Next to the imaginations and intelligence of its many contractors, this industry owes its success to technological innovation. Every year at every show, conference and exposition, we see the rollout of incredible new devices, tools, equipment, vehicles and formulas for everything from disinfecting and stain removal to odor control and anti-freeze. Used with seasoned consideration and intelligent application by pumpers the world over, these magnificent pieces of progress — big and small — regularly advance our ability to get the job done.
But it’s not just about “git ’er done,” it’s about doing so while still making a profit. All those toys are great, but which ones have proven their worth by creating a return on their investment?
This month, we survey operators to see what’s helped them make the most of industry innovation.
Peter Morin has a tough time narrowing down to just one piece of technology that has helped boost his bottom line. With 35 employees and several vehicles on the road in this maritime Canadian province just over the Maine state line, he’s always exploring ways new technology can boost the bottom line.
“We’re looking at a lot of things,” he says, “like computer software.” Morin’s considering the purchase of dispatching and scheduling packages to help streamline his office operations. “And GPS tracking systems,” he adds. “It’s beginning to be more important to us now to keep track of where all our equipment is at any one time.”
Some of that equipment, such as a new 3,500-gallon vacuum service truck, has allowed Morin to schedule longer, more efficient routes. With fuel prices on the way back up, this can only be a good thing. But it’s an accessory he added at the last Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International that’s having a very direct impact on the company’s profitability.
“We purchased new pumping equipment, which has made all the difference,” he says. “We’ve put a liquid measuring (meter) on the trucks, so now we’re charging the customer by actual gallons pumped.” Morin says having this proof of pumping provides confidence in billing for what was actually removed from the tank. This results in higher per-gallon billing, since crews no longer must rely on “by guess and by golly” loads, which typically get underestimated. There’s no longer any reason to underestimate due to fear of incurring a customer’s wrath, since the meter printout is proof of what’s claimed on the invoice.
Bruce McCrory credits the Crust Buster tank agitation tool for helping him finish tough jobs more efficiently. “It’s really shortened up the time it takes to pump, and leaves the tank cleaner.” He says the motorized tool has been instrumental in making him a more effective and more efficient septic tank pumper.
“It’s just faster,” McCrory says, allowing him to get to more stops in less time and still feel that he’s met his own standards of thoroughness. “It’s just made my job a whole lot easier.”
With five major locations and diversified offerings that include septic pumping, portable sanitation, jetting services and industrial vacuum loading, it’s hard to pinpoint a single innovation that has made a big difference to Redi Services LLC’s bottom line. But manager Dave Spence says a move into restaurant services — the company’s latest expansion — has provided opportunities to find specialized uses for more common tools and equipment, making them more profitable.
Redi Services offers kitchen maintenance packages that include standard grease trap pumping, then adds thorough grease trap cleanouts, and commercial exhaust and ventilation systems cleaning. Though it’s a fairly new service approach for the company, Spence believes it’s the combination that customers find appealing. It might be one or the other element of the package that opens the door, but it’s the efficiency of the one-stop service that keeps them coming back.
“We set up an enclosed trailer with a 3,000-psi Hotsy steam cleaner in it,” he explains. We mix up some chemicals and run the hoses into a restaurant to clean their kitchen exhaust hoods, fans and ductwork.”
The crews then use high-pressure jetter equipment with a rotating 3D Nozzle to physically clear out the grease traps after they’ve been pumped. It’s a focused way to approach a commonly overlooked niche in a large market. The package is presented to the customer as convenient and economical, while Redi Services squeezes more billable hours out of equipment that might otherwise sit idle.
