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.

When comparing GPS tracking products, make sure to compare apples to apples, not apples to oranges.

If you Google “GPS Trackers”, its likely that you’ll run into Vehicle Trackers – designed for cars or for fleet delivery trucks. You’ll know, because their emphasis will be on in-transit data and driver’s behavior: idles times, speed, stops … did the driver stop for donuts and obey speed limits?

If you are a construction contractor or rental house specializing in workzone equipment, you’ll want a GPS tracker designed specifically for construction equipment – SolarTrak. SolarTrak understands how construction and rental fleets are organized and run, and our data reflects that. SolarTrak will tell you:

GPS or Street location – even if the equipment is parked in a workzone in the middle of a field

Engine-Hours – SolarTrak records engine run times for an accurate record for billing.

Battery Voltage Status – anticipate problems before they occur by tracking the battery voltage

Maintenance Reminders – Keep your fleet healthy by never missing routine maintenance or inspections

Geofence – Establish boundaries around a worksite or your yard; get alerted to movements in and out

Don’t pay for more data than you need. Most vehicle trackers cost in the $20 to $40 range per month. SolarTrak is under $10 per month per tracker, and offers no contract rent or buy options.

See for yourself by calling to arrange an online demo: 484-223-4994. And get the right GPS tracker for your construction equipment – SolarTrak.

When we designed SolarTrak, we talked to Fleet Managers, rental store owners, customers and crews – and included features that would make everyone’s job just a bit easier. For repair crews, we’ve included some items suggested made by the guys themselves.

Here’s how SolarTrak will benefit your Maintenance Department staff:

NOTIFICATIONS – We’re included some important pre-set notifications that you can choose – and customize – when deciding who gets alerts and when: Routine Maintenance Due and Low Battery alerts. Your crew chief can be alerted directly if a battery is below 12 volts.

MAINTENANCE ALERTS – You can opt for whatever makes sense to your operation – oil changes, filters, preventative maintenance checks, ANSI checks, continuous-run alerts – in addition to the pre-set alerts

GOOGLE/BING DIRECTIONS – Now if your equipment is parked in the middle of a field, you can use the GPS co-ordinates or the Google/Bing link to get directions right to the equipment – fast, efficient access.

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED and MAINTENANCE HISTORY REPORTS – Log both repair history and see a report of what maintenance is due in the next week or month, so your crew knows exactly how to schedule their work week. There’s even a NOTES field to include comments about what tools and parts will be needed, and to record special instructions.

Of course, SolarTrak benefits your entire organization by giving you engine-hours reports for billing, by helping you locate equipment quickly, and by alerting you when equipment moves… but the increased info for the maintenance department can help you extend the life of your fleet. And a longer life means more money in your pocket.

Getting an additional year of rentals by preventing breakdowns will pay off! See for yourself why SolarTrak GPS trackers are repair crew favorites: Request a free demo here or by calling 484-223-4994.