My first real experience with the Diesel Pro Network came earlier this year at an AAM Group event in the Tri-Cities area of Tennessee.
Set against a mountain backdrop, I found myself surrounded by distributors, manufacturers, and diesel professionals from across North America. At the time, I knew very few people in the crowd.
That didn't last long.
A bluegrass band was playing, and when they ripped into an incredible version of Rocky Top, I found myself dancing along. I suspect I'll never hear that song played quite as well again, but I also doubt I'll ever hear it without being transported right back to that evening in Tennessee.
At one point, a gentleman came over, made a comment about my dancing, and we struck up a conversation. Within minutes, I felt more comfortable in a room where I had hardly known anyone.
I later discovered I'd been talking with the president of The AAM Group.
It was a small interaction, but it told me a lot about the organization.
Leadership has a way of setting the tone, and suddenly the energy I had experienced throughout the event made sense. The networking, the marketing, the relationships, and most importantly, the sense of community weren't simply part of putting on a great event.
They were part of the culture.
And right in the middle of that community was the Diesel Pro Network.
What Is the Diesel Pro Network?
Diesel Pro Network is a growing community of independent diesel shops, warehouse distributors, and supplier partners working together to strengthen the independent diesel aftermarket.
Powered by The AAM Group, DPN connects shops with regional warehouse distribution, national brand partnerships, marketing resources, educational support, promotions, networking opportunities, and programs designed to help independent businesses grow.
On paper, that's an impressive list.
Experiencing it firsthand is something different.
What struck me in Tennessee was seeing so many different businesses sharing a similar vision. Distributors from across North America, supplier partners, and independent aftermarket professionals were all contributing to a network built around supporting the people who keep diesel vehicles working.
For Pacbrake, becoming a supplier partner with Diesel Pro Network feels like a natural fit.
Nearly 65 Years of Helping Diesel Get the Job Done
Since 1961, Pacbrake has been serving diesel owners and operators with products designed to help them get the job done.
And in the diesel world, getting the job done isn't just a slogan.
These vehicles tow trailers, haul equipment, move freight, support businesses, and earn livelihoods. When they need service, repair, or an upgrade, there is often an independent diesel shop behind them making it happen.
Those shops know their customers. They know the vehicles. They know the applications. And they've built their businesses by helping customers solve problems and keep moving.
That's a community Pacbrake has been part of for generations. And Diesel Pro Network gives us an opportunity to serve that community in new and better ways.
Larry Lyon, Director of Business Development at The AAM Group and the person heading up the Diesel Pro Network program, welcomed Pacbrake's involvement early in the relationship: “Exciting to see Pac Brake joining our AAM Member networking meeting…”
For us, joining DPN isn't simply about putting the Pacbrake name on another supplier list.
It's about improving access, expanding support, and becoming a better partner to the independent diesel shops that have supported this industry for decades.
Better Access. Stronger Support.
A great product only creates an opportunity if the people who need it can access it and have the support they need to confidently sell, install, and stand behind it.
That's where the combination of Pacbrake and Diesel Pro Network becomes particularly powerful.
Pacbrake brings nearly 65 years of diesel experience, an expanding portfolio of products, technical knowledge, training, marketing resources, and a team committed to supporting the aftermarket.
Diesel Pro Network brings an established community of independent shops, regional warehouse distribution, marketing programs, education, networking, promotions, and business resources designed specifically for the diesel aftermarket.
Together, that's a powerful one-two punch for the independent installer.
Great products backed by better access and more support.
For a DPN shop, that can mean sourcing Pacbrake through a regional distributor they already know and trust while also gaining greater access to product education, training, marketing materials, promotions, and opportunities for increased visibility.
The goal is simple. Make it easier to do business with Pacbrake and give independent shops more tools to grow their business.
Putting the Partnership to Work
We're already seeing what that can look like.
Dix Performance North has embraced the Pacbrake partnership through DPN in Canada, working with us to expand product knowledge, training, sales programs, and marketing support for the businesses they serve.
Sometimes the smaller details tell the story best.
After receiving Pacbrake’s latest sales materials, including French-language versions developed to better support the Canadian market, Dix Performance North National Sales Manager Jason Denkers told us:
“Kudos for making them in French. I believe that you are the 1st manufacturer to do that for us!”
That's the kind of feedback that matters.
Serving the installer network better isn't always about launching another program or making a big announcement. Sometimes it means listening to what a distributor or shop needs and making sure they have it.
Zimmey's Auto Parts and Competition Specialties have also been early adopters of the Pacbrake partnership as part of Diesel Pro Network in the United States, further extending access and support to independent diesel shops through the DPN distribution network.”
Different markets. Different businesses. The same objective.
Make it easier for independent diesel shops to access the products and support they need.
And the Network Is Growing
One of the most exciting things about Diesel Pro Network is that the story is still being written.
The network continues to grow and evolve.
CANUSA Auto Parts Centres recently became the newest AAM member to join Diesel Pro Network, adding another established regional warehouse distributor to the network and further expanding DPN's reach in Canada.
For Pacbrake, every new connection creates another opportunity to strengthen the path between manufacturer, distributor, installer, and ultimately the diesel owner.
That's important because no single part of this industry operates alone.
- Manufacturers need great distribution.
- Distributors need strong supplier partners.
- Independent shops need access to both.
- And diesel owners need knowledgeable local businesses they can trust.
When those pieces work together, the entire industry becomes stronger.
More Than Parts
One of the things I appreciate most about the Diesel Pro Network is that its value proposition doesn't stop at parts.
DPN is designed to help independent shops grow.
That includes marketing resources, educational programs, networking with other shop owners, brand partnerships, promotions, dealer-locator opportunities, and other tools designed to help local businesses remain visible and competitive.
That's exactly the kind of partnership Pacbrake wants to be part of.
We want shops to have access to great Pacbrake products.
But we also want them to have the knowledge to confidently recommend them, the training to work with them, the marketing resources to promote them, and the support to build profitable business around them.
The more connected we become to the installer network, the better we can understand what those businesses need.
And the better we understand those needs, the better partner Pacbrake can become.
Serving the Diesel Industry Better Than Ever
A lot has changed since Pacbrake started serving the diesel industry in 1961.
The vehicles have changed. The technology has changed. Distribution has changed. The way customers research and purchase products has changed.
But the importance of the independent shop hasn't.
Those businesses remain on the front lines of the diesel aftermarket, helping customers keep their vehicles working and their businesses moving.
As Pacbrake grows, our ability to support those shops should grow with us.
That's what makes our partnership with Diesel Pro Network so important.
The network is growing.
Our distributor relationships are growing.
The resources available to installers are growing.
And together, Pacbrake and DPN are creating better access and more support for independent diesel businesses across North America.
If you're already part of Diesel Pro Network, now is the time to take advantage of what this partnership can bring to your business.
- Great products.
- Regional access.
- Training.
- Marketing.
- Visibility.
- Support.
- All backed by organizations that believe in the future of the independent diesel aftermarket.
I went to Tennessee knowing very few people in the room.
I left understanding why so many of them wanted to be part of the same network.
And whenever I hear Rocky Top again, I suspect I'll remember exactly where that realization started.
We're proud to be part of Diesel Pro Network, and we're just getting started.