Bid Help on Cement Mixer Truck Washing

S

ShoreWash

New member
I have been asked by a local concrete company to give them pricing on washing 12 of there cement mix trucks. They are getting ready to paint them and want them cleaned as possible. I am still trying to solve the bidding so any suggestions on how to price or what you your self would charge for washing these types of vehicles would be a huge help. I am thinking about telling them that I would like to wash one of the trucks and then bid from how long it took for that one. This is a full reclaim job as well!! Please HELP......
 
Last edited:
You better have the right chems or you will be there forever. http://www.eacochem.com/ has some but I haven't used them. It will be a hydrochloric acid based cleaner so take this into consideration for reclaiming. It may take several applications to get them to what they find acceptable. A trial clean is the only way to go. Even then you better check out the other 11 and make sure you didn't test the easy one.

Here's the stuff we used for a test.
It worked well but took several applications. We just found cleaning them much to labor intense for us. Brushing etc. We couldn't charge enough for it to make sense financially. Maybe a one time shot for painting would allow you to charge enough to work. I know it costs a bunch to paint those.

Off topic: Call me paranoid but I think posting a photo of the actual customer is nuts. Any lurkers in CT will be calling on them.
 
Muriatic acid is what breaks down the lime film that is all over cement mixers, and it also helps with the small cement splatters on the back of the truck.
I used to work for a cement company, and when it was time to paint the trucks, they would sandblast everything except the cabs...
 
Thanks for the input guys. Pics Gone!!!
 
Grant is right. For a full repaint, sand blasting is best. Those things can be a real booger to clean. Sand blasting is also more environmentally sustainable. I would not want to have to recover all the water that it is going to require to get a cement truck paint ready.
They do use muriatic acid, or variations of muriatic acid to wash them. The acid actually breaks down really quickly in the soil, so I am wondering what is with recovery, as well, unless it is just a corporate policy. If you need a supplier for concrete cleaning chemicals, I have the guy. Some of them, you can allow to sit on the truck overnight, and it will just eat away the concrete. It is amazing stuff. His name is Joe, at 602-332-9643
 
Michael,
Hydrochlorice Acid (Muratic) is the best way to go. I agree with Scott, I would not want to recover this water. If you have access to a wash bay or if the customer has a containment area you can wash in do it there. First, blast the surface with a rotating nozzle to remove the majority of any loose concrete build up. We even go as far as to using a hammer sometimes to remove the larger portions build up, this will save on chemical and time. As for pricing, it tough to say, the amount of residual concrete left on the truck will greatly impact how long it will take to clean. I would try to do one or $100 to $200 and then go back to the customer with a solid price.
 
someone in town here does them for $35 bucks a truck, but that every 2 weeks as well. One time deal to get paint ready... not gonna be cheap.
 
There are some non-acid concrete cleaners out there. They are a lot easier to work with and obviously not as hazardous. I believe Russ has one that I've heard good things about. Of course they aren't cheap, so work that in to the bid.
 
I think I will be staying away from all concrete trucks, as well as tankers as we begin offering Fleet washing. Best of luck to you and hopefully you can get a fair rate on those trucks
 
Thanks for all your help guys, tons of wisdom here.
 
Ive also washed some cement trucks and you can go online and look for a company named Romix out of Texas. They have very good chemicals as well.
 
I have a car lot that has about 60 cars they want soaped, rinsed, and chamoised three times a week. I am the only local guy around doing pressure washing and was wondering if some one could give me a idea what to charge. I've never done car lots before so any help is needed. thanks
 
I agree with Mike... Scott, that is where I would start on pricing and what chem I would use. Recovery may or may not be required based on the situation and if you neutralize etc... check your local BMP requirements.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top