Taking pride in your ride

Photo: Shaun Funk

When I asked the members of my Pest Cemetery Crew Facebook Group to send photos of their clean and organized vehicles for a fun contest I recently held, I was hoping for some sweet pictures — and boy did I get ’em!

I’ve always strived to have a clean and organized truck (to learn why, see “Problem Solvers”) and wow, was I impressed with the participants in our contest. It was a great contest, and very difficult to select only three winners. The Top 3 winners received Pest Cemetery swag and bragging rights; however, many more entries were worthy of recognition.

Do you keep your vehicle well-organized and looking sharp? Show it off by sending your photos
to pmpeditor@northcoastmedia.net.

Photo: Shaun Funk

Shaun Funk, regional operations manager for Texas and Oklahoma for Westwood, N.J.-based RK Environmental Services, was the contest’s first-place winner. He created this pull-out drawer and rollout bed, which eliminate crawling inside the bed of the vehicle. It promotes safety, professional appearance, productivity and a sense of self-gratitude, he says. Furthermore, Funk designed it to fit in the vehicle without being anchored with screws, so it is completely and easily removable.

Photo: Dave Raymond

Dave Raymond, who is a field technician with Anchor Pest Services in Manchester, N.H., was declared the second-place winner by just one whisker. He says he tries to make the organization of his truck as ergonomically functional as possible. Items he uses every day are within easy reach and waist-high to limit bending or lifting. Items he does not use often are tucked away in the same spot to make getting supplies easy. If everything is always is the same spot, he says, he always knows how much product he has. Also, products and equipment are less likely to get damaged. Once a week, Raymond gets supplies from the office and tidies up. Each season, he completely empties the vehicle and does a deep clean, including in the cab area. He explains that changing out products based on the season allows for greater inventory control, and reduces unnecessary wear-and-tear in the vehicle.

Photo: Dave Raymond

Photo: Brent Towle

Brent Towle, master technician and owner of Spectrum Pest Control Eco-Tech in Kenosha, Wis., is a firm believer that clean vehicles and equipment show you are careful with the products on which pest management professionals rely. Although his vehicle did not place in the Top 3, it definitely is praiseworthy. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator is a Willys edition with a powdercoated, stainless steel SmartCap made by a company in South Africa. The SmartCap has a positive flow vent on top to help keep the interior cool and dust-free. He designed and built the organizer/split pullout trays with a top shelf for gull-wing door access, and notes an organized vehicle makes him more efficient with time and supplies. Towle says no other vehicle he has owned has garnered as much attention as this truck, even when he drove a red Ram pickup truck wrapped to look like Optimus Prime.

Photo: Brent Towle