From tow truck to roadside repair
Matthew Angel got his start as a tow truck mechanic. Out on calls, he kept seeing the same thing. Cars and trucks getting hauled in that could have been fixed right there on the roadside, no tow needed. That's what led him to start Diligent Roadside Repair Co.
He runs the operation out of Ridgedale and covers the Branson MO area, working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What he gets called for most
The most common job is tire repair. It's the call that comes in more than any other, and it's the kind of fix that often means the difference between a quick roadside stop and an expensive tow.
What people get wrong
Matthew says the biggest misunderstanding customers have is about preventive maintenance. In his words, PM services are cheap insurance. Skip them and you're gambling on a bigger, more expensive repair down the road.
He also points to oil changes specifically as the maintenance item people skip most often. It's simple, it's routine, and it's the one that gets put off until it's too late.
A repair he's proud of
Ask Matthew about a job he's proud of and he'll bring up his own 1966 Ford F250. It's the kind of repair that sticks with a mechanic, the one done on a truck that means something personally.
His favorite vehicle he's worked on is a 379 Peterbilt.
What's on the truck
When asked what's stocked on the van or in the bay, Matthew doesn't list parts. He points to work ethic and the 24/7 operation itself. For him, being available around the clock is the equipment that matters most.
How to pick a mechanic
Matthew's advice before hiring anyone is simple. Look at their service truck or their shop. A clean truck or a clean shop tells you something about how they treat their work. Pride in the vehicle or the space usually means pride in the service.
Interviewed by Mechanicrank · September 11, 2026. Nothing here is sponsored and nothing was rewritten into marketing copy. Read the other features or tell us about your own shop.