Hello, my first post here,
I have been washing truck fleets for a couple of years now, started part time for a little extra cash on the weekends now its taken over and become a full time occupation.
I have been offered an opportunity to bite off a bigger chunk than I have before........[wsmile]
Now I use a 15LPM (3.3gpm) 4000psi machine largely used as a wetting and rinsing machine only and clean using brooms brushes and elbow grease, this set up uses a 2 to 4 man team and works very efficiently. 3 ppl can turn over 4-5 large rigid trucks per hour (40foot x 14 foot flat sided pans)
I have been offered a job cleaning refrigerated trailers 15 metres long by 4.3 metres high
externally and internal sanitation.
The client has 140 trailers and 55 prime movers......
The equipment is all new and well maintained they are serious about their image so I have to maintain my usual high standard
The catch is I have a 12 hour block once per week(overnight) to wash half the fleet
70 trailers and 27 prime movers
So I have 10 usable working hours (not including setup strip down or staff rest breaks)
That gives me 6 minutes maximum per trailer or prime mover....
So i figure on using 7-8 staff
So for the trailers
1 forklift operator ( I have a forklift mounted brush to scrub trailer sides)
2 guys to scrub wheels and detail clean of lower sides toolboxes and mudflaps
2 guys to hook un hook park and drive trailers onto wash recovery mat
1 guy to go inside rinse and sanitise trailer
1 guy to scrub rear door(dirtiest part) and the refrigeration unit at top front of pan
1 myself as spare for any problems, extra driving and ensuring smooth running, quality control keeping track of units etc
We are in an area with severe water restrictions(most of australia is at the moment)
So we must keep that in mind during operation
I must recover/recycle all water used on site
So this is achievable with the staffing I have mentioned
I plan on the side detailers/wheel scrubbers foaming soap onto trailers as they are driving onto the mat using two guns one for each side.
as the brush begins on one side the back would be manually scrubbed and rinsed, allowing the internal guy to do his thing, he could probably do okay with the 15lpm(3.3gpm) machine, for his use only
the brush works its way around the trailer with the side detailers doing their thing.In conjunction with the front/rear scrubber.
The side detailers then rinse off trailer while the internal guy is applying a sanitation foam
The prime movers should be easy with 5 people scrubbing and rinsing
The question is what sort flow rate and pressure would i need to make the rinsing feasible in the time frame.
15 lpm(3.3gpm) at 4000psi would be too low
What is the minimal flow rate that could achieve this ?? [help]
Could I manage this with 25lpm(5.5gpm)or would I need a lot more for quick rinsing?
Do any of you work this way with this sort of vehicle volume?
Oh before you mention it, I can't use any of the two stepping spray on spray off methods on this site.
Is it possible to use one large machine with two guns ?????
I would prefer to go for a key start quiet running water cooled diesel machine with a big fuel tank and bypass system, built to last the distance
Thanks in advance for all your help
I have been washing truck fleets for a couple of years now, started part time for a little extra cash on the weekends now its taken over and become a full time occupation.
I have been offered an opportunity to bite off a bigger chunk than I have before........[wsmile]
Now I use a 15LPM (3.3gpm) 4000psi machine largely used as a wetting and rinsing machine only and clean using brooms brushes and elbow grease, this set up uses a 2 to 4 man team and works very efficiently. 3 ppl can turn over 4-5 large rigid trucks per hour (40foot x 14 foot flat sided pans)
I have been offered a job cleaning refrigerated trailers 15 metres long by 4.3 metres high
externally and internal sanitation.
The client has 140 trailers and 55 prime movers......
The equipment is all new and well maintained they are serious about their image so I have to maintain my usual high standard
The catch is I have a 12 hour block once per week(overnight) to wash half the fleet
70 trailers and 27 prime movers
So I have 10 usable working hours (not including setup strip down or staff rest breaks)
That gives me 6 minutes maximum per trailer or prime mover....
So i figure on using 7-8 staff
So for the trailers
1 forklift operator ( I have a forklift mounted brush to scrub trailer sides)
2 guys to scrub wheels and detail clean of lower sides toolboxes and mudflaps
2 guys to hook un hook park and drive trailers onto wash recovery mat
1 guy to go inside rinse and sanitise trailer
1 guy to scrub rear door(dirtiest part) and the refrigeration unit at top front of pan
1 myself as spare for any problems, extra driving and ensuring smooth running, quality control keeping track of units etc
We are in an area with severe water restrictions(most of australia is at the moment)
So we must keep that in mind during operation
I must recover/recycle all water used on site
So this is achievable with the staffing I have mentioned
I plan on the side detailers/wheel scrubbers foaming soap onto trailers as they are driving onto the mat using two guns one for each side.
as the brush begins on one side the back would be manually scrubbed and rinsed, allowing the internal guy to do his thing, he could probably do okay with the 15lpm(3.3gpm) machine, for his use only
the brush works its way around the trailer with the side detailers doing their thing.In conjunction with the front/rear scrubber.
The side detailers then rinse off trailer while the internal guy is applying a sanitation foam
The prime movers should be easy with 5 people scrubbing and rinsing
The question is what sort flow rate and pressure would i need to make the rinsing feasible in the time frame.
15 lpm(3.3gpm) at 4000psi would be too low
What is the minimal flow rate that could achieve this ?? [help]
Could I manage this with 25lpm(5.5gpm)or would I need a lot more for quick rinsing?
Do any of you work this way with this sort of vehicle volume?
Oh before you mention it, I can't use any of the two stepping spray on spray off methods on this site.
Is it possible to use one large machine with two guns ?????
I would prefer to go for a key start quiet running water cooled diesel machine with a big fuel tank and bypass system, built to last the distance
Thanks in advance for all your help