Randy Shepherd has one standing policy at TBC Truck, Trailer Repair & Diesel Performance. If he doesn't know, he says so. To some, that might sound like a modest admission. To a diesel mechanic who has been under the hood since the mid 1970s, before onboard computers, before electronic fuel systems, before the industry became a labyrinth of compliance thresholds and federal mandates, it is the bedrock of how he believes business ought to be done.
Headquartered in Missouri, TBC Truck has been a fixture of the commercial trucking industry for the last five decades. Shepherd has watched the business evolve from a single mobile service operation into a full-service diesel shop offering engine overhauls, transmission rebuilds, dealer-level diagnostics, chassis and suspension work, trailer and fleet repair, and a high-performance diesel division that draws as much passion from the family as it does clientele.
"My kids are all involved in it," Shepherd says. "My youngest son works in a shop, my middle son owns a shop, and my oldest son has been around truck stops all his life. We sit around and talk about it a lot, because that's just all we know. We know trucks. We understand mechanics."
Shepherd's career began in an era dominated by mechanical systems, fuel pumps driven by pure engineering rather than code. He argues that modern trucks now operate as complex electronic ecosystems, with onboard diagnostics and emissions systems dictating performance parameters. He views this transition as one of the most consequential shifts the industry has experienced, particularly as regulatory frameworks have introduced new layers of operational constraint.
"The trucks today are controlled in every aspect," Shepherd explains. "From fuel mileage to drivability, everything is governed. That's changed how the entire industry operates." TBC Trucks has codified itself within that transformation, offering comprehensive services that seek to streamline truck operations across every dimension. He points to a 24/7 roadside assistance model that remains central to its identity, so that drivers stranded in remote or unfamiliar locations have access to immediate, competent support.
Pressure points within the industry often reveal themselves most clearly on the roadside. Shepherd points to the increasing prevalence of aftertreatment-related failures, such as systems tied to emissions compliance, as a significant contributor to breakdowns. "When a driver breaks down, they're in a vulnerable position. They've got freight on the line, deadlines to meet, and no margin for delay. They need someone who knows what they're doing and can fix it right the first time," Shepherd says.
Such conditions, he believes, have created an environment where service integrity becomes critical. Shepherd observes recurring scenarios in which stranded drivers face escalating costs due to inefficiencies, such as multiple service calls, incorrect parts, and extended downtime. His response has been to build a model centered on transparency and technical clarity, even when it means stepping aside.
"If it's something outside our scope, we say it," he notes. "There's always someone better suited for a particular job, and the goal is to get that driver moving again, not to keep billing hours." Clients are met with upfront assessments, realistic timelines, and cost structures that reflect actual work performed. Shepherd frames this as a principle he actively instills in the next generation of the business.
"Family, honor, and dignity, that's what matters," he says. "Being real with people, being upfront. That's how you build something that lasts."
Parallel to its core services, TBC Truck champions high-performance diesel engineering. The company's involvement in competitive truck racing, including pulling trucks, mud racing, and modified builds, functions as a technical proving ground. Shepherd's own service truck, which he notes produces over 1,100 horsepower at the rear wheels, exemplifies this crossover between performance and practicality.
Exposure to extreme conditions refines diagnostic precision and mechanical insight, benefits that extend directly to commercial clients. Performance tuning, durability testing, and component optimization developed in racing environments enhance the team's ability to solve complex issues under real-world constraints.
"That side of the business sharpens everything we do," Shepherd explains. "When you push a truck to its limits, you learn exactly where those limits are, and how to manage them."
Despite industry volatility, TBC Truck continues to maintain consistency in service and continuity in values. Shepherd emphasizes the importance of legacy as an operational standard carried forward by those who inherit the work.
A recent case Shepherd points to illustrates that philosophy in practice. After completing a transmission repair, TBC supported a driver experiencing issues over 1,000 miles away, providing guidance and standing behind the initial assessment. The resolution reinforced a principle Shepherd considers non-negotiable. He says, "That's the way it's supposed to be. If you do the job, you stand behind it."
The legacy Shepherd is building at TBC isn't measured only in rebuilt engines or repaired transmissions. It lives in the drivers who leave the shop, or the roadside, with a fair bill and a straight answer. It runs through the next generation, already learning that the best thing a mechanic can give a stranded driver is the confidence that someone showed up, knowing what they were doing, and charged them only what was right.
For 52 years, this commitment has stood strong, and Shepherd is dedicated to ensuring it continues.
