Newbie starting out. Whats a good rate per trailer/truck?

Torque454

New Member
Ive been told $20 to $40 per truck. Does this sound right? Also, When a customer wants a trailer washed. How much do they expect you to do? Surely they dont really expect you to lay down on a creeper and wash the bottom of the trailer, the axles, the back of the wheel, etc. I would guess just what is visible. Correct? The front, the back, both sides, and the wheels. Am i correct? What kind of sprayer would i use to apply chemical. Just a hand held pump up sprayer? Spray it on, rub it down with a brush and then rinse it off? Use heat or no heat? What about water spots. Water around here tends to leave spots when it dries. On a white trailer it probably wouldnt be noticeable but on my personal vehicle (black suburban) that i use to pull the trailer, water spots are very noticeable. What do you do about that? I have many questions on different types of jobs but this is a good start. Thanks guys!
 

Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
(Ive been told $20 to $40 per truck. Does this sound right? )

Yes


(When a customer wants a trailer washed. How much do they expect you to do? Surely they dont really expect you to lay down on a creeper and wash the bottom of the trailer, the axles, the back of the wheel, etc. I would guess just what is visible. Correct? The front, the back, both sides, and the wheels. Am i correct?)

Yes your correct


(What kind of sprayer would i use to apply chemical. Just a hand held pump up sprayer?)

Pumpup sprayer will work but a downstreamer will do the job faster.

Heat will clean faster.

Most fleetwashers do not worry a water spots.
 

jzox2001

New Member
Larry pretty much hit the nail on the head. Everyone has their preference on sprayers. Im not a big downstream fan, as I think it wastes a lot of product, but that's my opinion. I have a small 12V battery operated cart that holds 6 gallons of mixed chem. Water spots are usually not an issue with fleet trucks. The only time I get concerned is when washing some nice trucks with a lot of chrome and polished aluminum, which in that case, I have a spot that I fill my tanks where I don't have a water hardness problem. You may want to talk to the person to feel out their expectations. I have one customer that really just wants the heavy dirt off, and then another that goes through the hassle of lifting the dump beds of all his trucks so I can clean the inside of the frames better. With each case, you just need to price accordingly. You'll make out great sometimes and get burned others. It's all in the learning process and trying to see what the customers expectations are before pricing.

JZ
 

Torque454

New Member
Thanks guys. I am kind of thinking about one of these sprayers for chemical: NorthStar ATV Spot Sprayer — 10 Gallon, 2.2 GPM, 12 Volt | Spot Sprayers | Northern Tool + Equipment and just adding more hose to it. Now as for the price. that $20-$40 thing. Is that like $20 for just a truck or just a trailer and $40 for both or what? I realize you cant tell me exactly, because each person and business is different and prices are different for different aress, but just a general idea is what i am after.
 

Larry L.

PWN TEAM - Moderator Emeritus
Around here trucks with sleepers go for 30/35.
Box trailers 25/35.
If not done Bi-weekly and are extra dirty,trucks from 40 to 55,same for the trailers.
 

biodude

New Member
Just drove throught Springfield last week. That is a city that could greatly benefit from a fleet washer. WOOOOO! Everything I saw down there was filthy. Is there a water ban or shortage down there? It looks like you have a lot of trucks down there too. I saw a number of larger fleets down there. One was a large trucking company along Hwy 65 that I've forgotten the name of but I see their trucks all the time, and I can't remember if QT (Quick and Tasty) was in Springfield or Kansas City. Anyway, PLENTY OF WORK! Talk about job security!
 

Torque454

New Member
Just drove throught Springfield last week. That is a city that could greatly benefit from a fleet washer. WOOOOO! Everything I saw down there was filthy. Is there a water ban or shortage down there? It looks like you have a lot of trucks down there too. I saw a number of larger fleets down there. One was a large trucking company along Hwy 65 that I've forgotten the name of but I see their trucks all the time, and I can't remember if QT (Quick and Tasty) was in Springfield or Kansas City. Anyway, PLENTY OF WORK! Talk about job security!

You are thinking of PRIME trucking. There is also IWX and some others nearby. No water bans here. We are way above our average yearly rainfall already this year. I hadn't paid attention to how dirty the trucks were but I figured it was a good business to be in around here as I never ever see anyone washing trucks. We have a chain of gas station/convenience stores here called QT but it stands for Quick Trip. Thanks for the reply! I'm kind of happy to hear this bit of info. I have a trucker friend that might be able to help me get some jobs. I need to get info from some of these company's as I am sure they will have a policy requiring a certain amount of insurance to be allowed to operate on the premises.
 

tordell

New Member
Just drove throught Springfield last week. That is a city that could greatly benefit from a fleet washer. WOOOOO! Everything I saw down there was filthy. Is there a water ban or shortage down there? It looks like you have a lot of trucks down there too. I saw a number of larger fleets down there. One was a large trucking company along Hwy 65 that I've forgotten the name of but I see their trucks all the time, and I can't remember if QT (Quick and Tasty) was in Springfield or Kansas City. Anyway, PLENTY OF WORK! Talk about job security!

I live in springfield, well, a suburb, and last year i showed up in person to discuss truck cleaning at most of the companies in springfield. They told me they'd rather take it to the truck wash. I tried to point out that the truck wash costs more than i do, plus you have to pay a driver to drive it there and back. Seems most of them are dirty because they want to be. Though I wouldn't doubt that it could just be that i approached things wrong.

I'll give them all a call again this year though. Who should i approach at the trucking company about such things?

Dave
 

biodude

New Member
The drivers, then they put pressure on their fleet manager or give you his name and number directly, and you can go to work!
 

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