I m pretty new to truck washing I do a few trucks on the weekends but I was recently asked to wash some school buses. I washed this guys rv two months ago and he called me asking if I wanted to wash buses. He had his mechanics washing them but it is getting to be to much for them. I think they had a drive threw wash. I could really use the business if anyone can give me some help. I dont know what to charge or if their is a special chemical to use. I do have a hot machine.

Typically, school buses are a way cheap gig. I have seen them for as little as $6 a piece. That included doing windows. I would not do them for less than $20 a piece.

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wow 6 dollars... Is that with washing the roofs.

ELITE TRUCK CLEANING @ YAHOO.com

Do not sale yourseft short,call your local truckwash and see what they charge for washing school buses.Its better to wash a few at a higher price than to wash several at a low price,stay in the price range as your local truckwashes.Personally I would want 30 for outside wash and windows,sweeping would be extra.Use a soap made for washing fleets,usually the higher price soaps are better but not always true.

Lowballing the price will get you nowhere other when working 7 days a week to make ends meet.

When In Doubt Think It Out

But it seems that most truckwashes charge more then any mobile guy. One guy told me he spends 60-75 dollars on a 10 wheel dump truck and it isnt very flashy just aluminum rims.

ELITE TRUCK CLEANING @ YAHOO.com

Yes I know,it doesn't have to be every flashy if dirty to run into alot of over all expence.If you have to recap the dirty work that will add to you cost plus most want the motor/frame washed off when washing on the yard thats extra cost to you.Alot of things goes into the over all cost,its the reason 90% of fleetwasher goes out of business within two years.Depends on what the 10 wheel is hualing and where he is hauling to,here and the way I wash I would want if done weekly or every two weeks 50 to 75.

The 10 wheel guy should be happy to pay you 60,it saves him on fuel and time setting at a truckwash and in most cases gets a better wash job.Do not sale a wash job,sale your service and make more money.

When In Doubt Think It Out

Larry has the right idea. But why does the local moble wash guys charge less than the truckwash. This makes no sense. To me they should be paying as much or more for the washes. Ahhhhhhhh this fustrates me to no end, where the newbee is undercutting the industry to the point of doing things for FREE!!!!

This is the major reason that I've stoped washing trucks almost alltogether. It makes no sense to run around all weekend with a three person crew to grosse 650.00 per day. At this you are making money but after deductions and all the rest of the BS you end up with min wage. No thanks Ill stick to commercial/industrial, buildings and car lots.

DAFF

DAFF MOBILE WASH
WINDSOR, ONTARIO CANADA
DAFFMOBILEWASH@AOL.COM

I agree with Daff , dont sell yourself short ,I dont know how far you will have to travel or if you can even use his water,I know from expirience, I used to wash about 60 utility trucks for the power company and I was washing them monthy I charged them 35.00 a truck it only took me 10 min to wash one truck ,I I was getting a good deal!! I think a school bus is worth every bit of 35.00 or even more !! I also have been doing pressure washing part time for 5 yrs . Good luck!!! P.S. I used a truck cleaner from car quest called TP 625

In a way Its not the newbee's fault and in a way it is,all they see is the big picture some paint on these boards.The all migthly pencil monstor takes over then they try to figure their cost in doing business.I've always said the mobile rigs should get stand alone truckwash price or more and some say cheap is the way to go.

Just like Wal-Wart they is a differents in them and a mom and pop owning two or three stores.A newbee needs to own 10 or more rigs starting out if they charge cheap prices I've seen posted on theses boards as to what one should charge.
Mom and pop stores went out of business by the 1000's when wal-mart opened their doors,they tired to sale at the same price as wal-marts.
I will agree if you owned several mobile rigs and I mean several you can charge a lower price,reason being they wash fleets 6/7 days a week meaning volume.

When In Doubt Think It Out

We used to do fleets back in the day, the only thing I remember was the paint on the school buses was hard to clean we worked at it keep in-mind this was 20 years ago in the iner city. We would soap twice dwell and they would look ok, The tractor trailers cleaned faster...