International Roadcheck returns May 12–14. Over 72 hours, CVSA-certified inspectors across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will conduct thousands of inspections at weigh stations, fixed inspection sites, and pop-up locations along the corridors your trucks already run.

The headline number from last year tells the story: 18.1% of inspected vehicles were placed out of service. Roughly one in five. Brake systems remained the top vehicle out-of-service category, accounting for more than 40% of all vehicle OOS conditions in 2025.

For fleet managers, the question isn’t whether your trucks will be inspected during Roadcheck week. It’s whether they’ll roll through clean — or sit on the shoulder while a load misses its appointment.

What’s Different About Roadcheck 2026

Each year, CVSA designates a vehicle focus area and a driver focus area. For 2026, both are worth understanding before your drivers are pulled in.

Vehicle focus: Cargo securement. Inspectors will give particular attention to tie-down systems, blocking and bracing, load distribution, and unsecured dunnage. In 2025, more than 18,000 violations were issued for cargo not being secured against leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling, and another 16,000 for unsecured vehicle components or dunnage. A single cargo securement violation can put a vehicle out of service.

Driver focus: ELD compliance. Inspectors will examine records of duty status for tampering, falsification, and manipulation. Last year, false RODS was the second most-cited driver violation across all FMCSA inspections, with more than 58,000 violations recorded. Some entries are inaccurate because drivers don’t fully understand the regulations or available exemptions. Others are deliberately edited without the required indication that the record was changed.

A note on what doesn’t change: the 2026 focus areas don’t replace the rest of the inspection. Most stops during Roadcheck week are North American Standard Level I inspections — the full 37-step process covering brakes, tires, lights, steering, suspension, coupling devices, fuel systems, and the driver’s credentials. Brakes and tires aren’t getting a pass this year just because cargo securement is in the spotlight.

What Pre-Roadcheck Prep Actually Looks Like

The fleets that pass clean aren’t the ones rushing through inspections the week of. They’re the ones who treated April and early May as a window to get the work done in the yard, before any inspector ever sees the truck.

Here’s where the violations tend to come from — and what to address now:

Brake systems. Out-of-adjustment brakes, air leaks, chafed hoses, and worn linings continue to drive the largest share of vehicle OOS violations. A pre-trip catches some of this. A scheduled PM with eyes on the air system, slack adjusters, and chamber stroke catches more.

Lights. Inoperable marker lights, turn signals, and brake lights remain one of the most frequently cited categories. They’re also among the easiest to fix in the yard before inspection week. Walk every trailer.

Tie-downs and anchor points. With cargo securement as the 2026 focus, this is the year to inventory every strap, chain, binder, and anchor point. Damaged or under-rated tie-downs are out-of-service violations on the spot. So is improper load positioning on flatbeds and unsecured equipment — tarps, spare tires, forklifts, pallet jacks — riding loose on a trailer.

Tires. Tread depth, sidewall damage, mismatched duals, and underinflation. Tires were the second most-cited vehicle OOS category in 2025.

ELDs and driver documentation. Make sure every driver knows where their documents are, how to display logs, and how to document exemptions correctly. An ELD that the driver can’t operate during a stop creates problems even when the underlying record is clean.

The Problem with Prepping During Inspection Week

Most fleets know this work matters. The challenge is operational: pulling units out of rotation in the days before Roadcheck means revenue lost during a window when shippers are already nervous about capacity. Sending trucks to a brick-and-mortar shop in early May means waiting in a queue behind every other carrier doing the same thing.

The fleets that prep best are the ones who don’t have to pull units off the schedule at all.

Mobile Service Built for Pre-Roadcheck Windows

This is where Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care fits in. Our service trucks come to your yard. The work happens between routes, after hours, or overnight — while your fleet is parked.

Across the regions we cover — Jacksonville, Spotsylvania, Central Texas, Southwest Ohio, and the Central Gulf Coast — our technicians are running pre-Roadcheck PMs in customer yards right now. Brake adjustments. Air system reviews. Light checks. Tie-down and anchor-point inspections. Trailer-by-trailer, the work that decides whether a Level I goes clean or ends with an out-of-service sticker.

Coltrain repairs 95% of fleet maintenance issues on-site, on the customer’s schedule, without the unit being pulled from rotation. That model exists for exactly the kind of compliance window Roadcheck creates: a hard deadline, a long checklist, and zero room to sideline working trucks.

Roadcheck Is a Reflection, Not an Event

The carriers that consistently pass clean don’t view Roadcheck as a three-day blitz to survive. They treat it as a measurement of how their equipment and compliance habits hold up year-round. A defect-free inspection improves a carrier’s safety rating, reduces insurance exposure, and builds standing with brokers and shippers. An out-of-service event triggers delays, customer calls, and recovery costs that don’t end when the truck gets back on the road.

Roadcheck week is the visible part. The work that decides the outcome happens in the weeks before — usually at 9 p.m. in a yard, so a driver doesn’t get parked at 9 a.m. on I-10.

Get Your Fleet on the Schedule

Gulf Coast fleet managers preparing for Roadcheck 2026: this is the window. If your fleet hasn’t been seen by a tech yet this spring, get on the schedule before May 12.

Contact Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care to set up pre-Roadcheck PMs in your yard, on your timing.

Contact us to get started.

