How to Deal with Muddy Job Sites

You’re equipped to transport portable restrooms to campgrounds and construction sites. But what happens when your drivers encounter muddy job sites? They must decide whether to service the unit or wait until road conditions are better before returning. Depending on your driver’s situation and the client, this decision can be a difficult one.

It may involve photos, documentation, and a call to the main office. Alternatively, your driver may discuss logistics with on-site employees while you’re on the phone with the job supervisor. While an unexpected situation can catch anyone off-guard, regular occurrences could hurt your bottom line. Here are four ways to manage mucky sites.

1. No Service Until Conditions Improve

Let’s face it, getting a work truck stuck or dragging a hose more than 20 feet through sludge isn’t efficient. But inaccessible locations are more than a servicing challenge; they’re a safety hazard. Waiting to provide service until there are better conditions prevents injury to the employee and damage to the property or equipment. Still, your client might be unhappy.

However, many PROs prefer this approach when site conditions are poor. Ultimately, you’re in the business of rentals, not off-roading. This approach works best when placement concerns are noted during drop-off and the rental contract addresses muddy sites.

When requiring customers to wait for service, drivers must document site conditions. Have them take photos, get names of anyone they talked to, and write down that the area was too muddy for service.

2. Customer Moves Units to an Accessible Spot

In this scenario, your client uses their equipment, like a skid loader or forklift, to transfer the portable restroom units to a dry location. There’s some risk to letting a customer move your rentals around, but if the contract doesn’t specifically disallow it, it may be preferable to having your truck get stuck.

If this is an option you choose to offer, it is vital that the client informs you of the situation and their intention to move the porta-potty BEFORE doing it. You should also make sure they understand that they will be held responsible for any damage to units and will be charged accordingly. The same applies to any waste spills and the ensuing cleanup.

For a long-term contract, discuss how future cases will be handled. Ideally, they will keep the units in an accessible area.

3. Offer Additional Portable Restroom Units as a Temporary Solution

While not an ideal situation, some clients may require or demand that additional units be made available until the original ones can be safely and properly serviced. If this is the case, calculate the costs of delivering new units and have the customer sign the agreement.

For many PROs, this solution will come with a significant upcharge because of the time and logistics involved with leaving the site, returning later with different units, and then returning again to service and remove the unneeded units when conditions improve.

Some PROs may choose not to go this route, even for an upcharge. Current inventories and schedules may not allow it. If this is the case for your business, make sure you explain the situation to the client and answer any questions they have. If you think delivering additional units may be possible if the situation happens again in the future, let them know.

They may not be happy with the current situation, but if they are otherwise satisfied with the products and service you provide, the business relationship could be maintained.  

Preventing Issues with Muddy Job Sites

The bottom line is that PROs shouldn’t let customers make a habit of picking poor locations or let drivers overlook unstable conditions. Discuss site placement early and mention accessibility in your rental contract.

Looking to Take Your Portable Restroom Business to the NEXT LEVEL? Download our FREE Guide: “Your Guide to Operating A Portable Restroom Business.”

Thinking About GETTING INTO the Portable Restroom Industry? Download our FREE Guide: “Your Guide to Starting A Portable Restroom Business.”