NCM Hydrovac owner Kris Norris says relationships with vendors and suppliers have been key for the company. Ties with companies like Sewer Equipment, Joe Johnson Equipment, and Brandt Trucks have been important for post-sale service, warranty support and maintenance help.
By maintaining and updating its fleet regularly, NCM Hydrovac, based in Ottawa, Ontario, has been able to get back up and running quickly when service is required — lessening or negating any impact on customer expectations or project timelines. Plus, Norris notes, if a vac truck or another piece of equipment experiences a breakdown and prevents a service from being provided, that opens the door for the competition to get in there and capture the work.
“Sean at Sewer Equipment and Dan, the warranty manager there, have been really supportive, helping us if there’s ever anything we need — overnighting parts, anything to really minimize downtime,” Norris says. “They’ve been great for any warranty issues or anything like that.”
The value of these support structures can’t be overstated, Norris says. Even if an operator encounters only a minor hiccup with a machine or can’t quite determine what’s keeping a truck from operating at 100%, NCM Hydrovac’s vendors have been there to provide aid.
“Brett, the manager at our local dealer Joe Johnson Equipment, he’s been nothing but great, opening doors to allow us to bring multiple different pieces of equipment there,” Norris says. “They are a Vactor dealer and they’ll do work on our Vactor combo units, but they’ll also provide us support on other issues, too.”
This lessens any impact on customers because even when breakdowns do occur, they never have to “feel it,” Norris says.
“The better you can stay operational, the stronger your position in the local landscape will be.”
Read more about NCM Hydrovac in the December 2025 issue of Cleaner magazine.