The Peterbilt had been stuck in third gear for weeks. Two shops had already looked at it. The Allison was throwing codes, the TCM wasn’t cooperating, and the dealer network was quoting a two-to-three-week wait. 

Then Justin Mertz got his hands on it. 

Four and a half hours of chasing wires, cutting zip ties, and pulling harness out of the loom at the transmission control module. One broken wire. A thirty-minute repair once he found it. Truck back on the road the same day. 

“If you get one wire wrong, guess what? It’s not gonna work," Justin said. 

He’d applied the same methodology the day before on a Mercedes Sprinter whose leaking windshield had turned the SAM control unit into a green, corroded mess. Four shops had already touched it. Justin hardwired roughly 200 wires, one at a time, over two days. “Now it’s fixed. No check engine lights, nothing. They’re driving it today." 

Trusted by name

Justin supports Coltrain’s Cincinnati market out of Florence, Kentucky, covering roughly 60 to 100 units across several customers. He and his teammate Tito were hand-picked for a high-trust assignment with a major national fleet account. The customer’s response after the first rotation: send Justin and Tito back. Specifically. By name. 

“We’ve set the bar very high," Justin said. “And we’re going to continue to set the bar higher." 

Justin came up running a garage, managing 100 to 150 owner-operators as both the lead mechanic and the business manager. Paperwork, billing, parts, customer relationships, all of it. That operational fluency shows up in the way he works a yard. 

“I come in, do my job, fix the stuff that needs fixing, make my customers happy," he said. “That’s what I’m here for." 

A PM is not just an oil change 

Ask Justin what a proper preventative maintenance inspection looks like and you get a top-to-bottom tour at the speed of someone who’s done it ten thousand times. 

“You look at the springs, the U-bolts, the frame, the airlines, the brake chambers, the brakes, wheel seals, oil pan. You look at everything under that truck. Driveline, U-joints, transmission. Lights, cab, interior, exterior. Top to bottom, inside and out." 

The PM isn’t the headline work. It’s where the trust is built, and where a trained eye catches the cracked brake drum before it explodes at a hard stop, or the weeping wheel seal before the bearings burn up and the axle fails. 

The math on missing it is where fleet managers quietly lose a quarter’s budget. A wheel seal caught during a PM is a routine repair. Let it run dry, cook the bearings, scorch the hub, and suddenly you’re calling in an axle specialist for a job that costs several times more, plus days of downtime instead of hours. 

“Call your local shop right now. Ask what the wait time is to get an International in. They’re gonna tell you two to three weeks," Justin said. “I can normally fix it in two to three days depending on part availability." 

The shop comes to the truck 

Coltrain’s operating model puts technicians directly in customer yards, equipped to execute PMs and follow-up repairs on-site. On one assignment, Justin found the customer had an underutilized Mercedes Xentry diagnostic computer on-site. He used it. The tool pointed him toward the problem area on the Sprinter; his experience found the actual failure. 

At the end of each day, Justin hands the on-site team a list of every truck completed and every part consumed, so inventory stays accurate. It’s the kind of detail that doesn’t show up on a repair order but keeps a customer’s operation running clean. 

“None of the other contractors that have been in there could do that. It’s not hard to write a number down on a piece of paper and give it to that guy." 

Building the bench 

Justin’s teammate Brad came into the assignment as a trailer technician. Today he’s a diesel technician, and he’s the guy Justin trusts to cover Cincinnati when the job takes him out of state. 

“Brad said, I don’t know as much about trucks as you, will you help me? I said, absolutely. You’re willing to learn, I don’t mind to help you." 

When Brad has a question from the field, he calls. They work it out on the phone. The customer gets the fix. 

“There’s nothing we can’t do as a team. Somebody over here might be better at something than somebody over here. But together, we’re awesome. That’s what makes us successful." 

The team behind the team 

That team-first thinking starts at the top of Justin’s chain. His mobile service manager, Brennan Elkins, is the one who placed him on the national fleet assignment and backed him to run it his way. 

“Brennan gives us the freedom to do what we do best. If I need something, I call him and he makes it happen," Justin said. “He trusts his technicians to make the right calls for the customer. That kind of leadership is a big part of why this team performs the way it does." 

It’s a philosophy that shows up across Coltrain’s operating model. Technicians get the autonomy to solve problems on-site, the equipment to do the job right, and a leadership team that treats the field as the tip of the spear rather than the bottom of the org chart. 

Justin is also quick to point credit at the back office. 

“I’d like to make sure the team behind the scenes that takes care of all of our billing gets some recognition. They’re responsible for a lot of this. A thank you goes a long way in our industry." 

Two people supporting a field team that submits multiple repair orders per technician per day, merging orders when multiple techs touch the same unit, making sure every part is accounted for. “They gotta cross all of our T’s and dot all of our I’s. They’re not the face of the team, but they’re responsible for a lot." 

That’s the Coltrain model too. The technician in the yard is the visible half. The manager who trusts the call, and the operations team that keeps the paperwork clean, the parts accounted for, and the customer’s billing accurate, is the half that makes the visible half possible. 

Four kids and a derby mower 

Off the clock, Justin is an outdoorsman, a demolition derby driver, and a proud dad. His middle daughter Caroline is his hunting, fishing, and derby partner. She has her own mower and runs events with him. His son James is, in Justin’s words, “a miniature me." 

Ask him what keeps him motivated to crawl under a truck at seven o’clock on a Monday night in eighteen inches of snow and the answer is immediate. 

