Company Evolved from Custom Metal Fabrication to Auto Repairs

LILLOOET – Serendipity occurs when the right set of circumstances comes together, leading to the perfect outcome. An excellent example of serendipity in action can be illustrated by the business success of Iron Diesel Auto Repair & Towing.

“We originally started in Ashcroft, where we were living about 25 minutes out of town; that was in 2019,” explained co-owner of this growing family business Emily Cable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It really began as a metal fabrication business, Iron Diesel Fabrication, that my husband, Jacob, operated as a proprietorship. He was building bumpers, toolboxes, and other custom projects. He had been an iron worker for 18 years working on steel structures, but he always had an interest in auto repairs. Right from the beginning he’d been a big diesel guy; growing up on a ranch (near the famous Gang Ranch in the Cariboo), he was always fixing his own trucks, so he was naturally mechanically inclined.”

 

In its earliest phase, what was then known as Iron Diesel Fabrication operated out of a steel structure they had constructed in their backyard. It was literally a home-based business that allowed Jacob to use his metalworking skills to enhance his technique, develop a client base, and spread the word that he and his talents were available. Serving the local market, the company grew slowly, mainly via word of mouth from satisfied customers and on social media.

“People would bring their vehicles out, and he’d fix them, do some custom work, and that sort of thing. That’s when we decided that maybe we should get a tow truck, as there were a lot of people breaking down, and he’d either have to trailer them back to our place or get the customers to find their own way to bring in their vehicles. That’s when we purchased our first tow truck, an F-750,” Emily explained.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the towing segment of the business grew, and as it became apparent this had tremendous potential all on its own, the company was able to acquire certification from the British Columbia Automobile Association (BCAA), which dramatically enhanced its credibility as a towing company, which in turn led to an increased workload and corporate expansion.

“As we were living 25 minutes out of town, we weren’t getting a ton of business, just the odd call, mainly from those people who knew us personally. That’s when we realized we’d get more business if we had a shop right in town, so we asked around and ended up finding this shop right in the middle of Ashcroft, which was a great move; we were super busy right from the start,” she said.

Once BCAA certified the towing business began to pick up, so much so the fledgling firm purchased its second tow truck and started expanding its team. Having grown up in the Lillooet area and loving the region, Jacob had a dream of expanding the firm in that direction. As part of the serendipitous nature of Iron Diesel’s growth, a routine tow job turned into the perfect opportunity to expand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After towing a vehicle to Lillooet from Ashcroft and mentioning to the customer how much he liked the region, Jacob learned the community’s lone auto repair shop had recently closed, leaving Lillooet without a home-grown auto repair facility. Residents needing car repairs were forced by necessity to travel elsewhere, even as far as Kamloops, to have their vehicles serviced—presenting the perfect opportunity for Iron Diesel to expand.

“The funny thing is when Jacob lived in Lillooet, the local auto repair shop and towing company was called T & T Auto – Tony and Terry – who were two brothers. Well, my husband used to go up there when he was 16 and help them repair vehicles, so he already had a personal connection to the place. We called Tony one day, and he said they could really use us in town and that we’d do well if we opened a shop there. That was pretty much the deciding factor for making the move to Lillooet,” Emily said.

Currently the now rebranded Iron Diesel Auto Repair & Towing continues to operate from both communities, with the Ashcroft operation solely devoted to the towing business, while the main operation is the firm’s sprawling five-bay auto repair facility at 175 T & T Road in Lillooet.

 

“In 2024 we sold our place in Ashcroft, packed up everything, and moved to Lillooet. That’s when we turned the business from a proprietorship into a corporation. We now have five tow trucks—two flatbeds, a small wrecker, a medium wrecker, and a heavy wrecker—with a total of 16 employees, including Jacob and I,” she explained.

“Right now, based on the business we do, I’d say our business would be divided 60 / 40 between auto repair and towing, with the 60 percent being auto repair.”

In addition to an expanding business, the Cables also have a growing family of six, a second generation of entrepreneurs already showing an interest in becoming part of this evolving enterprise. “Our oldest son is already on the payroll, helping with invoicing in the office,” she proudly said.

“We’re here in this area 24/7, where there’s almost nothing else for the customer to choose from. We have two ladies providing 24-hour dispatch, so we’re always available to help.”