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Aftermarket vs. OEM: Your Guide to Purchasing Heavy-Duty Truck Parts

Written by
Fleetspec
Published on
October 1, 2022 at 4:58:00 PM PDT October 1, 2022 at 4:58:00 PM PDTst, October 1, 2022 at 4:58:00 PM PDT

When choosing between aftermarket and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, several key factors will influence your decision. We've made it easy for you with this guide to help you break down what is important - and where you need to go.


Quality

Heavy-duty aftermarket truck parts have rapidly increased in quality in the past decade. While quality will vary from each aftermarket parts manufacturer, by sticking to branded parts (rather than unbranded), the level of quality is virtually guaranteed.


With OEM parts, the quality will be consistent with each brand. On the other hand, the problems will also be the same with each brand.


Selection

In the heavy-duty aftermarket, competition is fierce, and the parts you need for your truck will be far easier to come by, meaning you'll have more choices and likely won’t have to wait for your part to come in.

OEM parts will offer very little selection, restricted to only one or two styles. This means you will have no other options to choose from.


Availability

As mentioned above, with such a large amount of heavy-duty aftermarket parts, you will not need to wait for the part you need. You'll be back on the road in no time.


With OEM, the selection and availability are limited. If the part you need is not in stock, you will need to order it and wait even longer for it to come in - extending the time your truck is out of commission.


Price

The misconception about aftermarket parts is that you get what you pay for. Quality and competitive pricing can go hand-in-hand so long as you do your research. Most heavy-duty aftermarket parts will be less expensive than their name-brand counterparts and often of a higher quality.


OEM parts are higher in cost for two reasons: first, you are paying for the brand's name. The second is that there is very little competition in this market, and manufacturers can get away with charging far more for their parts.


When deciding what is best for you, the choice is clear: heavy-duty aftermarket parts will save you money and time and give you the most bang for your buck.