“My four kids. I want my kids to have a different life than I did when I was a kid. I’m not going to give my kids everything they want. But I will make sure they got everything they need. There’s a big difference." 

The work is paying off. A new truck in the driveway. Bigger plans on the horizon. The derby is how he decompresses from Cincinnati bridge traffic. He is active in the community doing shows with Twisted Metal Motorsports, including competing at Kentucky Exposition Center‘s 18,750-capacity Freedom Hall at the Bourbon Beatdown in the spring on his custom-built derby mower (#213, Splatter) he’s put real money into. If you’re having a hard time picturing what that actually looks like, check out the 2025 mower class competition.

“You gotta have a little fun in your life and a way to relieve stress. I become a different person on that track." 

Defend the Road 

“Defend the Road means something different to everybody. To me, I want to make sure the trucks are safe to be on the road, and protect what goes on the road so that everybody is safe," Justin said. “My family travels the interstate just as well as everybody else’s. That guy driving that truck might have kids. I want to make sure everybody gets to the goal line." 

That’s the job. That’s Justin Mertz. 

Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care keeps fleets moving with on-site preventative maintenance and repair, performed by technicians who’ve earned the work.

Looking to join a team that trusts its technicians? Explore careers at Coltrain. 

Got a truck that two shops couldn’t fix? Get in touch.

Caleb Johnson grew up in the shop, served in the Army Reserve, and worked his way to General Manager by age 29. On a recent episode of the Freight Coach Podcast, he talked technician shortages, preventative maintenance, and why mobile is changing the way fleets think about repairs.

Some people find their way into trucking. Caleb Johnson was born into it.

His mother spent her career in the truck leasing space — working for outfits like Penske and Pack Lease on the Kenworth side — and Caleb spent his earliest years tagging along. He was coloring books in her office on days off from school. He was catching rides on tractors around the yard, put up there just for fun by the technicians who became something like a second family.

“It became a second family for me,” Caleb told host Chris Jolly on a recent episode of the Freight Coach Podcast. “I just always really loved them.”

That love never left. Today, at just 29 years old, Caleb Johnson serves as General Manager for the Gulf Coast Region at Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care. He joined Jolly for a wide-ranging conversation about career paths in transportation, the coming technician shortage, and why mobile maintenance is no longer a niche option — it’s the future of fleet management.

From Parts Driver to General Manager: A Career Built Without a Traditional Playbook

Caleb’s path wasn’t straight — but it was intentional. After his military service as an 88M Motor Transport Operator, he’s remained in the Army Reserve for over 12 years, a commitment he says gave him more than technical exposure.

“It’s done a lot for me to structure my life and my career. I feel like it’s given me an extra edge.”

When he came home, he started where a lot of great careers start — at the bottom. He took a job delivering parts for International, then asked to be moved into the shop at the same pay. No technical school. No formal credential. Just drive, work ethic, and a willingness to learn from the people around him.

“I’m living proof that it doesn’t take a lifetime to move up in this industry. If you’ve got the work ethic and the drive, just chase it. You can do as good or as bad in this industry as you’d like to do.”

He watched technicians become managers. He became a GM at 29. For young people — especially those coming out of the military or considering a non-college path — he sees transportation and fleet maintenance as a genuine career with a ceiling as high as you’re willing to reach.

The Technician Shortage Is Real — and the Opportunity Is Bigger Than People Realize

One of the throughlines of the conversation was the growing skilled labor shortage in diesel mechanics and fleet maintenance. Jolly put it plainly: he thinks skilled labor is the next gold rush. Caleb agreed — and he’s seeing it firsthand in Coltrain’s own hiring process.

“As we continue to grow, we’re very selective about who we bring on. We go through a lot of candidates before we find somebody that we feel is qualified and that we want going out and servicing our customers.”

The shortage isn’t a distant problem. It’s showing up now, in real hiring pipelines, across the Gulf Coast and beyond. For anyone willing to develop a real skill set and show up with consistency, the demand isn’t going away.

Mobile Is the Future — and It Works for More Fleets Than You’d Think

A big part of the conversation centered on what Coltrain does and why it matters. The model is simple in concept but complex in execution: instead of fleets sending vehicles to a shop and dealing with days or weeks of downtime, Coltrain sends the technician to the fleet.

“Mobile is the way of the future. Anybody out there could use mobile. It doesn’t matter what your business is — there’s a way to utilize it.”

Coltrain’s customer base spans light duty vehicles, school buses, vac trucks, refrigerated trailers, drive freight, forklifts, and heavy equipment. The diversity is intentional. So is the way they staff for it. When a new customer comes on, Caleb and his team assess what that fleet actually needs — welding, reefer work, heavy equipment — and match the right technician accordingly.

The result is a 95% on-site repair success rate. That number doesn’t happen by accident.

“We did not spare expenses on making sure our technicians were well equipped. Our guys can do AC work on site, computer diagnostics, injectors, anything that bolts to the motor. We can perform 95% of any repair right there.”

Caleb is quick to credit leadership for that number. Kevin and Kyle Coltrain aren’t monitoring spreadsheets from a corner office — they’re out in the field with technicians, in the markets with customers. That top-down investment in being present is, in his view, what separates Coltrain from the competition.

Preventative Maintenance Isn’t an Oil Change — and That Confusion Is Costing Fleets Money

If there’s one thing Caleb wants fleet managers to walk away understanding, it’s this: preventative maintenance and an oil change are not the same thing.

