Beyond the Hood with Tractor Zoom

Tractor Zoom's Hank Mandsager on where dealerships really stand with AI — and why culture, not technology, is the real bottleneck to getting ready.
 

RDO acquires True North. Horizon and Battle River merge in Canada. Zimmerer Kubota joins a larger group in Texas. Three deals in 30 days — and dealer profitability at a five-year low is the math underneath them all. Plus: the tariff cut that isn't moving prices, what 62 dealers named as their top concern, the "purpling" of CNH, and why this is looking like a K-shaped recovery.

VisorPro COO, John Schmeiser, joins Beyond the Hood to unpack how AI is easing the technician shortage and strengthening dealer service departments.

Dealers ranked combines their #1 concern on our June webinar poll — but the class 8 data doesn't fully back that up. Planter trade-ins just hit a three-year high. Utility tractors face an aging cliff this summer. And there's a new weakness forming in the $100K–$150K equipment range. Andy Campbell breaks down what we're seeing in the data vs. what we're hearing from the field.

Tyler Lowy has had more software conversations with equipment dealers than almost anyone in the industry. In this episode, he breaks down the Three Ps — People, Process, and Partnership — and what dealers most often get wrong before they ever sign a contract.

Deere beat estimates again, but large ag profits dropped 39%. Corn fell from $5 to $4.19 in five weeks. Tariffs on ag equipment dropped from 25% to 15%. Farmer sentiment is near lows. And grain carts are sitting on lots 35% longer. Andy Campbell covers the four stories dealers need to know heading into summer.

Brian Weaver, Director of Network Development North American Ag for CNH, pulls back the curtain on how CNH evaluates dealer health, what he's actually looking for the moment he walks into a store, and why the biggest operational gap at most dealerships has nothing to do with equipment.

Used equipment inventory is down 20% year over year, but sales velocity has dropped sharply in key categories. Andy Campbell breaks down what's moving, what's stuck, and where dealers should focus heading into summer.

Andy Campbell talks with Ryan Roossinck on what makes equipment listings stop the scroll, why storytelling sells tractors, and what dealers can learn from the way buyers actually shop today.

Grain cart days on lot are up 35%, 4WD drive values continue to weaken, and compact construction remains solid. Andy Campbell digs into the equipment data heading into summer 2026.