It’s time once again for the virtual work truck show you’ve all been waiting for … The 2010 Classy Truck of the Year contest.
The best new and refurbished vacuum service rigs of the past year have been cleaned up, inside and out, and were rolled into the Pumper garage for side-by-side comparison. Give the 12 monthly winners your critical eye — looking for smart convenience features, a show-stopping paint job, stunning graphics and the beefy hauling qualities you look for in a new truck.
Climb into the cab to check out the fresh new air-ride seats and other add-ons meant to make these trucks a pleasure to ride in all day. Kick a few tires, if you dare, but don’t let the proud owners catch you doing it. In this contest, you — the working pumper — decide what criteria make the best Classy Truck from the past year.
When you’ve had a good look, proceed to the voting booth at www.pumper.com and cast a ballot for your favorite truck from the class of 2010.
Kudos to the contractors who submitted their trucks for the Classy Truck feature the past year. We appreciate all of the effort you put in to detailing and photographing your new vehicles. And for the rest of you who’ve come over for the big show, thanks for looking and voting. We invite all of you to submit your new trucks for the 2011 contest.
We’ll accept online voting through Dec. 23. The winning truck will have a return engagement in Pumper, gracing the cover of the February 2011 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International show issue.
Smith’s Sanitary Septic Service - Hanover, Pa.
A metallic blue-and-white 2009 International PayStar with 5,500-gallon steel tank is the daily service rig for owner Steve Smith, who hauls mostly residential septic waste and some treatment plant sludge. The truck was built out by Pik Rite Inc. and is powered by a 525-hp Cummins ISX500 engine tied to an 18-speed Eaton Fuller auto shift transmission. Vacuum is provided by a Wittig 150-cfm pump.
Dusty’s Pumping Service - Dinuba, Calif.
Dusty Miller overhauled a flatbed 1992 Peterbilt truck for septic service, adding a new 3,200-gallon steel tank shipped from Glendale Welding in Arizona. The revamped truck features an Eaton Fuller 9-speed transmission. Vacuum is provided by a Moro AC5 pump. After a new paint job, Miller added LED lighting all the way around and work lights on the back.
Deltona Septic Service - Deltona, Fla.
Owner Jerry Thompson’s 2005 Mack Granite sports a 5,200-gallon Presvac Systems aluminum tank built by Lely Manufacturing Inc. and features bold graphics. The white rig is powered by a Mack A1 400-hp engine and an Eaton Fuller automatic transmission. Vacuum for septic cleaning and grease trap work is provided by a Masport HXL20WV pump.
Raider Rooter - Boynton Beach, Fla.
Owner Scott Pardew’s 2005 Mack Vision with new 3,600-gallon U.S. Tank steel tank — built out by National Truck Center — and custom-fresh paint job performs septic and commercial grease pumping for Raider Rooter. It runs a 330-hp E7 engine tied to a 10-speed Eaton Fuller transmission, and gets suction power from a new Jurop LC 420-cfm water-cooled pump.
Septic Solutions LLC - Kirkwood, Pa.
The first septic service truck for owner Rick Prettyman is a refreshed metallic blue-and-white 1999 Mack CH from 27th Trucks Inc. The rig features a 350-hp engine tied to a 10-speed Meritor transmission. It carries a 2007 3,500-gallon steel tank, a liquid-cooled 400-cfm Masport pump and 180 feet of hose.
Welch Enterprises Inc. - Redding, Calif.
Owner Lee Welch transformed a rusty 2000 Sterling vacuum truck into an all-white beauty with bold graphics and new Cat 300-hp engine. The rig has a 3,600-gallon steel tank, original Wallenstein pump and 10-speed Eaton Fuller transmission. Bob’s Truck Painting sandblasted and painted the tank and buffed the cab for a like-new shine.
G & G Septic Service LLC - Grand Marais, Minn.
Father-and-son owners Clem and Pete Gresczyk restored this 1996 Peterbilt 357 to its past glory. Originally outfitted by Engle Fabrication and featured in the Peterbilt calendar for 1996, the project started with an overhaul of the Cat 365-hp engine. Engle then gave it an updated paint job, a new 4,000-gallon stainless steel tank and a Masport HXL 400 WV pump.
Knights Septic Tank Inc. - Summerville, S.C.
Owner Michael E. Knight Jr. bolstered his fleet with this maroon-and-white 2010 Peterbilt 367 with 3,700-gallon polished stainless steel tank from Presvac Systems. The rig is equipped with a 430-hp Cat power plant tied to a 6-speed auto transmission and a Fruitland 500 hydraulic pump. The truck features a hoist and full opening rear door with vibrator.
Cossentino Septic - Upperco, Md.
Owners Tom and Jeanne Cossentino wanted their 8-yard Peterbilt 330 dump truck to do double-duty as a pumping rig. So they hired Hull’s Truck Body to fabricate a 1,700-gallon steel tank to be bolted into the dump body. The tank features a Jurop R260 pump, rear sight glasses, topside and back manways and a work light off the rear.
Mumford Services - North Kingstown, R.I.
Paul Mumford and Paul Mumford Jr. purchased this white-and-red 2009 Mack GU 713 with 5,000-gallon steel Presvac Systems tank from Com Vac Systems Inc. The truck has a Mack MP8 engine, producing 425-hp, and an 8LL Eaton Fuller transmission. The pump is an LW 825 Utile. The big rig is used to service residential and commercial pumping accounts.
Martin’s Sanitation Service Inc. - Paris, Ky.
Mike Thornton added this white 2010 Peterbilt 388 tri-axle with red-and-black graphics, built by Pik Rite Inc. on a chassis delivered by Rush Peterbilt. The truck has a 13-speed transmission and carries a 5,000-gallon waste/200-gallon freshwater tank with four-stage hoist and full-open rear door. Vacuum is provided by an NVE Challenger 506 pump.
Universal Vacuum Service - Hearne, Texas
Owner Jimmie Deal designed his latest work truck, a 2007 Ford F-750, with striking American flag graphics and a sleek look that covers up working parts like pump, secondary, piping and hoses. The truck was built out by Troy and Jimmy Penny at No Sense Welding, Merkel, Texas, with a 2,800-gallon aluminum tank and 500-cfm Jurop pump. The truck is powered by a 5.9-liter Cummins engine married to a 7-speed transmission.
