Technician Toolbox

A well-stocked truck ensures pumpers are ready for whatever the job throws their way.
Technician Toolbox
The fleet of Jim's Septic Service includes a 1999 FL70 Freightliner, left, and a 2006 Columbia Freightliner, right. The pumping rigs both have built-in toolboxes along both sides, adding extra storage and workspace to the trucks.

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What tools are in your pumper truck? As pumping professionals, you know unforeseen situations come up all the time and that there are several must-have items that should be in every truck: ear plugs, extra safety glasses, gauntlets and leather gloves, a tarp, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, an extension-handle mirror, safety vests, a fire extinguisher, zip ties, orange street cones and caution tape, for example. And for sure you’ll need shovels and other basic hand tools.

But that’s just a start, says Jeff Coe, co-owner of Jim’s Septic Service in Grants Pass, Oregon, who believes in having a well-stocked truck.

“The issue is having everything in its place in the truck so it can be quickly found,” he says. Both of his trucks include full-length toolboxes stocked identically with equipment for pumping and minor repairs.

His most-used tools may be the custom-made 10-foot rakes constructed of aluminum tubing and plate.

“They’re used as a matter of routine to ensure stubborn sludge is removed from the bottom of the tank,” Coe says.

Technicians Doug Modgling, left, and Josh Fiske of Jim’s Septic Service pump out a septic tank and use a custom-made 10-foot aluminum rake to clean out the tank. The rakes have 1 1/4-inch tubing and a 1/2-inch-thick plate of aluminum welded to the end.         

At Austin’s Pumping Service in Stratford, Missouri, Doug Hurrelbrink’s drivers also have tools they fabricated and welded themselves.

“We service a lot of restaurant grease traps that are heavily impacted with grease,” Hurrelbrink says. “We use the scraper to clean heavy buildup on the baffles, and we use the masher to mash large chunks of grease so they more easily evacuate them. We made them ourselves, as we could not find anything currently on the market that had handles long enough. Nor could we find anything strong enough for daily use.”

Even popular manufactured tools get customized to make them more suitable for some pumpers.

“We feel our most valuable tool is our CrustBuster,” says Chris Vandermeulen, owner of C&W Portables & Septic Service in Manistee, Michigan. “We custom-made the shaft for the unit out of stainless steel due to how much grease trap cleaning we do. It makes keeping it clean a lot easier, it never rusts, and we made the length to fit the special traps we do.”

Besides making tools that do the job, Coe notes tools that keep technicians safe are also important. For removing tank lids, he had a custom hook built out of 5/8-inch round stock steel with a T-bar handle to make it easier for one or two people to lift.

“We have a 5-foot tripod with a chain hoist for large, heavy or awkward lid removal,” he adds.

Safety and comfort for workers is a top priority. “Back braces seem like a must to have available if an employee feels the need,” Coe says. “I also have cooling devices for the men in summer.”

To avoid frustration at the work site, it’s important to make sure that tools are in good working order and ready to use. That means having the correct extension cord for jack hammers and the right size bits and accessories for different jobs.

For businesses such as his that do minor repairs, the tool kit includes basic replacement parts such as pumps, floats and plumbing fittings and all the necessary tools to install them.

Traditional tools like square and round shovels, cordless drills and reciprocating saws always come in handy, he adds. As do items pumpers might not think about such as lubricating spray, glue and even hornet and wasp spray.

A truck equipped with the right tools keeps a pumper ready for nearly every situation, minimizes frustration, and saves time and money.

“To raise efficiency for maximum profit, you have to have the correct tool for the job,” Coe concludes.



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