tractor(not trailer) fleet work pricing ideas?? - Power Wash Network "The Power Wash Contractors Forum"

jay k. · #1 (**permalink**) 04-11-05

I'm trying to price 20 truck tractors to be cleaned weekly. The tractors are day trucks and do not have sleepers. They are used to haul livestock, so I would need to clean them after hours or on weekends. They are fairly dirty, but when I saw them they had not been cleaned for a while. I have never done fleet stuff before so I'm just looking for some basic pricing thoughts.

Larry B · #2 (**permalink**) 04-11-05

I would aim for the $15.00 range, you could be a little less but not lower than $13.00. I won't do one for less than $15 but I have been lowballed before and prefer to be at around $17.50
Some of the variables would be whether or not you have to move them, do they have polished aluminum and if they have to be brushed. These kinds of accounts can be good ones to have. No sleepers and all lined up you should be able to do 6-8 per hour depending on your setup and equipment.

Larry L. · #3 (**permalink**) 04-11-05

Good job Larry

Even tho they have 20 trucks doesn't mean you'll get to wash all 20 each week,fleetwashing is like that.They may own 100's of trucks for you to bid on for each truck but in most cases look for half or less.I would think long and hard before I bid 15 and wouldn't be happy with the 17.50.I like 20 each b/c I know not to count on the 20 trucks each week,Like I said fleetwashing is like that.

Larry B · #4 (**permalink**) 04-12-05

I am not happy with $15 either, your area will determine the market. In over 8 years of truck washing I have only found one person to accept a bid over $20 for just a truck, and there are several guys out here who use cheap labor (illegals) and subcontract the work out and charge as little as $12 per truck. I think $15 for trucks with no sleepers on a weekly basis can be decent money, they shouldn't be very dirty in just a weeks time. Larry is right be sure you have an understanding with them on how many trucks will be available each week, with no sleepers there is a good chance they will be there each weekend.

Larry L. · #5 (**permalink**) 04-12-05

It would be a hard call not knowing the type trucks your biding on.

A daycab Pete is really bigger then it looks when you start cleaning,a sleeper added doesn't take long to clean.If under 15 trucks in the fleet and if they are Pete's I get 30 with sleeper and 25 without,weekly or every two weeks.
I have never seen a fleet yet that will wash every truck in the fleet whether it be weekly or every two weeks.A one man team or two can only wash so many trucks in a days time so pick your accounts wisely,let someone else have the nickels and look for the dime accounts.

Larry B · #6 (**permalink**) 04-13-05

Just curious as to what you do to get $25-$30 a truck. Does that include extras like stack scrubbing and so on? One other thing I have to compete against around here is the freeway truckstop/truckwash. I do a much better job for about the same price, just seems they are all cheap.

Larry L. · #7 (**permalink**) 04-13-05

I thought stack scubbing went with all pricing in fleets,yes I brush the stacks and wash the outside of the frame and motor neither being perfect.We have truckstop truckwashing too plus seems like every week I see a new wash rig in town.I do not compete with my competitors in pricing and use truckstop prices.I just as soon not wash a truck if I haveta brush it to clean it.

Larry B · #8 (**permalink**) 04-13-05

If I got $30 bucks a truck they would get stacks and horns and mirrors etc. brushed. I give them the option at bidding on how detailed of a cleaning they want, 95% go for the cheapest option. I always wash the frame rails and if they accept the higher bid I flip hoods everytime and wash engine and inner frame rails. I have turned down fleets that want them brushed because they do not want acid on the trucks. I am not afraid of the work involved I just don't beleive you can get the same results on aluminum with just soap. I also refuse to climb up on the wheels and engines to brush the top of the cabs and air dams, it's just not worth the extra hassle.
I guess the owners on the west side don't have a sense of pride in their trucks. They just want the basic to keep the drivers happy and the inspectors off their tail.

Dave Olson · #9 (**permalink**) 04-14-05

Hello,

We have been doing a local fleet for the last 19 years. They currently have 10 day cabs that we clean every two weeks. We brush, entire cab (including air dam) tires and wheels. We don't do the engine compartment but we do interior and exterior frame rails including under the fenders. We brighten fuel tanks a couple times a year. Twenty bucks per unit. A three man crew does them in about 1-1/2 hours. Been thinkin about raising my price.

Wow! I just looked at my computer data base, I've been at 20 for over 10 years!! Guess I'm way over due for an increase! But we used to do this fleet every 4 weeks and brightened the tanks every month. Now we are doing less and more often and they've given us a couple more units each time, compared to years ago, but we have been doing it this way now for 6 or so years. What do ya think, still overdue for an increase? Gross revenue per man is almost $45 per hour.

Dave Olson

Larry L. · #10 (**permalink**) 04-14-05

Gross revenue goes down "if" you count from point A to point B and to point C,it doesn't count time spend mixing chemicals and getting things ready,replace o-ring,replace couples ect.........looks good on paper tho huh.