In The Bay: Diesel Stories

“We listen to know we’re not alone.” — Diesel Stories

Owning a Repair Shop Can Be Lonely

Running a diesel repair shop is hard enough. But too often, feelings of isolation and loneliness creep in. Leadership itself can be lonely. The buck stops with you, and ultimately you’re the one who has to deal with the most difficult problems in the shop. On top of that, your friends and family may not really understand what you do every day. In fact, most people don’t realize that your industry – fleet repair, commercial truck repair – even exists. So it can be tough for them to relate.

Connecting With Others

To counter feelings of loneliness, it’s important for shop owners to connect with others in the industry. We recently partnered with TMC on a State of Heavy-Duty Repair report, which helps owners see where their performance fits in the industry, and provides some insight into what other shops are doing. I also hope it encourages more shop owners to join TMC and be part of the greater community.

But I know there’s more we can do. There’s a famous saying attributed to C. S. Lewis: “We read to know we’re not alone.” (This was written by William Nicholson for the C. S. Lewis character in his play Shadowlands. Anthony Hopkins starred in the 1993 film adaptation.) There’s something about finding a character in a book or movie who resonates with us. It can actually lower anxiety and depression, lift self-esteem, and even increase your quality of health in certain ways such as lowering your blood pressure.

Diesel Stories Podcast

It’s in this spirit that, this month, we are launching the Diesel Stories podcast, where we speak with shop owners and other industry professionals. We ask them how they got into diesel repair, what their day-to-day life is like, and where they see the industry going. We see this podcast as a service to the industry. It will help shop owners feel connected to others who understand what it takes to run a shop and are going through so many of the same issues day in and day out.

David Saline

In one of the first episodes, we speak with David Saline, VP of Sales for Drive (formerly known as Management Success). He tells the story of building and selling his truck shop in New Mexico, and how he was able to achieve a high level of performance with his team.

Ray Clark

We also speak with Ray Clark, Director of Training and Development for Truck Country and Stoops Freightliner. Ray talks about how he got into the industry and how shops should meet the challenges of the tech shortage.

Robert Palm

We then speak with Robert Palm, founder of Trucker’s Final Mile. Robert talks about his nonprofit work bringing injured and deceased drivers home to their families when no one else is able to do so. Robert is an active driver himself.

Please Listen and Subscribe

You are one of tens of thousands of shop owners working hard to keep the lights on, meet payroll, and provide a quality of life for your customers, your employees, and of course you and your family. I hope you’ll listen to the Diesel Stories podcast and realize that you are not alone.