Three shifts run around the clock, 24 hours a day.
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Modern Disposal Services was incorporated in 1964 by Steve Washuta as a way to expand his seasonal paving company into a year-round operation. As the region’s industrial base grew, Washuta’s business developed from a humble two-truck operation in western New York into the 20th largestĚýwaste removal companyĚýin the United States. Today, Modern is still a privately owned waste removal company that employs over 500 people in western New York, as well as southern Ontario, Canada.
A significant percentage of Modern Disposal’s refuse fleet is the McNeilus brand. “Of our total fleet, about 40 of the vehicles are McNeilus,” said John Clement, Maintenance Supervisor at Modern Disposal Services. “We run McNeilus rear loaders, front loaders and a smaller number of AutoReach automated side loaders. The performance of our McNeilus trucks has been excellent.”
A Big Job
Maintaining and servicing this large fleet of refuse trucks is a big job. The company runs three shifts of mechanics, 24 hours a day. “We have 15 certified mechanics in this location, alone. We have a little over 200 Class 8 trucks running every day,” he said.
Keeping the refuse vehicle fleet in good condition is possible because of a reliable and highly experienced team of mechanics. “I’ve got a bunch of good guys working on my team, and a lot of them have been here as long or even longer than my 25 years,” said Clement. “They know what needs to be done and I don’t need to micromanage the operation.”
Excellent equipment and support from management is equally important. “We’re a privately owned company and a good operation. The people I answer to are the company owners, and they want our trucks in good condition to keep people safe and to get the job done safely. That makes a big difference. I talk to other maintenance supervisors who may not get the support from management to invest what it takes.”
External Filtration Cart
One of the newer pieces of equipment that Modern’s maintenance team has available is an external filtration cart. The model they selected is the high performance Smart Contamination Control (SCC) filtration system from Street Smart Parts by McNeilus (Dodge Center, MN). The SCC system allows the technician and fleet management to track and service the history for each truck in a fleet. The SCC system features an onboard particle counter that interfaces with a full functioning PC and allows a maintenance team to track hydraulic oil cleanliness. “We have preventative maintenance (PM) set up so that after so many hours or miles we do a filter change,” said Clement. “And then we have another one where we do an oil change. We use the filter cart at the time of the filter change to extend our oil life.”
Each refuse vehicle is connected to the SCC system on its own schedule depending on the type of usage and where it’s in service. “One advantage when you run the oil through the SCC system is that it gives you a starting ISO cleanliness, and it automatically cleans the oil to the desired ISO cleanliness,” he said. “The more we use it, and the more the guys understand its potential, the SCC is becoming a regular part of our preventative maintenance program.”
The SCC system is demonstrating a solid return on investment for Modern Disposal. “I am definitely getting more time between hydraulic oil changes with the SCC filtration cart,” states Clement. “If you stay on top of it, I have no problem going two years between oil changes.Ěý With 40 gallons in each truck, and a cost of $7 or so per gallon of oil, that’s significant.”
Diligence is Key
Clement also notes that refuse trucks have made tremendous strides in product quality over his career. “Years ago, the older trucks’ hydraulic systems were practically wide open, and you basically had a Brillo pad under a vent cap,” he said. “You sucked in dirt, water, and other contaminants and it all went right into the tanks. The newer trucks are so much better in terms of the design and engineering.”
When it comes to advice for others in charge of maintaining a refuse fleet, diligence is the key word. “I only know a refuse fleet, but I know that there’s no harder application so my advice is that you can’t let things go,” he said. “If you don’t properly maintain your fleet, you’ll never catch up to it. You can’t take a break from one truck and let it slide for a while. You’ve got to be on them 24 hours a day. That’s why the only time I shut down is Saturday at noon, and we open up again on Sunday night at 10 pm.”
Having the unwavering support of management that sees the big picture makes a big difference. “I feel like I have the ability to get top-notch equipment, like the SCC filter cart, to help improve our productivity,” said Clement. “Plus, our owners realize a truck doesn’t do any good if it’s sitting in the yard. Our trucks are on the road in our communities, and ownership wants them to be safe and well-maintained.”
As an industry-leading manufacturer of refuse truck bodies, McNeilus Companies (Dodge Center, MN) produces a complete line of rear load, front load, and automated side load units to augment any refuse collection fleet. Each product line offers multiple models to fit customers’ specific needs. Through its Next Generation Initiatives (NGEN) program, McNeilus designs, installs and services compressed natural gas (CNG) solutions for heavy-duty fleets of all types, all supported by a comprehensive, factory direct sales and service network. For more information, call (507) 374-6321 or visit .