Every so often, a pumping customer will look over Glenn Larson’s newest septic/commercial pumping service rig, and thoughtfully ask the question, “Isn’t that an awful nice truck for the kind of business you do?’’

Larson, the owner of Enviro Pump-Plus Inc., Balaton, Minn., answers “no,’’ and then explains, “This is my office and I kind of live in this truck. I kind of like to have it look nice.’’

Larson takes pride in his ride. And that’s probably the major reason his flashy and functional 2004 Kenworth rig has been named the 2009 Pumper Classy Truck of the Year. Larson’s truck was the December 2009 Classy Truck of the Month, and was chosen as our annual Classy Truck winner based on reader polling and a panel of COLE Publishing judges.

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The Kenworth is a former milk truck from Wisconsin dairy farm country, rebuilt as a do-it-all vacuum truck by Advance Pump & Equipment in Peosta, Iowa. Larson credits Advance owner Wayne Vanden Berge for understanding the transformation he envisioned, adding a new Progress 3,800-gallon stainless steel tank with full-open rear door, a 1,000-cfm 957 blower system from National Vacuum Equipment, a hoist and Cougar hydraulic vibrator.

This is the second milk truck Larson has converted for liquid waste service. He says the milk haulers are often traded in with plenty of miles left on the chassis. This one, powered by a 425-hp Caterpillar engine and 10-speed transmission, has the power, performance and rear-end needed to get his jobs done. The conversion involved shortening the frame and removing the tag axle to leave a tandem and a pusher axle for ample carrying capacity.

With the stainless tank, Larson, 57, says this truck should see his company to his retirement and beyond, no matter how long it takes to put down the hose.

“This was the first stainless truck we put together and I will do it again,’’ Larson says. “It’s easy to clean and I know it’s going to last. The truck will eventually wear out, but we can put this tank on a different chassis and we’re going down the road again.’’

Beyond the basics, the truck features a diamond plate tool box manufactured by TL Woods, mounted behind the cab. A custom-made heated water tank is fitted under the tool box. The tank is equipped with heated valves for service during cold Minnesota winters and an onboard load scale. Graphics are by Sybesma Graphics of Sanborn, Iowa.