Expanding Services Enables Unique Cedar Rapids Business to Survive Post-Flood

Iowa Fleet Service is one of a kind to the Cedar Rapids area. The automotive repair company services commercial vehicles on-site, saving customers time and money. The business concept is relatively new. When owner Jim McCullough decided to start the business, he traveled to Atlanta, Ga., to visit another company conducting similar operations.                “We came up with the idea that businesses needed fast response for maintenance service,” McCullough said. “Instead of having their vehicles sitting in a shop for a day or two for an oil change, they call us and we service their vehicles at their place of business in a couple hours.”                The company's Web site promises there's no job too big or small, offering full service that is convenient and cost efficient. For larger repairs, Iowa Fleet Service will pick up commercial vehicles and return them to the business once complete. The company also keeps track of when maintenance is due, allowing businesses to be worry-free when it comes to their vehicles.                “It's our job to help other businesses keep their operations going,” McCullough said.                 McCullough opened his business in 2004, and just four years later was hit with a double whammy he never saw coming. His shop was flooded in the 2008 disaster. Located at 4601 Sixth St. SW, he never expected to see his business sustain water damage.  It took a month for the business to reopen, and McCullough quickly learned it was just the beginning of many obstacles to overcome. One obstacle included reducing staff because of a loss in sales. With a natural disaster quickly followed by the economic recession, his customers were experiencing their own difficulties and started cutting back. What was becoming a promising business was suddenly facing an uncertain future.“It was really a difficult time,” McCullough said. “Some of our customers that weren't hit with the flood suffered in the recession. It was quite a few whammies at the same time, but we are seeing signs of improvement.”Having employed eight people pre-flood, Iowa Fleet Service now employs six. One of the positions is in sales, which McCullough said has been helpful in attracting new business. The company also expanded its offerings to attract more customers by servicing residential automobiles. The residential service operates like many other repair centers, with clients leaving their vehicles at the shop. While servicing commercial vehicles is still the core mission of the business, expanding the company's offerings has enabled Iowa Fleet Service to survive post-flood. Now McCullough says the company is close to achieving the sales they had before the flood.                Today McCullough is feeling pretty optimistic about the state of his business. He's looking to hire another person in the near future, and feels confident as sales are increasing back to the pre-flood level.

“I definitely wouldn't wish this on anybody,” McCullough said. “You just have to keep plugging away the best you can, depending on how your business is set up. We had to diversify more, which is helping us get back to where we were.”

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