When I review the Pumper Classy Trucks, I often wonder to myself, “What drives these contractors to go the extra mile to deck out and detail their rigs and send them in for our contest?” These owners often spend a little more in cash and time to spec the rigs just they way them want them and then carefully prep them for a photo shoot. They show pride not only in their new or refurbished rigs, but also in their small businesses.

Small businesses don’t always have the extra money laying around to pay a bill for extensive graphics or a fancy paint job for their rolling equipment. And they certainly don’t have a lot of spare time on their hands to wax every nook and cranny on a hardworking vehicle. But they find a way to make details like that happen, and we enjoy paying honor to folks for their efforts.

They have every reason to be proud of joining the hundreds of folks who have made the annual Classy Truck over the years. And I suspect, as proud as they are of their trucks, these business owners are also proud of the traditions of their businesses — often multigenerational family operations — and show just as much cleanliness and professionalism in the work they perform day to day.

Please join me in saluting the owners of the 2018 crop of Classy Trucks. We raise our hoses to honor you!

Take a few minutes to look over the 18 Classy Trucks and choose your favorite. Reader votes will be tallied and added to the picks from our team of COLE Publishing judges to choose the winner. But make your pick quickly. Voting ends Dec. 21.

JANUARY

Fiedler’s Your Pumping Specialists - Royalton, Minnesota

Owners Ted Popp and Jeff and Cindy Tiemann added this red 2013 Kenworth T800 with a 3,700-gallon stainless steel tank and Battioni WPT 720 vacuum pump built out by Friedrich’s Auto & Truck of Rice, Minnesota. The truck is powered by a 500 hp Cummins ISX engine, sending power to a Fuller 18-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Driver Art Betker uses the truck for residential and commercial pumping, car-wash pits and flammable waste traps.

FEBRUARY

Campbell’s Septic Tank Service - Monroe, Georgia

Hoss Campbell added this lipstick red 2014 Freightliner with a 2,500-gallon steel tank and Masport H20W pump built out by Abernethy Welding & Repair. The truck is powered by a 500 hp Cummins ISX engine, sending power to the wheels through a six-speed transmission. The truck is used to pump residential and commercial septic tanks.

Fred’s Septic Service - Atwater, Ohio

Chad Werab added this black 2010 Kenworth T800 with a steel 4,000-gallon waste and 300-gallon freshwater steel tank and Fruitland 500 cfm pump built out by Marengo Fabricated Steel. The truck is powered by a 450 hp Cummins ISM engine tied to a 10-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Driver Rick Shanks uses the truck for residential and commercial pumping.

MARCH

Powers Septic & Sewer - Noblesville, Indiana

Frank Powers added this custom-painted red, white and blue 2017 Volvo VDH with a 4,800-gallon hoisted stainless steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 866 pump built out by Advance Pump & Equipment. The truck is powered by a 500 hp Volvo D13 engine tied to a Volvo I-Shift 12-speed automated manual transmission. The truck is used for residential and commercial septic tanks, grease traps and car-wash pits.

APRIL

Smith’s Sanitary Septic Service - Hanover, Pennsylvania

Steve Smith added a blue and white 2016 Kenworth T880 carrying a 5,500-gallon steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment Challenger 4310 Pro Pack blower built out by Pik Rite. The truck is powered by a Cummins ISX15 500 hp engine tied to an 18-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Driver Adam Kreider uses the truck for commercial and residential pumping.

Grand Island Waste Management - Grand Island, New York

Jim Ehde added this gray and metallic blue 2012 Freightliner carrying a 5,000-gallon steel tank and Juniper 330 cfm vacuum pump built out by Pik Rite. The truck is powered by a 525 hp Cummins ISX engine tied to a 10-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Ehde splits driving duties with Don Phillips, providing residential septic service and municipal sludge hauling.

MAY

Nadeau Pelletier Sewer Services - Frenchville, Maine

Dave Pelletier added a metallic blue 2017 Peterbilt 330 with a 2,500-gallon steel tank and Jurop/Chandler 260 pump built out by Transway Systems. The truck is powered by a 300 hp Cummins engine tied to a six-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck is used mainly for residential septic and grease trap service.

JUNE 

Deland Septic - Holly Hill, Florida

John W. Atkins added this Jazz Pearl blue 2017 Peterbilt 389 with a 5,500-gallon aluminum tank and National Vacuum Equipment 4310 Challenger blower built out by Pik Rite. The rig is powered by a 500 hp Cummins engine tied to an automatic transmission (Allison Transmission). Driver Mitch Taylor uses the truck to pump septic tanks and grease traps.

