Frank Powers, owner of Powers Septic & Sewer in Noblesville, Indiana, has been in business since 2000, after going into the industry with his father pumping septic tanks and grease traps. So he’s had awhile to understand which trucks work best for his business, and his impressive fleet proves that.

Located about 25 miles north of Indianapolis, Powers relies on strong, powerful and solidly made trucks to last. One of the gems of his fleet is a red, white and blue 2017 Volvo VHD with 4,800-gallon waste hoisted stainless steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 866 pump, which was named Classy Truck in the March issue of Pumper. The truck’s graphics were provided by CSI Signs.

The truck is powered by a 500 hp Volvo D13 engine tied to a Volvo I-Shift 12-speed automated manual transmission. The truck features a double frame, General Pipe Cleaners jetter in a heated box with 300 feet of 3/8-inch hose, Garnet SeeLevel gauge, aluminum wheels, full lockers on air-ride, a steerable pusher axle, heated valves, 4-inch inlet and 6-inch dump valve, triple top-side manways with a catwalk for cleaning the tank, and a 140-gallon freshwater tank with Arctic Fox tank heater.

Living in the Midwest where the winter weather can be harsh, Powers is a firm believer in heaters, which he has on most of his tanks. The heaters are an extra expense, but Powers says, “It comes in handy in the winter time, and the majority of the time it works well.”

The truck also employs strobe lights for safety and a trailer hitch. Creature comforts include keyless entry, bench seat for three-wide seating, power windows and locks, heated windshield, and radio with Bluetooth controls. This truck is used to clean residential and commercial septic tanks, grease traps and car wash pits.

The 2017 Volvo was built out by Wayne Vandenberge of Advance Pump & Equipment of Peosta, Iowa — a company Powers raves about. They’ve worked with them a long time, and the company has built several of his trucks.

“His detail is awesome,” Powers says. “He built the 2017 Volvo and the Western Star” and put his touches on the other trucks. Powers says there will be other purchases with Advance Pump & Equipment. “Hands down. I should have had him build my other trucks.”

Powers isn’t the only one who knows a sharp truck when he sees it. In addition to being named Pumper magazine’s Classy Truck of the month, the Volvo was featured in the 2017 Volvo Trucks of North America calendar as the July image due to its patriotic colors.

And while he does have a handful of trucks by other manufacturers, Powers says he prizes Volvo due to its safety and maneuverability. In addition to his fondness for Volvo, Powers is also a fan of stainless steel tanks. “It looks good, you don’t have to get it painted, and you don’t get corrosion issues,” he says. “You do lose some payload because it is heavy, but you don’t have any pitting issues.”

Powers’ powerful fleet also includes a 1995 Kenworth with 3,200-gallon waste and 200-gallon fresh carbon steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 466 vacuum pump; a 2006 Volvo VHD 4,000-gallon waste aluminum tank with hoist and 100-gallon fresh tank on side with heater and National Vacuum Equipment 866 vacuum pump; a 2015 Kenworth T800 that pulls a 2010 aluminum 6,000-gallon waste and 100-gallon fresh tank (with heater) trailer with National Vacuum Equipment 4310 blower; a 2012 Western Star 4900SB with 4,600-gallon stainless steel tank and National Vacuum Equipment 4310 blower; a 2002 International 9200i that pulls a Kruz 23-foot quarter-frame dump trailer; and a 2008 Ram 5500 box truck with lift gate that carries drain cleaning equipment.