New Washing Strategy

Jc450

New member
Hey,

I was wondering how you guys and gals wash tractors. I have been using a helper to brush while I soap, rinse, and brighten the tanks and rims. The only problem is that I have started using a brushless soap, and can't see where a second person could help me anymore. The last time I washed by myself and I skipped the downstream method and just used a hand sprayer for chemical. It took a little longer to apply, but saved time and chemical costs from waiting on my downstream to flush the extra soap from the line for rinse.

I want to be as fast as possible with my machine so I can try to get some bigger accounts. I have a Hotsy 1075BE now running up to 3500 psi at 3.8 gpm, so no way I could run a second wand effectively, or could I? I just wanted to see what some guys or gals with more experience have to say. After reading posts you guys will think I'm crazy, but owner/operators will pay $50-$60 for a sleeper without brightening in my area. The drivers in my area do love chrome though so that adds time. If they make one that is shiny, it will be shiny on these trucks. I can do a really good job on a sleeper truck in an hour by myself, which equals $30-$40 in my pocket per truck, but still too slow to take on any good sized fleets. Plus I know that around $35 is the most the bigger trucking companies will pay, but they are a lot less fancy than most of the O/O trucks.

I think I could do a basic truck with little chrome in 30-40 minutes alone, which would put me at around $20-$25 profit if I charged $35. Doesn't seem like bad pay if I had enough units. I have very little experience so I know speed will come with time, just want to hurry the process lol. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

P.s. Even thought machine is rated at 3.8 gpm, I can fill up a 5 gallon bucket in a minute if I spray into it. I would think that would mean my machine is putting out 5 gpm. Am I missing something here?
 
Doing owner operator trucks first is a great way to get started. Every one should do at least a few owner operator trucks at some point just so they can appreciate the fleets.
 
Call Mike, a few things Mike will talk to you about though

Time, you take way too long for too little money. I used to wash a muddy dump truck + trailer to shine in 50 scrubbing only the chrome and windshield. Last fleet I did down streaming the soap 11 day cab trucks, 2 hours, 7 gallons of soap for a total cost of $15, no helper, but I needed to vacuum the waste water in which the setup is in that 2 hours. Price per truck was close to a sleeper for you, do the math. Your prices will change based on what your area is, but you can go faster and make more money.
 
I have a small tanker I do weekly down to 5.5 minutes. It would take me close to a hour to make almost the same on some O/O rigs.
 
Dang I knew I had a lot of improvement to make but 11 trucks in 2 hours for close to $60 a piece? That is awesome. I know I'll be faster once I find a groove and find some chemicals that are best for me. Do you wash the engine, frame, axles, and 5th wheel as well, or just the body? The times I mentioned are also once a month cleanings if I am lucky. I'd like to have a fleet of garbage trucks. I had a couple before that I did weekly in 30 minutes with crappy soap I had to scrub like crazy.
 
Having a vac system and being able to hold 600 us gallons of the reclaimed water is key to that gig. You can't wash if you can't recover and hold onto the water.

Didn't have to raise a hood, yes I washed in the rails, slack adjusters, u joints, everything open and visible. Also running at 10 gpm makes things go way quicker then 3.8. If you really want to get into fleets I would highly recommend getting an 8 gpm machine per operator and would stay away from hosty.

I would learn what soaps work, what methods work, and how to get the trucks clean from O/O, but I wouldn't plan to stick with them forever. Think of it as training for you and learning, but I would seriously look at getting some larger commercial accounts once you feel you have things sorted out. Those 11 trucks were all in a row, 1 bill, 1 check, no operators getting mad that you missed a inch at the top of there exhaust stack.

I, like you offered a flat rate when I did O/O but soon learned they only wanted it done when things were really bad, which meant more time. I soon learned to say, well we washed it a week ago so it costs xxx amount and if it was a month ago and hasn't been washed in between xxx amount. Some guys didn't like it and didn't call back, others understood and had no problems with it. Which ones do you want to be your customers?
 
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