A Big & Long Question

Cody · Mar 2, 2001

Hey All
This is Long & alot to ask but what the hell The FleetBoard has'nt budged in 6 days so this will give ya something to read here!!

I've been powerwashing for years now, and have never gotten around to washing trucks. I've washed a couple but just to do it. My father-in-law is a trucker, so I've cleaned his a few times and a few of his buddies, but nothing serious. For years I have considered diving into it but just never got around to it.

I'm starting to gear up to do it finally and am trying to figure out what to expect. I can set up a permanent location about 1/4 mile off of a minor interstate & about 4miles off of a Major interstate (I-95). I don't plan on any billboard advertising for a while I will probably rely primarily on word-of-mouth to start. ((Also I may just start out doing them on weekends to help condense the few customers that I'll have to start.))My father-in-law has a really big mouth and I figure that he can spread the word pretty fairly. The closest stationary truckwash to me is about 60miles & according to my In-law they kinda suck and are REAL busy. I have yet to research the mobile washers in my area but I don't recall ever seeing one.

This is being triggered by the fact that I am trying to purchase a new location for my biz, I found a nice piece of property that's about an acre and a half, with good access and plenty of out of the way roadside parking. The property is really more than I need for my company right now but because of the access to the interstates & home it is simply a great location for me. So I'm figuring that with all this extra property I could maybe wash a truck or two. (There are also 2 more lots for sale adjacent to this one that I will probably try to lock up for a while incase I need (and can justify) them too

A few of the things that I was wondering were
Please base answers on the asumption that I will do an average / typical good job!

Customers - So this is kind of a build it & they will come business,, what do you veterans think.. Do any of you a simalar setup where they come to you,,
Fleet Accounts - With fleet accounts I was wondering if they come to you or do you always go to them.
Cleaning Method - I'm leaning towards the 2 step method of cleaning, I have a vendor that offered to show me the ropes. I've read most of the post in fleet wash and seems that it's pretty even when it comes to 2 step or Brush. I guess that I need to learn both methods to be effective but I am a little worried about using the acid. And how you guys deal with wind issues and overspray when using with it.
Chemical Arsenal - I was also wondering how many different chemicals that experienced truck washers have at the ready to clean trucks & what the favorite method of application was for them
Like: Shurflo, inject up / down, actual 2step machine (I'll probaly buy one of these by the way, it seemed it may help automate the process0???????
Containment - To start I am going to set this up as a mat system for containment. Then later if all goes well i'll deal with a permenant setup For now I am trying to test the market. Any suggestions on the "mat" type,, setup,, etc...
Captured Water - I am trying to get some info on Water oil seperators, it appears that I can do this fairly easily and inexpensively I have seen a couple of units forsale and they look pretty simple would anyone suggest trying to build my own and if so think maybe you could email me the design..
Recycling - I have considered trying to recycle, I would'nt do it to start but was wondering if anyone else is and was curious to the cost to recycle, cost of equipment less the water cost.
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I know that many don't want to post openly to some of these questions so emails are welcome as are no reply's.
Anyway that's it for now there will surely be more to follow.

Thanks
Cody

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Hydro-Emulsification Surface Preparation Specialist 

[This message has been edited by Cody (edited March 02, 2001).]

Scott Stone · Mar 2, 2001

Okay, I will take a chance at it. I have researched truck washes, etc. so I will add what I know.
1.Customers - So this is kind of a build it & they will come business,, what do you veterans think.. Do any of you a simalar setup where they come to you,,

