Today we’d like to introduce you to John Pelfrey.
Hi John, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The History of Tidewater Express Inc. (TEI) 1988: The Foundation Tidewater Express Inc. (TEI) was established in 1988. The company operates three main shop spaces, including a flagship 14-bay truck repair shop in Hampton and an 11-bay heavy-duty and trailer repair facility in Chesapeake. TEI established its corporate offices, accounting, HR, and fleet yard on Cavalier Boulevard in Chesapeake. The company also manages a 24-hour wrecker tunnel division that services major regional tunnels and bridges.
2011: Expansion into Collision Repair TEI purchased Autocraft Collision Center VA. This Virginia Beach-based division provides specialized collision repair and painting services for heavy-duty fleet vehicles, light-duty vehicles, and RVs.
2020 – 2022: Waste Management Growth and Spinoff The TEI family grew in 2020 with the acquisition of KT’s Disposal, a local dumpster rental and debris removal company. Over the next two years, the company tripled the rental dumpster inventory and added trucks to the fleet. In 2022, the rolloff dumpster division was spun off into an independent business named JP’s Disposal Inc. JP’s Disposal Inc. shares an owner with TEI and offers dumpster services throughout the Hampton Roads area.
2022: Growth in Williamsburg In May of 2022, TEI acquired Colonial Truck & Trailer Service. Located in Williamsburg, this 150,000-square-foot facility with 10 work bays offers repair, maintenance, and inspection services for heavy-duty trucks, trailers, and RVs.
2024 – 2026: Towing Expansion In early 2026, the company purchased Skimino Enterprises Towing, adding a fleet of tow trucks, an impound lot, and a repair shop in Williamsburg.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like any business that has grown significantly over the decades, the road hasn’t always been perfectly smooth. As we expanded rapidly—adding dozens of repair bays across our Hampton, Chesapeake, and Williamsburg locations and bringing new companies into the Tidewater Express corporate family—one of our biggest and most consistent challenges has been hiring skilled technicians. Our need for highly trained diesel mechanics, collision specialists, and towing operators skyrocketed with each new acquisition. The industry as a whole has faced a real shortage of these crucial tradespeople, so finding the right talent to match our growth wasn’t easy. However, we’ve worked hard to build a strong environment that attracts and retains top-tier technicians and drivers. Consistently overcoming that hiring hurdle and building an incredibly dedicated team is exactly what has allowed us to maintain our high standards of customer service across our entire portfolio today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At our core, Tidewater Express Inc. (TEI) is a comprehensive family of companies specializing in heavy-duty truck and trailer services, 24-hour towing and recovery, collision repair, and waste management. We operate a vast network that includes major truck and trailer repair facilities in Hampton, Chesapeake, and Williamsburg.
What we are best known for—and what truly sets us apart from others in the industry—is our incredible versatility and scale, as well as our customer service. Because our corporate portfolio includes every step of a vehicle accident, we function as a true ‘one-stop shop.’ We can handle virtually any logistical, maintenance, or recovery need a commercial fleet or individual might face, all within the Team TEI family.
We are most proud of our strategic evolution and the dedicated professionals we’ve brought together. Since our founding in 1988, we haven’t just expanded our physical footprint; we’ve successfully integrated diverse, highly skilled teams across different trades to deliver consistent, round-the-clock service to the Hampton Roads community.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
At Tidewater Express we strongly believe that continuing education is the ultimate resource for doing your best work. The transportation and recovery industry evolves rapidly, so staying current is critical.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tidewaterexpressinc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidewater_express_inc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TidewaterExpressInc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tidewater-express-inc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TidewaterExpressInc
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@tidewaterexpressi