“Customers refer to it as an oil change and we’re like — no, it’s a preventative maintenance inspection where we’re touching most every component on that truck. There’s so many pieces that should be inspected. It’s a huge miss if that’s all we’re doing.”

He also pushed back on the hands-off approach some fleet managers take with third-party fleet management tools. Those platforms have their place, he said — but the fleet managers who get the most out of them are the ones who stay engaged in the process, not the ones who hand it off and move on.

The goal at Coltrain isn’t a transactional repair relationship. It’s a long-term partnership built around keeping equipment safe and fleets moving.

“We want to make sure their fleet is safe going down the road so that their family, my family, and everybody else’s family can go home safe at the end of the day. That’s the name of the game for us.”

The Special Sauce: Treating Customers Like Family, Long After the First Visit

When Jolly asked what keeps customers coming back, Caleb’s answer was disarmingly simple.

“The thing that’s been our special sauce is hammering home that family-owned aspect. Even after that initial visit, even after the work is coming in — we continue to treat that customer as if they were family.”

That means monthly and quarterly check-ins from Mobile Service Managers in each territory. It means stopping in with coffee and donuts and asking — genuinely asking — what Coltrain could be doing better. It means leadership that isn’t sitting behind a spreadsheet but is out in the field with the technicians, in the markets with the customers.

The same philosophy extends inward. For a company built on mobile technicians spread across a region — people who don’t share a shop floor or a break room — finding ways to bring the team together isn’t optional. It’s how you hold onto good people.

“Any of those technicians you talk to after we go take our guys out — you feel rejuvenated. You feel recharged. And I think as human beings, we all want that.”

If You’re a Fleet Manager in the Gulf Coast, Here’s What to Do Next

If your fleet is dealing with downtime, inconsistent maintenance, or a shop that treats a PM like a quick oil change — Coltrain is worth a conversation. They work with fleets of four trucks and four hundred. The process is the same either way.

Visit coltrainonsite.com to learn more or get in touch. If you’re a technician looking for your next move, the careers page is the place to start. Caleb and the rest of the leadership team are also active on LinkedIn and will talk to anyone who reaches out.

This post is based on Caleb Johnson’s appearance on the Freight Coach Podcast with host Chris Jolly. New episodes drop every weekday at 10:30 AM Central.

Keeping fleets moving takes more than tools and a truck—it takes people who take pride in their work, show up with purpose, and look out for the teams they serve. For this Technician Spotlight, we’re featuring Austin Lester, Lead Mobile Technician for Coltrain Onsite in the Jeanerette, Louisiana Gulf Coast region. 

With nearly a decade of hands-on experience, Austin represents what it means to Defend the Road—day in and day out. 

A Decade of Experience 

Austin has been training and working in the field for close to ten years, and today he serves as the Lead Mobile Technician for the Gulf Coast. In that role, dependability isn’t optional—it’s the standard. 

For Austin, being a mobile technician means customers know they can count on him to show up prepared, focused, and ready to solve problems under real-world conditions. 

“Defend the road means being somebody that customers can rely on—providing exceptional service day in and day out.” 

That mindset reflects Coltrain’s commitment to trust and accountability, especially when uptime matters most. 

Team Culture That Lifts Everyone Up 

Ask Austin what he values most about working at Coltrain, and his answer is simple: the camaraderie. 

He describes a team environment where no one is above the other—where technicians learn from one another and push each other to be better. 

“No one man’s better than the other. We all get along well, learn from each other, and help lift each other up.” 

That culture of respect and teamwork is core to Coltrain’s family-first approach and plays a direct role in delivering safer, more consistent service to customers. 

Equipped to Do the Job the Right Way 

For mobile technicians, the service truck is more than transportation—it’s the jobsite. Austin appreciates that Coltrain invests in clean, new, and well-equipped service trucks that allow technicians to work efficiently and safely. 

“They definitely didn’t cut any corners when providing these trucks for us.” 

From diagnostics to repairs, having the right tools on hand helps technicians focus on what matters most: doing the job right the first time and keeping fleets on the road. 

More Than a Mechanic and a Truck 

One of the biggest misconceptions about mobile fleet service, according to Austin, is that it’s just about fixing equipment. In reality, it requires a deeper understanding of each customer’s operation. 

Mobile technicians must balance technical expertise with situational awareness—understanding time constraints, operational pressure, and customer expectations. 

“It’s not just a mechanic and a truck showing up. You have to be conscious of a customer’s operation and the time crunches they’re under.” 

That awareness is what turns service into partnership—and repairs into long-term trust. 

Proud to Defend the Road 

Austin’s approach to his work reflects the values Coltrain Onsite was built on: safety, reliability, and purpose. Whether he’s supporting customers along the Gulf Coast or mentoring fellow technicians, his focus stays the same—be dependable and deliver exceptional service. 

That’s what it means to Defend the Road. 

Want your fleet running like it should?

At Coltrain Onsite, we pursue quality and confidence in every repair. Our team works customer hours and will service fleets during the nights, weekends, early mornings, or regular business hours to maximize fleet uptime. Ready to learn more?

