Paul Gonzales's career in heavy equipment spans more than five decades, beginning in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and leading to ownership of Track Pro, an undercarriage service and parts provider in San Antonio, Texas.
Gonzales entered the trade in the early 1970s while working in his uncle's contracting business. The exposure to machines led him to pursue diesel mechanics training at Texas State Technical Institute in Waco. After completing the program in 1981, he joined Caterpillar's San Antonio dealership.
"That was the best way to learn the trade," Gonzales said.
Six years later, he bought his first service truck and began repairing machines in the field. By 1987, he had founded WP Machinery, which bought, repaired and resold equipment to buyers as far away as Puerto Rico, Australia and Africa.
In 2006, Gonzales identified a need for more undercarriage repair options and launched Track Pro. The company began by leasing a 6,000-sq.-ft. shop in San Antonio and bought the building in 2021.
"We wanted to provide full undercarriage service to contractors, including tracks, rails, pads, rollers, sprockets and hardware," Gonzales said. "If someone brings in a set of pads with their new rails, we can install them."
"Our goal has always been to support the industry by offering another choice," Gonzales added.
Gonzales describes Track Pro as "the dealer alternative," pointing out that many customers look for aftermarket options on major repairs.
"If a customer needs undercarriage work, they can compare what we do with what is available at a larger dealership," he said.
While Track Pro operates independently, Gonzales emphasized that its role is to complement the larger equipment ecosystem.
"Dealers sell the machines, but our responsibility is to keep those machines moving for contractors once they are in the field," he said.
That focus on uptime drives everything the company does.
"Downtime is what costs contractors the most," Gonzales said. "If we can save them hours on a repair or ship parts the same day, that is real value."
Reliable Service, Built On Trust
"Rollers, sprockets, hardware and tracks are kept in inventory so we can ship quickly when a contractor calls," Gonzales said.
Customers have told the company that our quick turnaround has kept their crews working instead of waiting.
Track Pro also carries a wide range of parts for shipping, supported by long-term relationships with suppliers. In 2015, TREK recognized Track Pro as one of its top undercarriage dealers.
"This business is built on trust," Gonzales said. "We have had customers with us since the beginning. They know when they call, they are talking to someone who understands what downtime costs and will do whatever it takes to prevent it."
For Gonzales, the company's growth has always been rooted in relationships.
For the contractors who depend on Track Pro, the value is measured in less downtime, faster turnaround and the assurance that someone will answer the phone when a machine is down.
"At the end of the day, our job is to keep customers moving," Gonzales said. "If we can save them hours on a repair or get parts shipped the same day, that is what makes the difference."
With decades of expertise, a family-run operation and a shop that prioritizes speed and trust, Track Pro has become more than a service provider. It has become a partner contractors know they can rely on across Texas.
