Repair business grows in Minerva with focus on trucks and aftertreatment work

For Zach Gram, owner of R&J Repair LLC hard work and honesty have been the foundation of a business built on fixing problems the right way.

“I always wanted to work for myself,” Gram said regarding the decision to start his own repair business. “I had so many contacts and so many people who would call me after hours. They didn’t want to deal with the dealer. They wanted to deal with me directly.”

Gram said he worked on trucks and heavy equipment for several companies and also spent time at John Deere. About four years ago, he started R&J Repair LLC with a single, smaller service truck and worked out of a garage at his home, handling on-site service calls.

Over time, the business grew into a rented shop space, then an expanded shop. Gram said he eventually purchased that property and shop, and last year the business expanded again with the purchase of another building and property.

A major part of that expansion was adding DPF cleaning and aftertreatment work.

“We expanded into cleaning DPFs and aftertreatment systems,” Gram said.

Gram is joined in the business by his wife, Lindsay Gram, who handles marketing and accounting. She said she also helps with day-to-day needs, including running parts when necessary.

“I had another job, but it just got to be too much to do both,” Lindsay Gram said. “As the business grew, it made sense for me to be here full time.”

Zach’s father, Jerry Gram, is also part of the operation. Zach said his father has spent years in the heavy truck industry and brings valuable experience to the shop.

Gram said the “R” and “J” in the business name stand for his two youngest boys, Ryan and Jared, whom he hopes will have an interest in continuing the business someday.

“We do pickup work for some of our bigger customers, but our main focus is Class 8 trucks and trailers,” Gram said.

His shop’s work ranges from brake jobs to skid loaders, telehandlers and other equipment. Gram also does farm-related work and frequent on-site service calls, noting that the need for qualified mechanics continues to grow.

“The demand for mechanics is huge right now,” Gram said.

Gram said common work that comes in includes aftertreatment systems, regeneration problems and basic maintenance. Having DPF cleaning equipment in-house allows the shop to complete repairs and cleaning without sending customers elsewhere.

“We do a lot of aftertreatment work because we have the DPF cleaning equipment here,” Gram said. “We can handle everything in-house.”

The business also provides on-site service for trailers and equipment at remote locations and companies. Gram said one large project involved working on a package of trailers for Amazon alongside other companies. Another current project involves the oil and gas industry, making dozens of frack tanks road legal by rebuilding brakes, lights and related systems.

For Gram, one of the most satisfying parts of the job is solving problems others cannot.

“The satisfaction comes from spending all that time figuring something out and finally getting it running,” Gram said.

He said doing the job correctly and safely is a priority, even when it takes more time and costs more than a quick fix.

“A lot of people try and cut corners, and I won’t cut corners,” Gram said. “It’s either going to be fixed right, or I’m really not going to do it. When I’m working on a truck, I think about my wife and kids driving beside or behind it. It has to be safe.”

Gram said customers often comment on the condition of the shop itself.

“I’m getting a lot of customers that come back because they’re like, ‘Man, your shop’s clean,’” Gram said with a smile of pride.

R&J Repair, LLC is located at 10004 Blade Road NW, Minerva, Ohio. Shop hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The business also offers roadside assistance and weekend appointments. The phone number is 417-454-1847.

The Grams said the business continues to grow. Lindsay Gram said she would like to bring on another mechanic, and adding another service truck is a possibility this year.