Canada-U.S. trade war tariffs could impact heavy duty parts supply [Video]

Parts supply has been an issue for the heavy-duty trucking industry for years, but tariffs from the Canada-America trade war could aggravate the issue further.

While the tariffs don’t directly target heavy-duty vehicles like semi-trucks, the industry is still bracing for aftershock effects.

“For our industry, it’s important,” says Scott Tetz, president and founder of Truck Parts Inventory.

“There’s quite a bit of material that goes back and forth.”

Truck Parts Inventory helps companies sell new, used and aftermarket trucks and parts across North America. Working with salvage yards, manufacturers, rebuilders and dealerships, many of their sellers rely heavily on cross-border sales; something tariffs could make costly.

“A lot of the distribution centers are either in Canada or in the US, not in both,” says Tetz. “Sometimes they’re in both, but if they’re not, then you’re going to get double tariffed on some of those materials, some of these parts.”

Many parts suppliers learned tough lessons about preparedness …