Whether it’s a small outfit with a single service vehicle or a large company with a substantial fleet of vacuum trucks, every portable sanitation business has to hire drivers to run their routes. And tied to those drivers are a host of expectations, both behind the wheel and outside the cab.
The owner and operator of a vacuum truck takes it upon himself to learn everything he can to run his truck. It’s always been true that owners deal differently with their machinery than hired hands.
The people who get hired to drive vacuum trucks come in all sizes, shapes, and more importantly, attitudes. Some companies hand the keys over and say, “Go pump.” Still others are more cautious and spend a lot of time in training.
At minimum, what should a company expect from its vacuum truck driver?
THE BASICS FOR ANY DRIVER
The first thing a vacuum truck driver needs: The appropriate driver’s license for the truck he is driving. It’s amazing how many people are still confused about which trucks need Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL) and which trucks don’t. This is a federal law, so don’t be confused by local laws. The CDL requirements are the same across the country. If your truck has a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 26,000 pounds or more, the driver needs a CDL.
Second, he or she should know how to drive. Another misnomer is that having a driver’s license means anyone can drive well. Can your drivers operate a standard transmission truck when necessary? More and more people coming into the industry don’t have that skill. Consequently, more automatics are being put into service to remove this requirement. Can your drivers operate effectively in reverse? For some reason, some people just can’t back up a truck when they’re required to use side rear view mirrors.
Third, do your drivers have adequate knowledge of traffic laws and fundamental safety? Every driver needs to understand speed limits, passing lanes and legal parking. Still, drivers get tickets every day for the silliest violations. Tickets raise insurance premiums and often create driving situations that are dangerous and unnecessary. As for safety, does the driver buckle up every day? Does he know where the jack is in case of breakdown? How about fire extinguishers? Is the truck carrying one? Where is it?
Those three things: a driver’s license, the ability to drive and knowledge of traffic laws and safety, are the basic ingredients of the driver. But there is a lot more to being a quality portable sanitation service truck driver.
THE SALESMAN
When the driver heads out to run a portable restroom route in the morning, does he and the truck look presentable? Is he clean, neat and properly uniformed, or has he thrown on yesterday’s clothes because he doesn’t want to get another uniform dirty? Same for the truck: Has it been washed and cleaned or does it look 10 years older than it is? The truck driver is the No. 1 salesman for any pumping company. This is because he is constantly demonstrating the quality of your service.
The driver is also likely to run into contractors and potential customers in the field. The way he looks and they way he does his job can produce many new future sales. Likewise, a lousy driver will cost you business over and over again. It is a competitive marketplace with lots of players ready to take your customers. The driver is a big factor in customer retention and customer loss.
Looking at your drivers, ask yourself if your company can be recommended to new customers?
CARING OR MAKING A PAYCHECK
Efficiency is important in the portable sanitation industry. Do your drivers get in, do the job in a professional, speedy manner and move on to the next site? Or do they stop at the convenience store for drinks and snacks in between stops? Do they know the best way to get around in the city, or are they wasting gas and time getting to the job? One sign to look for is simple: Is the truck always neat and orderly or is it a mess? Do your drivers care about their job or are they just making a paycheck? Are they looking out for the company in their daily tasks or are they looking out for themselves? The great driver is one who looks for better ways to do the job without shortchanging the quality of service. Let’s face it, time is money and the more efficient the driver, the greater the company’s profits.
UNDERSTANDING THE TRUCK
If you are the owner and the operator of a truck, you quickly learn about the components of a vacuum truck and how they work. There are certain chores that require daily maintenance on a vacuum truck. These chores are simple and a good driver should be expected to perform them to maintain the truck properly. At the end of every workday, or at least before heading out the next day, these tasks need to be done:
• Drain the secondary moisture trap. The quickest way to damage your pump is to let waste sit in the secondary overnight and then start the pump the next day. The waste in the secondary zaps right on through to the pump, leaving everyone wondering what’s wrong with that expensive pump.
• Drain off the excess oil from the oil catch muffler. Since you’re already capturing waste in a bucket, drain off the excess oil that has been collected at the oil catch muffler.
• Test the vacuum relief and pressure relief valves. When starting the truck every morning, make sure the vacuum relief and the pressure relief valve are working.
• Watch the pressure/vacuum gauge to make sure it reads consistently. This needs to be checked day after day. Any changes mean something is going wrong. It’s a simple, routine task to perform as the vacuum builds, or when dumping, when the pressure builds.
• Give a visual inspection to hoses and valves. It’s always a good idea to visually check the condition of your hoses and valves. It can be a serious time-waster, and you might miss out on some paying work if your tired, old hose collapses in the middle of a hectic workday.
GETTING ALONG
As in any business, it’s always important that the driver maintain a good relationship with fellow employees and customers. Does the driver give extra effort when a customer asks? As mentioned earlier, it’s a great sales tool to give the customer something extra when they have a special need. This will pay dividends down the road.
If a co-worker needs help, do your drivers take the extra step to lend a hand? Even better is when drivers become leaders, teaching other employees the basics of being a good driver, giving tips and advice.
NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT THE DRIVER
The more a driver knows about the business, his truck, and the customers, the better off the business is going to be. Some drivers take to it naturally, growing in the job, while others need encouragement to do the job right. The entire industry is built on the driver. Without him, nothing happens. Customers won’t drive the portable restroom in for a cleaning.
The more a driver can do for the company, the more valuable he becomes. And with that, profits grow and most likely the business expands. Sound good?
