North American Sweeper, March 2019 by PhxGlobalMedia

MARCH 2019

INSIDE

p8 NiteHawkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Mobile

Game, Sweeper Madness!

p23 Best Parking Lot Cleaning, Inc.

A SWEEPER WITH STANDARDS

AS STRONG AS YOUR OWN

Introducing the Sentry, a regenerative air sweeper with uncommonly high standards. Under CDL platform with over CDL performance. In-cab control of gutter broom speed, pressure, and angle. Hopper and fan are made entirely of HardoxÂŽ 450 abrasion resistant steel designed to stand up to the abuse of debris. Crescent shaped pick up head funnels debris to the center of machine. On-screen diagnostics keep information at your finger tips and makes it easier to maintain your sweeper.

CALL TO SCHEDULE A DEMONSTRATION The Path is Always Clear

www.CurbtenderSweepers.com Phone | 319.266.1721

A Clean Sweep Year Round

800-851-5108 U.S.A

w w w.na sweeper.co m

www.united-rotary.com

The Broom Source for Street Sweeping, Road Building and Runway Sweeping

800-463-6292 Canada

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O R T H A M E R I C AN SWEEPER 3

MARCH 2019 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 3

CONTENTS

Introducing...

The Starfire S-4c Simply Adding to a Time-Proven Sweeper. Choose the S-4c for the following enhancements:

F e at ur e s 8

NiteHawk’s New Mobile Game, Sweeper Madness!

14 Purchasing A Used Sweeper 20 Project Management Basics I: Process Driven

Results

• • • •

Variable height dumping from 16" up to 11' Left or right hopper dump (select at time of purchase) Tight 16'9" turning radius Longer running 36-gallon fuel tank

No CDL Required. Call for a DEMO Today! 800.482.2302 | www.stewart-amos.com

23 Best Parking Lot Cleaning, Inc. 34 Index of Advertisers/Classifieds

CEO & Publisher Gideon W. Smith

creative director Melissa Kennelly

Senior editor Katherine Nolan

EDITORIAL Manager Heidi Karpinich

Advertising Tracy Rodean

Circulation Noah Aiden

Phoenix Global Media Inc. P.O. Box 235, Stockton New Jersey 08559 866-418-4400 phone 973-532-0319 fax sales@nasweeper.com

subscriptions $15.00 per year, or by eligible request.

POSTMASTER: Please send changes to North American Sweeper Magazine P.O. Box 235, Stockton New Jersey 08559

Opinions expressed in editorial submissions contributed to North American Sweeper Magazine are those of the individual authors exclusively and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of North American Sweeper Magazine, its staff, its advertisers, or its readership. North American Sweeper Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility toward independently contributed editorial submissions or any typographical errors, mistakes, misprints, or missing information within advertising copy.

4 NO R TH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

The Ultimate Street Sweeping Machine

Global Environmental Products

5405 Industrial Parkway, San Bernardino, CA 92407 USA • 909-713-1600 • www.GlobalSweeper.com MADE IN THE USA

Delivered Price – Quantity Discounts

ONE STOP SHOPPING Pressure Pro, Simpson, Water Cannon, Easy-Kleen, Hydro Tek AllPressureWashers.com

48" Side-walk Cleaners

JETTER KIT– Rental Duty No Tip Frames

Mobile Wash

Diesel Portable

1.800.363.9855

Car & Truck Detailer

Indoor Electric Powered 7000 psi

Skid – Slide-in Units

Diesel Powered 7000 psi

Roll Cage Series 3600-7000 psi

Hydraulic Pressure Washers

Jetter Package Trailer

Hot Water Portable

Gas, Electric & Diesel 15000 psi

Industry Trained Staff

Hot Gas, Electric & Diesel Hot Water Up to 12 gpm 15000 psi

available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays E.S.T.

Water Cannon, Un contacto en Espanol: llama al: 1.800.917.9274

Hot Water Diesel 11500 psi

Water Cannon is proud to be a

MWBE

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O R T H A M E R I C AN SWEEPER 7

NiteHawk’s New Mobile Game, Sweeper Madness!

iteHawk Sweepers has changed the game once again in the sweeping industry, but you don’t need a sweeping truck to play this game, just your phone. “Sweeper Madness” is NiteHawk’s new free mobile game that was just released on Android and IOS and takes sweeping to the extreme! A mobile game might not be what you would expect from

