Hard Work and Daring Actions
MR On Time Construction Inc. brings passion, quality to projects across North Carolina
![President Ralph Rojas has grown MR On Time Construction Inc. into a commercial hauling company that manages multimillion-dollar contracts for highway projects across North Carolina.](storyassets/carolinas/feature_stories/F19_NC_FS2_Hard Work and Daring Actions/F19_NC_FS2_Interior1_530x370.jpg)
President Ralph Rojas has grown MR On Time Construction Inc. into a commercial hauling company that manages multimillion-dollar contracts for highway projects across North Carolina.
![MR On Time Construction Inc. hauls sand, asphalt, aggregate and other debris on commercial projects across North Carolina.](storyassets/carolinas/feature_stories/F19_NC_FS2_Hard Work and Daring Actions/F19_NC_FS2_Interior2_530x370.jpg)
MR On Time Construction Inc. hauls sand, asphalt, aggregate and other debris on commercial projects across North Carolina.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This common saying isn’t just an old adage for Steven, Karina and Melissa Rojas. As the children of Ralph Rojas, President of MR On Time Construction Inc., they have seen firsthand that risk-taking, persistence and hard work pay off. It’s what’s been modeled their whole lives. “Our father came to this country with nothing. Together with our mother, he took risk after risk to provide a better life for us,” says Steven, who is the company’s Field Estimator.
Headquartered in Wendell, North Carolina, MR On Time Construction provides commercial hauling and construction services, including masonry, concrete, stone and demolition work. The company’s roadway hauling services are in high demand right now, with multimillion-dollar contracts for highway projects on interstates 540 and 440. Also, the company is a subcontractor of choice for Raleigh Paving for work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “We have provided asphalt for projects at the Duke Cancer Center and the Virginia International Raceway,” Steven adds.
Fleeing Violence
The company’s road to success was paved with early strife and life-changing decisions for the company owner. Ralph immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s. His home country of El Salvador was in the throes of the Salvadoran Civil War and violence had reached his hometown when Ralph made the difficult decision to flee with his two cousins. “Over 75,000 civilians died at the hands of the government during the Salvadoran Civil War,” Steven relates. During the 12-year civil war, civilians were terrorized and targeted by death squads and children were recruited as guerilla soldiers.
“My father was a teenager when he fled El Salvador for New York City. He came blindly to a new city with no guidance on where to go and no formal job training,” Steven says. Ralph jumped at the chance to work as a laborer on a commercial construction project. Within years, he rose to the role of foreman, obtained his commercial driver license, and with the help of a good friend, got his start in transportation.
Ralph squirreled away his savings and before long purchased a small box truck. “By his early 20s, my father was self-employed, doing deliveries for a local factory,” Steven says. The experience as a driver served as a launching pad for other opportunities. “My dad learned how to operate a concrete mixer and started working within the heavy civil construction industry.”
Spotting Potential
For 10 years, Ralph worked in the New York construction industry until opportunity came knocking during a visit with relatives in North Carolina. “My uncle, Maurice Menendez, was a mason and wanted my dad to join him in starting a masonry business,” Steven says. With three children in elementary and middle school, Ralph considered the risk of uprooting his family with the potential of this new business opportunity.
“My father didn’t know anything about masonry, but he did have very clear ideas of the caliber of business he wanted to be a part of,” Steven says. “He strongly believes that if you don’t put yourself out there and try something new, you’ll never have that opportunity for success. So he took the risk.”
Ralph sold his house in New York City and, with the proceeds and additional savings, purchased equipment, hired a crew and, with the help of Maurice, formed MR On Time Construction in 2004. “My father was committed to creating a company that provides efficient, quality workmanship at a competitive price,” Steven says. With business savvy and a knowledge of concrete products, Ralph took on estimating, field supervision and managing operations, while Maurice managed the crews.
Adapting to Market Changes
When MR On Time Construction began to feel the effects of the Great Recession in 2008, the company had five masonry crews and was primarily doing residential work. “The housing industry was greatly impacted by the recession,” Steven relates. “Our company needed to find new sources of business in order to survive.” Ralph and his son Steven, who had just joined the company, saw potential in the company’s single dump truck.
“Although people were building fewer houses, the recession didn’t slow highway work. Barnhill Contracting Company was serving as general contractor on several highway projects and asked if we could use our dump truck to haul asphalt and aggregate,” Steven says.
From that initial project, MR On Time Construction’s hauling business grew by leaps and bounds. Ralph kept up with demand by purchasing additional used trucks. “Though the purchases were good in the short term, the older trucks were not very efficient and required a lot of repairs and maintenance,” Karina says. “My father eventually sold the refurbished equipment at a profit and replaced those trucks with new vehicles that are more reliable and fuel-efficient.”
In just over a decade, the company has grown from one to 25 trucks. Crews haul sand, asphalt, aggregate and other debris on highway and industrial projects across North Carolina. “We subcontract for many prominent general contractors and paving companies, including Barnhill, Blythe Construction, Raleigh Paving and Turner Asphalt,” Steven says.
In addition to its hauling business, MR On Time Construction still manages three masonry crews and has added demolition work to its suite of services. “Demolition evolved from our masonry work. Our crews primarily do interior concrete demo for commercial projects,” Karina explains.
Supporting Employees & Their Families
Karina came on board full time in 2017 as Office Administrator, and today manages invoicing, payroll and dispatch for the company’s 31 employees. “I worked for the company throughout college and even in high school. Both Steven and I have grown up around the business and wanted to help our father when we got older,” she says.
The company is proud to offer stable work for its team of employees. “The people we work with are family to us,” Steven says. “When we secure a large highway project, we know that we’re providing a stable source of income for our employees and their families for four or five years. That feels good.”
According to Steven, employees appreciate the investments made in quality equipment and in creating a safe workplace. “We do daily and weekly safety checks and have safety meetings once a month,” he says. “We care about them and want to make sure everyone goes home safe to their families each and every day.”
No job is too large or too important to leave safety in the wings, adds Steven. “Employees understand that it’s not just about the job. It’s about maintaining an environment where we keep everyone safe.”
Promoting the Trade
MR On Time Construction is visible in the community for many intrinsically rewarding reasons. For instance, the company is always up for lending a truck for a good cause. “We’ll donate a vehicle for community events so kids can sit in the truck and pretend that they’re driving. We have a soft spot for kids,” Steven says.
Representatives from the company also get out into the community to promote jobs in construction. “We go into schools and talk to children once or twice a year. We want young people to understand that the trades can provide a good living,” Karina says.
Pleasing Customers
The phrase “On Time” in the company’s name is very intentional, according to Steven. “We don’t do a job just to do a job,” he says. “We do a job to please our customers. We have an eye for detail and are committed to delivering quality projects on time and at an affordable price. When we leave, we want our customers to be happy, whether we’re doing masonry, hauling or demolition work.”
Steven is proud of what his father has built and what the family-owned business continues to create. “We’re helping to build North Carolina’s roadways and other infrastructure,” Steven says. “My father is very passionate about the business, and he’s instilled that passion in Karina and me as well.”
He adds that Ralph has created an environment where anyone who walks through their door feels welcomed and at home, and his employees know that if they need to talk about anything or just relax for a few minutes, the doors are always open.
“My dad showed us the importance of taking risks,” Karina adds. “If he hadn’t taken risks throughout his life, we never would have had this kind of growth and success.”
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