Advertise on podcast: Diesel Stories

Peter interviews Matt Bean from EMS Truck Repair in Miles City, Montana about running a family diesel repair and towing business. Matt explains how they added towing services out of necessity when their competitor stopped cooperating, and how it now feeds work into their shop while helping with capacity management. The conversation covers their approach to tracking technician utilization and efficiency, using daily reporting and quarterly performance bonuses to maintain 90-95% utilization rates. Matt emphasizes that utilization is management's responsibility, not the technician's, and discusses their cross-training approach to handle the variable demands of towing work. They also explore their new state apprenticeship program for developing diesel technicians, the challenges of working on modern equipment with proprietary software, and how AI is becoming a useful but limited tool in the industry. The discussion touches on the broader challenges facing the diesel repair industry, including technician shortages and the increasing complexity of modern trucks. (Summary written with the aid of AI)

In this episode of Diesel Stories, Peter interviews Phil and Mary from Fullbay Payments about credit card fraud prevention for diesel repair shops. The discussion covers the growing prevalence of chargebacks, particularly friendly fraud where legitimate cardholders dispute transactions they actually authorized. The experts reveal that 30% of shop owners have experienced fraud, with 20-25% facing chargebacks in the past year, though Full Bay sees only 0.25% of transactions result in chargebacks and wins 60% of disputes. Key prevention strategies include using card authorization forms with ID verification, implementing proper cancellation policies, training employees on fraud recognition, and choosing processors that provide fraud detection tools. The conversation emphasizes that while fraud exists across all payment methods, proper documentation and policies can significantly reduce losses. Real-world examples illustrate how shops can protect themselves through thorough verification processes, especially for high-value transactions and card-not-present situations. (Summary written with the aid of AI)

In this episode of Diesel Stories, Jay Goninen from WrenchWay shares his journey from growing up in an automotive shop to founding a platform focused on solving the diesel industry's workforce challenges. Jay discusses how WrenchWay evolved from a traditional recruiting firm to a comprehensive platform that connects shops with technicians and schools. He emphasizes the importance of shops building authentic brands on social media, being transparent about pay and culture, and investing in long-term relationships with technical schools rather than just seeking immediate hires. The conversation covers critical issues like technician retention, the need for career progression paths, and the industry's struggle with negative perceptions. Jay shares insights from WrenchWay's annual Voice of Technician survey, which reveals concerning trends about technician satisfaction and willingness to recommend the industry to others. The discussion highlights practical strategies for shop owners to improve their recruitment and retention efforts, including the importance of showcasing company culture, offering bonus structures, and developing apprenticeship programs.

In this episode of Diesel Stories, Peter interviews Curt Westphal, director of program development at HDA Truck Pride, about the company's Truck Service Experts (TSC) program. Curt shares his background in the heavy duty industry and explains how HDA operates as a nonprofit buying group that helps independent repair shops compete with larger dealerships. The conversation covers the comprehensive benefits of the TSC program, including regional training sessions, coast-to-coast warranty coverage, HDA University's online education platform, and partnerships with industry organizations like TMC. Kurt discusses how the program provides small shops access to manufacturer training, ASE certification reimbursement, and various ancillary benefits like insurance and uniform programs. They also explore the new Fuse national account program, which partners with TrevyPay to provide guaranteed payment for fleet work. The discussion highlights how independent shops can leverage these resources to compete effectively with larger operations while maintaining their local service advantages. (Summary written with the aid of AI).

