For 90 years, five generations of the Bailey family have provided sanitation services in the Reading, Pennsylvania area. Today it’s Todd Bailey, the fourth generation, at the helm. And his 20-year-old son Zach is taking on more and more responsibility while he finishes college.

Some things have stayed the same over the years — attention to detail, a focus on customer service, reliability. But each generation faced unique challenges and changing circumstances and put their own stamp on the business — adding or subtracting services, making procedural changes and modernizing operations.

Bailey’s Septic Service & Portable Toilet Rentals operates out of a 5-acre property. They have a staff of 13 and work within a 50-mile radius providing septic pumping and portable restroom rentals.

FIVE GENERATIONS

Morris Bailey was the founder of the company in 1935. He drilled wells and serviced septic systems, cesspools and outhouses. 

His son John eventually took over. John decided to give up the well drilling service and concentrate on pumping. In 1969 he passed away and his wife Evelyn ran things for a couple years until their son Les and his wife Pat took over. Les ran operations while Pat tended to the financial health of the company.

Todd, their son, came onboard in the 1990s. One of his important contributions to the business was bringing in portable restrooms. “It was for expansion and to bring me on as the next generation,” he explains. The new service line was successful and today accounts for half the company’s revenue. In 2010 Todd became the official owner. 

Zach grew up in the business doing simple things at the shop and washing units. After graduating from high school, he had some decisions to make about his future. In the end, he committed to working in the family business but also enrolled in college to study business administration — and, on the side, he continued to pursue his passion for acting. 

His unique contribution to the business thus far has been focusing on social media — posting photos and general tips and making short-form videos. “I started filming content for Facebook, Instagram and TikTok,” he says. “It’s just showing who we are and the services we provide — even funny skits, just trying to keep it lighthearted, engaging and overall fun. We’re also on LinkedIn which is more focused towards the business side of things. Facebook and Instagram are more of the homeowner demographic.”

COVID RESOURCEFULNESS

Zach’s commitment to the business grew during the COVID pandemic while he was in high school. “During the lockdown, I started coming in to help clean and repair units because at the time there was a big boon in sanitation needs,” he says. “Carpenter Technology, for example, a big steel manufacturer, is located a couple blocks from us. They needed to keep their doors open so they required a lot of restrooms and sink stations.”

Todd was grateful for his son’s help during COVID, but the pandemic was a challenge at first, he admits. “As soon as they shut everything down, I went into panic mode because that was when everything was starting up around here — sports and events. I’m like, what are we going to do.” 

But within a week the steel manufacturer took 100 units and wanted them serviced three times a week. That contract lasted for several years. Other companies soon came forward with similar needs.

The main problem for the company at the time was finding enough equipment, especially hand-wash stations. But they didn’t let that stop them, Todd says, and they took matters into their own hands. 

“We actually went through a phase where we were making our own makeshift sinks to keep up with the demand. We were very creative and had some cool designs that worked out really efficiently. We used rolling plastic carts from Harbor Freight and water tanks from Tractor Supply. And then we used certain plumbing fixtures for spigot attachments and to catch the graywater. Soap and paper towel dispensers were added to the units. And then we made them mobile so we could wheel them around.”

The company made about 75 units which were in continual use during the pandemic.

INVENTORY LINEUP

The company-built hand-wash stations took quite a beating while in use and have now been retired. “Today, there’s not a big demand for sinks,” Todd says. “We only have about 15 units from PolyJohn.”

Their other inventory consists of approximately 700 portable restrooms (Satellite Industries and PolyJohn), including 20 wheelchair-accessible units. They also have 10 225- and 300-gallon holding tanks (PolyJohn), and one two-station restroom trailer (Alpha Mobile Solutions), equipped with air conditioning, heat and Bluetooth, used primarily for weddings and high-end special events. 

About half their portable restrooms are used in construction, the other half for events. On the construction side, they do everything from large commercial jobs to homeowner deck projects. 

Some of their events include Fall Fest in West Reading, Art on the Avenue, the Duryea Hillclimb road race, and the Taste of Hamburger Festival in Hamburg, Pennsylvania. They handle the Anniversary Party for the Reading Motorcycle Club, one of the oldest chapters of the American Motorcycle Association, founded in 1911. They also provide equipment for the West Reading Main Street Foundation which sponsors events throughout the year.

