March 2008 Table of Contents

Features

• 28Cover Story: Acting the Part
  Southern California Jetting and Plumbing Co. wins and keeps commercial accounts with quality equipment and reliable performance.
• 38Special Feature: The Big Bang
  Louisville residents still remember the Friday the 13th sewer explosion in 1981 that destroyed some 13 miles of lines and left 38-foot deep craters.
• 54Profile: Still Going Strong
  At age 87, Arnie Schweiss still keeps long hours in his own drain-cleaning company — while staying competitive with investments in better technology.
• 66Profile: Marketing Makeover
  Drain-cleaning contractor American Minutemen gets aggressive with branding and with Internet, direct mail and media advertising.
• 82Tech Perspective: The New Telephone
  Global positioning systems (GPS) are becoming standard and indispensable management tools for businesses that operate service and delivery fleets.

Columns

• 10From the Editor: Low-ballers in Town
  There will always be competitors who cut prices and cut corners. Smart contractors fight them by focusing on customers who demand value.
• 16Safety First: Yet Another Reminder
  The death of a 52-year-old worker in a trench collapse underscores the importance of protective measures.
• 22Money Manager: Running Off the Rails
  A variety of common mistakes can keep you from meeting your financial goals and supporting the lifestyle you want for your retirement years.
• 46Better Business: Communicating Through Conflict
  Know the difference between false and real conflicts — and know how to act quickly to resolve the real ones.
• 74Money Machines: Big Impression
  Cab-over service trucks owned by Pipe Wrench Plumbing are as productive on the inside as they are attention-getting on the outside.
• 88Reader Pipelines: War Stories
  Tales of extremely challenging cleaning jobs can help contractors learn valuable lessons, avoid mistakes, and improve customer service.
• 98Tough Job: Maiden Voyage
  An untried pipe-bursting machine enables a New York contractor to renew a sewer while a community continues to function normally during the process.
• 106Product Spotlight: Drain/Sewer Cleaning Machine Moves on Four Wheels
  It can be a chore getting access to drains and pipes in remote locations.
• 114Industry News: News From Around the Industry
  Putzmeister Names Service Engineer, Telebelt Specialist; WinCan Moves to New Location; RapidView Expands Headquarters, Appoints Manager; StoneAge Catalog Available Online; and Doheny Places Largest Vactor Order.