To a certain degree, you are what you drive in the pumping business, says Dean Church, owner of Bainbridge Septic Tank Pumping in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
Sure, you can provide crack service driving an older service rig with a little rust showing here and there. But the winner of the Classy Truck of the Year contest for 2007 says that in a world where image is everything, driving a good-looking, well-maintained rig is a strong indicator of quality service and customer care.
“Having a nice, clean truck, it’s a pride thing,’’ Church said after being told that his truck was being honored as the top entry from the monthly Classy Truck feature last year. “They are a driving billboard, so it’s definitely important to have clean trucks. Our drivers take pride in having clean trucks, and it shows they take pride in everything they do.’’
Church’s updated 1999 International 9100i — one of two septic trucks in the fleet that includes 24 trash, recycling and drop box rigs — was featured in the May issue of Pumper®. In a vote by readers and COLE Publishing staff, the Bainbridge truck beat out 11 other beautiful trucks that shared the monthly Classy Truck feature during 2007.
Building Dave’s truck
In 2006, Church sent the truck to Erickson Tank & Pump in Qunicy, Wash., where a new 3,000-gallon steel tank and accessories were added. The truck is powered by a Cummins N-14 370E-Plus engine married to a 10-speed Eaton-Fuller transmission. Vacuum is provided by a Masport H15w pump.
When the truck was returned, it was painted by Rainbow Auto Body, with a swooping design of metallic blue and gold to match the team colors of the Bainbridge High School Spartans. The same paint scheme and bold graphics by Johnny K Signs are found on all Bainbridge trucks.
Other nice touches on the truck are diamond-plate hose trays and comfort features, including air-ride cab, air conditioning, heated mirrors, fog and running lights and cassette stereo. The truck maintained by driver Dave Schaber is used mostly for residential septic customers on the island in the Puget Sound and Kitsap County.
When Church sees septic pumping companies working with inferior equipment and poorly maintained older trucks, he can’t help but believe the image reflects the level of service they provide. Church says he demands that his trucks reflect something more.
“We don’t just pump (waste), in my mind,’’ he said. “I don’t look at it that way at all. We provide a necessary service to people who’ve known us all of our lives, and we help the community.’’
A long-time Pumper reader, Church said winning the contest validates his philosophy of building trucks that make a positive first impression among customers.
“Keep up on the maintenance, not just the exterior, but the mechanical part of it, too, so you don’t have the breakdowns and the downtime. To me, it’s not just about a picture,’’ Church says of his truck, which takes center stage on the Pumper cover this month. “A clean truck on the road gives customers a good sense of who they are using and confidence they’re getting the job done right.’’
The pumping business and its sister businesses were started by Church’s late father-in-law, Don Palmer, in 1966, and bought by Church and his wife, Heather, two years ago. The couple has four children. The family is firmly rooted in the community and believe in giving, often offering their services for charitable purposes.
Church also believes he should keep the pumping business going to serve the owners of older houses on the island, as new homes typically tie into a municipal sewer and don’t need septic service. The emergence of sewer service limits Bainbridge’s growth, but the septic subsidiary still pumps an average of 50-60 tanks per month.
Classy competition
The Classy Truck entries keep getting better every year. I’d like to congratulate everyone who participated in 2007 and encourage all readers to send in photos of their new or refurbished vacuum trucks for 2008. The quality of trucks I see in photos that pass my desk are a reflection both of the commitment of liquid waste haulers to build a professional image and of the skill of truck builders, accessory manufacturers, painters and detailers that serve this industry. If anybody tells you they can no longer find quality craftsmanship in American industry, have them watch for the next pumping truck they pass on the highway.
On with the show
As this issue of Pumper is being delivered to your doorstep, I’m preparing to head to Louisville, Ky., for the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International. I hope to see you at the Kentucky Exposition Center Feb. 26-March 1.
I look forward to the Expo for a number of reasons. Like so many of you who make the Expo an annual tradition, I am eager to see new products on display in the exhibit area and learn of new industry trends during the Feb. 26 Education Day seminars.
But what I look forward to the most is the opportunity to meet the pumping professionals who make this a dynamic and progressive industry. Many of the ideas for stories you see in these pages are generated while visiting with pumpers from across the country — and the world — at the Expo.
So please flag me down at the Expo and tell me about your business. If you’d like to say hello and share an idea or two for the magazine, look for anyone wearing a COLE Publishing shirt and have them track me down. I look forward to meeting you.
