What's the one tool you never service a unit without?
Just started my first route driving a vacuum truck. I'm making a checklist for the truck to make sure I don't get to a site and realize I'm missing…
3answers
53views
Luis A. replied
Questions tagged “Vacuum truck”
78 questions across all categories.
78 questions
What's the hardest part of wastewater disposal in 2026?
The hardest part of wastewater disposal in 2026 is navigating stricter environmental regulations and limited disposal facility access. Many…
2answers
44views
Deb K. replied
What's the biggest challenge in wastewater disposal for operators in 2026?
I've been hauling waste for 16 years, and 2026 is shaping up to be the toughest yet for disposal. My vacuum truck makes the same trips, but the costs…
2answers
39views
Kim S. replied
Our porta potty is on a slight slope. Will it cause servicing problems?
We're renovating our only bathroom, so we have a standard portable toilet on the driveway for what will be a three-month rental. The only spot that…
1answer
38views
Nina R. replied
What's the one piece of advice you'd give a new porta potty driver?
I start my first route driving a vacuum truck next Monday. The training covered the pump, the hoses and the paperwork, but I know there's a lot they…
3answers
50views
Sam O. replied
How are operators adapting to the 2026 PSAI training curriculum updates?
I'm a new operator, just got my first vacuum truck and a dozen standard units. My driver and dispatcher are family, so I handle their training. I…
2answers
49views
Kim S. replied
High-rise unit servicing: what if the building's elevator is out of service?
I have a standard portable toilet on the 15th floor for a crew of 40. The elevator is scheduled for maintenance next week, which means the vacuum…
1answer
44views
Brad L. replied
Starting out: is buying a used vacuum truck in 2026 a good idea?
I'm looking at starting a small portable toilet rental operation with about twenty standard units. The biggest capital cost is the vacuum truck. I…
2answers
55views
Ray M. replied
Can a service driver refuse to pump an overfull porta potty?
I have a standard portable toilet on a residential rehab site. It's for a crew of eight guys, and it's been two weeks since the last service because…
1answer
47views
Tyler R. replied
High-rise unit on the 20th floor: how is waste pumped down?
A high-rise unit is serviced from the ground using a dedicated waste line. The waste line is a large-diameter pipe, usually 4 to 6 inches, that runs…
1answer
56views
Deb K. replied
What's the one thing you always check on a service visit?
Hey all, Deb here. I've been driving a vacuum truck for nine years, servicing 40 to 60 units a day on construction sites, at fairs, and on farms.…
3answers
57views
Sam O. replied
Buying a used vacuum truck in 2026: what should I check?
I run 20 standard portable toilets and three ADA-compliant units in the Dallas area. My current vacuum truck is an older single-axle rig, and it's…
2answers
65views
Deb K. replied
Buying a used vacuum truck in 2026: what to look for.
I run a small rental operation with a dozen standard units and one ADA-compliant unit, and I'm ready to add a second vacuum truck to handle more…
2answers
45views
Kim S. replied
Our porta potty is 100 feet from the road. Is that a problem?
We rent a standard portable toilet for our ranch hands. The rental company delivered it four weeks ago and serviced it once, but the driver had to…
2answers
37views
Nina R. replied
Can a high-rise unit be serviced from the ground floor?
We're running a 12-story build in Phoenix and have a standard portable toilet on the 8th floor for a crew of 30. It's a long-term rental with weekly…
2answers
45views
Ray M. replied
What's the hardest part of routing service trucks in a dense city?
I drive a vacuum truck in Akron, a city with plenty of narrow streets and parking restrictions. Planning efficient routes for 40-plus stops a day is…
2answers
63views
Kim S. replied
What is a high-rise portable toilet, and when is it needed?
A high-rise portable toilet is a standard portable toilet designed for lifting by a crane to upper floors of a building under construction. It is…
2answers
62views
Jules T. replied
How are operators handling increased disposal fees in 2026?
Operators are passing increased disposal fees to customers through direct surcharges or higher base rates. The cost to dump a gallon of waste at a…
2answers
54views
Kim S. replied
Starting a porta potty business in 2026. What's the biggest cost?
I'm planning to start a porta potty business in 2026. I'm looking at a small fleet, maybe ten standard units and one ADA-compliant unit to start. I…
2answers
48views
Kim S. replied
High-rise unit on the 15th floor: what's the service plan?
We have a concrete pour crew of 15 guys working on the 15th floor of a high-rise in Phoenix. The job will last eight weeks. The elevator core is in,…
2answers
42views
Ray M. replied
Keeping the vacuum truck and hoses from freezing on winter routes
This is my first winter running a vacuum truck up here. I'm servicing standard units, a few ADA-compliant units, and one restroom trailer at a…
2answers
89views
Deb K. replied
Operators: how are you routing 50-plus stops a day and keeping service days consistent?
Routing 50-plus stops a day and keeping service days consistent requires tight schedules and disciplined dispatch. I run a fleet across North Texas,…
2answers
74views
Deb K. replied
How far can the vacuum hose reach if the truck cannot park next to the unit? ✓ Solved
Sixty to eighty feet is usually within reach for a normal service visit as long as the hose can walk a clear path to the unit.
2answers
71views
Ray M. replied
What actually happens during a porta potty service visit (from the driver's side)
A service visit means the driver pumps the waste, cleans the interior, refills the deodorizer and paper, and checks the unit for damage. We do this…
2answers
58views
Kim S. replied
Is a boat porta potty the same thing as a rental porta potty?
I run a ranch with seasonal crews and a guest cabin, so I've rented plenty of standard portable toilets and a few ADA-compliant units over the years.…
2answers
49views
Deb K. replied