Not many people consider the specialized world of diesel engines, which is what Jaden’s JS Truck Repair is all about. While he’s no stranger to a passenger vehicle or a slick sports car, his passion lies in trucks, and he brings this enthusiasm to all his TikTok followers.
Starting Out in the Truck World
Jaden entered the automotive industry at 18 working for a dealership as a car detailer. He grew up watching his grandfather work on cars and became fascinated with them, so he asked his boss to switch over to the repair team. Armed with a $200 toolbox, Jaden started working on cars.
He got into diesel engines as a rite of passage in the dealership. “Since I was the new guy, I got all the diesel work because no one else wanted to work on them,” he says. Fortunately, Jaden saw this as an opportunity rather than a burden. The more he worked on diesel engines, the more he liked them.
After working in the shop for a few years, he started working on big semi trucks and other heavy equipment. He notes that people in the auto industry either love or hate diesel engines. Luckily, he was drawn to the bigger, powerful engines. He eventually set up a mobile mechanic business in Florida and worked on broken-down big trucks and trailers.
Going Back to His Roots
Following his stint in Florida, Jaden returned to his home in Southern Illinois after welcoming his first child. He connected with a previous employer, Bulk Tire & Repair Solutions, and continued his love for big engines.
Bulk Tire & Repair Services started as a trucking company with 13 semi trucks. After COVID-19 impacted business, the company pivoted and began offering mobile repair services to passenger and commercial vehicles. The mobile shop offers various repair services, from oil changes to heavy-duty tire repair. In 2020, the company also began offering tow services.
Jaden and his colleagues work on tires, brakes, and preventative maintenance, but they specialize in emissions systems. Semi trucks are required to meet various emissions standards, so keeping these systems running correctly is essential. Jaden mentions that his team completes regular repairs on EGR coolers and valves, EGT sensors, differential pressure sensors, and other parts of the exhaust emissions system.
Bulk Tire & Repair Solutions
1202 West Main St West Frankfort, IL 62896
(618) 663-5014
Keeping Up with the Times
With changing regulations and advances in automotive technology, Jaden has to work hard to keep up. Diagnostics present some of the biggest challenges. Jaden and his team make sure to update scanning tools and computers for trucks and learn new techniques for testing and diagnostics.
Modern trucks have been adapted to meet changing emissions and exhaust regulations, which can pose problems. “You have to have a good scan tool or dealer software on a laptop to be able to look at sensor parameters and test components to figure it out,” he says. “Without computer diagnostic software it’s very hard to find issues on newer trucks.”
He also encourages anyone in the automotive field to keep educating themselves. “Training and skill development should never end. If there’s something new you’ve never seen before, don’t be afraid to figure it out. Even if you have to look up electrical or mechanical diagrams on how something new works. Constantly learning new things is what makes you a sharp and well-rounded mechanic.”
Stepping up to the Challenge
Jaden is not one to back down from a difficult repair. He recently worked on a Duramax engine and had to tear apart the whole engine to replace head gaskets. A delay in parts delivery ended up forcing him to pause the project for a month.
Reconstructing an engine is hard enough when the job is fresh in a person’s mind. However, Jaden had pulled the engine apart weeks before, to the point where the whole engine wiring harness was separated from the engine. Thankfully, Jaden took detailed photos throughout the process, making reassembling the engine a less-than-monumental challenge.
For Jaden and the crew, repairing trucks is a team effort. At his shop, each technician plays on their strengths to tackle various jobs. There is an electrical and suspension expert, a mechanic specializing in classic cars, and Jaden, who handles the heavy-duty engines and transmissions.
"The average semi truck and trailer is rated to weigh 80,000 lbs. That’s a whole lot of weight moving down the road with a braking system that’s been neglected. Those trucks should be taken to a repair shop and be dealt with correctly.”
- Jaden Seagraves
Fixing Trucks on the Go
Since semis are constantly on the road, roadside breakdowns happen frequently. Jaden notes the need to be creative enough to get a truck off the road: “There are times in which you have to do temporary fixes or think outside the box to get a truck in working order to get off the highway and into a safer location or even back to the shop for a correct repair. Sometimes it calls for your own custom-made tool to finish a job on the side of the road.” Jaden’s go-to tool is his electric ratchet made for tight spaces.
If a truck isn’t starting, Jaden notes that it is likely a fuel filter issue. If that isn’t the case, he checks the truck for any apparent issues. If none stick out, it’s time to pull out the scanner and look for diagnostic codes. Whatever the problem, Jaden is dedicated to safety. Whenever he and his colleagues need to do a mobile repair, they chock the wheels and use jack stands. They also use high-quality tools and parts.
He notes that anyone who owns a fleet of heavy-duty trucks should spend the money on maintenance rather than opting to save money with a DIY repair.
In Loving Memory of Tyler
Tyler gained his wings a few years ago. He was a big part of the company.
