What's the weirdest item you've ever retrieved from a porta potty?
Nine years driving a vacuum truck, and I've seen things. A full set of dentures in a standard unit at a county fair. A wedding ring in a deluxe unit…
3answers
5views
Sam O. replied
Questions tagged “Vacuum truck”
78 questions across all categories.
78 questions
How do operators handle waste disposal in freezing temperatures?
I run a fleet of standard units, deluxe units with flushing bowls and sinks, ADA-compliant units, and restroom trailers across North Texas. Even…
0answers
1views
no replies yet
How do operators choose disposal sites for porta potty waste?
I run a mid-size portable toilet rental operation in North Texas, handling everything from construction sites to weekend festivals. Every week, my…
2answers
4views
Kim S. replied
How do operators decide on service routes for rural areas in 2026?
Operators plan rural service routes in 2026 by grouping units geographically and scheduling by density, not calendar days. The goal is to minimize…
2answers
5views
Deb K. replied
Vacuum hose reach: how far from truck can it pump a unit?
A vacuum truck hose can pump a standard portable toilet up to 25 feet from the truck's rear bumper. This distance is limited by the hose length and…
1answer
2views
Owen G. replied
Vacuum hose reach: how far from truck can it pump?
A 50-foot hose reach is standard for most vacuum trucks. The driver will not need to move your portable toilet if it is 50 feet from where the truck…
1answer
15views
Nina R. replied
High-rise site: backup plan if service elevator is out in October 2026?
We are working a 12-story high-rise in Chicago. The job runs through next year. The crew is 120 people on two shifts. We have 15 standard units and…
2answers
16views
Marcus B. replied
How far can a vacuum hose reach from the truck?
We have a standard portable toilet on a residential gut rehab in Chicago. The unit is placed about 50 feet from the curb, behind a chain-link fence,…
1answer
19views
Tyler R. replied
Vacuum hose reach: how far from the truck can it go?
A vacuum truck hose reaches about 25 feet from the truck to the unit. That is the standard length on most service trucks. The hose is heavy and…
1answer
21views
Luis A. replied
How do operators handle waste disposal in areas with strict environmental rules?
Operators handle waste disposal in areas with strict environmental rules by working with permitted wastewater treatment plants and following state…
2answers
15views
Kim S. replied
One of my guys dropped the only key to our skid steer down the porta potty. Wait for service day or call now?
Kind of embarrassing but here we are. One of my laborers had the key clipped to his belt loop, went in the unit this morning, and it slid right off…
2answers
19views
Hector V. replied
High-rise site: what's the backup if service elevator is unavailable?
We're 20 stories up on a downtown Phoenix tower. I've got six standard units and one ADA-compliant unit for a crew of 120. The service elevator is…
2answers
16views
Carl D. replied
What's the strangest thing you've fished out of a porta potty?
Five years driving a vacuum truck for a rental company, and I've pulled out my share of surprises. A full set of car keys from a standard unit on a…
3answers
30views
Priya N. replied
How do operators calculate the price per service visit when fuel costs spike in 2026?
We've been running our vacuum trucks on diesel for years, and every spike in fuel costs eats into our margins. A service visit for a standard…
2answers
30views
Kim S. replied
What happens if the service truck can't get down our narrow driveway?
We're renovating our only bathroom for the next six weeks, so we have a standard portable toilet on our driveway. The driveway is narrow, maybe ten…
2answers
25views
Luis A. replied
What's the maximum hose length for a vacuum truck?
Our construction site has a standard portable toilet set up for the crew about 100 feet from the road, on flat dirt. The driver from the rental…
1answer
27views
Ray M. replied
How far can the vacuum hose reach from the truck to the porta potty?
A standard service hose on a vacuum truck reaches about 50 feet from the truck to the holding tank, so your placement is at the limit. The driver…
1answer
23views
Kim S. replied
How do operators dispose of waste in rural areas without a treatment plant nearby?
I run a ranch about 50 miles from the nearest wastewater treatment plant. We have a standard portable toilet for seasonal crews and a deluxe portable…
2answers
36views
Deb K. replied
How do operators decide the order of service stops each day?
I just started driving a vacuum truck for a rental company in Akron, and I'm trying to figure out how my service route gets planned each day. My…
2answers
32views
Kim S. replied
High-rise site: what's the backup plan if the service elevator is reserved?
We're 14 weeks into a 20-story tower. The crew is 45 to 50 people daily. I have one standard portable toilet and one ADA-compliant portable toilet…
1answer
27views
Marcus B. replied
How do operators decide on service frequency for a new construction site?
I just signed a contract for a 30-week residential addition project with a crew of ten. The rental company delivered one standard portable toilet and…
1answer
24views
Ray M. replied
Flushing portable toilet vs. standard: which is easier to service?
I've been driving a vacuum truck for nine years, servicing about 45 to 60 standard portable toilet units a day. They are simple: I pump the holding…
2answers
34views
Ray M. replied
What's the most challenging site you've ever had to service a porta potty?
I've been driving a vacuum truck for nine years now, and I've seen my share of tough spots. The worst was a spring construction site on a steep,…
3answers
44views
Sam O. replied
Can a restroom trailer's gray water tank be pumped by a standard vacuum truck?
I'm planning the restroom setup for a large three-day spring festival in 2026. We're expecting around 5,000 people per day with food vendors and…
2answers
30views
Owen G. replied
What's the maximum distance a vacuum hose can reach from the truck?
A vacuum hose on a standard service truck reaches about 25 feet, so 50 feet is too far for routine service. This length is the practical limit…
1answer
25views
Kim S. replied