A Day in the Life of a Parts Specialist at RDO Equipment Co.

Searching for a new job can be stressful. There are many opportunities out there, and it can be tough to choose the perfect one for you. 

While it can be tempting to apply for every job under the sun — especially when you’ve been at it for a while — it’s also important to fully understand what you’re getting with each opportunity. 

If you’re considering joining RDO Equipment as a parts specialist, you likely have questions about working in this role. Specifically, you might wonder what you’d be doing on a daily basis. 

To help you decide whether this role is right for you, this article will outline what a typical day looks like as a parts specialist at RDO. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us; we’re happy to help you in any way you need on your journey to build a career you’re proud of.

What Does a Parts Specialist Do at RDO Equipment Co.?

Parts specialists (which we employ across more than 80 locations) play a crucial role in the success of our customers and company. Parts specialists, who report to a parts manager, facilitate the parts portion of our business.

This means they perform customer service (this is a customer-facing role), stock parts, receive inbound parts shipments (from manufacturers and vendors), manage parts inventories, pick and pack parts to send to other stores when requested and work alongside our sales and service departments to ensure customer satisfaction. 

Additionally, parts specialist at RDO. . . 

• Ensure internal and external customers receive the correct parts through great customer service.
• Record all sales (including lost sales) and/or customer transactions using the systems, tools and guidelines we provide.
• Take a proactive approach to inventory control by assisting and reporting discrepancies.
• Receive, ship and store parts as needed in accordance with DOT local, state and federal guidelines.
• Proactively study and stay current on industry and product information.
• Pick up and deliver parts for customers and vendors as needed.
• Mark and store parts in the stockroom according to the pre-arranged system and assist with cycle count duties.
• Assist in maintaining the retail sales floor and displays.
• Assist in keeping the parts department clean and professional.

A Typical Day as a Parts Specialist at RDO Equipment Co.

One day as a parts specialist is never the same as the last. 

There is a lot of variety in this role, which is something many enjoy. As you can tell by the list of duties, there’s never a shortage of work for a parts specialist. 

On a typical day, you may spend the first few hours checking in a pallet or box of parts that’s recently arrived (from another store or from a manufacturer). 

Next, you might be behind the parts desk, answering the phone up until lunch before finishing the day packing up parts to send to another store (this is called “pick packing”). 

Every RDO store counts a percentage of its parts inventory each month. This is handled by the parts specialists at each location. 

While much of this job involves inventorying and managing the store’s inbound and outbound parts movement, customer service is also something you’ll do every day. 

RDO parts professionals are often the first faces people see when entering one of our locations. 

As such, expect to answer many questions and troubleshoot with customers daily. Some customers know exactly what parts they need, but others don’t. In these situations, parts specialists are in charge of helping them find the right solution.

Training will be a big part of your job in an RDO parts role. The heavy equipment parts industry is complex, making it important to have highly trained staff ready to assist customers. 

As such, RDO parts specialists go through regular training and even progress through career path levels. Expect to regularly receive training in your parts role. 

Common Challenges as a Parts Specialist at RDO

Like any job, working as a parts specialist has its challenges. For many, these challenges aren’t deal breakers and it’s easy to get past them. That said, to give you the most well-rounded view of this role, let’s talk about them. 

There are a Lot of Parts and the Terminology is Complex

First and foremost, the terminology used in the heavy equipment parts world is wide-reaching and varied. This becomes more difficult at a large company like RDO, where one store may sell products from multiple manufacturers.  

The terminology used to describe a certain part or component may change from one manufacturer to another. Or, a customer might call something different than the term you’re familiar with.

This can be a challenge of this position. Your training (both in-house and third-party) will help you overcome this in time. Also, as an RDO parts specialist, you’ll never be alone, your coworkers and manager will be there to answer any questions you have along the way. 

Working With Frustrated Customers

Although this is not always the case, sometimes parts specialists encounter frustrated customers. Our customers do important work and having a machine down can impact their business. As a result, parts specialists sometimes work with customers who are frustrated by their situation. 

Being able to keep a cool head and provide solutions in this situation can be a challenge, but it’s an important piece of this job. Again, your store leaders will be able to coach and support you through these situations. 

The Best Things About Being a Parts Specialist at RDO Equipment Co.

There are a lot of advantages to working as a parts specialist at RDO. For many, this job can become a career, full of variety, advancement and growth. While this isn’t a full list, here are some of the best things about working in parts here.

It’s a Fulfilling Job

Everyone wants a job where they can leave work each day feeling fulfilled. The parts specialist role is one of these opportunities. RDO customers do really important work and they rely on our parts specialists to help them remain efficient. 

Every day, parts specialists solve a new problem for someone — whether over the phone or in person. 

In doing so, they see the impact of their work firsthand and constantly feel fulfilled by their work. 

No Two Days Are The Same

Whether you work in Riverside, CA, Moorhead, MN or somewhere in between, the parts department at RDO is fast-paced. 

Between inventorying, serving customers, working with sales and service staff and handling parts shipments, no two days are the same in these roles. This variety makes the job exciting and attractive to people who like a daily challenge. 

A Defined Career Path Program

Another cool thing about working for RDO in a parts specialist role is our defined career path levels. Every quarter, parts specialists meet with their manager to discuss performance, challenges, successes and career growth areas of focus. 

Over time, parts specialists can rise through our career path levels (Parts Specialist - Level 1, Parts Specialist - Level 2, Parts Specialist - Level 3, Lead Parts Specialist). 

With each promotion, parts specialists can increase their income and level of responsibility, making this a rewarding career path.

Ready To Become a Parts Specialist at RDO? Your Next Step.

Now you have a better understanding of what working as a parts specialist here might look like. As you might imagine, it’s difficult to generalize what every parts team member's day looks like. That said, this is a pretty good overview. 

If you’re ready to move forward with this process (and join RDO’s parts department), find an opening in your area here. 

We’re super excited to help you on your journey to build a career you're proud of.