a sweeper manufacture, but NiteHawk is known for thinking outside the box in its truck designs and branding. Tyler Fenhaus, NiteHawk’s Marketing Coordinator, says that the inspiration for the game was to give something back to the people in the sweeping industry. “I know the people in the sweeping industry are hard workers and they need a break every now and then” Fenhaus said. “The game is fun to play and free to download for anyone who has a mobile device.” Sweeper Madness puts you in the driver’s seat as you dash to the finish line and collect as much trash as possible before you run out of fuel. Collecting trash gives you extra points to upgrade your truck, unlock crazy new sweepers and exotic locations. Ever think you’d be lucky enough to sweep a top secret military facility like Area 51? Well in this game, you can! Since its release, NiteHawk’s new game has caused quite the buzz online. The game has been shared around social media sites where people in the sweeper industry interact and people are definitely having fun with it. “Our customers keep texting me if there are any cheat codes and how to get past different levels” says Jerry Porsch, a customer service manager at NiteHawk. “I can see why so many people are playing it. The game is really addictive and it’s the first street sweeping game, a game they can call their own.” Sweeper Madness is available to download for free on Google Play and the App Store, here: Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/ details?id=com.kyle.nitehawksweepers App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sweepermadness/id1440082745?mt=8&fbclid=IwAR3St2IIv6s195jd W9wUdoHoTaCb8RCSxO2GVO_-1fVuePP9ttM8eJY-hKk

8 NO R TH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

FOR A DEALER • • • • • • • • •

Powered by Kohler Command Engine 2½ cubic yard capacity Powdercoat paint inside and out 1250 lbs. hopper cavity capacity 9200 GVWR Truck Optional Stainless Steel hopper available High-dump and rake-out models Dealer Inquiries Invited 888-652-2137 Skavinjer.com

NEAR YOU, CALL 888-652-2137

Now Accepting w w w.na sweeper.co m

Skavinjer_half0212ad.indd 1

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O R T H A M E R I C AN SWEEPER 9 1/17/12 11:36 AM

10 N ORTH A MERIC AN S WEEP E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

Fo l l ow Us

IS YOUR EQUIPMENT READY FOR SPRING?

w w w.na swe ep er.co m

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A MERI C AN SWEEPER 11

Built with the Operator in Mind Easy to Operate and Maintain. • 4 and 6 Cu. Yd High Dump Hoppers • 140 Gal. Water Capacity • Adjustable Floating Brooms • Fuel Efﬁcient • Low Operating Costs • No CDL Required • Ease of Maintenance

Used & Demos In Stock

XPRESS SWEEPING SALES & SERVICE 401-523-6116 WWW.XPRESSSWEEPING.COM

1 2 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

Delivered Price – Quantity Discounts WaterCannon.com 1.800.333.9274 Delivered Price – Quantity Discounts (WASH)

WaterCannon.com Portable Electric Low RPM

Hydraulic Driven

20 GPM up to 5000 PSI

Hydraulic Driven

20 GPM up to 5000 PSI

1.800.333.9274 (WASH) Portable Gas 4000 PSI

3.5 GPM

Portable Gas 4000 PSIHonda

Portable Electric 3500 PSI Low RPM7.5 HP

3.5 GPM 3500 PSI 7.5 HP

Hot Water Portable 420 cc Gas Hot Water Portable 4 GPM 420 cc Gas JETTER KIT 4000 PSI

Hot Water Portable 440 cc Gas

Hot Water Portable Honda 389

Hot Water Portable 4 GPM389 Honda

4000 PSI 120 Volt 4 GPM 4000 PSI 120 Volt

Hot Water Portable Indoor Electric 5 Honda 4 GPM389 208/ to 50 HP

Electric Electric Motor Heated – Electric High Motor Capacity

10 GPM Up High to Capacity 5000 PSI 10 GPM Up to 5000-PSI Diesel Engine

Diesel Burner

Diesel Engine Diesel Burner Up to 10 GPM 11,500 PSI Up to 10 GPM 11,500 PSI

Industry Trained Staff

7.5 HP 3.5 GPM 3500 PSI 7.5 HP

7000 PSI Gas or Diesel 7000 PSI Powered Gas or

Diesel Industrial Powered Package Hose Reel Industrial Package Hot Water Hose Reel

LP Natural Gas Hot Water Oil Fired LP

Natural Up to Gas Oil Fired 2,000,000 BTU’s Up to 20 GPM 2,000,000 BTU’s 20 GPM

available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays E.S.T.

Hot

Auto-Stop/Start 100' Hose Complete with Reel 100' Hose Water Portable

440 cc

Hot Water Portable 4440 GPMcc

4000 PSI 12 Volt 4 GPM 4000 PSI 12 Volt

Hot Water Hot Water Portable – Electric Powered – Electric Oil Fired Hot Water Hot Water Up to – Portable Electric Powered 3.5 GPM – 50Fired HP Electric Oil 3500 PSI

Indoor Electric 5 to 50 HP

440/ 4000 PSI 575 Volt 12 Volt 4 GPM Up 208/ to 440/ 4000 PSI 15000 PSI 575 Volt 12 Volt Up to Electric Heated – 15000 PSI

