It’s an honor just to be nominated” is a response you often hear from actors who make the final cut for Academy Awards consideration. We might hear the same thing from the owners of our monthly Classy Truck honorees from 2017. Each has seen a beauty shot of their favorite pumping rig printed in an issue of the magazine for the entire industry to see and admire.

It’s no doubt these pumpers have something to be proud of. They’ve taken great care to spec out a truck to perfectly fit the needs of their technicians on the job. They’ve carefully selected a look to adorn these rolling billboards and put them on the highway. They entrust their drivers to take care of the vacuum trucks, having them washed every week and maintained with pride as valuable tools of the trade.

It is an honor to make the pages of Pumper as a monthly Classy Truck winner. But don’t be fooled: Every one of these pumpers would like to take home the big prize — Classy Truck of the Year bragging rights — which comes along with a photo shoot and landing the winning truck on the cover of our February issue.

The annual honor is a validation of a pumper’s ability to build out and maintain a top work truck in the wastewater industry. It shows a flair for choosing winning color combinations and graphics that effectively convey a marketing message. Each yearly winner joins a select group of contractors — about a dozen to date — who can say their truck is the king of the hill, top of the heap.

And what’s so cool is that you can help a pumper reach that lofty spot. Take a few minutes to look over the 18 Classy Trucks for 2017 and choose your favorite. Reader votes will be tallied and added to the picks from our team of COLE Publishing judges to choose the winner. But make your pick quickly: Voting ends Dec. 22.

Cast Your Ballot Today!

Step 1. Look over the 18 Classy Trucks for 2016.
Step 2. Choose your favorite.
Step 3. Go online at www.pumper.com/classy and vote.

(One vote per IP address allowed.)

Act now! The deadline for voting is Dec. 22.

JANUARY

M & M Transfer Inc. Pinedale, Wyoming

Owner Ryan McGuire bought a gunmetal gray and white 2005 Kenworth T800 with a 3,300-gallon steel tank and a 75-gallon freshwater tank and 500 cfm Fruitland Mfg. pump built out by Keith Huber Corp. The rig is powered by a 400 hp Cummins engine and 10-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group).

FEBRUARY

Brad’s Septic and Sewer Service Temperance, Michigan

Owner Brad LaVoy added a maroon 2016 International 7500 with a 4,000-gallon aluminum tank and liquid-cooled National Vacuum Equipment pump built out by Imperial Industries. The rig is powered by a Navistar N10 engine and Allison automatic transmission.

King & Sons Septic Service Damascus, Maryland

Owner Gary King added a black and red 2015 Peterbilt 337 with a 2,500-gallon steel tank and Masport HXL400 WV pump built out by Pik Rite. The truck is powered by a PACCAR P337 engine tied to a six-speed manual transmission. The truck features LED work lights and safety beacon as well as aluminum wheels.

MARCH

Efficient Septic Pumping & Drain Cleaning New London, Minnesota

Owner Jason Long added a red and white 2013 International 7600 WorkStar built out by Imperial Industries with a 3,600-gallon steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 4307 blower. The truck is powered by a 430 hp MaxxForce engine tied to a Fuller 8LL transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck has three sight glasses in the rear and an NVE stainless steel float indicator.

APRIL

ASAP Sanitary Services Chardon, Ohio

Owners John & Crissy Ackworth added a 2016 International 7500 SBA 6 x 4 from Mid-State Truck Service carrying a 4,000-gallon aluminum Imperial Industries tank and National Vacuum Equipment 4307 blower. Power comes from a 350 hp Navistar N10 tied to an Allison automatic transmission. The tank has a rear clean-out hatch with a 6-inch piston valve.

Big Bore Drilling Certified Septic and Hydroflushing Fresno, California

Owners Henry and Beverly Damm run a 2015 Peterbilt 567 from Golden State Peterbilt, built out by Imperial Industries with a 3,500-gallon aluminum tank and an enclosed National Vacuum Equipment 4307 blower. Power is provided by a PACCAR MX-13 455 hp engine tied to a Fuller 10-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck has custom holders for tools including shovels, probes and rakes.

MAY

Zuech’s Environmental Services Franklinville, New York

Owner Eric Zuech added a Chrysler Viper Red 2012 Kenworth T800 built out by Transway Systems with a 4,300-gallon steel tank with hoist and full-opening rear door and a National Vacuum Equipment 4310 blower. The truck is powered by a 550 hp Cummins ISX engine tied to an 18-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The chassis was repurposed from the oil and gas industry, where it served as a water truck.

