This feature in Pumper reports noteworthy conversations that take place at the Pumper Discussion Forum, an online forum for industry professionals found at www.pumper.com. Pumper Discussion enables exchange of information and ideas on septic and drainfield installation and maintenance, trucks and equipment, portable sanitation, chemical and additives and much more. Information and advice in “Overheard Online” is offered in good faith by industry professionals. However, readers should consult in depth with appropriate industry sources before applying such advice to a specific business situation.

Question:

We have a destination wedding coming up; our friends are getting married. I run the truck and the business by myself. I’ve told the installers who use me via letter. Let’s say we leave Monday morning. I’ll just change the message to something polite on Saturday night and turn off call forwarding because all calls are forwarded to my cell. I’m not dealing with that.
I’m interested to see what others do in this situation. Leave and hope for the best? I know my good customers should be fine; they care for their systems. I also know you’re going to get those few arrogant messages such as “I guess I’ll call someone who wants to work.’’ I just don’t want to have this in the back of my mind. Any advice?

Answers:

Since I’m a one-man band, I have the same problem. The only time I go away is for the Pumper & Cleaner Expo. But when I go, I have another pumper who covers for me. I trust him. He is also a one-man band. So I cover for him as needed. It works out good.

I have some holding tanks that have to be pumped once or twice a week. So I can never really leave without making sure they get done somehow.

I send all of my customers a reminder card to tell them when they are due, and add a note with any days I will be closed for vacation. Most of my clients have been regular customers for many years. (It helps having been in this line of work for 45 years.) I have never lost a job from an established customer. If I do lose a job, it’s not the end of the world. I have never seen a tombstone that said, “I wish I would have spent more time at work!”

I’m taking a couple of days off myself. As I only have one number –  my cellphone – I will be fielding calls when I have a moment. I do have a guy that used to work septic that I can get to cover for me in case of a real emergency. Most of the rest I will just be telling I am booked solid until I get back. Will I lose a couple of jobs? Probably. You can’t get them all.

My only real worry is one customer that, if they go down, it is a drop-everything-and-come-running situation. But they don’t break down very often. The last time it was 10,000 to 12,000 gallons a day for 19 days. That was a once in 10 years type of thing, but you never know. A guy can go crazy worrying about it all. Plan the best you can, hope a bit and try to enjoy yourself.