Truck Wash Info Comments?

[mjwalsh]

The article in our local Bismarck newspaper said something about this being the world's largest truck wash??? I am not sure if it is free to read the whole article online but you folks can get the gist of it anyway from the below links. I am not sure if the Associated Press (AP) will pick up on portions of the full article or not.

I figured I would post these links ... just in case some of you operators are also familiar a bit about Truck Washes ... & if you have any comments on the menu & corresponding prices the operator is charging.

http://bismarcktribune.com/gallery/truck-wash/image_bef7fae6-c030-11e3-ae61-001a4bcf887a.html

http://bismarcktribune.com/gallery/truck-wash/image_5048ca58-c030-11e3-b0de-001a4bcf887a.html

mike

 

[rph9168]

I have been at many truck washes around the country and even helped design a few. Most washes are either a couple of arches that they drive through or several pressure washers along with employees brushing the trucks down. This sounds like quite a set up but the cost of it sounds a little high without knowing more about how it is equipped. There is a VMax by Belanger here in Atlanta that does a pretty good job. It is basically a giant automatic that can be programmed to do several different types of washes. I believe the top wash is $175 but it does not do any under carriage wash. I have also seen several automatics here in Atlanta that are more or less like friction rollovers owned by Budweiser and Coke to wash their trucks. Ryko and Istobal also put out nice looking units as well. Retail truck washing around the country is a tough business dominated by several large chains and independents that serve a small local clientele. To be successful you need a great location, normally by a busy truck stop that does not already have a wash.

 

[robert roman]

This is not the typical commercial truck wash you would find at an interstate truck stop.

“De-mudding” is short for environmental wash. Here, the objective is to flush contaminants from underbody, tires and rims and lower panels.

As shown in the menu, the customer base includes tankers, haulers, tractors and other heavy-duty commercial vehicles all of which are driving around in an oil field environment.

De-mudding is also done for vehicles like earth movers, M-1 tanks, etc.

Instead of 1,200 PSI at 25 GPM that would splash contaminants all over, flush is usually zero degree nozzles at low hundreds PSI at around 300 GPM or more.

One company that specializes in this is Interclean.

Due to the flow rate of water, pollution concentration, remote location and other factors, fresh water use and underground tank farm are usually not commercially viable.

Instead, reclaim is used to wash and a “large” detention pond is constructed to hold contaminated wash water before it is pretreated into product water.

Dollar to donuts there is a drain that discharges to the pool as well as some source of make-up water to offset evaporation and carry out from lift service.

The prices being charged are worth every penny.

 

[mjwalsh]

I see the full article at the below link with more specifics ... actually is available today without the "buy it" requirement that I saw yesterday.

http://bismarcktribune.com/bakken/g...cle_e5b1e6fc-c02f-11e3-8e75-001a4bcf887a.html

mike