The company’s transport equipment includes one eight-unit hauler; an International box truck that can carry 10 units; and two Dodge stake body trucks, one which holds six units, the other four. In addition, they have two one-unit trailers for contractors who need to be able to move them around.

The service fleet includes a 2020 Isuzu NPR built out by FlowMark with a 600-gallon waste/350-gallon freshwater aluminum tank, a 2020 Ram Cummins built out by Robinson Vacuum Tanks with a 600-gallon waste/350-gallon freshwater aluminum tank, a 2018 Isuzu NPR HD built out by FlowMark with a 600-gallon waste/300-gallon freshwater steel tank, a 2017 Ram 4500 built out by Pik Rite with a 600-gallon waste/300-gallon freshwater aluminum tank, and a 2006 GMC built out by Pik Rite with an 800-gallon waste/400-gallon freshwater steel tank. All have Masport pumps.

The company uses Walex deodorizer products. In the winter they put a company-developed brine solution in the units to prevent freezing. They dispose of waste at local wastewater treatment plants.

Over time, they have developed some of their own computer systems to facilitate efficient routing. “We have somebody here in charge of systems development,” Zach says. “He’s created an Excel program that goes off of ZIP codes, clustering units together that make the most sense.”

SEPTIC OPERATIONS

On the septic side, the company utilizes five vacuum trucks (International, Peterbilt) built out by Transway Systems, Allied Tank & Construction, Pik Rite and Iron-Vac with tanks ranging in size from 1,400 to 4,000 gallons and Masport pumps. 

They have a number of commercial customers on maintenance agreements, but about 75% of their work is for homeowners. Todd says most of the customers have risers on their tanks at this point. “But every once in a while we’ll come across someone who doesn’t and we’ll either give them a quote to install it or we’ll help them out and tell them where to get the material if they want to dig the hole themselves.”

The company also performs septic inspections, which are required in Pennsylvania for real estate transactions. And they service grease traps for local restaurants and nursing homes.

WORKING WITH EMPLOYEES

Todd echoes what most others in the industry say — that it’s hard to find employees. “We’ve tried everything,” he says. “Usually it ends up being word of mouth, or somebody recommends somebody, or somebody leaves another company but still wants to stay in the industry.”

To keep employees, they try to treat everyone like family, he says. “I think the biggest thing is establishing a culture where your team feels valued and recognized,” Zach adds. “It’s also offering a comprehensive benefits package and fostering a positive environment where, as hard as it is, it doesn’t feel like work all the time.”

Benefits include medical insurance, paid holidays and time off. The company also supplies T-shirts and sweatshirts, and provides a boot allowance. But little things can also go a long way, Zach says — having a team huddle in the morning, recognizing accomplishments or just bringing in donuts. Sometimes Todd takes individual team members and their families camping. At Christmas, bonuses are given out and the team stops early to have a small party. 

THE LEGACY CONTINUES

Zach says his main frustrations are things outside their control like weather or trucks breaking down. Todd’s frustrations come from unrealistic expectations by customers. “You have places like Amazon and DoorDash where something’s at your door the same day or next day. We’ve been blessed with this instant gratification but, on the other side, you’re sometimes dealing with small or medium-sized businesses that are trying their hardest to provide you the best service possible, but it’s not always as quick as some of these companies.”

What Todd likes best about the business is being able to give back to the community. “I do a lot of things for vets. And I’m really big with kids’ events. I give them a better deal for their programs that help keep the kids off the street. I try to give back as much as possible to charities and nonprofits. Sometimes I just give them stuff for nothing.”

Zach also gets satisfaction from helping others and enjoys having a prominent name in the community. “I was just talking to another contractor in the industry,” he says. “He had posted a note he received from a customer. It had me reflecting on some of the notes and messages of appreciation we’ve received, and just how big of a difference you can make through providing quality sanitation services. People might bat an eye over that, but it can really make or break someone.”

It’ll be a few years before Todd is ready to pass the torch, but the legal aspects are in place, and Zach will be ready for the challenge. “The idea of being in the family business is super inspiring to me,” he says. “I’m grateful to be a fifth-generation part of a family business and have my dad’s support and bounce ideas off him, and just continue to see where this takes us every day.”