We caught up with Carlos Rojas, a mechanic in the Fleet Department to chat about his time at On Time Ambulance, and taking pride in your work.
Can you please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your work at On Time Ambulance?
My name is Carlos Rojas. I’m a mechanic. I do maintenance for all the vehicles; preventative maintenance and major repairs.
What does a normal day look like for you?
Everything from replacing brakes, replacing transmissions, doing A/C systems, all of that.
What’s the environment like with your coworkers?
It’s very friendly. Everyone from the drivers, the people in the office, it’s nice.
How is your performance evaluated by management?
They look at our production, the way we work, the safety. They mostly look that the vehicles come out safely --- they don’t pressure us, they want to make us do a good job.
What does the fleet department look for in new employees?
They’re looking for professionals; people who know what they’re doing, ASE certified people that like to work with others. They really value teamwork.
What skills does it take to succeed in the fleet department?
Mechanic skills. And every day you learn; you never stop learning. You need to like your work and not be afraid to get a little greasy.
Is there a lot of flexibility?
Yes there is. I've been here for seven years, and any time I've needed to take time off, my boss has been very flexible and supportive.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
When I go outside and the drivers thank me. They say, “Carlos thank you for fixing my car.” And they’re happy. When I see the drivers and they’re happy to work in the vehicles.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
Making sure the vehicles always go out in the right way, safely.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I love working at On Time. I actually have in total almost 14 years working here. I started in 2004, and I had to leave for two years, then I came back and I’m going to stay until I retire. It’s lovely here, everyone works nicely together, I love my coworkers, it’s beautiful.
High Performance Fleet Department
We are proud to have the largest service area footprint of any private service in New Jersey, regularly providing services in all 21 counties. For us, having an extensive footprint means giving impeccable attention to our fleet and fleet maintenance program so we're always ready to transport.
We currently have over 150 vehicles deployed throughout five operational depots in Roselle, Voorhees, Egg Harbor City, Freehold, and a soon-to-be-opened Essex County office. These include caravan, minivan, passenger van, Mobility Assistance Vehicles (MAV), Basic Life Support Ambulances (BLS), and Specialty Care Transport Units (SCTU). All vehicles are maintained on site by certified mechanics to minimize breakdowns.
Having a high performance fleet means always being prepared. That's why we maintain a fifteen to twenty percent backup reserve fleet of vehicles for both planned and unplanned vehicle maintenance, as well as business surges.
Our primary goal is to provide the highest quality patient care available anywhere, and our high performance fleet department is one way we strive to achieve this goal.
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