I do not have a similar setup, I have researched it and hove found the following. First, Unless you have really cool neighbors and vacant lots 1.5 acres will not be enough. You will need off street parking. The reason is that truck drivers like to sleep while waiting for you to call them when their truck gets washed. You will also want to set up accounts and find out what the payment policies are of all the local trucking companies that you can find. You will also want to get set up on ComCheck. ComCheck is a royal pain in the posterior when it come sto payment, so keep that in mind when you start accepting them.
Fleet Accounts - With fleet accounts I was wondering if they come to you or do you always go to them. 
 I always got o fleet accounts, but if youhave a stand alone wash they will sometimes come to you. In my area the stand alone washes charge a lot more than the mobile guys. One thing that the Fleets will want to know is what are you going to do withthe water. Another thing that you will want to consider so that it looks you are going to be there a while is an awning of some type to wash the trucks under. 
 Cleaning Method - I'm leaning towards the 2 step method of cleaning, I have a vendor that offered to show me the ropes. I've read most of the post in fleet wash and seems that it's pretty even when it comes to 2 step or Brush. I guess that I need to learn both methods to be effective but I am a little worried about using the acid. And how you guys deal with wind issues and overspray when using with it.
That is probably not the best idea to rely solely on two stepping. They will want to see a brush. ZEP truck masters are teh best. They are a regular truck washing brush, not a broom, and they are 18 inches. You will also need 10" brushes, and other similar fun stuff. You will also find the odd driver that thinks that ta mitt is the only way to wash his truck. There should be an upcharge for that!! Remember these drivers are anal. They often have nothing better to do than think about the spot that you left on the hood when you were washing.
 Chemical Arsenal - I was also wondering how many different chemicals that experienced truck washers have at the ready to clean trucks & what the favorite method of application was for them
Like: Shurflo, inject up / down, actual 2step machine (I'll probably buy one of these by the way, it seemed it may help automate the process???????
I typically use 1 chemicalfor 90% of my washing. I don't now what you will need for the two step. Being a free standing truck wash you will want asphalt removers, some heavy degreasers, armor all, window cleaner, a citrus solvent, and other things that you will discover as you go along.
Containment - To start I am going to set this up as a mat system for containment. Then later if all goes well i'll deal with a permenant setup For now I am trying to test the market. Any suggestions on the "mat" type,, setup,, etc...

 Go to a truck tarp place and have them make a tarp for you. You will probably want it at least 25 feet wide, and 80 feet long and the heaiest material possible. It might help to have the material doubled up where the truck comes in and exits the tarp. Shore up the side with 4x4's all the way around. you could do 4" PVC on the sides, but the 4x4's will be a lot more durable. You will also want the site to be as flat as possible. 
 Captured Water - I am trying to get some info on Water oil seperators, it appears that I can do this fairly easily and inexpensively I have seen a couple of units forsale and they look pretty simple would anyone suggest trying to build my own and if so think maybe you could email me the design
You will need a seperator. You can build it yourself. It is not super difficult. The biggest problem is getting the solids pumped out and sent to a disposal facility. I will think abouti t and send you a design for this situation. It will probably be a week or two before I get to it though.
 Recycling - I have considered trying to recycle, I would'nt do it to start but was wondering if anyone else is and was curious to the cost to recycle, cost of equipment less the water cost.
 Recycling is not that expensive. The problem is that you will need to always use fresh water for rinsing. It is not that big a deal. 

Other words of advice,
1. Truck drivers think that they need to have their trucks hand dried. If you do it right there is not a lot of additional effort to do it that way.
2. If you are building a stand alone wash, you will be well served if you erect some scaffolding to work off of along the sides of the truck, about 5-6 feet high. It will make your life a lot easier.
3. There are additional services that can help you margin, Tractor get readies for new drivers, Sell mattresses to trucking companies, they are required for every new driver, Oil changes and services, Windshield repair, Interior detailing, exterior detailing, hourly work removing asphalt and such from equipment, as well as other things. These are the ones off of the top of my head.

 There are other things taht you will come up with. Let me know and I will try to help you work them through.

Scott

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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why

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Cell Phone 602-509-9741

Cody · Mar 3, 2001

Thanks for the reply Scott,, I'm probably 2-3 months away from washing trucks yet.

I'm trying to nail em down on this property, I had plannned on locking up the 2nd parcel so as I could expand if all goes well into 2 one and a half acre lots. Maybe I should lock up the 3rd also it's across the street but could serve as additional parking. This property is on a low activity street so parking up and down the road would be fine. And no it's not a dead nor blight area it's just not alot of activity some of the real estate prices are probaly abit high but it's an area under great expansion right now so it should be a good property investment.

Cody

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Hydro-Emulsification Surface Preparation Specialist 

[This message has been edited by Cody (edited March 02, 2001).]

