Water Truck Case Study: Scaling Capacity for Pipeline Projects

Pipeline and transmission projects can take crews across a wide range of job sites, each with its own fleet needs. For one Mississippi-based contractor, projects have spanned roughly 30 states over the past 30 years. Their work includes pipeline construction along with the dirt work needed to build roads and prepare pads.

On projects where dust control is required, the number of water trucks needed can quickly increase. Having enough trucks with adequate tank capacity to support the work helps keep the job moving throughout the day.

Meeting peak water truck demand

When additional water trucks are needed, the contractor’s own fleet only goes so far. They own approximately three, while around 50 water trucks are in use across the project during peak operations. Renting water trucks helps close that gap and gives the contractor another way to keep up with the work.

During peak operations, the water trucks typically run five or six days a week for 10 to 12 hours a day. As colder weather moves in, water truck needs decrease before picking back up as conditions warm. Rental allows the contractor to return trucks as demand slows, then add them again when more capacity is needed.

Bringing PTR trucks into the mix

As more trucks are needed, the contractor brings PTR rentals into the mix. The 4,000-gallon water trucks support dust control throughout the day, with stationary water tanks positioned near work areas to keep refill distances manageable.

With a nearby water source, operators can refill and return to spraying with minimal downtime. This setup helps keep the trucks where they are needed without spending unnecessary time traveling for water.

Equipment and support that keep up

The contractor’s experience with PTR comes down to a few key numbers and benefits:

• 10–12 HOURS: Daily water truck operation during peak demand

• 5–6 DAYS: Water trucks operating each week

• 24,000 GALLONS: Combined capacity across six PTR water trucks

• ONE POINT OF CONTACT: Direct support for changing rental needs

With water trucks working long days during peak operations, the contractor needs equipment that can keep pace with the work. PTR’s 4,000-gallon water trucks help keep the trucks needed for dust-control operations in the field. “The trucks we’ve received from PTR have been good equipment and ready to go to work,” the equipment manager said.

As demand changes, having one point of contact makes it easier to manage trucks coming on and off rent. The equipment manager works directly with a PTR representative when he needs another truck, has a question or is ready to make a change to the rental fleet.

Flexibility as needs change

For a contractor whose water truck needs shift throughout the project, rental provides the flexibility to add trucks when dust-control demand increases and return them as the work slows. With PTR, the contractor has access to water trucks and a team ready to help when those needs change.

The equipment manager shared how rental helps as project needs change: “Our water truck needs change throughout the project, so having the flexibility to add trucks when we need them is important. PTR gives us that additional capacity and one person to call when our needs change, which helps us keep the work moving.”

Download the Full Case Study