Start-Manager’s SM301 brings forklift telematics within reach of any fleet, starting at US$865 a truck

Start-Manager Inc.’s SM301 telematics hub gives fleet managers complete control over who can operate their equipment, ensures that the OSHA daily safety check is completed at the start of every shift, and includes a full suite of web-based tools to manage the fleet and its information, starting at US$865 a truck with no monthly fees.

For that price, the SM301 replaces the truck’s key switch and will not let the truck start until the operator has entered a 4-digit code or presented a card or fob and, at the first start of each shift, completed the daily safety check. OSHA requires every forklift to be examined at least daily before it is placed in service (29 CFR 1910.178(q)(7)). The unit collects all the pertinent data needed to properly manage the equipment and sends these records over Wi-Fi to the web portal.

“The two biggest barriers to adopting a telematics solution have always been the cost and the difficulty of managing the system,” said David Leduc, founder and CEO of Start-Manager. “We kept that in mind when we created the Start-Manager suite of products. The SM301 telematics solution costs a fraction of what our closest competitors charge, and it is very easy to use, manage and onboard, without compromising on features or quality.”

Included with every SM301

• smPortal: the web portal, for managing every SM301 remotely from a laptop or phone, including operators and their training, safety check questions, impact settings, equipment hours and service intervals, reports and alerts.
• smConsole: a local web app for connecting to each SM301 from a phone or laptop to manage its settings, simplify onboarding and troubleshoot, with nothing to download.
• smHealth: device health tools that let Start-Manager’s technicians troubleshoot a customer’s SM301 hubs remotely, for maximum uptime.

Optional add-ons, so fleets pay only for the features they need

• Impact monitoring: this optional feature helps minimize damage to equipment, infrastructure and product by monitoring impacts and adjusting operator behavior.
• Seat switch timer: this optional feature, activated by an existing seat switch, dead-man switch or tiller arm, shuts the vehicle off after a pre-programmed amount of time once the operator leaves it. OSHA requires that when a powered industrial truck is left unattended, its controls be neutralized and its power shut off; a truck is unattended when the operator is 25 feet or more away from it, or out of sight of it (29 CFR 1910.178(m)(5)).
• smIntegration: an optional add-on, with APIs and webhooks that bring the portal’s data into a company’s own enterprise software. It has a monthly fee, quoted by sales.

The SM301, the impact module and the seat timer are available now at start-manager.com, priced on the website and bought online with no quote needed. Fleets that want to see the SM301 working first can book an online demo.