In most parts of the country, pumpers are embarking on the busy season right about now. The snow has retreated and the frost is out of the ground up north. And in the sunny south, spring and summer special events are hitting full stride. This issue of Pumper is peppered with stories about contractors gearing up for the busy times and handy advice you can use to bump up the efficiency of your operations this year.

Here's a few stories you'll want to check out:

Racing toward success

Washington, D.C., contractor Fred Hill plays to win, whether he's fighting for a restroom service contract or hurtling down the asphalt strip in his 1972 Chevy dragster. Hill – with 30 years in the construction business – and his wife, Renita, started a portable sanitation business in 2006, but have quickly gained traction in the industry through their interest and sponsorship in racing events. Serving these venues and construction sites led to other opportunities for the Hills' fledgling business, Gotta Go Now, including providing restrooms for President Obama's re-election organization.

Success is all about cultivating relationships with customers and then providing excellent equipment combined with prompt, clean service, according to Hill. Learn about their marketing efforts and work on the racetrack in our cover story. ("Pedal to the Metal," by Betty Dageforde)

Worker conduct rules are important

Our "Legal Advisor" columnist Fred Steingold makes the case for creating an employee handbook for your pumping company. When you're knee-deep into the busy summer, working sunup to sundown to meet demand, that is not the time to run into a potential buzz saw of human resources issues with employees. For the smooth operation of your company, Steingold suggests crafting a list of rules for workers to live by.

The written list, including things as mundane as an introduction to the company's history and as serious as a sexual harassment policy, is critical to running an orderly and problem-free shop. You can address legal issues to limit the company's liability in many situations and health and safety issues to keep people working up to their potential and making it home safe and sound every night. And an important point, the employee handbook sets the tone for how you want workers to consistently project the image of your company to the public and to customers.

Harness the latest computer technology

We live in a time of dynamic change in the way small businesses operate and market their services. With pinpoint GPS mapping, instant communications via Twitter and other social media, and a wider array of computer hardware to choose from, where do you turn to upgrade your computer systems? Our "Money Manager" column, written by David Steinkraus, will help you sift through the latest computer technology and choose the devices that will work best for your company.

If you haven't updated your computer system in a while, you'll be faced with a lot more choices now, including moving away from the traditional desktop computer to portable options that will allow you to communicate more freely on the fly. Tablet computers, with compact and stable hardware, can move from your desk to your truck dashboard with ease. Today's smartphones let you put your entire office in your pocket and take it home for the weekend. The latest technology can provide a huge advantage to your business.

TURN INSIDE FOR MORE

And that's just the beginning. Check out our "Product News" and "Product Focus" features to learn about the latest tools to help run your businesses more efficiently. And when you've made it through this issue – cover to cover – get back to your preparations for a successful 2013 busy season!