Larry L. · Mar 3, 2001

Hi Cody'boy

Scott did a good job on the advice theres not to much more I could add.
As he said,you'll need several different chemicals for the stand along,,,the two acids HF and PH.

The neighbors could throw a block in your plans real easy,,check things out before time is wasted on that spot.You may want to check into this deep b/c they could shut you down a year or two from now if you don't."truck wt. damage to streets"

I think,I'm not sure but think you can build a sand pit at home for your waste water if you own it.

The stand along gets alot of drivers dat you cann't please nomatter how clean you get it,as in not wanting to pay.These are the type that will give your stand along a bad name.Plus they get some that looks like grease balls,,alot of the truck washs want degrease no more b/c of the cost and epa.

The only accounts I hook up to their water supply is the farmers all others I supply the water.

The trap will be one hy. sucker man,may want to think about halfen it,buy a extra foot or so to underlap.If they drive up on it make sure they come to a slow rolling stop as not to do damage to the trap.

Keeping hired help at these places is not the best in the world and some of the cash money want make it to the cooffee can.

As Scoot said,you can get more money pure truck at the stand along then you can mobile but we can make more pure hour doing fleets.Just like the flatwork,,fleetwashing as its ups and downs too.

As Scott said,if you need more help just hollower.



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When answering Post If It Sounds As tho I'm Holding A Match To Ya "Fear Not" Its Only Lit On One End.I'm No Doctor The Pill I Subscride Is For Me Only.They May Make You Jump Up and Down Or Crawl All Over The Ground.Will Try To Help Sail Your Ship Even Tho Rocket Fuel Is The Tip.

When In Doubt,,,Think It Out.....triplel@bscn.com

Cody · Mar 3, 2001

Thank ya Bigboy

Yepper I am concerned about the overspray. There aren't any neighbors for a couple of hundred feet. and those few are industrial so they probably won't complain to much (They have trucks too

),, When using the Acid is there a typical "safety" range. Like what is the minumum safe distance for anything that you don't want damaged ie waiting trucks, customers, cars, traffic etc,,

Cody

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Hydro-Emulsification Surface Preparation Specialist

Larry L. · Mar 3, 2001

Don't make no difference,if they build homes there later,they can shut you down,as the reason for checking into it deeper.

I wash out in the open so the safe distances depends on the wind.I like to have 10ft if I can get it but in fleetwashing thats hard to get alot times.Some of the soaps will do more damage then acid in the overspray if you let them dry.

Hey,ya see them colors Scott was shooting at us,looked good didn't it.
Can I use your color for a wittle while for my match,it don't look near as hot as red

.

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When answering Post If It Sounds As tho I'm Holding A Match To Ya "Fear Not" Its Only Lit On One End.I'm No Doctor The Pill I Subscride Is For Me Only.They May Make You Jump Up and Down Or Crawl All Over The Ground.Will Try To Help Sail Your Ship Even Tho Rocket Fuel Is The Tip.

When In Doubt,,,Think It Out.....triplel@bscn.com

Dan S · Mar 3, 2001

hey cody!!!!!!! every answer you got was very good and well said..here is my thought let's say you have 10-12 drivers waiting to get there trk. washed and you are brushing every one ....are they going to waite? are you going to offer them a book to read while you spend all that time washing ? you need a faster way than picking up a brush every time.........if ya only had a trk. every couple hours then ya got it made but if ya got 'em lined up that be a dif. story..unless you have a couple guys brushing then ya got to pay 'em and watch over 'em.....i would do some heavy talkin to that vender you are refering about
i think it's the one you met in fla . at the pwna...

another idea is start looking into a complete automatic trk. wash i know they are expensive but non-the less you may want to do some research...if you are near that kind of highway and you can get ahold of that property i would highly recommend.doing your "homework"..it may pay for it's self in a few years.......just a thought..........
good luck and let us know how ya make out......

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Washing a truck can be challenging.Every truck in a fleet may require different treatment.Adapt the washing process to the challenges that you are dealing with.

Larry L. · Mar 3, 2001

Hey Cody

I wasn't thinking,go to carwash.com they can answer your q'tions on eqt. and stuff.

There is on for sale in Fl.(580,000) may be close enuff to you to check it out.

