New Hermiston diesel repair shop takes on big rig problems
Published 6:00 pm Saturday, November 7, 2026
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HERMISTON — Jake Walls grew up in Hermiston around automotive repair shops his father and grandfather owned, and he had driven down that same road.
“I was raised in the shop like he is,” Walls said, pointing to his 21-month-old son, Stetson, who was keeping busy riding his trike around Disturbed Diesel Performance. “It’s in my blood.”
Walls never spent a day in a class learning how to repair engines.
“I learned by working with my dad while I was growing up,” he said.
Walls’ wife, Maddison, is often in the shop with Stetson. When their 5-year-old son Levi gets out of school, Maddison picks him up and returns to the shop with him. They also have another son, Axcil, who is 8.
Walls works with Bryce Harvey, his lifelong friend. They offer diagnostic work, flushes, maintenance and overhaul work. Although their focus is on diesel engines, they work on gas-powered engines, as well.
“They do the exact same thing, but diesel has a lot more torque so it’s for heavy-duty use,” Walls said. “I prefer working on diesel more. There’s a lot more going on with the emission side of diesels. We see a lot of customers with emission-related problems.”
Grand opening held Nov. 2
Disturbed Diesel Performance opened about six months ago as a strictly mobile service before recently moving into the shop at 81732 Highway 395, Hermiston. He continues to offer mobile service, as well. Walls celebrated the shop’s grand opening on Nov. 2.
“My customers were familiar with the owner of the shop and said I should reach out,” Walls said. “So, I called the owner and we worked out a rental agreement. It was just luck.”
Walls said, however, he will eventually need a building larger than his 3,600-square-foot shop due to the sheer size of the equipment they work on, such as a massive mining loader. The wheels alone are 12 feet high.
“We work on really big equipment,” he said.
Some are so big the only place he can work on them are at his home.
Diesel mechanics hard to find
Walls said knowledgeable and reliable diesel mechanics are hard to find in the area. A diesel vehicle may sit for months before a mechanic is available to work on it. That, Walls said, can cost a company money.
“Some just throw pieces at it hoping that will fix the problem and 90% of the time it doesn’t work,” he said.
Walls said he and Harvey take the time to examine the entire engine to diagnose the issue rather than take shortcuts.
One of his customers had a truck that was out of commission for a year.
“So, now it’s at my house getting worked on,” he said. “Our customers need to have their equipment fixed fast. We like to be the solution to their problems.”
Work ethic like his father’s
Walls and Harvey are working on several vehicles including a rig from the Umatilla Rural Fire Protection District. With their commitment to fast, reliable service, the two rarely take any time off.
“I pretty much work constantly, seven days a week,” he said. “I learned that from my father. We work about 12 hours a day. It’s not a very healthy schedule.”
As for the name Disturbed Diesel Performance, Walls said he wanted a name that would stick out.
“Me and Bryce brainstormed ideas,” Walls said. “We wanted something that sounded dysfunctional because we work on a lot of equipment that has dysfunctional issues.”
Walls said he knew when he was young that he would eventually own his own shop and designed the logo for the business while in high school.
“I was thinking ahead,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business and be my own boss.”
For more information on Disturbed Diesel Performance, visit its Facebook page or call 208-738-6773.
