Laura Stoneburner
Whether it’s using coupons or haggling with the car salesman, people enjoy getting a good deal. But as the Candler County Board of Commissioners recently learned firsthand, previously owned equipment may not always be the best deal after all. As for County Administrator Jim Flynt, he saw how the best deal also could go beyond price to encompass customization and service.
Time for a New Tanker
Located within Candler County, GA, the area’s landfill receives approximately 1,600 tons of garbage each year. From this waste comes leachate—the runoff produced from the decomposition of waste within the landfill. Most counties commonly transport this toxic fluid to treatment centers to avoid further environmental issues.
The Candler County Board of Commissioners has always taken the appropriate steps to be sure its county landfill is safe for residents and sanitation department workers. The department’s tanker, which it used to haul leach water, had been in operation for a long time and seen better days. In fact, the unit had been patched so many times it would no longer hold a weld. It was time for a new tanker.
Flynt began researching options. Like most local governments, Candler County needed a good price as well as something that would last for years to come. Flynt called several establishments, quoting out used tankers that would meet the county’s sanitation needs. After several phone calls, he was surprised by the high prices for used tankers. Ten-year-old tankers came at a high price. After making about eight phone calls, Flynt was informed of Ervin Equipment (Toledo, IL) and called the company to see what they had to offer.
“It was immediately apparent that Ervin Equipment is an expert in the trailer and tanker industry,” Flynt said. “Not only did they price a brand new 165-barrel aluminum tanker, they specified a tanker with a lined interior specific to leach water transport. They knew exactly what we needed and how to find it.”
Ervin Equipment, Inc. carries a large selection of used and new fleets of trailers, trucks, construction and oil and gas equipment, and offers expert consulting service.
Making a Crucial Decision
Jeff Weber, Ervin’s vice president of sales and marketing, notes the competition for good used trailers is hot. “Availability is tight and will remain that way for a while,” said Weber. “Trailer models from 2008 to 2010 are hard to come by because production of trailers was down during that time due to the recession. The most recent models available were manufactured from 2005 to 2007, and everyone is trying to get those. This forces people to choose between purchasing a trailer that is at least eight years old or one that is brand new.”
But Ervin was able to supply a new tanker for just a little more than a used unit. Considering the extra life a new unit would provide, Flynt determined a new tanker would be the best route. He figured the new aluminum tanker should last 20 years or longer with proper maintenance.
“Everything with Ervin went smoothly. They helped us make a crucial decision for our sanitation department, and then supplied us the equipment we needed,” he said. “If something should surface in the future, we’d seek their expertise again. They’re good, honest people.”
Laura Stoneburner is a PR Specialist and Writer for IRONCLAD Marketing (Fargo, ND). She can be reached at (701) 373-0062. For more information on Ervin Equipment, visit www.ervinusa.com.