Tow Truck Driver of the Year

[Waxman]

A local towing company owner called today with what he called an 'odd question'.

"Can I use the carwash this Winter to wash my tow trucks?"

Of course I said yes, adding that I encourage such behavior.

I said as long as he left the bay neat enough for subsequent customers to use then I thought he should wash as often as he liked.

I suggested a fleet discount on carwash tokens and said I would even include bonus tokens so he could use them to rinse the bay down if he towed, for example, a car that had excessive mud.

He said "oh, no; that's not necessary. of course I clean up after myself. It's just a pain to wash the trucks at the garage in the cold weather.".

 

[Tom Thumb]

I hope the tow truck drivers are better there than here, they give me the most problems with the grease and oils from the beds after towing or carrying a wrecked car, trying to dry grease off tile walls is a job.

 

[MEP001]

Same here; I've stopped two skids before they washed oil off outside the bay; another blew enough clay absorbent all over the lot to fill a 5-gallon bucket. Some will grease their rig and come in to blast off the excess, which of course sticks all over the walls and the foam brush/trifoam hoses. I see a few regulars who aren't an issue, but around here they're mostly a bunch of redneck slobs.

 

[Whale of a Wash]

Tow trucks are notoriously bad. I sent one a bill for $50 to clean up a mess it took an hour to clean up after, I figure about about 50gallons of mud. I did get paid!! The flatbeds are extremely oily and full of parts. I had a driver lower to boom to go into the vector, and in the process tore the underbody out of the concrete. This is why he was reluctant to use your wash as he knows their past and the future.

 

[Waxman]

I haven't had any problems with tow truck drivers.

A guy who calls to ask permission is likely to respect the place, don't you think?

I can handle 50 gallons of clay. My lot needs fill in back.

You guys need to eat some wheaties and cowboy the #$%^ up!

 

[pitzerwm]

I think if you give him the rules up front, you shouldn't have any issues.

 

[Eric H]

I've mostly had good luck with the flatbeds, but I had to teach all of them. I make sure they wash the cab first and then pull the truck up to wash the bed. I hate it when they tilt the bed up and let the oilly water run all over the driveway. They seem to understand when I mention that the EPA/DEP will kick my ass and his bosses if they catch him washing oil onto the pavement, but it is OK to put it in the pit where it can be properly processed.

 

[MEP001]

You guys need to eat some wheaties and cowboy the #$%^ up!

You must keep forgetting that you're there all day and most of us are not. I can't allow someone to leave a mess that would cause someone else to get grease all over their clothes or will leave a bay completely unusable until I get there to clean it. On top of that, the clay absorbent had oil from a diesel engine which left black oil stains everywhere, and after two months it's still there. If I'd caught him he either would have paid to get it cleaned professionally or had a criminal tresspass warrant filed against him.

I'm no stranger to work. I've had at least two jobs since I was 12. But I'm not going to let anyone wreck a bay no matter how much they spend.

 

[Waxman]

You must keep forgetting that you're there all day and most of us are not. I can't allow someone to leave a mess that would cause someone else to get grease all over their clothes or will leave a bay completely unusable until I get there to clean it. On top of that, the clay absorbent had oil from a diesel engine which left black oil stains everywhere, and after two months it's still there. If I'd caught him he either would have paid to get it cleaned professionally or had a criminal tresspass warrant filed against him.

I'm no stranger to work. I've had at least two jobs since I was 12. But I'm not going to let anyone wreck a bay no matter how much they spend.

Yes I know. I was only joking around.

I just thought it was nice that the guy called and asked; unfortunately that level of courtesy is rare today!