Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1381388
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION JUNE 9, 2021 Page 16 4. Exterior equipment. The trailer's stairs should be clean and locked for transport. Make sure all power cords are properly stored. Anthony Heath relates his experience with cords: "There's been many times where the trailer gets set up for cleaning [on the yard], and the power cords come out and get connected. Then for some reason somebody would disconnect a power cord laying on the ground and go do something else. [This has resulted in] the trailer getting delivered without a power cord. So these are the things that are on that checklist that we catch prior to giving it the green tag. [It] prevents a callback or … someone else having to go back out [with] another cord." 5. Pressure regulator. City water feeds can be well over 120 psi, and that is too high for a portable restroom trailer. The pressure regulator is a valve that reduces the water pressure coming from a water source into the trailer, generally down to about 40 psi. This prevents damage to equipment such as cracks in fittings and ruined valves. Make sure your trailer's pressure regulator is present and working as it should to avoid the expensive result of not having one. 6. Carry spare tires. It is a big enough headache to actually experience a tire blowout on the highway or a deflated tire due to a nail on site. It becomes an expensive one if you lose time because someone has to return to the yard to get another tire. Wherever possible, carry multiple spare tires because if something can go wrong, it often will. 7. DOT inspection items. When you are ready to leave the yard, make sure you've done a thorough DOT-compliant inspection on both the trailer and tow vehicle. This covers all exterior lights, tires, the hitch, safety chains, breakaway system, weight requirements, and so on. Make sure the license plates on both the trailer and tow vehicle are secure and valid, with the correct registration in the holder for that license plate and the proof of annual inspection if it is over 10,000 GVWR. Note: It is a good idea to inspect your trailers more frequently than required, both for safety reasons and because repairs are less expensive if you catch things early. Trailer Prep Lessons Learned Bill Gibson has been a trailer manufacturer for decades, so he has heard stories from many operators and the lessons they've learned. Here are a few items that can make a big difference. • Whether you use a "red tag/green tag" designation or something else, be sure you have some reliable procedure that prevents arrival on a site with a trailer that isn't ready for use. Bill says, "It doesn't matter what you call it, but if you don't have that process, it can certainly damage your reputation if you show up on site and the trailer hasn't been cleaned or causes you operational issues." • Keep track of the keys. Manufacturers sometimes get calls from owners saying, "Hey, I can't get in the trailer. I don't know where the keys are." So, though this seems like a simple thing, it can end up being a giant difficulty on site. It can also add expense if someone has to trek back to the yard to get the keys. Bill shared that a lot of companies store extra keys hidden away in magnetic boxes so they can be retrieved on site. Tips on Maintaining Trailers—Part II: Efficiencies at Delivery…continued from page 3 Continued on page 17