Sisters grad keeps rigs on the road

Most students graduate with a vague idea of what they might like to do after high school, but 2007 grad Cory Bigelow actually got some full-time work experience before the rest of his class at Sisters High School even finished its final trimester. Now, freshly graduated from Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, he has opened his own business as a mobile diesel truck and equipment technician, based here in Sisters.

Always a worker, Bigelow spent a couple of years during high school at The Gallery Restaurant when he wasn't in class or running for the cross country and track teams. Feeling the itch to get on with life at age 17, he graduated early and got a job with Robinson and Owen Construction in Sisters. The company had plenty of work and Bigelow worked full time for the next few months doing a variety of jobs.

He "saw the writing on the wall" in 2008 as the economy really began to take its toll on the construction industry and the company began laying workers off one by one.

"I think there were 27 employees when I started and before I knew the crew had been whittled down to five or six, so I figured I better go get my college degree," he said.

Once on campus in Pendleton, Bigelow got right back into his workaholic ways, paying his own way through the two-year program in diesel technology. He worked on maintenance crew at the college and landed a job with Anderson Rock Company. In addition to his classes, Bigelow more than once worked 80 hours in a single week.

"I hate to be still," he said. "I always need something to do."

He continued to work for Anderson Rock after graduation, which he says gave him a lot of great work experience, but felt the pull to come back to Central Oregon. The idea of starting his own business all came together when one of his instructors offered to sell him his fully equipped, immaculately cared-for 1962 Kenworth semi-truck.

"I started the business because it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up," said Bigelow. "The truck is in incredible condition because my instructor, Scott Waggoner, is one of those meticulous guys that does everything top-notch, so this rig will get me anywhere I could possibly need to go for a service call."

He is hoping that his work ethic will pay off as he gets his new business off the ground.

"I am willing to do any sort of work involving diesel-engine and diesel-powered equipment," he said. "I am spending a lot of time right now making contacts with any and all companies that might need me to service their equipment or vehicles."

Bigelow considers himself a hometown boy and appreciates the connections he has here in Sisters.

"When I worked at The Gallery during high school, I got to know a lot of the regulars, so when I worked at Robinson and Owen I sort of became one of them by showing up for breakfast every morning," he said. "I am also glad to be able to live with my dad, Clive, for the time-being and to be close to my grandfather, who lives in Redmond."

He says that his training allows him to work on everything from a small diesel tractor to a locomotive engine.

Bigelow understands that it takes time to get established, but feels good about the contacts he has made already, and work is building little by little. He feels that he is sort of a "quick response" technician who can go to where a rig or equipment is broken down and get people back on the road and in business quickly.

"Being mobile allows me to get to people right when they need it without having to get the rig to a shop," he said. "Since I work at a flat rate, even on weekends, I can really help keep people in business without much, if any, down time, because down time for equipment means lost revenue."

Bigelow hopes to balance his business between being the regular service man for some trucking and equipment companies and doing one-time repairs for rigs passing through Central Oregon.

"I hope to get some more business from local tree service, excavation and logging companies, but I have already gotten calls for school buses and semi drivers and places like Ed Staub and Sons propane company that had a couple of their trucks need service," he said.

Bigelow can be reached and at 541-280-2672 or e-mail, [email protected]