Kohler Lifan Honda Kohler Lifan

Hot Water Portable Honda 389

Hot Water Portable 4 GPM 440 cc Gas

120 Volt 4 GPM JETTER KIT 4000 PSI 120 Volt

Car And Truck Detailer Car And Auto-Stop/Start Truck Complete Detailer with Reel

Hot Water 150° F – 6'x6"

Up to UpPSI to 8000 50 HP Up to 8000 PSI

Portable Auto/Truck Detailer

HotGallon Water 225 GasFand 150° – 6'x6" Diesel 225 Gallon Gas and Diesel Yard duty Trailer – 100 Gallon

Cabinet Hot Water Heaters Cabinet Hot12 Water or Heaters 120 Volt – Up to 12 or 2,000,000 120 Volt BTU’s – Up to 20 GPM 2,000,000 BTU’s 20 GPM

Customizable

Jetter Packages Yard duty Trailer – 100 Gallon Customizable Jetter Packages

12 GPM – 3500 PSI

12 GPM – 3500 PSI Water Cannon, Un contacto en Espanol: llama al: 1.800.917.9274 Water Cannon is proud to be a MWBE Water Cannon, Un contacto en Espanol: llama al: 1.800.917.9274

Industry Trained Staff

available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays E.S.T.

Purchasing a Used Sweeper (a two part series)

This two part series will offer experience from industry experts on buying used sweepers. Part one educates the reader on what to look for when buying a used sweeper. Part two in next month’s edition will discuss other factors to consider including the original manufacturer, access to OEM parts, typical deal killers, and tips on maintaining a used sweeper. Why Should You Buy a Used Sweeper? Most contractors, especially those starting out in the sweeping business, will consider buying a used sweeper for one obvious reason; it’s less expensive than a new sweeper. However, buying a used sweeper has financial benefits beyond a lower purchase price. Another benefit is avoiding significant depreciation. Most sweepers lose 20 to 40 percent of their value within a year of being purchased. After that, depreciation schedules tend to be linear. For depreciation purposes, many types of sweepers have a useful life span of five years. However, sweepers can be used well beyond that point, especially if they are properly maintained. Shopping for a quality used sweeper can be a timeconsuming process, but in the end it can be very rewarding. The savvy buyer should always remember to examine, check, and inspect. Examine the Seller’s Reputation The reputation of the seller very important. A reputable 1 4 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

seller stands behind the products they sell. Transparency in the sweeper’s history including any previous owners and service records brings a valuable peace of mind to the market. Reputable sellers will also add value by backing up everything they sell with some level of warranty support. Questions to ask yourself: - What kind of reputation does the seller have? Ask around and check social media like industry Facebook groups. People freely talk about their experiences online, both positive and negative. - Is the seller accurately representing the current condition in their sales listing? If you’ve never purchased a piece of equipment from this seller, you’re going to want to check out the sweeper for yourself. - Is the list price fair? Do a little research and see what similar sweepers have sold for in your area. Inquire about the sweeper’s former owner if buying from an equipment dealer. Don’t be afraid to ask around the Vi s i t Us

sweeping industry. The reputation of who previously owned the equipment carries much weight in assuring a prospective buyer that the machine was properly operated, cared for, and serviced. Check the Sweeper’s History Before investing in a used sweeper, make sure there are no liens against it and that it’s not stolen. If you’re working with a reputable seller this part of the process should be easy because they will already have completed all the necessary steps. What to look for: - Check the title – If there is a lien on the equipment, you will need assurance that the lien will be released. Are you willing to take the risk? This goes back to finding out if the seller is reputable. Be sure to do your homework! - Make sure the sweeper isn’t stolen - Write down the truck’s serial number and call the police department or check with a service like the National Equipment Register’s IRONcheck. (If the seller has clear title in hand, there is little likelihood the sweeper is stolen.) - Good service history - A sweeper that’s regularly serviced and well maintained will have a longer lifespan. A good preventative maintenance schedule identifies wear and tear early, preventing it from causing major damage. Regular maintenance records are also an indicator that the previous owner took good care of the sweeper, which makes future problems less likely. The previous owner should have copies of maintenance reports and records of when major services were completed. - Beware of recent repairs - Sometimes repairs are necessary and can add value to the equipment. If there is evidence of major repairs shortly before the sale, it can be a sign that the equipment wasn’t cared for appropriately. Inspect the Sweeper Some parts of a sweeper are easier to repair than others. However, there are other parts that are more expensive and time-consuming to repair or replace. Failure of a worn component can cause considerable downtime. Therefore, a thorough inspection is absolutely necessary. Sweepers are no different than any other mechanical machine. They can show obvious signs of wear and poor maintenance if the buyer knows what to inspect. Vibration, noise, or sudden temperature increases can be the result of poor alignment, poor operating technique or inadequate use of lubrication. Pay particular attention to the following areas: - Hopper – Check the hopper walls and doors for holes, thickness, signs of excessive corrosion. Be sure to check floor and bottom. If inspecting in person have a flashlight and raise hopper for better visibility. w w w.na sweeper.co m

