We just finished an automated truck wash for Wal Mart in central FL. Most of the information here is pretty accurate, but there have been recent advances in both chemicals and equipment to wash them. We are using chemicals that actually clean with no hand scrubbing, and have machines to apply them for different locations. For instance at Wal Mart we are washing just big square boxes. Our machines use a combination of friction and touchless to clean. So it is relatively easy to clean
fleets with little variation in tractors and trailers. With a truck wash open to everything that rolls down the super slab, you almost have to plan on touchless for most washes. There are variations on the equipment to either do a drive through or a rollover. I think that Bob Roman's estimate of a 60 to 70% cost of a wash is probably close when hand washing, but way too high for the cleaning operations available today. I am seeing net figures close to what we see in car washing, that is in the range of 60 to 70% gross profit on a wash. I live in south west FL and there is not a truck wash within 100 miles of here. The price we are estimating to do a tractor and trailer is much closer to $100. And that is with a wash time of about 10 minutes. I am just still amazed at the Blue Beacon model. That is the way trucks were washed when freaking Carter was president. Times have changed. If any of you want more information, just send me a note. I can arrange to show you our operations and how we do it.
