Truck washing (Soaps, Tips and Tricks)

Well in that case you’ll be golden. It’s still gonna be hard with a single 5gpm machine to clear that lot in a day which is where you’ll want to be to make this profitable, but regardless you need to look into two stepping. I would probably be at 5-10 minutes per unit two-stepping with two 8gpms.

As far as keeping your soap wet longer, just work in smaller sections. We typically do back and left side, then front and right side when we wash a truck.

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At that rate I don’t see how anyone can make this work . Is that really the going rate for fleet box truck washing ? I can’t even get someone to wash my car for that price , I’m I missing something ?

Yeah that’s definitely another issue. I’d want to get at least $25 but would like to be closer to $35 for a short box truck.

It’s definitely not a competitive rate and the owner can say whatever he wants about just wanting a “soap and rinse” but at the end of the day what he wants is his trucks clean and no matter what process you use you’re going to struggle to profit at $15/unit even with ideal conditions.

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It’d be interesting to know what the current guy is doing and how clean they are when he is done. Is that possible in some way?

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I’m going to try to get $20 for them. At least this will get me in the door and some much needed experience. I’m going to explain to him that I need at the very minimum of $20. I need to find out what others are charging in this area, I don’t want to undercut everyone to drive the prices down.

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I don’t understand the paperwork issue with the old guy. He was charging $15 twice each trip for each truck so they were paying $30? I don’t understand how that’s a paperwork issue.

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I really need to learn 2 stepping. I have zero clue what equipment I need, what soaps I can use on what. I have read, read, read and watched countless youtube videos but I don’t learn that way, I am a hands on kinda guy.

Anyone in the midwest willing to show me?

I don’t understand it either. Paperwork is by far one of the easiest things to do, how does he stay in business if he can’t even figure out invoicing.

Check you water. If it’s hard ,you will loose 30% of your chemical cleaning power. That equals a lot more water to get it clean, plus $ for more chem etc. Then learn to two step. Save ya’ll so much time n no brushing. Harrison must be getting old,he’d have them done in 3 minutes. I’d also get a meter fom the local water department n pay for it. 300 ’ away is a no brainer.

Yea, just gotta read up on what I have to do to get one. I’ll work with this guy for lower wages for now so I can secure another branch of his company.

Watch the house spraying fellas. They make great money for about 4.5 months. Then hybernate, but the competition is getting ugly because you can go to Home Depot and spend 2 grand on a machine n fittinings and wash tomorrow with SH and Eliminator to make it stick. Fleet washing is more of a year around thing ,with alot of different chemicals,big hot money washer and some thinking involved .

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Here we go…:joy:

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Trust me , if you secure this account with a low prices , the next account will want the same low price . You’re losing money from day one in my eyes

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Well said

There you go, water problem solved. Call the water company and see how much a water meter is and price of water. Maybe get the client to pick up that cost.

Nashville charges $860 deposit for meter and $2.14/748gal. Best solution.

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How long is it taking you? How many people on a truck at a time?

Maybe. Doubt it. Never tried upstreaming.

I just want to say thank you to everyone that has replied.

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So how about your pump or coil up streaming? Just worries me to death shoving aggressive soaps through my $7000 machine. I’d love to try it. 2 stepping is the fastest I’ve ever washed a truck ,clean mirrors, stainless air breathers ,all chrome and aluminum etc. Just curious as hell to all ways of washing. Single step, down streaming suck’s ,that I know

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