- Seals - Check all door seals. Does it appear that they have been replaced regularly or are they dry-rotted? Worse yet, are they missing? - Engine and transmission - Does the engine smoke when it starts? Does it start smoothly? - Chassis - Is there extensive wear on bearings, mounts, or spring coils? Does the truck start and stop appropriately? - Hydraulics - Are there signs of damage? Are the hoses hard and brittle? Does the cover crack when flexed or are there any signs of being dried out and charred? Are there any leaks around the hose connections, valves or cylinders? - Electrical - Check the electrical system, wiring, and switches. Check for splices, electrical tape, butt connectors and condition of wire sheathing. This can indicate there is the potential for electrical issues. Open the console and look inside for the same. - Battery - Check the battery date, terminal condition, etc. - Auxiliary Engine - Is it original? If not, when was it replaced? - Engine Oil - Check engine oil condition, look for antifreeze or other contamination. - Hydraulic Oil - Check the hydraulic oil condition. It should not be milky. Look for signs of being burnt. Pull the strainer and look for any metal pieces. - Filters - Check the filters. Do they need to be replaced? Check both the indicators and the actual filters. Take care with air filter and wipe out housing prior to reseating the filter. - Check all normal wear parts - fan blades, fan housing, back plate, head flaps, skids, fan seal, intake seal, screens, shaft, dust deflector, etc. While these parts are easy to replace, they can quickly add up and be a factor. If you’re comfortable with sweeper repairs, you may be able to inspect the equipment yourself. If not, hire a mechanic or a technician to conduct an inspection. If you are unable to perform and inspect in person, obtain as much visual information as you can to make the purchasing decision as easy as possible. This information should include photos 360 degrees around the outside of the unit. Also ask for photos inside the cab, inside the hopper, engine, fan housing, sweeping deck and photos of the odometer and hour meters. Better yet, ask for a video with audio of the sweeper actually sweeping. Not only will you see how it performs, you will also be able to hear the engine to determine if there are issues. For over forty-five years in the sweeping business, Schwarze Industries has been committed to providing an exceptional level of customer support. Schwarze offers one of the most comprehensive sweeper lines in the sweeping business. For additional information visit the Schwarze® website at www. schwarze.com MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A M E RI C AN SWEEPER 15

1 6 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

w w w.na sweeper.co m

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A M E RI C AN SWEEPER 17

Hydraulic Driven Pressure Washer IN STOCK

WaterCannon.com 1.800.333.WASH (9274)

HYD3010

3.0GPM

1000PSI

HYD3525

3.5GPM

2500PSI

HYD4050

4.0GPM

5000PSI

HYD4040

4.0GPM

4000PSI

HYD5530

5.5GPM

3000PSI

HYD1130

11GPM

3000PSI

HYD1722

17GPM

2200PSI

HYD2020

20GPM

2000PSI

HYD2418

24GPM

1800PSI

HYD8043

8.0GPM

4300PSI

HYD1840

18GPM

4000PSI

889 979 $ 1,645 $ 1,795 $ 1,799 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 6,599 $ $

FREE DELIVERY* • Quantity & Fleet Discounts Available *Some delivery restrictions may apply. Call for details.

Industry Trained Staff YEARS OF SERVICE

available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays E.S.T.

Specializing in Replacement Parts for

Johnston, Allianz & Global Sweepers. *

We will get your sweepers up and running ASAP! We StAnd for: Lowest parts prices – Guaranteed Dependable, reliable parts Same day shipping Prompt, knowledgeable service Visit us at www.SweeperPartsSales.com

Call us toll free, or Email us today for a quote. 877-695-3060 Sales@SweeperPartsSales.com *

SPS replacement parts are either original equipment parts or aftermarket parts. Our parts are guaranteed to work. Sweeper Parts Sales is not affiliated with Johnston Sweepers Ltd, Allianz Sweepers or Madvac.

1 8 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

How to make short work of asphalt millings and debris on challenging cleanup jobs Vacall sweepers have the industry’s greatest maximum vacuum air flow Vacall AllSweep models are not for casual cleanup work. Rather, we’re engineered for tough jobs like removing millings on street repaving projects or picking up bottles, cans, stones and trash from streets and parking lots. We do it all with the industry’s strongest vacuum air flow – 31,000 CFM – and a wider sweep path using an engineered system of nozzles and gutter brooms. Get the facts, including our single-engine advantage and other Clean That Works features, by requesting a demo. See the video on the NEW Vacall website:

