Local Business Focus - Lifelong Middleburgher Opens Diesel Repair Shop in his Hometown

Mid-Valley Diesel in Middleburgh.

Owner Josh Hoerz at his Mid-Valley Diesel business in Middleburgh.

MIDDLEBURGH _ A lifelong resident of Middleburgh and 2012 graduate of Middleburgh Central School recently took the big step of digging even deeper roots in his hometown.

Josh Hoerz opened Mid-Valley Diesel at 2663 State Route 145 on March 8 and since then has been busy doing repairs, maintenance and parts replacements on a wide range of vehicles with diesel engines, light and heavy duty.

"I do a lot of smaller pick-up trucks but also larger trucks, tractors and other farm equipment, excavators, school buses, pretty much anything with a diesel engine," he said.

Hoerz said he has always loved "messing around" with cars and other vehicles. While at Middleburgh Central, he took a B.O.C.E.S automotive program and afterward a nine-month diesel engine course at a WyoTech Trade School in Blairsville, Pennsylvania.

He worked at D & W Diesel, Inc. in Latham for 10 years and it was while he was still there that the idea of starting his own diesel business in Middleburgh took firm hold.

"I figured most people from around here had to go to Albany to get diesel work," Hoerz explained. "When I was at D & W I was working on quite a few diesel vehicles from around here, so I figured maybe I could do my own thing back where I was from. I didn't like driving to Latham every day. It was a long drive."

Hoerz built his business from the ground up, purchasing a 30-acre cornfield at the Route 145 location about three years ago. He eventually had a large metal building constructed and opened for business about five months ago.

"I had been working on the side in this area so had kind of already built up a customer base," he noted.

So far, it's been pretty much a one-man operation. Hoerz' only assistance with the business has been his father Steve coming out sometimes to help his son with computer work related to the enterprise. While Mid-Valley Diesel's official hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, Hoerz said he is very often there well past 5 on weekdays and also on a lot of Saturdays trying to catch up on the work.

However, the days of him doing everything virtually all by himself might soon be coming to an end.

"I've been looking for some help and think I'm fairly close to hiring some," Hoerz said.

His attention is primarily focused on getting that day's work done and keeping his customers satisfied.

"Maybe, eventually, I might expand and open another location in another area, but I'm pretty content doing what I'm doing now," Hoerz said.

For more information on Mid-Valley Diesel, call 518-827-3363 or email midvalleydiesel518@gmail.com.