In 2011, one of the featured Classy Trucks in Pumper magazine was this 2011 Freightliner M2-112, owned by Williams & Bay Pumping Services.

The Freightliner is still going strong 120,000 miles later and is a daily work truck with a 5,200-gallon aluminum tank and NVE 607 Challenger pump built out by Imperial Industries Inc. The truck is powered by a Mercedes-Benz MBE 4000 450 hp engine tied to an Eaton Fuller nine-speed transmission.

Driver Shaun Smedley has driven the rig since it was new, doing mainly residential septic pumping and a little bit of commercial work. Owner Joe Williams says the truck hasn’t needed any significant repairs over the years. “There were a few recall-type things from the manufacturer during the first year or two, like with any vehicle. It all depends on who’s driving it. Shaun Smedley takes great care of it; it’s his baby.”

The truck also features the same graphics since, as Williams says, they “did it right the first time,” with prominently placed phone numbers.

The favorite feature on this rig, though, is the big 5,200-gallon tank. “They’re expensive to build that big, but it’s really nice to have the extra room in the tank. I’d like to get another one this size,” he says.

Leave cleaning to the professionals

Williams’ trucks stay looking nice due in part to a new cleaning system. “We used to have each guy in charge of maintaining their own truck and washing it every day,” he says. “But we got so busy we actually have a power washing company that comes in weekly and cleans everything for us. It saves a lot of time and it’s not that expensive. More guys should probably look into doing it that way.”

Williams points out that the power washers get the trucks really clean, which makes them easier to clean the next time, and keep them clean.

“And it’s kind of nice because anyone driving by sees our whole fleet parked out there at once” during cleaning, he says.