What's the 'fuel surcharge' on a porta potty invoice for?
I'm pricing a rental for a four-week residential addition project. The crew is five people, and the site is a standard city lot with a gravel pad…
1answer
27views
Ray M. replied
Questions tagged “Vacuum truck”
78 questions across all categories.
78 questions
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
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
Can a service hose reach a unit 75 feet from the truck?
Our Chicago residential rehab site has a narrow alley entrance. The vacuum truck can park on the street, but the closest spot is 75 feet from where…
2answers
29views
Tyler R. 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
How do you dispose of waste in a rural county with no treatment plant?
I run a small portable toilet rental operation in a rural county. The nearest approved wastewater treatment plant that accepts septage is two hours…
2answers
39views
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
Driver says our unit is too close to a fence. How much space is needed?
The porta potty is on my driveway for a bathroom renovation. It's been there for two weeks with weekly service. The delivery driver dropped it off…
1answer
34views
Brad L. replied
High-rise site: What's the protocol if the service truck's pump fails on site?
Our vacuum truck's pump failed on site last week, right as we were about to start servicing the 12 standard portable toilets for a 50-person…
2answers
32views
Hector V. replied
What's the worst weather condition you've serviced a porta potty in?
Last week, I was out on my route pumping a cluster of standard portable toilets at a new subdivision site when a hailstorm hit. The sky went dark,…
3answers
45views
Porta Potty Forum Team replied
Driver says our unit is 50 feet from truck access. Is that too far?
We're a month into a 12-week residential addition, and I have a standard unit for a crew of 8. The only level ground on the property is across a…
2answers
35views
Hector V. replied
How are operators adapting their vacuum trucks for tighter urban sites in 2026?
I've been running a mid-size fleet in Dallas for 16 years, and lately we're getting more jobs in tight downtown spots. The standard vacuum truck is a…
2answers
36views
Deb K. replied
Service truck access: What's the maximum hose length for pumping a unit?
We have a standard portable toilet on my current residential addition project. The unit is on the far side of the lot, about 60 feet from the curb…
1answer
30views
Deb K. replied
High-rise unit servicing: what if the building's freight elevator is too small for the vacuum tank?
We have a standard portable toilet on the 40th floor of a high-rise construction site. It's been there for three weeks with weekly service, but the…
2answers
26views
Ray M. replied
Driver says our unit is too close to a tree. How much clearance does the truck need?
We have a standard unit on a six-week residential addition in Chicago. It sits on level grass about 15 feet from a mature oak tree. The driver just…
1answer
28views
Nina R. replied
What's the strangest thing you've had to pump out of a unit?
After ten years driving a vacuum truck, I've pulled some strange items out of portable toilets. A full set of car keys from a standard unit on a…
3answers
58views
Porta Potty Forum Team replied
2026 driver certification: What's new in PSAI training?
Got a notice the PSAI updated their driver certification program. The last time I sent a driver through, it was mostly pumping basics and disposal…
2answers
40views
Deb K. replied
Narrow alley access: Will the service truck's hose reach 50 feet?
We're renovating our house in Portland and have a standard portable toilet on our driveway. The driveway is gravel and level, but it's down a narrow…
2answers
39views
Jake W. replied
How are operators adapting to the 2026 PSAI waste disposal guidelines?
The PSAI updated its best practices for waste acceptance at treatment plants to push for lower biochemical oxygen demand and tighter controls on…
2answers
106views
Ray M. replied
Our site has a 10% grade. Can a vacuum truck still pump the unit?
We're setting up a standard portable toilet for a small crew of five working on our house remodel for the next month. The only flat spot on our…
1answer
33views
Luis A. replied
Can we service a high-rise unit from the floor below?
We've got a 40-story high-rise under construction in Phoenix. The exterior elevator is down for two weeks, and the standard portable toilets on the…
2answers
33views
Ray M. replied
What's the one tool you never service a porta potty without?
I'm new to driving a vacuum truck and servicing portable toilets. My route covers construction sites, weekend events, and long-term rentals. I've…
3answers
53views
Porta Potty Forum Team replied
How are operators handling the 2026 PSAI training updates?
I just got the latest bulletin from the PSAI about the training updates coming in 2026. The changes cover everything from new waste disposal…
2answers
50views
Kim S. replied
How are operators handling 2026's driver shortage?
This year's driver shortage is hitting my Dallas operation hard. I've got a fleet of standard portable toilets, deluxe units with sinks, and a couple…
2answers
45views
Deb K. replied