Vacall.com/AllSweep 800-445-4752

w w w.na sweeper.co m

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A M E RI C AN SWEEPER 19

ADVERTORIAL

Project Management Basics I: Process Driven Results

hether it’s in your job title or not, chances are you and your teams engage in project management. Project management is the leadership, planning, and oversight associated with the creation of a unique product or outcome. Unlike recurring business processes, such as carrying out sweeping or paving services, a project is a one-time endeavor with a specific goal. It might be the development of a new product, a market research report needed for expansion, or the redesign of employee policies. These big picture projects take up time and resources, and they are often overshadowed by day-to-day demands and problems. But we can all think of projects that, if completed, would improve our companies and further our goals. A well-planned and overseen project fulfills objectives,

20 N ORTH A MERIC AN S WEEP E R MA R C H 2019

stays under budget, and comes in on time. But this is easier said than done. There are many great project management resources online, but in this article we give a brief overview of the five components or “process groups” in the life of a project. These groups are not so much linear steps as they are key elements of any project; understanding the purpose of each will help you map out your project from start to finish and ensure success. Initiate The key to successfully starting any project is communication. Imagine you are assembling a team to design a new employee incentive program. Who are the key stakeholders in such a project? Obviously the employees

Vi s i t Us

Fo l l ow Us

themselves will be affected, but so will the managers who have to oversee new programs. Perhaps, your HR person will have input regarding company policy and your controller understands how the project will impact the budget. Talking with all of these people will clarify the possibilities and constraints of this project. Either through individual conversations or a group brainstorming meeting, together you can develop a shared and achievable vision for this new program. Plan If project initiation tells you what direction youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going, planning gives you the map. Some aspects of planning are intuitive, such as assessing total costs and developing a timeline. But even more importantly, the project planning phase is an exercise in risk management, where you consider everything that might go wrong with a project and then try to mitigate those risks. What might go wrong in the development of an incentive program? Perhaps the worst possibility for any new initiative is that it completely fails: what if employees do not like or utilize the incentive program, making the entire project a waste? Brainstorm with your stakeholders what

w w w.na swe ep er.co m

could be done to mitigate this. Perhaps you could survey employees about which rewards would most incentivize them. You might come up with a small scale reward opportunity and see how many employees participate. Gathering such information ensures your project delivers an outcome which meets expectations and makes a meaningful contribution to the company. Execute Once the resources are in place, the schedules set, and everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roles and objectives clearly defined, the project can begin. And in the Execution phase, the name of the game becomes accountability. As Project Manager (officially or unofficially) it is your responsibility to make sure your team is on task. Depending on the project scope, this may require weekly group or individual meetings. For more long-term projects, monthly check-ins may suffice. Whatever the case, your most important job is to support your team in their tasks and continually reinforce how their piece of the project contributes to the big picture. Our next article will go more in-depth about the leadership component of project management. For now, remember that everyone wants to know their work matters, that

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A MERI C AN SWEEPER 21

however small their project piece, it is nonetheless essential. This mindset will help keep your team on task and on time. Monitor and Control This is more an ongoing principle than a step in the process. As Project Manager, one of your key roles is to keep the project within the scope originally set forth. It is not uncommon for new things to be added in or suggested in the middle of a project, a phenomenon called “scope creep.” Many people fall prey to “sunk cost” bias: “We’ve already spent this much. What’s another thousand dollars?” This attitude kills projects, expanding them beyond what is feasible given time and resources. Once again, good communication is essential: check in with team members often and talk through their ideas and concerns. In the example of the employee incentive program, perhaps one of your team members is running with an idea far too big for the project, like a trip to Hawaii for the top selling employee. Without discouraging creativity, a habit of careful monitoring and controlling can keep all team members on board with the original plan and avoid any major pitfalls.

22 N ORTH A MERIC AN S WEEP E R MA R C H 2019

Close Closing your project is an exercise in revisiting the original goals and assessing if and how successfully they have been met. In our previous outcome, ideally, you will have created an employee incentive program that boosts morale and increases productivity. But regardless of the outcome, carefully summarize and document how the project went. You may want to give evaluations for individual members, identifying strengths and weaknesses and helping them understand how they can be more effective on future teams. Facilitate concluding conversations with the original stakeholders, ensuring the project has met everyone’s expectations. Ideally, you will have achieved an outcome that benefits your company, and what you’ve learned will enhance the success of future projects. In next month’s article, we’ll cover the essential leadership qualities needed to direct a project team. From all of us here at NiteHawk… Source Kogon, Kory, Suzette Blakemore, and James Wood. (2015) Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager. Dallas: BenBella Books, Inc.

