Alida – With their iron at auction and property for sale in Alida, Classic Vacuum Truck has shut down as of the end of July.
“We’re going to retire,” said Randy McCannell, owner with his wife Tammy, on Sept. 3.
The choice to do so was a combination of three or four things. “Trying to find men was a big issue.”
The Redvers property, which has an existing tenant, is being retained, but they’re putting up the Alida properties, with an office downtown, a house and two shops on an acreage to see if there are any takers. Randy and Tammy have a place in Brandon where they will end up eventually.
The slow activity level in the oilpatch has been a big factor. “You have to go through the same steps, whether you have 23 guys working or three, and the cost is still there.
“The big deal was trying to find good employees to run the trucks. We’ve always had good employees, but it just seems since oil turned down, its hard to find good people.”
“The whole oil industry has been in the toilet for what, now four years? It’s a good little business. We offered it to some of our employees, but they didn’t want to risk it, either. I had seven in the end,” he said.
With a federal election this fall, he said, “If that guy gets in down east, it ain’t going to end. It’s going to get worse.”
They took 23 units to Regina for sale by McDougall Auctioneers via an online sale. This included vac trucks, a fire truck, rig shacks and other units. The closing date is Sept. 19.
Asked about future plans, he said they’re going to spend some time at their place in Arizona. “I don’t know what we’re going to do. Maybe travel a bit, maybe see what else is out there for some other gig,” he said.