Mobile fleet maintenance helps fleets reduce downtime by bringing preventive maintenance (PM) and most repairs directly to the yard—often after hours—so trucks stay on schedule and drivers stay moving. In a Freight Coach podcast interview, Chris Boyce (RVP, Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care) explains why on-site service is expanding fast, what it takes to build a diesel technician career without a traditional degree, and which maintenance metrics fleets should track to protect uptime, safety, and total cost of ownership.

Watch the full Freight Coach episode with Chris Boyce

Want the full conversation on mobile fleet maintenance, technician career paths, and the fight for fleet uptime? Watch the complete Freight Coach interview with Chris Boyce (RVP, Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care) below.

What is mobile fleet maintenance (and why are fleets using it more)?

Mobile fleet maintenance is professional truck and trailer service performed at the customer’s location instead of in a shop. According to Chris, the biggest driver is uptime: when service comes to you, you eliminate unnecessary trips to a shop, reduce driver disruption, and can schedule work nights and weekends to avoid operational downtime.

Why fleets are shifting toward on-site service:

• Less downtime: PMs happen where the assets are parked.
• Less driver disruption: No driver time wasted transporting units for routine service.
• Better scheduling: After-hours and weekend maintenance fits real-world operations.
• Stronger partnership: Techs build a recurring, yard-level relationship with the fleet team.

Shops still matter for major repairs (like large engine work or warranty-specific procedures), but Chris notes that routine maintenance and common repairs can often be handled on-site.

Do you need a college degree to become a diesel or trailer mechanic?

No—Chris is clear that there are multiple paths into the trade. A technical school can provide strong fundamentals and theory, but it’s also common to start in an entry-level role and build skills through structured on-the-job training, mentorship, and experience.

Two common paths Chris recommends:

1. Technical training programs (diesel/trailer technology programs)
2. Entry-level roles with a company that trains (starting ground-up with mentorship)

His broader point: you can start with limited experience, learn the systems over time, and grow into leadership if you’re willing to work, learn, and take ownership.

Why mobile maintenance creates more opportunity in small towns and rural areas

One of the most practical takeaways from the conversation: freight is everywhere, and so is the need for dependable equipment. Mobile maintenance expands career options for technicians who don’t want to commute to major metros.

Chris explains that mobile fleet care can better align with where technicians live—often outside city centers—because the work can be dispatched regionally to customer yards and local operations.

What that means in real life:

• Technicians can build a strong career without relocating to a big city.
• Fleets in smaller communities can access professional maintenance without long shop runs.
• Regional coverage allows both scheduled PMs and safe, appropriate repair work.

Is on-site fleet care becoming the “new normal” for maintenance?

Chris’s answer: yes, for routine maintenance. Fleets increasingly prefer the model because it supports uptime and simplifies operations. The ability to service equipment on location—especially for PMs—reduces the friction that often causes maintenance delays.

The practical division of labor Chris describes:

• Mobile/on-site: PMs, inspections, many common repairs, diagnostics, trailer work, lights, brakes, and more.
• Traditional shop: Large engine swaps, major work requiring specialized bays/lifts, and some warranty/OEM-specific procedures.

The goal isn’t “mobile versus shop.” The goal is the right service model for the job, delivered safely and efficiently.

How do you shift from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance?

Chris describes a consistent approach: start with an upfront fleet interview and assessment, then build a repeatable maintenance program that creates more touchpoints with the equipment before breakdowns occur.

At Coltrain Onsite, that proactive approach includes:

• Learning the fleet’s operating hours, routes, unit types, and pain points
• Reviewing PM cycles and common failure points
• Performing fleet assessments to identify issues early
• Building a relationship where techs look beyond “the one thing” and flag emerging risks (belts, seals, brakes, etc.)

Proactive maintenance is ultimately about ownership: catching problems when they’re small so fleets avoid “downstream” failures that cause missed loads and bigger repair bills.

How does on-site maintenance reduce total cost of ownership (TCO)?

Chris acknowledges that hourly rate matters—but emphasizes that the bigger story is cost of ownership over time. Preventive maintenance programs help stabilize costs by reducing breakdowns, improving reliability, and keeping drivers and operations teams from constantly reacting.

Where fleets often see the financial impact:

• Reduced unplanned downtime
• Fewer roadside events and cascading repairs
• Less lost productivity (dispatch disruptions, driver time, rescheduling)
• Better asset reliability and longer component life (especially with consistent PMs)

The theme is consistent with Coltrain’s values: safety and trust first, with partnership built for the long haul—not short-term transactions.

How close are mobile techs to “shop-level” diagnostic capability?

Mobile technicians can perform a wide range of diagnostics and repairs, and Chris describes investments in diagnostic platforms and field equipment that support real work on-site. Mobile service vehicles are typically equipped with core field capabilities (power, air, welding/repair support, and specialized tools), plus diagnostic tools for reading codes and troubleshooting most common issues.

Chris also notes an important reality: some OEM-specific tools and warranty procedures require specialized software or shop environments. That’s why a strong mobile provider is honest about what can be done safely in the field and when a shop is the better option.

How do you service multiple makes and models across a fleet?

The foundation is experience, systems knowledge, and smart technician alignment. Chris explains that success comes from:

• Reviewing the fleet mix upfront (engines, makes, trailers, common configurations)
• Assigning technicians based on proximity, availability, and skill set
• Keeping the same technician on the same yard most of the time (so they learn the SOPs and equipment)
• Leveraging internal team knowledge when unique issues come up

In other words: it’s not about claiming every tech can do everything. It’s about building the right team, matching the right tech to the right fleet, and communicating clearly.