Vi s i t Us

Fo l l ow Us

SPOTLIGHT

Best Parking lot cleaning, inc.

est Parking Lot Cleaning, Inc. (BPLCI) is a Seattle street sweeping company that offers a unique range of additional services. The owners, Rebecca Craig and Richard Hamilton, brother and sister, have been on an epic journey together since their teenaged years, facing the daunting challenge of building the family-owned business that had operated in Washington state since 1977. These two light-hearted business owners have weathered many changes in the business and in their market through the growth of their family’s company in the Seattle area. Through

w w w.na swe ep er.co m

family trials and U.S. economic changes that confronted the business over the years, the sibling ownership team’s deep commitment, honorable dealing with clients and employees, and their insightful decision-making have led an increasingly thriving enterprise for more than 40 years. A Rare Success Story – 40-Year, SecondGeneration Family Business Randall Hamilton, Rebecca’s and Richard’s father, started his sweeping business back in the 1970s, as a second job. Rebecca

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A MERI C AN SWEEPER 23

tells his story. Dad worked his regular job during the day and did the sweeping at night. He cleaned parking lots with a water truck. He ended up getting more customers than he expected. Today, the company still services some of those original parking lots that he started sweeping more than four decades ago. He bought a water truck and started going on construction sites and doing dust control. Business built slowly. He certified sweepers. That’s what really put him on the map. Then, when Mt St. Helens blew up, there was ash everywhere. The area east of Seattle had gotten hit the worst. Dad had sweepers by that time, so he and two of his uncles went around the clock for a couple of weeks cleaning up ash in Helmsburg. He had gone full-time into sweeping by that time. He got a public works contract with the City of Auburn. Randall later passed away, in 1990. Our mom was killed by a drunk driver about six months later. Girl and Boy Assume Business Leadership in Tough Industry Rebecca looks back on the period when she stepped into control of her father’s business. When my dad died, he had about 10 to 15 trucks. We had managers trying to run the company for us until 1996. I was 20 years old and didn’t know what I was doing. Richard and I had been around the business

24 N ORTH A MERIC AN S WEEP E R MA R C H 2019

our whole lives. My mother had done the books for my dad. I had stuffed a fair amount of envelopes and licked a lot of stamps back in the day. We took our lumps. When you’re young, you’re kind of dumb. You don’t know what you can’t do. So, we took over the business. We thought we could do it best. We also figured that no one was likely to care as much about our business as we would. For the business to have survived is pretty amazing. When we finally took it over, there were taxes to pay, problems getting bank loans, etc., and we didn’t know what we were doing. Richard recalls those early days, when he and his sister, at their tender ages, came in to take the reins of a business in a challenging industry. Rebecca was a nurse. Richard explains her move into management of the business. She came down a couple of years before me. Rebecca notes that Richard actually came down while in high school and washed trucks. He was 18 when came on board full time, straight out of high school. Richard recalls his early attitude about the business. I had always had an interest in it. It’s a good opportunity. All of my friends have student loans. I don’t. Rebecca agrees. Yes, it’s probably really the best opportunity to be in your own business, even with all the lumps and warts.

Vi s i t Us

Fo l l ow Us

Two Young People Build Thriving Seattle Business Richard is Vice President, and Rebecca is President. During their tenure, the exceptional brother and sister leadership team has built a thriving enterprise. Today, the company has more than 50 employees, including about 45 drivers, five mechanics, a couple of administrative employees who do payroll, accounts payable, scheduling, etc., and two dedicated sales employees. Both Richard and Rebecca do sales as well. Rebecca also does the company’s bookkeeping, and Richard manages myriad other tasks. Rebecca jokes—and we still don’t know what we’re doing! But, the evidence of the company’s excellent growth and longsustained success under the sister and brother leadership team proves otherwise. In addition to sweeping, the highly diversified services array offered by Best includes Street Sweeping, Storm Drain Cleaning, Snow plowing, Catch Basin Cleaning, Pond Cleaning, and Parking lot Cleaning. Rebecca explains that these are extra services the company provides for customers. The camera trucks we use sometimes discover issues when we’re taking pictures inside a catch basin, which leads to the need for other work to be done. There are all kinds of things that work hand-in-hand with each other, so sometimes you have to be able to do other types of work to help customers get it done as promptly and easily for them as possible.

w w w.na swe ep er.co m

How Did Two Kids Build a Distinguished 40-Year Business? Rebecca reflects on the journey she and Richard have taken and the progress that the business has realized over the years. I think what makes us different is that we try to keep enough trucks on the road, and we have 24-hour service, so when you call us, you can get same-day service. We do a couple of hundred jobs per day. Some are eight hours, some are a half hour. I would say that about 75% of our business comes in from people who just call in and ask to have service within 24 hours. She clarifies that these are often long-time customers in industry, construction, etc., who have come to expect to be able to just call in when ready and get service the same day. Rebecca explains how the kinds of services Best provides work within the geographic region of the Seattle sweeper service market. Everything drains into the Puget Sound. So, it’s a good location for a street cleaning company that can respond quickly. We know that what’s washing into the storm drains has to be cleaned up right now, and that it can’t be allowed to flush into the Sound. I feel like we’re fair in pricing our work. We’ve literally got customers that our dad started with in 1977. They know that about us. As long as we’re fair, they continue to call us. There’s

