Hello all!

I am looking to get into auto detailing and the fleet washing business. I know what they are charging for a full detailing of automobiles (wash, wax, interior cleaning, carpet shampooing) What are the going rates for fleets? Tractors, trailors, busses, straight jobs ect. I currently have a powerwashing business and I am looking to bring it to a new level. I do all residential work right now (houses, decks, Sidewalks, guttercleaning, repairs, installations). I am using cold water pressure washers right now and looking to purchase a hot water unit. Any one know how to price out fleet work?

Dino

Going rates on fleets runs from or anywhere from 6 to 85,more per tractor/trailer,depends on the size of the fleet or fleets.

Do you need to re-a-range your Q'tion?

When In Doubt Think It Out

Yeah, what Bigboy said. Pricing is a black art. I have had fleets where I made a ton of money at $6 a tractor and other sthat I did not make a dime at $50. There are lalways special circumstances that you will have to deal with.

Scott Stone

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Thanks for your responses. Could you get into a little more detail about the pricing. Are you guys going in there with a cold water pressure washer, applying soap, scrubbing down by hand, rinsing then drying for $6.00? $85.00 for doing the same as mentioned to tractor trailers? What about applying a wax to the surface? how much extra would that be? Do you recommend a hot water unit to do this work?

I think you mods are lazy

First off I do not do NO scrubbing and skeered of a brush plus I do spray on a wax free.I go in there with my hotwater pressure washer apply my chemicals and charge what is a fair price to me.I do not care what anybody else charges for their wash jobs but I do know what mine is worth and what it takes to stay in business.You'll go out of business trying to wash at another mans pricing,know what it cost you to do a job and charge according.

When In Doubt Think It Out

Hey cat,

You will get a quicker responce if you post in proper forum.

Welcome to the pwn.

I use heat, a good soap and lots of h20 ..... NO BRUSH

Most of the time we up-stream ... If there is h20 available.
If not then we Pre-spray to conserve H20

As far as price................... It varys from job to job ......State to State

How did you come up with your prices to do Houses,Decks,Gutters?

Find out what the going rate is in your area and then go from there.

Fleets can be very demanding at times............It is nothing like doing a house-deck-sidewalk. If you are lucky enough to get a account be prepared to work your hiny off.
In most cases EVERYWEEKEND. Soap is also a very big part of washing and having the proper tools.With 2 hot machines running with 2 guys we can pop out 10 -to - 12 Tractors an hour. It didnt come over night however.

**Hot-Rod **
Restoring A 1949 Studebaker!!
Complete Major Overhaul.

I am about to quote my first fleet wash account. He's a guy I know from high school that ownes a landscaping business. we were talking about our businesses and I mentioned that I was getting into fleet washing. Right away he told me he is looking for someone to wash his fleet that consists of approx. 8-10 vehicles. (dump trucks, enclosed landscape trailers ect.) He told me that he asked a company in the area to give him a price and they said $15.00 per vehicle. Does that sound about right? He wants it done every two weeks because the vehicles are fairly new and wants to keep them that way. He doesn't want the interiors done. Now let me ask you, When you guys do a job, you go to a job site with your own water, apply a detergent (no scrubbing), then rinse. do you dry the surface as well or do you let it air dry? What about if the trucks are really muddy and powerwashing doesn't seem to get it clean enough. Do you charge extra if you have to scrub the trucks?what is the best soap to use? Do you charge extra for wax?Can I get away with using a cold water pressure washer? I know hot water is better, but right now I own 3 cold water units and would like to use them until I save enough money for a hot water unit. I am investing in a ford e350 extended van right now and putting in a 250 gallon tank with a generator. Moneys a little tight right now and I really need to focus on my new van setup.

This is a small fleet so be careful in your pricing,alot of depends on this type account.Will the fleet be easy gotten to and around while washing,will you have to recap the run off,will have to supply your own water,are you sure they will be 8/10 there every other week"usually not".

How big is the dump,is it a sinlge axle,double or tri-axle....if it was me I'd price each to its own,like pickups one price,trailer different price,dump different price and so on.Yes you can clean this type fleet with cold water,you can either prespray,downstream or upstream you chemicals on this type fleet...which ever is faster for you.

Wax does not cost that much per unit,just a few cents and you can apply it in your rinse water which I do at no extra cost.

When In Doubt Think It Out

10 units @ $15.00 is only 150.00

$50.00 for soap + / -
$30.00 for gas + / -
$40.00 for wear + / - ~Best case you make 60-70 bucks

YOu made $20.00 ....................... If money is tight then you need to consider staying away from pressure washing. Unless of course you love working for nothing.
You can wash his fleet with those cold washers- up-down-prespray ( as mentioned by Larry)

**Hot-Rod **
Restoring A 1949 Studebaker!!
Complete Major Overhaul.

That $50 dollar soap must be killer!
$40 for wear? You must be rough on equipment.
$30 on gas? I know fuel is expensive right now but sheesh!

More like $10 soap, $10 gas, $10 wear.

$150-$30= $120

If your doing this by yourself and can knock it out it in one or two hours(which you should be able to) then it would be a good account to start out with. If the dump's were going to be filthy then I would add that in. But 10 enclosed landscape trailers would be easy money.