This image captures the transformation of a vactor truck into a brine tanker in Hocking County. Photo Credit – Kenny James, Hocking County Auto Mechanic
Innovation continues to permeate throughout the department and in all facets of operational responsibilities.
In District 10 what was once a vactor truck used for draining excess water has been transformed into a brine tanker that was a highly useful piece of machinery in Hocking County this winter. As of early March, it had been used 14 times, traveling a total of 1,335 miles.
“This will benefit our operations by cutting back on the amount of salt used on U.S. 33, as well as some of our secondary routes as the storms permit,” said Hocking County Transportation Administrator Shawn Flannery. “If the storm is light, it will also eliminate a truck on U.S. 33.”
While the truck itself only had around 75,000 miles on it, the vactor equipment had reached its useful life. So, the decision was made to keep the truck and use it for another purpose.
Hocking County Auto Mechanics Kenny James and Garren Ballinger pose with the brine tanker which was used for the first time this winter. Photo Credit – Ashley Rittenhouse, District 10 PIO
Hocking County Auto Mechanic Kenny James put about 200 hours into the build. “Kenny had to remove existing hydraulic lines, wiring, and vactor frame bolts to lift the vactor frame from the truck frame,” explained Shawn. “Once he had this process complete, he painted the frame and built a new flatbed and frame for the tank to be securely fastened. Kenny also built a new battery box and hydraulic pump platform.”
The tank holds 4,000 gallons of brine (which costs pennies per gallon to make) and can be filled in about 12 minutes. The overall cost of labor and materials was $17,000. It would cost about $144,000 to buy a semi-truck equipped with a brine tank.
Since the beginning of the department’s One Red Lion initiative more than 2,000 suggestions have been submitted, 201 have been implemented, 271 are under further analysis, and 187 are no longer being considered. The savings from the implemented recommendations total $72.2 million.
