Portable Sanitation Association International

ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION JUNE 9, 2021 Page 18 Tips on Maintaining Trailers—Part II: Efficiencies at Delivery…continued from page 17 Prepare the Customer for a Great Set Up Experience The customer is investing a decent amount of money in renting your trailer. They want to have a great experience. At the April session, our panelists provided several tips that portable sanitation companies can use to improve the odds that what you deliver and what they expect are aligned. Most important? Have a good set of questions for your sales team to ask up front, and be sure you have talked to the customer about the following things in a pre- delivery phone call or site visit with the customer. • Discuss things like access to the site on the day of delivery. Sometimes roads are closed for events, or the wedding is on private property at the end of a road with certain weight limits. These are things that need to be known well ahead of time. • Talk about the space you will need. For example, the overall length of a 10-stall restroom trailer can be anywhere from 30 to 40 feet. Hitched to a tow vehicle, the entire rig can easily exceed 50 feet. So simple questions regarding height clearances, nature of off-road terrain, and so on can identify challenges early enough to be addressed successfully. Anthony Heath says at USS they ask for 12.5 feet of height clearance and specifically discuss whether overhanging branches will be a factor. • Identify a source of water on the site. A lot of trailers have on-board water, but it is generally not a great idea to transport trailers with the tanks full. Some have limited on-board water options. Either way, before you get on site, you need to know whether there is water on site or whether water will need to be trucked in. • Identify whether there is an appropriate power source on site. This one can be especially challenging for customers to grasp. We know, but they do not always understand, that a portable restroom trailer does not run on the same amount of power as their hair dryer. You want to be having the conversation that results in the right power source well in advance. Generally speaking, it is best to visit the customer's site in advance if at all possible—particularly if the event is for the general public. Your expertise will be invaluable in assessing the terrain, the water and power situation, safety hazards, and traffic patterns. It's not only a great way to build perceived value with your customers, but it can also save a lot of time and money in the long run. Far better to realize well in advance they plan to plug the trailer into the 120 AC outlet used for Christmas tree lights. That gives you time and them the emotional energy to talk about generators, both of which will be in short supply the morning the wedding party is having pictures taken. In part III of this series, we will go deeper into the issues involved with powering portable restroom trailers and look at a range of trouble-shooting tips to ensure a good customer experience and a healthier bottom line. v Can't wait for the next installment? PSAI members can watch the recorded session through the end of June.

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