What maintenance metric should fleet owners track more closely?

Chris points to two fundamentals that directly tie to fleet performance:

• PM currency (staying current on scheduled preventive maintenance intervals)
• Downtime (how long units are down and how often)

Those two metrics work together: consistent PM execution reduces unexpected failures, and reduced downtime protects service levels, driver satisfaction, and profitability.

FAQ: Mobile Fleet Maintenance and Diesel Technician Careers

What is mobile fleet maintenance?

Mobile fleet maintenance is on-site truck and trailer service performed at your yard or terminal—often including preventive maintenance, inspections, diagnostics, and many common repairs.

Is mobile maintenance cheaper than taking trucks to a shop?

It can reduce total cost of ownership by minimizing downtime, driver disruption, and unplanned breakdowns. Hourly rate matters, but uptime and avoided disruptions often drive the biggest savings.

Can mobile techs do diagnostics?

Yes—mobile technicians commonly use diagnostic platforms to read codes and troubleshoot issues. Some OEM-locked or warranty-specific procedures may require specialized software or a shop environment.

Do you need a degree to become a diesel mechanic?

Not always. Many technicians enter through technical programs, apprenticeships, or entry-level roles with structured training and mentorship.

What’s the biggest benefit of on-site preventive maintenance?

Uptime. PMs can be scheduled around operations (including nights/weekends), and fleets reduce the burden of moving equipment to shops for routine service.

Partner with Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care

Coltrain Onsite is a family-owned and operated team built around Safety, Trust, Family, Purpose, Entrepreneurial drive, and being Proudly American. If you want a maintenance partner focused on uptime, proactive planning, and real relationships at the yard level, we’re ready to help.

Learn more, request service, or explore technician careers:
Visit coltrainonsite.com to connect with our team.

How Fleet Management Weekly Spotlighted Coltrain Onsite’s National Mobile Maintenance Solution

At Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care, our mission is simple: defend the road by delivering exceptional, technician-centric mobile maintenance services to fleets nationwide. That mission recently earned industry recognition in Fleet Management Weekly, which featured our story in a detailed piece on how we launched a national mobile maintenance solution for fleets—and why our approach matters in today’s rapidly evolving market.

A Family-Owned Approach in an Era of Consolidation

The Fleet Management Weekly feature highlights how Coltrain Onsite was founded by brothers Kyle and Kevin Coltrain, drawing on their deep roots in the fleet maintenance industry as descendants of the founders of Dickinson Fleet Services. In a space increasingly dominated by large corporations and private equity-backed providers, the Coltrain brothers intentionally built a business that puts people over profits—starting with the technicians who deliver service every day.

By choosing to stay family-owned and operated, Coltrain Onsite is able to offer:

• Consistent, high-quality service across markets
• Transparent pricing and straightforward billing
• A work environment that prioritizes safety, trust, and respect
  Fleets get the same dependable service whether in Miami, Cincinnati, or Baton Rouge—without sacrificing quality for scale.

Elevating the Role of Technicians

One of the core themes in the article is how technician support and development differentiates Coltrain Onsite in the mobile maintenance landscape. Rather than treating technicians as a cost center, we build our company around them—empowering them with:

• Autonomy to solve challenges in the field
• Market-leading tools and equipment
• A culture that elevates their role as defenders of the road
  This focus not only enhances service outcomes but also attracts like-minded professionals who want to work for a company that respects their craft.

Meeting Fleets Where They Are

The article also underscores why mobile maintenance is no longer a niche service—it’s becoming essential as fleets demand fast, on-site repairs and maintenance that maximize uptime. With Coltrain Onsite’s fully equipped mobile units and highly skilled technicians, fleets of all sizes can reduce downtime, cut costs, and stay on schedule without unnecessary shop visits.

Leadership With Vision and Heart

Kyle and Kevin’s leadership shines throughout the Fleet Management Weekly feature. They speak candidly about:

• Why they returned to the industry they grew up in
• How they see mobile maintenance evolving
• The importance of technician recruitment and retention
  Their vision emphasizes that a strong mobile maintenance provider isn’t just about trucks and tools—it’s about building trust, family, and long-term relationships with both technicians and customers.

What This Means for Fleets and the Industry

Being featured in Fleet Management Weekly isn’t just a milestone—it’s validation of our values-driven growth strategy. As mobile maintenance continues to scale nationally, we’re proud to be recognized as a leader who:

• Keeps safety and uptime at the forefront
• Supports technicians as the backbone of every operation
• Brings a family-first mindset to commercial fleet care
  We’re not just serving fleets—we’re partnering with them for long-term success.

Read the full feature in Fleet Management Weekly to get the complete story behind our launch and how Coltrain Onsite is reshaping mobile fleet maintenance nationwide.

Some technicians just fix trucks. Others take ownership of every mile those trucks travel. 

Bobby Reed is the second kind. 

With 15 years in the industry and deep expertise in electrical, hydraulic, and engine diagnostics, Bobby brings more than tools to the job—he brings responsibility. Based in Central Texas, Bobby spends his days keeping fleets safe, compliant, and moving, whether that means early-morning reefer calls, complex crane repairs, or solving problems other providers couldn’t crack. 

A Day in the Life: Real Work, Real Stakes 

Bobby’s days start early—and often before most of Central Texas is awake. 