King’s Sanitary Service - Bristolville, Ohio

Rex King Jr. bought a white and red 2017 Western Star 4700 with a 4,000-gallon Mid-State Tank/Arthur Custom Tank stainless steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 400 cfm vacuum pump built out by FlowMark Vacuum Trucks. The rig is powered by a 350 hp Cummins ISL9 engine tied to an eight-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck is used for septic tanks and grease traps.

JULY

Ziegler Plumbing & Sewer - Newport News, Virginia

Theresa Siebels, Ron and Steve Ziegler own this silver 2006 Kenworth T800 with a 4,000-gallon waste and 250-gallon freshwater steel tank and 400 cfm Masport pump built out by Quality Tank. The rig is powered by a 475 hp Cummins ISX engine wedded to an 18-speed Fuller transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Drivers are George Whitmore and Ricky Sandoval, and the truck is used mainly for grease trap, septic and pump basin service.

AUGUST

Gilpin Septic Services - Wareham, Massachusetts

Bill Gilpin Jr. added this black and blue 2104 Kenworth T370 with a 2,700-gallon steel tank and Fruitland RCF500 pump built out by Andert. The truck is powered by a 350 hp PACCAR PX-9 engine, sending power to an Allison Transmission 3000 RDS auto transmission. Gilpin drives the truck, which is used for residential septic pumping.

John Holm & Son - Monroe, New Jersey

Wayne Borsuk added a black 2017 Peterbilt 567 with a 5,000-gallon stainless steel tank and 440 cfm Utile HD L320T pump built out by Progress Tank. The truck is powered by a PACCAR MX-13 engine tied to an Allison Transmission 4000 RDS-P automatic transmission. The truck is used for residential and commercial septic, grease trap and liquid sludge pumping.

SEPTEMBER

A&S Environmental - Fredericksburg, Virginia

John Sawdy added a red and white 2007 Sterling A9500 with a 4,000-gallon steel tank and Jurop/Chandler LC420 pump from National Truck Center. The truck is powered by a 425 hp Caterpillar C13 engine tied to a Fuller 10-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The driver is Chip Breeden, and the truck is used for residential septic service.

OCTOBER

JPG Plumbing Services - Jessup, Maryland

JPG Plumbing Services added a white 2017 Freightliner M2 with a 4,000-gallon aluminum tank and Fruitland SM870 pump from Amthor International. The truck is powered by a 350 hp Cummins ISL engine tied to a 3000 RDS automatic transmission (Allison Transmission). Driver Earl Anderson uses the truck for commercial and industrial pumping, lift stations, pits and grease interceptors.

Stocking Stall’s Septic Tank Service - Cherry Valley, New York

Mike Stocking added a Galaxy Blue 2016 Peterbilt with a 2,500-gallon waste and 300-gallon freshwater Dyna-Vac Equipment aluminum tank and Masport pump and built out by TNT Truck Repair. The truck is powered by a 430 hp Detroit diesel engine tied to a Fuller 15-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). The truck is used for residential and commercial pumping.

NOVEMBER

Tim Frank Septic Tank Cleaning - Huntsburg, Ohio

Tom Frank added a red 2017 Freightliner M2 with a 3,500-gallon steel tank with full-opening rear door and hoist and a National Vacuum Equipment 866 pump built out by LMT. The truck is powered by a 350 hp Cummins engine tied to a Fuller 10-speed transmission (Eaton Vehicle Group). Don Parnaby is the driver, and the truck is used for residential and commercial septic pumping.

DECEMBER

Litzenberger’s Septic Service - Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Merlin and Janelle Litzenberger bought a Firemist brown 2017 Western Star 4700 SB with a 4,200-gallon Martin’s Welding aluminum tank and National Vacuum Equipment 4307 blower built out by Nolt Services. The truck is powered by a 380 hp Detroit diesel DD13 engine tied to an automatic transmission (Allison Transmission). The truck is used for residential septic pumping.

Go Services - Red Deer, Alberta

Go Services added a silver 2017 Peterbilt 348 with a 3,600-gallon steel tank and 450 cfm Wallenstein pump built out by Vacutrux Limited. The truck is powered by a 370 hp PACCAR PX-9 engine tied to an automatic transmission (Allison Transmission). The truck is used for industrial and oil field septic systems.

Cast Your Ballot Today!

Step 1. Look over the 18 Classy Trucks for 2018.

Step 2. Choose your favorite.

Step 3. Go online at www.pumper.com/classy and vote. (One vote per IP address allowed.)

Act now! The deadline for voting is Friday, Dec. 21.

Make Your New Rig a Classy Truck!

Seeing your truck in the pages of Pumper is easy!

Step 1. Clean and detail your truck.

Step 2. Take a variety of photos.

Step 3. Send the photos to us, along with a detailed description of the truck and accessories, to editor@pumper.com.