Tepper, along with Diesel Only's cofounders, Jay Sherman-Godfrey and Albert Caiati, originally started the label with the goal of releasing vinyl 45s for use in jukeboxes at truck stops.
[1] Tepper also started the label with the goal of releasing his own band's music,[2] as well as tracks by other artists from New York City.
[2] Tepper recalled that after Owens agreed to contribute "Will There Be Big Rigs in Heaven?"
"[1] Rig Rock Deluxe received a favorable review from Billboard, which described it as the label's best compilation yet.
[6] In 1996, Peter Blackstock wrote in No Depression that through his work with Diesel Only, "Jeremy Tepper has established himself as a unique and indispensable cog in the alt-country underground.