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From Vendor to Lifeline: The SOS Text That Saves $1,000/Day
Last Updated: December 2025
It happens at 5:17 AM.
It always happens at 5:17 AM.
Kea Wanamaker's buzzing phone wakes her up. She rubs the sleep out of her eyes, looks at her screen, and the message blinks back at her: "Hydraulic failure. The truck won't move. Driver stranded. Send help."
This happens often enough that Kea can act on impulse with minimal thought. Within seconds, she sends a text to David, one of Truckup's main dispatchers:
"SOS David, can you help?"
David hardly sleeps, never takes a break, and is always at his phone, so within seconds he shoots her a quick response: "Yes." No questions, no paperwork, no "we'll get there when we can," just a dependable, straightforward yes.
Three years ago, Kea, a fleet manager at WillScot's Kansas City branch, had never heard of Truckup. Now, they're so vital to her business operations that she can't run her fleet without them.
"I can literally now… [text] 'SOS David, can you help?' And he's like, 'yes.'"
This didn't happen overnight. It grew this way because Kea knows she can rely on Truckup like a third arm.
Key Takeaways: Mobile Fleet Repair ROI
For Fleet Managers Evaluating Mobile Repair:
- $1,000/day saved per truck in prevented downtime
- 7-10 day shop turnarounds reduced to 1-2 hours on-site
- Same mechanic assigned = faster diagnostics, fewer surprises
- Direct driver authorization eliminates approval chain delays
The SOS Standard (3-Question Vendor Test):
- Can you text your vendor at 5 AM and get immediate response?
- Do you trust them with your drivers' direct access?
- Do they know your fleet well enough to diagnose over text?
Two Dead Trucks Changed Everything for WillScot
Kea Wanamaker, Fleet Manager at WillScott Kansas City (a portable storage and modular space solutions company serving construction sites), first encountered Truckup by accident. WillScot had sold two trucks to a buyer; trucks that obstinately refused to start. As they sat on the buyer's lot, they tried multiple times to get them running, but couldn't.
Out of desperation, the buyer calls in Truckup to get the trucks moving again. Once the tech got there, the trucks went off with a roaring start.
A WillScot driver who was there helping with the sale could not believe what he'd just seen, and immediately reported it back to Kea: "Do you know who Truckup is?"
She didn't, not then. But that one question would reshape her entire fleet operation.
In Kansas City, Kea manages WillScot's fleet of six trucks (four storage, two modular). Construction sites depend on them to stay operational, and WillScot often has to deliver modular units and storage containers within tight deadlines.
Unfortunately, truck breakdowns happen fairly often, as they do in any fleet. Most truck repair shops in Kansas City have a seven to 10-day turnaround, and construction deadlines don't wait. Every hour a truck spends in downtime can hemorrhage money from WillScot.
"A day, it could easily save us $1,000," Kea estimates. "A week, I'd probably say anywhere between five to 10,000."
From Phone Calls to SOS Texts
Within only three years, WillScot and Truckup went from formal vendor calls to Kea directly texting David, Truckup's dispatch manager with 24+ years of industry experience, whenever she has a problem. WillScot's entire Kansas City fleet has direct authorization to call Truckup when they need a repair job in a hurry. All Kea needs to do is text David "SOS" and he sends someone on their way.
Truckup dispatch sends the same mechanic, Jarel, to maintain their trucks. He knows their fleet inside and out. The speed and consistency alone cut what could have been a seven-to-ten-day job down to one-to-two hours.
What's more, they're honest. Jarel and David do what they say they'll do. If they can't, Kea can trust them to tell her.
"They're very transparent and open about it, instead of pulling your leg," says Kea.
The proactive communication and reliable service save WillScot Kansas City tens of thousands in revenue that would otherwise be lost to downtime.
"15 out of 10, Honestly"
Kea went from never hearing about Truckup to being one of their biggest evangelists. She straight-up told the drivers in her modular division: "Stop taking your trucks and equipment to repair shops."
As WillScot's operation expands into Oklahoma City and beyond, they can now cover their fleet in 15+ locations because Kea knows that Truckup has her back.
The ROI of having a 24/7 Kansas City mobile truck repair service on-call adds up fast:
Direct Cost Savings:
- $1,000/day in prevented downtime per truck
- $5,000-10,000 weekly during peak construction periods
- Zero towing costs for remote breakdowns
- Eliminated shop storage fees
Hidden ROI Benefits:
- Construction deadlines met = retained contracts
- Lower driver turnover from reduced stress
- Repeat business from reliable delivery schedules
- Fleet manager bandwidth freed for growth initiatives
Kea's one-sentence rating says it all: "15 out of 10, honestly."
Is Mobile Fleet Repair Pricing Transparent?
Fleet managers don't just want competitive rates; they want to know they won't get blindsided.
"If they cannot do something, they're very transparent and open about it, instead of pulling your leg and delaying projects," Kea says. "And if parts need to be ordered and there's a delay, they're very good at texting, emailing, letting you know."
The difference between a vendor and a partner? Partners tell you what they can't do before they waste your time. That transparency is why WillScot's drivers have direct authorization to call Truckup themselves. Kea trusts them to communicate honestly, whether the news is good or bad.
The SOS Standard: 3 Questions Every Fleet Manager Should Ask
There are three questions that every fleet manager should ask themselves:
- Can you text your vendor "SOS" at 5 AM?
- Do you trust them with your driver's direct access?
- Do they know your fleet well enough to diagnose over the phone?
If the answer to all three of those questions is anything but "Yes," you need to start looking elsewhere.
It's not about 24/7 availability. It's about 24/7 trust. Many claim it. Few earn it.
Three years ago, Truckup brought two dead trucks back to life. Today, they keep an entire fleet operation alive. The difference? They didn't just solve WillScot's repair problem. They eliminated it.
In Kea's own words: "I honestly would recommend them to absolutely everyone."
Stop managing vendor relationships. Start building partnerships. The difference could save you $1,000 a day on downtime alone.
The next time you have a breakdown at 5 AM and you're calling mobile truck repair shops all over Kansas City, ask yourself:
Who's your SOS?
“Being a mobile mechanic allows me to earn significantly more than I would in a traditional garage setting. The convenience I provide to customers, coupled with the lower overhead costs, means I can charge a premium for my services and keep a larger share of my earnings.”
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