'My job is super stressful and it pays badly, too'

As replacement brake parts sales professionals for heavy duty trucks, we're constantly under the gun from our customers. Many are truck owner-operators whose income source for the family is broken. That's when the job is most stressful.

Clients don't think they're getting a good deal, fail to see the need for maintenance, and are often forced to come to us because of a law enforcement encounter. They can be reluctant buyers. I also have to diagnose problems from a distance, fixing the darn thing over the phone.

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The weak economy has compounded the pressure. For several years, many clients tried to skimp.

You point out to them that they're trying to stop 100,000 pounds of rolling steel. It's dangerous to not properly maintain their brakes. Hey, their families are out on the road, too.