JUNE

McNel Septic Service Ravensdale, Washington

Owner Shawn Carlton added a two-tone blue and metallic silver 2016 Kenworth T880 built out by Erickson Tank & Pump with a 4,000-gallon steel tank and Masport 400 cfm pump. The truck is powered by a 485 hp Cummins ISX engine tied to a 13-speed Fuller UltraShift Plus automatic transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck has a three-stage jake brake, steerable pusher axle and full-locking rears.

Royal Flush Septic Southwest Harbor, Maine

Owner Jimmy Norwood refurbished a 2006 black, orange and silver Kenworth 335 with a 4,000-gallon aluminum tank and Jurop/Chandler 398 cfm pump. The truck is powered by a Cummins 350 hp engine tied to a Fuller eight-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The rig was painted in-house by Scottie Griffin, and the tank was epoxy coated by Copia Specialty Contractors.

JULY

Complete Septic Service Madison, South Dakota

Owners Dave and Dana Nau added an all-white 1999 Sterling vacuum truck carrying a repurposed 2,600-gallon steel manure-spreading tank built by Badger Tank. T & H Welding shortened the truck frame and mounted the tank and a Battioni 6500 pump. The truck is powered by Cat 3126 engine tied to a Fuller six-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group).

AUGUST

Driggers Septic Tank Archdale, North Carolina

Owner Derrick Driggers added an all-black 2007 Freightliner M2 with a new 2,500-gallon waste/300-gallon freshwater steel tank and Jurop/Chandler R260 pump built out by Central Truck Sales in Miami. The truck is powered by a 330 hp Cat C7 engine tied to a six-speed Fuller manual transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck was painted by JFP Florida Tanks with lettering added in Carolina Panthers blue.

Jarvis Septic & Drain Wadsworth, Ohio

Owner Gene Morris added an ultramarine blue and white 2016 Western Star 4900 Series truck built out by Tiger General with a 4,000-gallon tank with a 20-ton hoist and full-opening rear door, and a National Vacuum Equipment 900 cfm blower with a stainless steel silencer and secondary shutoff. The truck is powered by a Cummins ISX 15 485 hp engine and a Fuller 8LL transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group).

SEPTEMBER

Drain & Sewer Control Armagh, England

James Mallon added an orange 2010 cabover DAF (PACCAR) CF vacuum truck with a 3,000-gallon waste/100-gallon freshwater stainless steel tank with a full-opening rear door built out by Whale Tankers, Solihull, West Midlands, England. Vacuum is provided by a Mistral 7 liquid ring suction pump. The truck is powered by a DAF 400 hp engine and a manual transmission, and it features a rear lift and steer axle to get into tight spaces.

OCTOBER

Tim Wheeler Septic & Excavating Minford, Ohio

Tim Wheeler added a 2000 Sterling LT9500 five years ago and rebuilt it in-house, adding a 5,000-gallon steel tank built by Wiseman Brothers Fabrication in Beaver, Ohio, and a Jurop/Chandler pump. Wheeler fabricated a rear dovetail and built out the rest of the truck and painted it white over black. The rig is powered by a 225 hp Caterpillar C10 engine that’s tied to a Fuller LL 10-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group).

A-Team/Vanscoy Septic Cleaning Liberty Boro, Pennsylvania

Gregory Vanscoy added a black Ford F-750 with a 1,600-gallon steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 607P-FS Challenger pump built out by Lely Tank & Waste Solutions for specialty septic service in tight locations. The Super Duty truck is powered by a V10 Triton gas engine and has automatic transmission.

NOVEMBER

Beltz Septic & Portable Toilets Newberry, Florida

Darla Eberst added a black 2007 International 4300 with a 2,200-gallon steel waste tank and 500-gallon poly freshwater tank housed in a diamond plate box. The former box truck carries a Jurop/Chandler R260 pump and is powered by a DT466 engine tied to an Allison automatic transmission.

DECEMBER

Boomhower Excavation and Septic Valley Falls, New York

Todd Boomhower added a red, white, and blue 2003 International 8600 with a new 3,300-gallon steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 400 cfm pump built out by Hull’s Truck Bodies. The rig is powered by an M11 Cummins Power Products engine linked to a 10-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Features include aluminum wheels, diamond plate hose trays and LED lighting.

Northern Disposal & Sanitation Katrine, Ontario

Dave and Katy McGregor bought an all-black with pink lettering 2007 Peterbilt 335 built out by Vacutrux Limited with a 4,300-gallon steel tank and 500 cfm 1054 Wallenstein Vacuum pump. The truck is powered by a Caterpillar 330 hp C7 engine tied to a Fuller 8LL transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck is used to raise money for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation.

Make Your New Rig a Classy Truck!

Seeing your truck in the pages of Pumper is easy!

Step 1. Clean and detail your truck.

Step 2. Take a variety of photos.

Step 3. Send the photos — along with a detailed description of the truck and accessories — to us by emailing editor@pumper.com