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Joshua’s Pest Control has a special way of rewarding its most “driven” technicians.

After five years of dedicated service and careful maintenance of their trucks, technicians from the San Diego County-based company can purchase the truck for just $1. Joshua’s Owner Jason Walton got the truck buy-back idea from Jimmy Hale, owner of Orkin franchises in Texas.

“It’s a reward for years of hard work,” said Branch Manager Josh Taylor.

He said the program not only encourages technicians to take care of their trucks by giving them a sense of ownership, but it also gives them a sense of pride when the rubber meets the road.

“That sense of pride transfers to their work and to the customer,” he said. “So, having a program like this translates to better customer service and quality of work.” According to Taylor, the program has been motivating Joshua’s Pest Control technicians for 10 years, ever since the company has been in business.

“We thought it would be a very cool idea from the beginning,” he said. “We hadn’t heard of a program like this before, and we think it makes us unique and increases employee engagement and satisfaction.”

Since the advent of the program, Taylor said about 10 technicians have earned their trucks from Joshua’s fleet of 35 Ford Rangers, Toyota Tacomas and Chevy Colorados, but there are a few stipulations.

“We do weekly safety inspections to make sure everything is up to code,” said Taylor.

Before earning their $1 truck, technicians must pass a majority of these safety inspections with the vehicle they use daily, and have a clean driving record.

Once they sign the truck over to the technician, however, it’s all theirs, and each recipient has used it differently.

Whether it’s adding a new stereo, speakers and rims or using it to transport dirt bikes and camping gear for weekend trips, technicians have done everything from use the trucks as personal vehicles, given them as gifts to family members and some have even sold them for an extra bonus.

“It’s up to them, and then we give them a brand new truck to start over with,” said Taylor.

According to Taylor, after five years the technician’s slate is wiped clean and he can begin working toward the next truck. He added that one technician who has been with the company for nine years is on course to be the first to receive his second truck, which will serve as a symbol of all of his hard work throughout the years.

Laura Straub is a Cleveland-based freelancer.