7 Things Fleet Managers Should Know From Coltrain Onsite’s Fleet Management Weekly Feature

Six mechanics. One market. Twelve months later, more than 75 mechanics in 15 states. Fleet Management Weekly Publisher Ted Roberts sat down with Kyle and Kevin Coltrain to ask how family-owned mobile fleet maintenance scales that fast without cutting corners. Here's what stood out.

1. It started as a reaction to roll-ups

Kyle and Kevin watched private equity and corporate consolidation reshape the industry, and saw volume start to win over quality. Their grandfather, Bob Dickinson, launched one of the first mobile fleet maintenance operations in Indianapolis back in 1997. The brothers built Coltrain to keep that family-owned mobile fleet maintenance model alive at national scale.

2. There's only one tier of technician: A-level

No lube techs. No C or B tier. If a PM visit turns up a check-engine light, the tech on site can diagnose and fix it. No second dispatch, no truck parked waiting. That's Confidence in Every Repair.

3. A national fleet asked them to take over its shops

A national beverage and snack distributor had empty bays and techs on leave. Coltrain drove and flew technicians in to cover. It worked so well the customer asked Coltrain to run several of those shops full-time.

4. They fixed a fleet's breakdowns by training its drivers

A Florida fleet kept breaking down even after PM compliance was squared away. The real problem: drivers weren't trained on pre- and post-trip inspections. A regional VP, three field service managers, and techs ran weekly hands-on sessions for a month, at no charge. Breakdowns dropped sharply. Kyle calls that being "defenders of the road."

5. Managers oversee 10 to 15 techs, max

Not 25. Not 30. Kevin says that small span lets managers chase down parts, help with tough diagnostics, and get to the truck when a tech needs backup. It's what keeps family-owned mobile fleet maintenance consistent as the map grows.

6. Techs don't leave. They recruit.

Coltrain lost only a couple of mechanics in year one. Now technicians are referring friends, former coworkers, and relatives. Turns out techs want to work somewhere that runs family-owned mobile fleet maintenance the way it was meant to be run.

7. SHIELD™ time-stamps every inspection point

The in-house SHIELD™ app handles parts, POs, inventory, and inspections, so invoices go out in 24 to 48 hours. Every repair and inspection point is time-stamped, and failed items can require a photo. If a 20-minute check shows as done in 30 seconds, a manager takes a second look.

The Bottom Line on Family-Owned Mobile Fleet Maintenance

One capable tech per call, managers with room to help, and time-stamped proof of the work. Read the full interview at Fleet Management Weekly.

Defend the Road ⚫🟡