At 5:30 a.m., he was already onsite at Sysco, responding to a Thermo King reefer that wouldn’t start. After diagnosing the issue, Bobby jumped the unit, set it to continuous mode, and ensured it made it safely to the shop for further repair. 

Uptime matters—especially before rush hour.

From there, the day kept rolling: 

• ABC Supply – Completed a dry preventive maintenance service on a Mack Anthem, ensuring road-ready compliance.
• Texas Building Supply (Belton, TX) – Performed electrical diagnostics on a CAT DP45 forklift. A long-standing issue another provider couldn’t solve turned out to be a blown fuse. Simple fix. Big save.
• AmeriGas – Waco, TX – Took on a complex repair involving a Stellar crane mounted on a Chevy 6500, requiring full outrigger disassembly, debris removal, hardware replacement, sensor reinstallation, and calibration.

That range of work is typical for Bobby. On any given week, he’s servicing everything from Peterbilts, Kenworths, and Freightliners to forklifts, cranes, and specialty equipment. 

“Truck, trailer, shingle crane, conveyor, forklift—we’ll work on whatever our customers need to stay running.” 

Built on Trust, Not Shortcuts 

Bobby is a Master CAT IC Forklift Technician, largely self-taught with supplemental dealer training, and his strongest skillset lies in diagnostics—especially electrical issues many techs shy away from. His diagnostic tool of choice is his reliable MatCo Maximus 4.0.

He takes pride in doing things right, not fast-and-loose. 

“My customers count on me to take care of their trucks—and my wife and kids drive down the same roads those trucks are on.” 

That mindset drives every inspection, every repair, and every decision. Bobby doesn’t believe anyone’s safety should be compromised over a $20 wheel seal or a $30 nut installed incorrectly. 

Why Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care 

After years in large, corporate environments, Bobby knows firsthand the difference between checking boxes and truly supporting technicians—and customers. 

“The difference between corporate and family-owned is mind-blowing.” 

At Coltrain, Bobby doesn’t have to jump through hoops to do the right thing. If parts are available, repairs get done the same day. No waiting days for approvals. No questioning integrity. No sacrificing quality for policy. 

“At Coltrain, it takes two hours—not three days. We focus on the right fix, not just quoting and patching.” 

He also values how Coltrain treats people—technicians and customers alike. 

“The owners flew down to meet me. Kevin Coltrain helped me set up my phone on day one. That matters.” 

DEFEND THE ROAD 

For Bobby, Coltrain’s motto isn’t marketing—it’s personal. 

“My wife and kids drive down the same roads as my customers’ trucks.” 

DEFEND THE ROAD means accountability. It means understanding that behind every fleet unit is a family, a driver, and a community. Bobby wants his customers to know they can count on him—and that their equipment is safe because he touched it. 

“I want people to know Bobby’s got it. No one’s life should be at risk over something preventable.” 

Beyond the Wrench 

When he’s not working, Bobby enjoys riding his Harley, hunting, fishing, and spending time with his two kids—his 10-year-old daughter, a proud Girl Scout, and his 8-year-old son. He’s also a loyal Houston Texans and Astros fan. 

But no matter where he is, Bobby carries the same mindset: do it right, or don’t do it at all. 

We’re proud to have Bobby representing the black and yellow—and setting the standard for what exceptional fleet care looks like in Central Texas. 

That’s what DEFEND THE ROAD means at Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care. 

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. As a kid, it was undoubtedly due to presents, sweets, and enjoying hot cocoa while watching holiday movies (Hot Take – Home Alone 3 is the best of them, don’t challenge me on this, my kids agree too). Now, this season has become an incredible point of reflection on the year that has passed, the future ahead, and being surrounded by the most important thing in our lives & our business – Family.

Growing up, I remember watching my father, uncle, grandfather, and great uncle start Dickinson Fleet Services – the pioneers in mobile fleet maintenance & repair. I didn’t quite understand it at the time, but I remember on Christmas morning, before we could open presents, they were on the phone for hours talking to everyone in the company – managers, technicians, corporate staff – wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. I remember thinking to myself, “why are they working today, it’s Christmas! Today is for family”. We even had folks from the company stopping by on Christmas morning to say hello.

Now, I completely get it. Our team members, and their families, are all truly a part of one big Coltrain Onsite Family; and I see continuous reminders of this every day. A recent moment that comes to mind is when the wife of Brent Meaux (Mobile Technician – Mobile, Alabama) shared a Facebook post celebrating Brent’s new role with Coltrain Onsite, his brand-new service truck, how much it meant to their family to feel supported, and how good it feels to be part of a company that values the people actually doing the work.

Thank you, Lisa, for the encouraging feedback and for being a part of the Coltrain Onsite family. I firmly believe that when our team members’ families are behind them, it enables that individual to perform at a level that lifts the entire company.

The work our team members do is not easy. We work long, odd, unpredictable hours. There is stress, dirt, late nights & early mornings. While I am extremely grateful for all of our employees and the sacrifices you all make, I also want to say thank you to every wife, child, husband, friend, mom, dad, and all other family members of the Coltrain Onsite team. Thank you for being on this journey with us. Thank you for the time you devote, and for the sacrifices that come with it. We will continue to explore new, creative ways to engage all family members of the Coltrain Onsite team, and we are always open to suggestions. Seeing our team across the country engage with their families & communities, such as decorating their service trucks for trunk-or-treat this Halloween, was another special moment for me this year.

