Mike Wimmer, our Senior Support Tech, was onsite at a New Jersey customer last week when the customer told this tale:

This customer provides temporary power for projects, mostly generators. A client rented one of their generators for a 10-day festival. At the end of the rental, SolarTrak’s data showed the engine-hours at 200 more than expected. Their mechanic tested the time meter and discovered it was broken… the generator was running, but not counting engine-hours.

This isn’t the first time SolarTrak has helped diagnose a problem. Mike also recalls an incident with another customer using trackers on hi-end lawnmowers. They checked their data and saw that no hours were being recorded, and assumed the tracker wasn’t working. Mike confirmed that the tracker was working normally, checked the machine, and discovered a broken alternator.

SolarTrak’s primary function is to locate, track and manage your fleet… but isn’t it nice to know that – using the data SolarTrak provides – you can catch problems earlier and avoid problems? It’s another way that SolarTrak makes your job easier!

We currently have a customer (no, not sharing the name) who has hundreds of trackers installed and in use on their large construction rental fleet.

A piece of equipment went into their shop for maintenance on a Thursday. While there, the repair crew disconnected the tracker in order to do some welding. When the repairs were completed, the truck went back into the yard without the tracker reconnected, and was promptly rented.

Then it was stolen over the weekend.

We got an urgent call, asking if the tracker could be activated remotely. There is an internal battery in each tracker that continues to report location for as long as 72 hours, even if the wires are cut or disconnected. Unfortunately, too much time had elapsed from the time it entered the shop until the theft was discovered.

As POTUS would say: “Sad.”

SolarTrak’s main purpose is “fleet management” not theft deterrent, but in the past our trackers have helped recover stolen equipment. Another SolarTrak user’s rental customer reported a skid steer stolen, and the SolarTrak GPS system showed it hidden in an out building on the customer’s property.

Remember this cautionary tale, and be sure to reconnect trackers after servicing for uninterrupted GPS tracking – and possible theft recovery.

SolarTrak announced their expansion into southeastern US with the addition of Andrew Chellel as SE Regional Sales Manager.

Chellel was hired to expand SolarTrak’s double-digit growth in states from South Carolina through Florida, and follows a recent upgrade to the software and addition of new features such as the Maintenance Required Report and release of the Check Install app.

A seasoned sales and marketing executive, Chellel has prior experience as regional sales manager for multiple national beverage companies, and is familiar with fleet management from working with delivery fleets.

“My strengths lie in building customer relationships and understanding the importance of customer service” Andrew stated. “That, plus sales experience since 1997, makes me confident that I can bring the SolarTrak product to this market successfully.”

Ed O’Donnell, V.P., Sales for SolarTrak, says of Chellel: “I’ve known Andrew from the beer business for many years.  He is a true sales professional.  He has excelled in achieving his sales goals both personally or by managing sales teams.  He is a strong addition to our team.”

Is your company in the southeast? Give Andrew a call at 484-714-6134. He’ll be happy to visit, or set up a free SolarTrak demo