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When answering Post If It Sounds As tho I'm Holding A Match To Ya "Fear Not" Its Only Lit On One End.I'm No Doctor The Pill I Subscride Is For Me Only.They May Make You Jump Up and Down Or Crawl All Over The Ground.Will Try To Help Sail Your Ship Even Tho Rocket Fuel Is The Tip.

When In Doubt,,,Think It Out.....triplel@bscn.com

Cody · Mar 3, 2001

Dan S
So what are you saying man,, Do the 2 Step?? Two step is what I was leaning towards as the primary wash method,, I'm sure it is necessary though to have all the Brush method supplies nearby just in case. I have considered the fully automated system, and it is a definate possibility in the future but for now I want to play it safe and sorta test the market, I figure i can only lose maybe 4or 5k this way. If I get an Auto, I could end up with a 100k hole for awhile til I was able to dump it & then I may have to take a 20k or so hit. I have great access to alot of those toys, I have a MAJOR hook up with Niagra Systems & he wants to hook me up with a but...one step at a time, know what I mean!

And yeah, I'll talk to that vendor more,,How'd you know anyway??? You one of them there psychic hotline ppl??? Before this is done I'll talk to a hundred ppl, here is good cuase these guys ain't selling nothin,,, here we "do" the work. This is the preverbiel Horses Mouth.

As far as what kind of biz do I expect...Who knows. I really haven't a clue that's why I want to get in cheap as possible for what I'm doing anyway,,I mean I'm buying at least one of the lots anyhow,,so what the hell. Currently though my father in law and his buddies make a special trip to get their trucks washed they've done this for years now. They go about 60-70 miles to the truck wash, through a pretty nasty traffic town. Then my inlaws have told me that they had gone to the "good" truckwash and there was a 5-7 HOUR wait so they went to the Truckwash that noone likes for a 4 HOUR wait. SO I'm thinkin that if these guys will wait 4 HOURS for the one that "noone" likes, they'll problay give me some biz if I'm only 10minutes away! So who knows I could be dead but I might be lined up for days!!


Bigboy I checked for that wash you were referring to. All I found is one in OHIO for 580 & it was a carwash, nodda in FL?? Waht up wit dat ??

Thanks Guys
Cody

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Hydro-Emulsification Surface Preparation Specialist

Dan S · Mar 4, 2001

cody im not sure if 2-step is your answer or not........i only do 2 step only when i clean the fuel tanks......there is lot's of dif. ways you can do it and im sure you will get all kinds of advice......no im not "PSYCHIC" im buying a p/wer from the dude you talked to in Fla. and he said he talk to you and you were from this board and i am on this board and well.... one thing lead to another....10/4.

I THINK YOU MAY DO WELL EVEN IF YA GOT TO BRUSH THIS IS A GREAT MARKET ..

have a great day..........

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Washing a truck can be challenging.Every truck in a fleet may require different treatment.Adapt the washing process to the challenges that you are dealing with.

Larry L. · Mar 4, 2001

Will box my jaws dat was in Ohio wasn't it,I was trying to make a buck the one in Fl. was 466,000 but but but it was a car wash too but what the heck they just smaller is all.I think it said longwood,,,I'm sure them there inlaws have smalller trucks and cars dat you could wash and makem proud of old Cody also.

You've got a good ideal and I see ya watching your steps as in cost.Alot of the truckwashs dat are buildit don't make it on the first go around b/c of not enuff traffic flow to cover the cost as in staying open.It may be best to pick you a day or 2 to open it and closed all other days until you get the word out to inlaws

.

Hey I got it dig you a tunnel

look at all dat money you could make and not even have water



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When answering Post If It Sounds As tho I'm Holding A Match To Ya "Fear Not" Its Only Lit On One End.I'm No Doctor The Pill I Subscride Is For Me Only.They May Make You Jump Up and Down Or Crawl All Over The Ground.Will Try To Help Sail Your Ship Even Tho Rocket Fuel Is The Tip.

When In Doubt,,,Think It Out.....triplel@bscn.com

A Big & Long Question

Cody

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Scott Stone

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Cody

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Larry L.

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Cody

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Dan S

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Cody

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Dan S

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