Enjoy a Harvest of Interesting Stories

Like so many leaves falling to the ground through much of the U.S. this month, this issue of Pumper is blanketed with colorful and unique characters from the liquid waste industry.

Like so many leaves falling to the ground through much of the U.S. this month, this issue of Pumper is blanketed with colorful and unique characters from the liquid waste industry. And as the autumn season marks a slowing in the hectic routine for many pumping professionals, we offer new editorial content to help you gear up for a successful start to 2009.

NEW SET OF WHEELS, ANYONE?

Are you contemplating a new service rig for next year? With a somewhat stagnant economy this year and many contractors holding off to see how new emissions systems were working out for 2008, there may be a pent-up demand for new septic haulers in ’09. So we decided to check out the latest chassis that make up the foundation for larger vacuum trucks. In our feature (“Big & Brawny’’), product news editor Ed Wodalski creates a side-by-side spec sheet for the latest trucks built to handle tanks of 2,000 gallons and up. Along with a list of information most critical to pumpers in the market for a new truck, we include Web links showing you where to get more details directly from manufacturers.

WHAT’S UP WITH DIESEL?

We had a simple question for writer Greg Northcutt: Why is diesel fuel more expensive than gasoline? Historically, diesel is often less expensive than the more highly refined gasoline we put in most of our pickup trucks and cars. In his extensive report (“Pain at the Pump’’), Northcutt gives us the answer, and so much more information on the diesel refining process, a world perspective on growing demand for fuel and an expert forecast on where fuel prices will be heading in the next year or two.

FATHER KNOWS BEST

When Steve Ziegler, owner of Old Pueblo Septic and Drain Service Inc., watched his children, Scott and Amy, grow up, he had one rule about them working for the family business. They had to work for someone else first. So when Scott and Amy joined Old Pueblo after college and time in at other companies, the pair came home to the pumping company as well-rounded workers who appreciated the opportunity. Learn more about this proud pumping family in writer Ken Wyscocky’s contractor profile story, “In Good Hands.’’

PUMPERS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

This summer, Keith and Carol Coddington, former owners of Pennsylvania’s K and C Septic Services, took their first vacation together in 36 years. After they retired, the couple took a long-awaited trip out west, and then came home, where Carol settled into enjoying her favorite pastime, gardening. In an installment of our new feature, After Hours (“A Growing Hobby’’), writer Judy Kneiszel shares the master gardener’s tips for appropriate ground cover over the septic system.

And speaking of having a little fun, we called Minot, N.D., to check in with pumper Sandon “Dude’’ Varty, co-owner of Evans Septic Tank Service. In our In the News feature, we learn that Sandon’s brother, Dallas, was featured in a local television news version of the popular reality TV series, Dirtiest Jobs. Dallas had fun showing a reporter the proper way to clean RV holding tanks at the North Dakota State Fair.



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