The holidays are upon us again and it’s time to spread season’s greetings in your community. We’ve heard from a few pumpers who decorate their service trucks for holiday parades and have a great time doing so!

David and Andrea Knight, owners of David Knight Construction in Caledonia, Miss., decorated their House of Imports vacuum truck last year for the town’s Christmas parade.

They purchased the truck in 2011 when David bought the pumping side of his dad’s business after leaving for a few years to build houses. “We wanted everyone to know we were back in business so we decided to put the truck in the parade,” says Andrea. 

Decorations included lights, wreaths and an inflatable Santa’s Outhouse Andrea found the morning of the parade. “I just couldn’t resist!” she says. “It had Santa opening and closing the door with ‘occupied’ on the outside.” 

They threw out Tootsie Rolls to spectators and rolls of toilet paper to their friends. “The town got a big laugh out of it,” says Andrea. The vacuum truck took second place in the business group for parade awards.

Most residents of the small town of 1,000 know David, but participating in the parade provided the new pumping side of his company with some necessary recognition. “It was a good thing for me because lots of folks who didn’t already know me saw my truck in the parade and were able to put the connection together.”

With a modified name of Knight Environmental Services, the company is now planning for this year’s parade. “We have about 25 pounds of candy to throw out,” says David. “We’re shooting for first place. We’re going all out this year, but we’re still coming up with ideas. We’ve since invested in portable restrooms so I might pull a small trailer with one unit and a real Santa.”

SPREAD YOUR HOLIDAY CHEER!
Will you decorate your service truck for a holiday parade? If so, share your story and send a photo to kim.peterson@colepublishing.com.