We caught up with a past Classy Truck of the Year winner (featured each year on the February issue of Pumper) to see how his vehicle investment — and magazine cover appearance — has paid off. 

Jim McDonald, owner of the 2011 Peterbilt (shown at left) that won 2012 Classy Truck of the Year, says his truck has benefited his septic business over the years. 

His eye-catching workhorse is powered by a 350 hp Cummins diesel tied to an Allison six-speed automatic transmission and outfitted by Lely Manufacturing with a 3,000-gallon steel tank, 3- and 4-inch valves, triple rear-mounted sight glasses and top- and rear-side manways. 

This ritzy rig is accented with diamond-plate hose trays, aluminum storage boxes on both sides and other chrome features. 

McDonald, owner of 70-year-old A.J. McDonald Co. Inc. septic company, says he wouldn’t change a thing about the truck. “It was ordered just the way I wanted it.” 

“I’ve been working like a mad man,” he says, noting today’s busy schedule is thanks to his classy truck keeping up with increased loads after his brother, and business partner, decided to retire and left the company. 

“We were running two trucks, now I have to do all the work of two trucks with this one 2011 Peterbilt. It seems to be able to keep right up,” he says. “It’s a very efficient truck. It’s set up to do the job and make things easier. 

“We were only doing five jobs with each truck per day when my brother was here. Now I can easily do an average of nine or 10 jobs a day with one truck. We had to shift gears a little bit when my brother left. We’ve become a lot more efficient. We cluster jobs together,” he says, noting that regularly scheduled grease trap cleaning jobs simplify that process. 

“People sum you up before you even say a word,” McDonald says, noting the importance of clean, good-looking service trucks. “We always wanted a clean truck pulling up in someone’s driveway to project that image that we’re going to do a clean job. 

“We’re not going to leave a mess behind,” he continues. “I think that has worked out. I think that’s part of the reason we have been in business so long. I think that’s why people are willing to pay a little bit more for our services versus our competitors.” 

Like McDonald, many of our monthly Classy Truck winners own rigs outfitted with the latest technology and boast beautiful paint and graphics. Some are brand spanking new and some are refurbished trucks giving a new look to some classic models. 

No one knows better than you about the grueling work of pumping septic tanks and grease traps. And your trucks show your pride in the work and the industry. 

The truck trends over the years have changed with new cab comforts, paint designs and component placements for increased productivity. Septage haulers are designing trucks to achieve maximum payload efficiency to move a lot of waste on a daily basis with more stops to take on septage or grease before disposal. 

But one thing has stayed the same: Your dedication to your work, your employees and your industry. Keep up the great work and let’s make 2014 another great year for septic pumpers and their classy trucks. 

In case you forgot, here’s a look back at Classy Truck of the Year winners from years past: 

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Place your vote by Dec. 20 for our 8th annual Classy Truck of the Year contest.

The Classy Truck of the Year and its owner will be featured on the cover of the February 2014 issue of Pumper, the issue distributed at the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International.

If you want to get your Classy Truck into the running for future monthly entries, contact Editor Jim Kneiszel at editor@pumper.com. Or stop by the editors’ booth (#4028) at the Expo to show him photos and talk shop.