive OEM sector; however, he is not opposed to the Aftermarket side of things as well! Ian serves on the Executive Board of the upcoming Northwood University Auto Show as the Classic Car Chair.

Logan Wilmot is a senior in Northwood University’s accelerated master’s program, majoring in Automotive Aftermarket Management with a minor in Finance, and will be graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the spring of 2026. This year, Logan will be running and recruiting for the Northwood University International Auto Show, where he will be responsible for the Aftermarket HD, and Racing Motorsports divisions. Outside of the auto show, he will be traveling and working with companies at automotive expos like AAPEX/SEMA, HDAW, PRI, and Tech Expo. Logan is excited about the future of the automotive industry and looking forward to becoming a part of its next generation of leaders.

DataMac CE (Construction Equipment) slated to be released in early Spring 2026

Our latest annual report detailing aftermarket demand of parts utilized on construction equipment is set for a Spring release. Our analysis of construction equipment aftermarket parts began in the early 1980’s, nearly 45 years ago!

Examining excavators, backhoe loaders, skid steers, crawler loaders and wheel loaders, our parts demand tracking now includes 725 components on these equipment types. Market summaries, component details and online application access to aftermarket data provides subscribers with the tools to look at market potential, component growth areas, changes in population, distribution, and service channels.

Is there a topic that your company is looking to gain insights into? We welcome client input into our annual survey - a survey that reaches hundreds of equipment operators. Get the answers you need to get ahead in the construction equipment market.