Trucking Misconceptions: Rebuilt Vs. Reman

Common Misconceptions for Fleet Owners/Drivers

Every industry has its myths and misconceptions. But for fleet owners and truck drivers, hanging onto misinformation can cost you and your business money, part life, and precious uptime. One of the most common misconceptions in trucking revolves around two terms — rebuilding and remanufactured, or "reman," as it's more popularly referred to.

The situation is this: you've got a part that's not working right, but you've also got cost to factor in. Buying this part brand new isn't realistic right now, so you move to your other options, which typically include rebuilding the part or buying it "reman," or remanufactured. The misconception is that when it comes to aftermarket truck parts, rebuilt and reman mean the same thing. It may surprise you to learn that these are two very different terms, and understanding the difference can make the difference to your bottom line.

What it Means to Rebuild a Part

So let's talk about rebuilding a part first. The thought that many fleet owners, managers and truckers alike have is that rebuilding a part means completely rebuilding it from scratch. Although the name might insinuate that, that's not actually what it means to have a part rebuilt.

When a part is sent for rebuilding, it is sent to diagnose and fix the problem. But wait, that's the point, right? This is where the first part of the misconception happens. When a part is sent for rebuilding, it often only fixes the symptom of the failure. Whatever wear and tear the other components may have are not assessed, which could lead to another failure and further repair.

In many cases after a rebuild, the same core product is returned, which does not always guarantee the best value for the cost. To get to the true source of the problem and get the most life and value out of that part, in many cases, buying reman is going to be your best option.

The Benefits of Buying Reman

The definition of reman is where the second part of this common misconception happens. A remanufactured part is assumed to be of lesser quality than a rebuilt one when actually the opposite is true. Many big names in the industry choose reman parts because they're just as good as new for a few reasons.

Reman parts are completely disassembled for assessment. While parts are simply fixed at the point of failure during the rebuilding process, reman parts are taken a step further with each component being individually inspected. Components that cannot be salvaged are replaced. Although the replaced components have had a previous life, reputable reman companies follow OEM policies.

The reman process is standardized, including engineering and testing. When a part is sent for reman, in most cases, that same core part is not returned. After the part's components have been stripped and replaced as necessary, a process of engineering and testing occurs to bring that part back to OEM quality.

Core charges are refunded when the core is returned. From a cost perspective, reman products are already less expensive than new. But when buying a reman product, there will also be a core charge that gets refunded to you when the part gets returned at the end of its service life. This not only saves you money but also encourages sustainability for the parts industry.

Where to Buy Reman Parts

Many trusted names in the commercial vehicle industry produce remanufactured parts, including Horton, Delco Remy, Meritor, Bendix, and more. These brands understand the value of reman parts and strive to ensure that the highest standards and performance are brought to reman fan clutches, starters, alternators, air compressors, and other core parts.

Shop our online catalog or call today to shop reman parts from these trusted brands and more. For any questions you have along the way about reman vs rebuilt parts or the value that adding reman parts can bring to your truck or fleet, our team of parts experts is here to help.

Key Points: Rebuilt vs Reman Truck Parts

• There are many misconceptions in the truck industry, including the difference and quality level between rebuilt and remanufactured, or "reman," parts
• Parts that are rebuilt are fixed at the point of failure
• Reman parts are stripped down to the individual components and non-salvageable parts are replaced
• The reman process is standardized and includes engineering and testing parts back to OEM quality
• Reman parts are sustainable for the industry and save you money both at the point of sale and when the core is returned
• There are many categories of reman products from some of the most trusted names in trucking

Shop our online catalog or call today to find out more about what reman parts can do for your truck or fleet.