We Got Our First Contract! Help!!!

[xgi_services]

We were so very excited to get our first contract with a trucking company in our area. HOWEVER! We obviously need more experience to get the job done more effeciently. We are washing 30 rock haulers every weekend and they are taking us way too long to complete. They look really good when we get done, but there has got to be a faster way. Can someone please elaborate on their proceedures so that we can do this in a more timely manner. Or can you tell me, with 2 people, is 18 hours too long for that many trucks?

Can anyone say, "Learning Curve"?

Thanks, Robbie Starr
XGI Services
903-463-3195
www.xgiservices.com (under construction)

[mas3372]

Not sure what you have for equipment or what you use for soaps. I don't do fleets or trucks either. But if you don't have Hot water, I would think this would help a lot. My next thought would be try more aggressive soaps.

[xgi_services]

We are using a 3000psi, 5gpm hot water machine and "Might Red" from Pro Chem. We were told this would do the job and it seems to do pretty good.

[Don M.]

Where's Jarrod.....

[squirtgun]

I love JRod like a brother and he gives sound advice on fleets,but Scott Stone has not steered me wrong on advice either just don't call him on a Sunday.

[Paul Kassander]

Depending on the level of clean you are trying to obtain you shold be able to soap (downstream application) and rinse the vehicles. Your first wash will usually be the hardest as you need to remove the excessive buildup from the vehicle. As you continue to wash it will become faster and faster. One of the ways to increase your speed is to use a rinse agent, we have a product called speedex that can cut your rinse time easily in half.

If you need some tips on washing feel free to call I can help walk you through it a little better that way.

[jetstream1]

18 hr is way to long for 30 trucks are you acid washing the trailers and tanks,

[Barry M]

Hey Paul,

Does Prodigy have any rinsing agents built into it? Or do I have to buy that speedex?

[xgi_services]

No acid wash as of yet. Although he does want that done periodically. So if you have some advice on that as well we will take it! I was thinking maybe we were trying too hard on the first wash, wanting to make a good impression and all. The trucks looked good when we left but I just don't want to spend my entire weekend washing trucks. Sometimes there are better things to do!

Robbie Starr

[Scott Stone]

Are they belly dumps, or end dumps? Whatever they are, they always seem to take my crew about a half hour a piece. I can do them faster, but then, I am me. The fastest I have done them is about 20 minutes a piece. I did about 40 in a 14 hour day, one time. I was beat at the end.

As for hints, it takes time to learn the curve. I do not use the cheapest soaps out there. I prefer the results that I get with the higher quality soaps. We also brush them, and use a squeegee on the windows. Usually it is a team of two, one running the gun, and one manning the brush.

At least that is my experience.

[xgi_services]

Scott,

that sounds like what we were attempting to do...just need to get ahead of that learning curve...1 on gun...1 on brush and hoses...and soap switch...upstreaming "mighty-red" from Prochem...applying soap hot and rinsing hot...and the trucks are end-dump...some are aluminum trailers and some are painted white...Robbie and I appreciate all the help and hints that we have recieved here on TGS....Hydrotek 3000psi-5gpm from Prochem in Arlington, Tx....love the machine

[Paul Kassander]

Barry, yes Prodigy does have some of the rinse agents in it as well as the gloss enhancers, but not as much as somthing like Mr Muscle or Bond Breaker. Still is an excellent all purpose vehicle cleaner our #1 seller.

Bobby, like Scott said...my experiences are similar to his and wash times about the same with a 1 man crew, 2 man will vary from 5-15 min ea. If you want to start with a huge time saver switch to downstream and a quality chemical(dont know about yours either way, may be a good chem i just don't know it).

You can typically avoid having to squeegee any of the windows with a good chem and soft water will improve the performance as well. It isn't always necessary but can make a huge difference in poor water quality areas and is typically all you will need unless you are doing cars then DI water is necessary somtimes but not always.

[Scott Stone]

Our water is hard here, around 800 grains. We have to do something, and I don't want to pay for all the DI water to wash these thigns, and would rather my guys just squeegee the windows in between brushing, than having them stand around.

Scott

[onaprwl]

Robbie, When I opened my first truck wash in 1979 dumps were 50% of the business, at least 20 to 30 a day. Made no since to me to wash a truck that was going back in the mud tomorrow but money is money. Anyhow...it really depends on how you are washing them to answer your question. They would come in and lift up the dump bodies and we had to wash all the mud from under the bodies and around the rear ends of both the trailers and the tractors. This is what took most of the time because of the thick amounts of mud built up. I eventually set up a area where one man used a fire hose to knock off the heavy stuff and then the truck moved to the wash area where the preasure gun was used to finish . This cut down on quite a lot of time per truck. However... if you are not doing this and just washing the outsides,unless they have an enormous amount of mud built up on the outside, this would not be nessary. If you are just doing the outside without a lot of mud buildup you should not take more than 20 to 25 minutes per truck with having to acid the trailer included. This is using one man per truck. This is what we use to average at the truck wash.

[Cleaner Image]

If you get the chance take paul up on his offer and call him, he has been a huge help to me. Both with technique and soaps. Some things you will figure out on your own all fleets are different. good luck!

Jerry
Cleaner Image powerwashing