TrekRental Turns to Cat Financial to Grow Its Fleet

Founded in 2005, TrekRental began its journey in the mining and construction rental equipment industry with only four machines. Over the years, the company has grown remarkably, establishing itself as one of Chile's five largest rental equipment companies. Early on, TrekRental chose Cat Financial, and this collaboration allowed them to broaden their operations and enhance their fleet, ultimately reaching 40 machines by 2010. Today, TrekRental provides support to over 100 mining sites, primarily using Cat® machines. Their story reflects a relentless pursuit of excellence and Cat Financial has been there since the beginning.

TrekRental's impressive journey from four machines to becoming a major player in the Chilean rental equipment market is a testament to the strong relationship and effective support provided by its Cat dealer, Finning Chile S.A. (Finning), and Cat Financial.

Jaime Deik, Senior Territory Manager with Cat Financial, outlined what it takes to maintain a close relationship with customers like TrekRental: "It entails being with the customer all the time, understanding what is needed, how its business is developing, what its goals are in the short-, medium- and long-term so that we can set up and offer the best financing options to make their business as cost-effective as possible."

As TrekRental continues to grow and explore new opportunities, it remains confident in its ability to meet future challenges, with the assistance of both Finning and Cat Financial.

"It is very important that our relationship with the customer is extremely close," says Fabio Pelaez, Commercial Director at Finning, "So that we can understand their problems and be up to the mark both in solving them and in agility in resolving their problems."

The solutions provided by Cat FInancial keeps TrekRental's fleet up and running and positions them for long-term success in the equipment rental market. Together, TrekRental, Finning, and Cat Financial are ready to navigate future financial challenges with tailored support that will help move TrekRental's business forward.

To meet the growing needs of its customers, TrekRental has consistently leveraged financing from Cat Financial to invest in improving its mechanical workshops. This proactive move not only improves its operational efficiency but also allows it to provide better maintenance and support for its fleet.

"Cat Financial offers TrekRental end-to-end solutions," says Deik. "We care that their after-sales needs are also covered and that's why we've developed custom financing plans, regarding the needs of maintenance plans, components, rebuilds, of what the customer needs so we can deliver a comprehensive solution for their financing needs."

With Caterpillar equipment making up 40% of its fleet, service financing is critical to TrekRental’s success.

Cristian Urrejola, Director of Services and Operations at TrekRental, shared insights into how the customized financing plan has helped sustain their operation: "When we have some major component to replace or repair, we also turn to Cat Financial to be able to afford that cost, prorate it over time, and so that the need for the purchase doesn't impact us much in the month that failure occurs."

The team effort between Finning and Cat Financial has ensured that TrekRental receives the best support and service available, ensuring equipment is running smoothly and customers are satisfied.

As TrekRental continued to expand, so did its need for reliable financing solutions. With Cat equipment making up such a large share of its inventory, the relationship is not just transactional; it's built on mutual trust and understanding.

"Honestly, growing without support from Cat Financial would have made things a bit more difficult," says Vallauri. "We're going to need Cat Financial's support so that we can achieve that growth that we want so much."

This significant increase will enable TrekRental to continue its expansion efforts, purchase new Cat equipment, and further enhance its fleet so that it can expand its operations into Peru next year.

The relationship between TrekRental and Cat Financial is also an example of the built-in convenience that customers receive. Cat Financial streamlined the financing process and helped TrekRental with the financing solutions they need for their Cat equipment.

Vallauri points out how easy it was to finance all of his needs alongside his new machines: "In addition to funding the machines with Cat Financial, we also have maintenance plans and extended protection plans."

One of the best advantages of working with Cat Financial is the peace of mind it offers TrekRental. By financing an Equipment Protection Plan, TrekRental benefits from a simplified process that minimizes downtime and helps control costs. With Cat Financial's dedicated support, TrekRental can focus on its core business without worrying about the future.

Pelaez emphasizes the company's commitment to customer support: "Once the equipment is sold, we also make sure throughout the service life of the equipment to support our customers in the best way we can."

Collaborating with the Cat Financial team, who understand TrekRental's business model and operational objectives, enables TrekRental to focus on providing high-quality rental equipment to its customers for many years to come.