Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1304428
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION OCTOBER 28, 2020 Page 2 Ensuring Quality in the Field—Part II: QC for Trailers, Drivers…continued from page 1 Continued on page 15 QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL FOR THE TRAILER BUSINESS At a recent virtual roundtable discussion John Welch, Director of Specialty Equipment with Northwest Cascade Honey Bucket led a conversation regarding tips and best practices for the trailer business. Here are some of the key points. The Basics Quality programs for trailers start in the yard. Make sure you're giving your guys the tools to succeed. And that's not just an expression. John says, "Literally, you want to make sure you guys have the right tools to actually do the job that's needed. You can probably do most of the work with a couple of screwdrivers and the crescent wrench, but it's going to take you guys forever. So just investing in the right tools is huge." Make sure your team is trained. According to John, "It's not rocket science out there. It's all like pretty basic. You want to make sure you have the right person for the job. It's always assumed that everybody kind of knows how to do the basic stuff. Some people don't." You want to make sure that you address that, and you get the right person to the job. Cleaning and Preparing for Delivery John notes that keeping an expensive trailer in tip-top shape is not just a smart protection of your asset, but it helps you make more money on it as well. So, don't scrimp on upkeep and cleaning. • John's company uses basic household cleaners and disinfectants. They avoid using substances that carry a strong odor. He says, "I know with COVID, everybody's kind of thinking bleach. But, you know, you have limited to no ventilation in your trailer rooms and stalls." So, if you use bleach at all, "You really want to go to a very diluted mixture with that." • He also suggests that in the yard, you check every mechanical piece. Make sure it is working and every surface is touched with cleaning. • Don't forget about flushing out the units. The toilets are always easy to clean, but make sure you flush a few times to ensure that it is working and everything is flushed through. John says, "The tanks need to be gone through, too. You got to take that time to really flush out the units, somehow blow out the valves." No matter how thoroughly you cleaned and serviced a trailer unit, if there is a lag in time before the trailer goes out again, do a pre-delivery inspection in the yard. Then once the unit is delivered and placed, drivers should go through and check everything again. • Make sure things are wiped down and dirt from transport is removed. • Check all the systems to make sure they are working. • Flush the toilets and fill the toilet paper. In short, before taking a unit out for delivery, everything has to be resolved. Any major issues should be taken care of before leaving the yard, which minimizes the hassles on site.