Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1381388
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION JUNE 9, 2021 Page 17 Tips on Maintaining Trailers—Part II: Efficiencies at Delivery…continued from page 16 • Open the roof vents. Prior to transport, the trailer may have been sitting for a while and the air inside might be stale at best. The roof vents normally have some sort of protection to keep rain from coming in. Assuming that is the case, mixing up the airflow inside during transport can make your client's first impression better. • Beware of fire hydrants and other sources of extreme water pressure. Bill states: "Most fixtures on the inside [of a restroom trailer] are rated for way less than 100 psi.… For instance, like an electric flush toilet, [the manufacturer may] rate that toilet for incoming water pressure at 100 psi, but they only bench tested it at 25 psi. If you try to take it somewhere and end up [using an] exorbitant amount of incoming water pressure, it'll blow right past the water valve and actually flood the trailer. So the pressure regulator is very important. If you go to a golf course or maybe hook to a fire hydrant, the incoming water pressure [can be] so extreme sometimes it'll actually blow past the pressure regulator, and the regulator won't be effective." • Make sure your battery is charged. Although most trailers have a battery as part of their design, the batteries are not required for the operation of the trailer if you are plugged in. Instead, the battery serves two other important functions. (1) The battery powers the breakaway switch. If you have a dead battery and the trailer becomes disconnected during transport, the brakes will not work. The trailer will then continue to roll, causing damage to the trailer and possibly a very dangerous highway situation. (2) The battery allows you to get set up on site if you don't have immediate access to a power source or generator. If the battery is fully charged and in battery operating mode, the lights, fans, and other small equipment will work so you can go forward with the setup. That may save considerable time and money on site. Collaborating with Other Providers Sometimes a portable restroom company will place their trailers a good distance from base, contracting with others to pump and clean them during the rental. Other times a company may rent or lease their unit to another company. Here are some tips for making that goes smoothly. • Have a written agreement that specifically states who is responsible for what. This includes details like the beginning and end dates of the rental, where and when the unit will be delivered, the condition of the trailer at delivery, and who will be responsible for damage. Make sure the rental fees, who will pay them and when are documented clearly as well. • From a pre-delivery standpoint, the company that owns the trailer should prep and deliver it in at least as good condition as they would if they were renting it to any other customer. Make sure the trailer is complete with all of the cords, and everything it needs is fully stocked. • Include some spare parts. Simple things can break on a longer-term rental, and it is Murphy's Law that if the trailer is a long way away, some simple thing like a faucet cartridge will go bad. It makes everyone's life easier and net profit higher if you prepare for things like that and stock the trailer with a few of these basic replacement parts before leaving it in the care of the collaborating provider. Continued on page 18