Earnest Service

In the industrial sector of Bolton, Ont., lies a small operation that oversees the only Canadian location of Jack Doheny Company. JDC, an American-based equipment rental company has found a home with Jamie Spizziri, the branch’s new business managing director. Spizziri, born and raised in Mississauga, Ont., began his sales career 25 years ago. He started in the industrial market as a salesman and worked his way up to management positions. Around 2008, he stumbled into the rental industry after connecting with construction businesses during the recession and “fell in love.” From there, Spizziri pursued a career in rental where he got a job with Stephenson’s Rental Service and later CM Equip. A year later, Spizziri needed a job and JDC reached out to him personally with an offer. 

Spizziri admits that the job was overwhelming at first but he quickly learned the ropes with the help of his small and tight-knit team, made up of only five members (including himself). Spizziri does have the help of the 15 U.S. locations with around 250 employees if he ever finds himself needing additional support. The Bolton location is a 21,000-square-foot facility, with eight mechanic truck bays with a high bay overhead crane to lift and support all types of repairs. The location also has two acres of parking in the rear of the facility allowing for ample parking for its “ever-growing fleet of equipment.” 

Founded by Jack Doheny in 1973, JDC has become a popular avenue for sewer-cleaning equipment rentals. “It’s what got the company off its feet,” says Spizziri. JDC has since expanded its products to street sweepers, electric utility vehicles and lifts. The company offers rentals, pre-owned equipment, pipeline inspections and on top of a rent-to-buy program. 

Typically Jamie Spizziri is only in his office about twice a week. You can find him travelling all around Ontario and visiting locations renting JDC equipment.

Spizziri did not initially start in the rental industry. He explains he was very familiar with the niche equipment because of previous jobs. So learning the ins and outs of the market, equipment and customers wasn’t a significant challenge. Sewer trucks and hydrovacs are JDC’s bread and butter and most popular products. “We have a fleet of 50 vehicles but currently only three are available to rent,” says Spizziri. “They’re always in our customer’s hands.” Some of the most popular items are Manitoba-based Shellvac vacuum trucks. To Spizziri, it means a lot that one of the most rented items on the lot is Canadian-made and -manufactured equipment.  

Given Ontario’s underground infrastructure laws, excavators, contractors and homeowners cannot dig in a given location without contacting Ontario One Call first. According to Spizziri, a large part of JDC Bolton’s market is for hydro excavation. Contractors use JDC’s trucks because they can excavate both safely and efficiently and offer solutions to the infrastructure laws. There is a variation in the customer base for JDC from contractors to major corporations. However, there are four industries the company mainly serves. 

All but one of the JDC Bolton team, including Jason (far left), Shane (middle), Jamie (right) and Susan.

The first market is utility installation and services. This sector installs underground utilities such as water, sewer and electrical lines. In this case, customers would use Spizziri’s fleet of electric utility vehicles such as bucket trucks, aerial lifts, cable placers, digger derricks, pole and reel trailers. The second is the potholing and daylighting sector, which locates and exposes underground utilities in construction products. Hydro excavation enables workers to safely uncover these utilities without the risk of breakage or damage. JDC’s fleet of electric hydro utility vehicles is used in this case. The third is for environmental cleanup. Hydro excavation equipment is particularly effective for cleaning up hazardous materials and contaminated soil, explains Spizziri. “Its non-invasive method minimizes soil disturbance, protecting surrounding ecosystems.” Last is municipal maintenance, where hydro excavators are used for infrastructure maintenance. Hydrovacs would be used for pipeline repairs and storm drain cleanouts. “Its ability to perform precise, non-destructive digging makes them a preferred tool for local governments,” says Spizziri. 

In December of 2024, JDC will celebrate its 51st birthday and Spizziri attributes the company’s success to two key factors. One is the niche market JDC serves and two is its dedication to its customers. “We’re not the cheapest company around,” he says. “But we stress customer service. We really look after our customers and it’s why they come back.” He says that staying proactive is one of the best things a business manager can do, on top of always keeping the clients in the loop. “Customers know we look after them and will get good service.” Spizziri also believes in honest customer service, meaning he does not sell customers products they don’t actually need or “won’t get the job done.” Being transparent with buyers is an important aspect of customer service, stresses Spizziri. “If they lose money, then ultimately we lose money,” he says. “It’s all about having good service and good product.”  

The JDC Bolton location is a 21,000-square-foot facility with 50 sewer trucks and vehicles in its vicinity.

JDC is a company with a lot of heart, Spizziri explains and he feels that the business is always helping others out in one way or another. “We try to be a solutions provider and help.” Through account setups with JDC, a company can select a financial plan that may be struggling financially. Renters don’t have to worry about the overhead capital of the expenses of repairs, which is a relief for customers. “We look after that.” 

When a contractor rents a piece of equipment, Spizziri will join on-site and offer demonstrations. This means travels across the country a lot of the time. But, that does not slow him down – in fact, his favourite aspect of the job is meeting the customers and making sure the equipment they rent is safe. A mobile and on-site technician is a part of Spizziri’s small team. “I don’t see them too often,” he jokes, as they are always on the road or working on sewer, pipeline and construction equipment. 

He continues to maintain the five-person shop, although he expects the team to expand in the future. For him, working in a business that not only cares about the customers but also the employees themselves is what makes JDC Bolton special. “We’ve had some hiccups here and there,” he says. “But we work together.”