Coordinating Porta Kleen and PKX logistics during event season is like playing chess on three boards at once. Dispatchers must manage massive events like Lost Lands while ensuring daily sanitation routes and routine customers never skip a beat.
“The biggest challenge is just having enough people and equipment, and using them in the best way possible,” said Logistics Manager Denise Tullius. “We have to take some of our staff from normal routes and move them over to help run events, and then we have to figure out how we’re going to get the other routes covered.”
That balancing act often requires dispatchers to borrow personnel from other branches. Staff from Louisville, Piqua, Fairfield, and Cincinnati rotate in and out to support large events while keeping local routes covered. The strain on manpower means routine schedules sometimes shift; Friday routes may move to Saturday, or drivers may take on extra work.
“It’s a tough job,” said Logistics Supervisor Andrew Minette. “Sometimes people get into it and realize it’s not what they expected. We need workhorses, not just people looking for a paycheck.” To fill gaps, dispatchers also turn to the Special Ops Group (SOG), whose flexible team members step in for event support such as shower maintenance and ride-along help.
Tracking equipment is another major responsibility, and in recent years technology has made it easier. GPS trackers now provide real-time visibility of shower trailers and other key assets, preventing any operations confusion. “That visibility makes a huge difference,” said Tullius. “We can now see exactly where equipment is from pickup to delivery.”
Branch Manager Jacob Betts oversees scheduling and logistics. He said the dispatcher’s role is also about relationships. “Scheduling is all on the computer, but I’d rather be in person,” Betts said. “You build better relationships with drivers and with customers face-to-face.” That approach has already paid off, including securing a multi-year contract with the Circleville Pumpkin Show.
Betts also stresses the importance of rapid response. “I’m a same-day guy,” he said. “If a driver missed something, I’ll turn them around to fix it. That goes a long way with customers.” During events, he stations himself on site, working out of a camper or hotel room while juggling radios, phone calls, and emails. “Preparation is key. You want to be ahead of the game, so you’ve got room to handle whatever else comes your way.”
Lost Lands was Betts’ trial by fire when he first took the position, forcing him to adapt quickly. Now, with experience under his belt, he approaches the event with patience and confidence. “There are always going to be changes,” he said. “But we’re ready for them. The customers are happy, and any kink that comes up, we take care of it.”
Despite the pressure, dispatchers emphasized that Porta Kleen and PKX continue to grow robustly with new trucks, equipment, and staff. At the heart of it all, dispatchers balance daily routes with large-scale events, keeping PKX and Porta Kleen’s reputation for reliability strong.
A recent example of that adaptability came when Porta Kleen acquired business from a sanitation services company in the Midwest. About 300 new service locations were added, some overlapping with existing territories. The logistics team quickly rerouted two territories and created two additional ones to cover the new workload.
Customer site information from the sanitation services company arrived late on a Wednesday; by Thursday and Friday, Administrative Manager and Financial Analyst Amanda Neighborgall’s team had entered all 300 orders into Johnny—the program the sales and logistics team uses to track sanitation orders and routing.
Logistics finalized new territories on a Saturday, and the new routes were running by the next Monday. Betts had two drivers on standby to jump in and cover the new territories immediately.
“It’s not easy,” Tullius said with a smile. “But it’s rewarding. We make it happen, no matter what’s on the schedule.”