When that happens, John Gittinger, owner of Odessa Diesel Repair, said he has worked hard to make sure many of those service calls come his way. 

To start, Gittinger said that three years ago, he decided to remain on call 24/7, a decision that resulted in more work from the scales and allowed his business to really take off, he said.

He also began advertising on the National Truck and Tire Services Breakdown Directory Web site, www.nttsbreakdown.com.   The site gives truck drivers a way to find nearby repair facilities.

Gittinger said those business decision have kept him busy, despite the slumping economy.

"Workers at the scales tell us that truck traffic is way down from one year ago, but I think we have been aggressive trying to pick up that business, so that has offset the reduction in trucks on the road," he said.

He added the work he does at the scales gets the word out to trucking companies that he has a 10,000-square-foot facility with nine bays where they can start bringing their trucks when passing through.

Gittinger's son, Gerald, who has been working with his father full-time since 1980, said they make trips to the weigh station every day, sometimes three or four times.  With a 16-foot trailer equipped with an air compressor, jacks, tools, and parts, most repairs can be performed on location, he said.

John Gittinger said heavy-duty truck repair accounts for 75 percent of his business, while cars and light-trucks make up the rest.

Along with general repair and maintenance work on heavy-duty trucks, Gerald Gittinger said the shop does alignments and computer diagnostics--work that sets it apart from many shops in the area.

"We were probably the first in the area to go computer high-tech," Gittinger said. "We have a laptop that has all the OE diagnostic software on it for Cummins, Detroit, Mack, Volvo, Bendix, and more."

Gittinger added that the laptop and software was a $25,000 investment, but a necessary one in order to separate their shop from other repair facilities.

"As far as diagnostics on diesels, we are probably the only one in this area," he said. "It is such a specialized area and you have to be big enough to afford the really good equipment, and we have done that." 

 
Since 1988, John Gittinger said he has also offered alignments on tractor trailers, a service that not many facilities in his area can do.

Gerald Gittinger said he uses a Hunter Alignment machine on about anything from a car to a horse trailer.

He said has even designed special alignment equipment for bending torsion axles, rubber-filled axles that twist inside. He said he designed the tool to bend the axle on the vehicle.

From $25,000 diagnostic laptops to rubber-filled axles, John Gittinger said he has seen the industry evolve since he started his repair business 40 years ago.

One specific evolution, he said, is the development of the computerized transmission with centrifugal clutch, which has no clutch pedal, and demonstrates why possessing the latest in diagnostic software is vital.

The computerized transmission with centrifugal clutch gear shift has only a forward and reverse function, Gittinger said.  As a driver accelerates it automatically throttles the engine back and goes through the gears, he said. An input and output sensor identifies the ratio between the gears and looks for specific speeds. When the correct speeds are identified, it automatically shifts to the next gear, Gerald Gittinger added. 

John Gittinger added that about 17 percent of new trucks sold have that type of clutch, largely because it makes it easier for freight companies to hire drivers. "They can take an inexperienced driver and put him in a truck without having to teach him how to shift," he said.

Advances such as centrifugal clutches and an increase in electronic components is the reason Gittinger said that he and his eight employees not only have to have the latest in equipment, but also constantly continue their training. He said they attend classes through O'Reilly Auto Parts, CARQUEST, and ASA-MO/KAN's Vision show.

For reference material, Gittinger said he uses Alldata, Mitchell 1's Medium Truck, along with iATN for online diagnostic information.

For OEM parts, he said he goes to the local CAT, International, Cummins, and Kenworth dealers, along with Midway Ford and Westfall GMC.

For aftermarket supplies, Gittinger said he calls on Precision-Bilt, Inland Truck Parts, Gooch Brakes, and Truck Pro.