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A MERI C AN SWEEPER 25

enough work in our area that we don’t have to be overly aggressive on pricing, even though it’s Seattle, and it is very competitive. Seattle’s BPLCI Business Model Storm drain cleaning accounts for 50% or so of our total revenue. We take material and process it in our own waste disposal facility, if it can’t be dumped in a dumpster. That’s another thing that makes our company different. We provide waste tracking as well, whereas normally customers, as the generators of the waste, are responsible themselves for tracking. In keeping with best management practices, waste must be tracked to make sure it’s going to an approved facility. Working with sweeping companies that are not set up as well to provide full service as seamlessly from the point of cleaning to the point of disposal is less convenient and efficient for customers. We have another yard up in Woodenville. We provide chip ‘n seal, slurry seal, About 95% of our work happens within a hundred-mile radius of our office. We also recently started providing roll-offs. Currently the majority of work we’re doing with those is in house, but we’re anticipating some significant growth from that over the coming periods. We currently have four of the roll-offs. Sales and Marketing at BPLCI Even though we’ve been in business forty years, we still have to be active in sales. We’ve learned you can be on a job for a 2 6 NORTH AMERIC AN S WE E P E R MA R C H 2019

long time, but someone is right there waiting to replace you if you screw up, and you can be replaced with just one phone call. That said, Richard notes that in 2018, probably over 90 percent of customers that BPLCI provided service had called in 2017. We have little ads and mailers and brochures and flyers. Everybody drives around a billboard on their vehicles. We also have shirts, sweatshirts and hats. A lot of our business is from referrals. It’s the majority of our work. On a job site, you start out working for the dirt contractor. Then you end up working for the electrical contractor. Then you end up working for the general contractor. We’re part of a couple of websites where contractors and municipalities put up jobs they want bid. Some Challenges of Operating in Seattle We were experiencing slow and steady growth up to about 2010, when we hit the recession. I didn’t think we were going to survive that. Sales fell fifty percent. But, we did survive and recover. There’s so much construction going on here in the Seattle area. The sky is filled with cranes. Development is projected to continue through 2030. It’s exciting, as long as you don’t need to drive anywhere. There’s work being done on transportation, but logistics are problematic. For getting around, we’ve had to figure out how to charge people to make it to their locations through traffic. We have to pass on to our customers the costs of using so much time to get through traffic. It’s also very expensive in our area. Everything here is private Vi s i t Us

money. Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks and others have their home bases here. That’s good for your business, depending on what kind of work lifestyle you want. Getting more people to work is always challenging. We’re paying a huge amount of overtime. There are just not enough commercial drivers. You really have to try hard to get them, and then to keep them. There are huge signing bonuses for drivers, five and ten thousand dollars. In April or so, things start to ramp up for the busy season. Construction starts taking off and other business increases. So, staffing becomes a real challenge then. Rebecca notes one additional interesting problem, one that seem ironic for a business in the city known as the global center of gravity for tech giants. We’ve had the same accounting software problem since 1990. There’s really no accounting program for our industry that works perfectly with it. I would love something that would have industry-specific billing and payroll, at a reasonable cost. Best’s Unique Employee Retention and Engagement Systems We’re all in this together. We are a team. We couldn’t do this without everyone here. We have some people who’ve run the same equipment for 20 years. Some guys have been with us for

w w w.na sweeper.co m

25 years. One of our guys just had his 30th anniversary. Some do municipality contracts. Others do cross-functional training, and they do emergency response types stuff. We offer benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401k, holiday pay, vacation pay, Christmas bonuses. That’s what people are here for. We don’t want to be under any illusion. They have to feed their families too. They want what you want. (Offering our employees those packages means we won’t be the cheapest company on the block. We won’t be able to compete with one guy with a truck.) We have an open-door policy. We try to encourage interaction between employees too. The monthly staff meeting is the first Thursday of every month. That helps employees get to know everybody. We have a Facebook page. The employees join and communicate with each other on there. They’re in trucks all day, so they don’t get to interact with other employees. They get to know each other on the Facebook page. On black Friday each year, we make it an opt-out day. If you send a picture of your family out doing something, if you post it we pay you another eight hours. That way, you get to see others’ families and get more familiar with coworkers, and you have something to talk about.

