PM Truck Of The Month - JES Plumbing, Santa Maria, CA

Juan and Eric Rodriguez call their super-clean vans the 'backbone' of their plumbing business.

Keeping It Clean

Father’s Day is in a few weeks, and I felt it appropriate to let Truck Of The Month nominee

Eric Rodriguezhonor his plumber fatherJuan Rodriguezby showcasing their clean, well-organized service trucks inPMmagazine.

JES Plumbing in Santa Maria, Calif., has been in operation since June 1993 and Eric (who began helping his father on the job at age 7) tells me his father has always worked very hard to provide his customers with “world- class service.”

“After years of working with my father, I can honestly say that he takes a lot of pride in his work. He is determined to provide every one of his customers with superior service and always makes sure to leave his jobsites exceptionally clean, knowing that it’s not the responsibility of the customer to clean up after the technician,” Eric says.

Aiding Juan and Eric on daily service calls are two Ford service vans, which Eric calls the “backbone of our business.” “We take as much pride in them as we do in the quality of our work.”

Each is equipped with three snakes for drain cleaning, and all the tools and service parts needed for calls. The 1999 model features custom-built wood cabinets (courtesy of Juan and Eric) that allow them to carry many parts in a very organized manner. The cab of the 2005 model holds a laptop with printer for paperwork, as well as Wi-Fi for downloading e-mailed work orders.

The body’s outside doors have stainless-steel paddle handles, Eric informs me. The rear bumper was sent to a chrome shop to avoid the standard black-painted bumper and ordered with aluminum rims to avoid standard steel rims.

“I believe that first impressions are of the uttermost importance, so when we are driving down the street in our service vans, it is always important that they are kept clean and presentable inside and out,” he says. In fact, the 10-year-old van is frequently mistaken for a much later model because of its well-maintained appearance.

For 15 years, this father and son team have worked well together, and have built a business - and a growing fleet of vans - that demonstrates how putting neatness first can have a positive impact on customers.

“My father has been told many times that he is ‘the most courteous and honest plumber they have ever called,’” Eric says. “As an employee, I feel extremely proud to be able to live up to my father’s expectations.”

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PM's Truck Of The Month is sponsored by General Pipe Cleaners.