Stacy, co-owner of a family-run diesel repair business, shares her 20-year journey from a driveway startup to a 35-person company recognized as one of Seattle's best places to work. She discusses the critical importance of networking with other shop owners, explaining how consulting groups and industry connections provided invaluable learning opportunities and lasting friendships. The conversation explores strategies for managing predictable business changes, from seasonal slowdowns to major disruptions like COVID-19, emphasizing the need for proactive planning rather than reactive responses. Stacy details how she implemented AI solutions, managed workforce challenges during the pandemic, and created systems to handle predictable problems. The discussion covers the evolution from working in the business to working on the business, the importance of executive thinking time, and how to turn competitors into collaborative resources. Throughout, she emphasizes that most business challenges are predictable and manageable with proper preparation, and that networking provides both practical solutions and emotional support for business owners in the heavy repair industry. (Summary written with the help of AI)

In this episode of Diesel Stories, host Peter Cooper interviews Jordan Steen, owner of Six Gun Diesel Performance and Repair, about running a mobile diesel repair business specializing in heavy construction equipment. Jordan shares his journey from working at dealerships to starting his own mobile service, emphasizing the importance of building customer relationships and maintaining work-life balance. He discusses practical business advice including managing cash flow, setting boundaries with customers, pricing strategies, and the value of starting debt-free. Jordan explains his approach to scheduling multiple customers, using software like Fullbay for organization, and providing value-added services that differentiate him from dealerships. The conversation covers challenges like dealing with slow-paying customers, managing expenses on a mobile service truck, and the importance of understanding business financials. Jordan also touches on his goal to expand territorially while maintaining quality service, and his frustration with the lack of knowledge sharing between experienced and new technicians in the diesel repair industry. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes that success comes from providing genuine value to customers rather than competing solely on price.

In this episode of The Diesel Stories podcast, host Peter Cooper interviews Bobby and Bob Chambers from Liberty Fleet Solutions, a multigenerational diesel repair shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The father-son duo shares their 35-year journey, starting from Bob's forced entry into business after construction company layoffs in the 1980s. They discuss their evolution from heavy equipment repair to specializing in fire trucks and EMS vehicles, driven by market changes and the 2008 emissions crisis that affected the truck industry. The conversation covers key business topics including employee hiring strategies using personality assessments, the challenges of running a second shift operation, and the importance of owning real estate as a long-term investment strategy. They emphasize the value of building relationships before needing them, particularly in securing owner-financed real estate deals. The Chambers also share insights on creating meaningful work environments, especially how working on critical emergency vehicles motivates their technicians. Their story demonstrates the importance of adapting to market changes, maintaining strong company culture, and viewing the business as a means to build lasting wealth through real estate ownership.

Ashley Sowell from Integrity Fleet Services discusses how she and her husband built a company culture focused on creating a workplace where employees want to stay. The interview covers practical strategies for building shop culture, including gamification, recognition programs, and incentive systems that don't require large monetary investments. Ashley emphasizes how positive culture reduces technician turnover, improves customer service, and creates word-of-mouth recruiting advantages. The conversation also addresses the broader challenges facing skilled trades, including the need for better education and awareness about lucrative career opportunities in diesel technology. Ashley shares specific examples of cultural initiatives like raffles, recognition belts, team activities, and continuing education support that have helped their company maintain low turnover and attract quality technicians in a competitive labor market.

Diesel Stories is back! Peter Cooper sits down with Luke Todd, President of The Service Company, to talk about expanding from one shop to four locations around Ohio. They dig into when it really makes sense to add a second location, how to track efficiency and utilization, and why you have to know where every minute of technician time goes. They also touch on overhead, shop supplies, diagnostic rates, and building a culture where techs and service staff are all bought into the same numbers. In this episode, you’ll learn about: Luke’s story & shop historyScaling from one location to many – the realities of adding a second shop, splitting resources, and learning how to share talent and infrastructure.The metrics that actually matterEfficiency: actual hours on the job vs. billed hoursUtilization: clocked-in time vs. time on jobsWhy watching both tells the truth about your shop’s performance.Why time tracking is non-negotiable – how untracked minutes turn into lost hours, missed revenue, and higher labor rates.Labor vs. overhead – why most small shops lose more money in lost labor than they ever will in brake cleaner, shop supplies, or utilities.Using data to manage people – understanding which techs are truly most profitable, how to reward them, and how to set clear expectations.Culture & buy-in – how Luke ties compensation, shop KPIs, and accountability together so everyone is aiming at the same goal.Whether you’re a one-bay operation with two techs or managing multiple locations, this episode will change how you think about time, labor, and profitability in your shop.