Business wise – as we close out the year, I want to revisit and remind us of our foundation.

Our mission: empower our skilled mobile mechanics with tools, trust, and a family-driven culture to deliver best-in-class fleet maintenance services.

Our vision: to be the most trusted name in mobile fleet maintenance – valued for our people, performance, and commitment to exceptional customer service.

Our values: Safety, Trust, Family, Purpose, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Proudly American

These are the guides that we use to make decisions, how we treat each other, and how we show up for team members & customers every day. I continue to see these values lived out in the field day in and day out – and I could not be more proud of the work being done.

We launched operations in September and, to date, we are in 10 states. We continue to add great partners, customers, team members, and momentum. In just 3 months, we went from an idea to thousands of completed repairs. But, to be clear, the highlight of this year is not a number or a milestone. The highlight is the great people that we have added to the Coltrain Onsite family. I believe that an incredible group of individuals have come together to build something special, and I am amazed at the culture you all are building – a team that competes to get better every day, and a community that looks out for one another the way a family should.

We will keep adding great people. We will continue to sharpen our systems & processes. We will keep building the right way — steady, disciplined, and united.

2025 was our first chapter. I cannot wait to see what we will accomplish together in 2026.
Enjoy the rest of the year with your teammates and families. Celebrate the wins. Learn from the mistakes. Get better every day.

From Kevin’s family and mine, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

Kyle Coltrain
Executive Officer

Kevin Coltrain
Executive Officer

Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care is proud to be featured in Fleet Management Weekly in an video feature titled The Special Forces of Mobile Maintenance and Repair. This video highlights not only our rapid growth, but the values-driven approach that sets Coltrain Onsite apart in a crowded and increasingly consolidated fleet maintenance industry.

The article includes a YouTube interview with Kyle Coltrain, offering an inside look at why Coltrain Onsite was built—and how we have a different approach to what mobile fleet maintenance should be.

A New Mobile Fleet Maintenance Company—Built the Right Way

Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care formally launched operations in September 2025, and in just a short time, we’ve built strong momentum across the country. Our technicians are already supporting fleets in multiple states, delivering high-quality onsite maintenance and repair where and when it matters most.

That growth didn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of a clear focus from day one: take exceptional care of customers and create an outstanding environment for technicians.

As Kyle Coltrain explains in the video feature, our mission is not growth at any cost—it’s sustainable excellence built on trust, safety, and pride in workmanship.

A Response to Industry Consolidation

Fleet maintenance and repair has seen increasing consolidation in recent years. While large corporate and private equity-backed organizations can offer scale, they often turn service into a numbers-driven model—where decisions are made in boardrooms instead of in the field.

Too often, quality, technician support, and customer relationships suffer.

Coltrain Onsite was founded to offer a better alternative.

We believe fleets deserve consistent, high-quality service—and technicians deserve to be respected, supported, and empowered to do their best work.

Family-Owned. People First. Always.

Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care is family-owned and operated, and that will never change.

Our leadership team believes in putting people over profits, building long-term relationships, and creating a company technicians are proud to work for. That commitment shows up in how we hire, how we train, and how we support our teams on the road every day.

This family-first mindset is also what allows us to stay agile, accountable, and focused on what truly matters: safety, reliability and empowering our team to deliver exceptional fleet care.

The “Special Forces” of Mobile Maintenance and Repair

One of the most compelling moments in the Fleet Management Weekly feature is how our managers describe Coltrain Onsite: The special forces of mobile maintenance and repair.”

That reputation comes from our extremely rigorous vetting process. We take a quality-over-quantity approach when selecting:

• Technicians
• Managers
• Customer service professionals

Every member of the Coltrain Onsite team is held to the highest standards of skill, professionalism, and integrity. We don’t aim to be the biggest—we aim to be the best.

Why Fleets Choose Coltrain Onsite

Fleets partner with Coltrain Onsite because they want:

• Reliable, onsite fleet maintenance that protects uptime
• Highly skilled technicians they can trust to deliver consistent service
• A partner that values safety, communication, and accountability
• A service provider built for the long haul– not short-term gains

This feature in Fleet Management Weekly validates what our customers and technicians already know: there is a better way to deliver mobile fleet maintenance.

Watch the Feature and Learn More

Check out the YouTube interview with Kyle Coltrain on Fleet Management Weekly to hear directly from our leadership about why Coltrain Onsite exists—and where we’re headed.

The Special Forces of Mobile Maintenance and Repair

Kyle and Kevin Coltrain recently sat down with The Freight Coach to discuss how Coltrain Onsite Fleet Care is reshaping mobile fleet maintenance through a family-owned, people-first, safety-driven approach. In a fast-moving conversation, they highlighted the growing demand for on-site service, the industry-wide technician shortage, and why investing in top-tier technicians—and equipping them with the best tools—has helped Coltrain achieve near-zero turnover.

The episode explores how customized preventative maintenance schedules reduce downtime and total cost of ownership, and why Coltrain’s non-corporate, non-private equity-backed, slow-and-steady growth model is earning deep trust with fleets nationwide. Kyle and Kevin also share how their family-owned, proudly American values guide every decision—from technician development to customer relationships.

Watch the Full Episode

See the full conversation and learn why Coltrain’s people-first model is helping move the industry forward.

Watch Kyle and Kevin on The Freight Coach Podcast