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A M E RI C AN SWEEPER 27

We do the state fair. We have a party at the fair, so their whole families can come with the employees. Everybody brings their kids and eats pounds of candy. We have GPS, so we know where workers are and how long they’re there, and we have a quality control person. He goes out and checks quality. But, if you’ve done such a great job that a customer calls in to give a complement, we call your name at the next staff meeting and give you fifty bucks. Advice for New Entrants to the Sweeper Industry If you go about this right—take care of your customers, be fair, take care of your employees—anything can happen. Customers have told us they felt that they got ripped off, or slighted in some way by a previous service provider. You don’t want to be the flash in the pan. Aim for slow and steady growth. Help people trust you and be confident that you’re going to give good service and bill fairly. As long as that happens, you can all be friends. They’ll call you again. Try to be on your customer’s side. BPLCI – Cutting-Edge Employee Engagement Model After talking with the sister and brother leadership team of Rebecca Craig and Richard Hamilton, we will add our own comments for industry newcomers to consider. The steady growth and enduring success of this proven team at BPLCI in the highly competitive Seattle sweeping services market has been built on customer retention. Their exceptional retention rates have resulted from strong customer confidence in their 28 N ORTH A MERIC AN S WEEP E R MA R C H 2019

reliability. But, the story turns on their progressive strategies for personnel retention, which have made the company’s exemplary service reliability possible. BPLCI’s thorough pre-employment process (which we did not detail) and the impressive variety and frequency of special team bonding and employee appreciation activities that the company has maintained over the years can be assumed to have contributed to its exceptional success in staff retention. Such a record of retaining quality staff is the hallmark of a company with savvy leadership, whose service and growth strategies are grounded in prioritization of internal culture. It makes sense that the BPLCI owners would be found operating in this way. Their genuinely friendly and humble manner has organically spread a kind of enthusiasm that is contagious and inspiring. Maintaining a high standard of employee engagement and job satisfaction, as exemplified at BPLCI, is a management principle bearing profitability implications that have only recently come to fuller recognition by corporate leaders across the business sector. Those exploring new ways to strengthen team commitment to shared goals are catching on to employee satisfaction as a fundamental for maximal business performance. By contrast, in this story, the solution was long ago intuited by two kids who’ve gone on to build and sustain a thriving business in a highly competitive market, by applying learning from their parents about the value of treating people well.

Vi s i t Us

Fo l l ow Us

Hydraulic Driven Pressure Washer IN STOCK

WaterCannon.com 1.800.333.WASH (9274)

HYD3010

3.0GPM

1000PSI

HYD3525

3.5GPM

2500PSI

HYD4050

4.0GPM

5000PSI

HYD4040

4.0GPM

4000PSI

HYD5530

5.5GPM

3000PSI

HYD1130

11GPM

3000PSI

HYD1722

17GPM

2200PSI

HYD2020

20GPM

2000PSI

HYD2418

24GPM

1800PSI

HYD8043

8.0GPM

4300PSI

HYD1840

18GPM

4000PSI

889 979 $ 1,645 $ 1,795 $ 1,799 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 2,099 $ 6,599 $ $

FREE DELIVERY* â&#x20AC;¢ Quantity & Fleet Discounts Available *Some delivery restrictions may apply. Call for details.

YEARS OF SERVICE

w w w.na swe ep er.co m

MA R C H 2 0 1 9 N O RT H A MERI C AN SWEEPER 29

INDEX

Buffalo Turbine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 716-592-2700 / buffaloturbine.com

Sharpco Sweeper Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 313-343-4328 / 800-372-5007 / sharpcosweepershoes.com

Crum & Forester. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 800-233-2398 / cfins.com

Skavin-jer Street Sweepers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 888-652-2137 / skavinjer.com

Eagle Eye Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 800-338-7225 / eagleeyetracking.com

Stewart-Amos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 800-482-2302 / stewart-amos.com

Curbtender Sweepers, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 319-266-1721 / curbtendersweepers.com

Superior Tire & Rubber Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 800-289-1456 / superiortire.com

Global Sweeping Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 909-713-1600 / globalsweeper.com

Sweeper Parts Sales. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 877-695-3060 / SweeperPartsSales.com

Keystone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 800-635-5238 / kpbrush.com

Tymco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 800-258-9626 / tymco.com

M-B Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 800-558-5800 / sales@m-bco.com

United Rotary Brush Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 800-851-5108 / united-rotary.com

Nitehawk Sweepers.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FC, 21 800-448-9364 / nitehawksweepers.com

Valcall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 800-445-4752 / Vacall.com

Nomad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 450-530-9873 / balaisnomad.com

Victory Sweepers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 256-850-0429 / victorysweepers.com

Oakmont Capital Services, LLC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 877-701-2391 / oakmontfinance.com

Water Cannon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 13, 18, 29 800-333-9274 / watercannon.com

Pats Pum + Blower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 800-359-7867 / patspump.com

Well Made Manufacturing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 602-323-2655 / wellmademfg.com

The ODB Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 800-446-9823 / www.odbco.com

Xpress Sweeping Sales & Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 401-523-6116 / xpresssweeping.com

Schwarze. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 16-17 800-879-7933 / schwarze.com

30 N ORTH A MERIC AN S WEEP E R MA R C H 2019

Vi s i t Us

Fo l l ow Us

ODB is Lucky to have...

Great Customers Great Prices

Great Products Great Service

ODB Savings

May the Luck of ODB be with you!!

800-446-9823 www.odbco.com CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB

CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB

CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB * CALL ODB