Hi we have a Co. in our area called FLEETWASH they are in PA,NJ,CONN, AND coming soon to FLA. have any fleetwashers come accross them? They do about 5 million a year in fleet washing.
They work at such high vol. that you cant compete with them. 2 guys with bucket and brush scrub the outside. When the first guy is done with the cab he starts up the washer[van mounted with 150 gal tank[cold water-home depot type-2 gpm] and starts to rinse. Each group of 5 vans has 1 special truck that has chems and hot water for when they need them[radio dispatched-but never more then 5 min away]
They dont degrease or raise a hood. They use ladders to get to the top of high box trucks-roll offs-ect... they wash just what you can see.[no EPA]
They do all the FED-EX trucks in the state but are now going anyone with 5 pieces of equipment or more.
Heres the part i cant compete with. They wash 11 box trucks an hour and charge $9 each.
garbage trucks $14. Tractor and trailer $22
i had a guy stop me to ask me if i could BEAT there pricing!
Fleetwash has over 100 vans and i did not hear any employee speak english.
They do a nice job by the way.
Maybe its time i started paying more att. to the"just wood" section of this board!

The more you learn the more you earn! Thanks to everyone for their help.
My motto '' Do it right or dont do it.''

i looked up there site and they have there own line of washers[not bad pricing] they also do oil recovery.

The more you learn the more you earn! Thanks to everyone for their help.
My motto '' Do it right or dont do it.''

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

Your info is really old. They have been in Florida for about five years. Their sales were $15,000,000 about 4 years ago. The strategy is usually to buy out one of the larger contractors in an area, and pay them a premium price, then since the guy doesn't have a job anymore, they will also hire him to manage the operation at a pretty good salary. The quality of work that a particular customer gets is really dependent on the crew that is doing the washing. Their big selling point is that they do environmental recovery. that is almost always what they use as a selling point. If you get a chance, peek in one of their vans and look at the vacuum recovery system that they have. They used to wash with nothing but cold water, but Ithink that has changed recently and they are using hot water on more stuff.
They used to have 600 crews nationwide, but I am sure that has been on the increase. They have full time salespeople in every market. The thing that is going against them is that they have pretty poor customer service, and that the employees don't often speak english.
As for the competition aspect of it, there are secrets to competing with them on their own turf, You just have to figure out what it is in your neck of the woods. Usually it is customer service, but it can be different every where that you go. Just do what you do, and you will outlast them. BTW, they will raise their prices once they have acertain percentage of the market cornered.

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Scott,
Who owns fleetwash? Is it an individual or is it another company that owns them. With a company that size its pretty easy to see why there hard to compete against especially if there is a bottomless pit of money(From the parent Co. if there is one) that is supporting them.

John

John Tornabene
Clean County Powerwashing

Fleetwash started out as a single contractor that merged with another, andthey keep "merging" to grow the company. The Mergers are where they keep the local management inlace, and for the buyouts they bring in their own people. As far as I know, there is no corporate Deep Pockets.

Scott

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

Interesting Scott. I can't believe so many contractors would sell out to them. It must be like you said where they pay top dollar for someone's established Co. I would think there quaility would be slacking but then again they get these Illegal Aliens who are hungry to make money and they work there tail off in doing so.

Thats the principal Idea what Landscapers do in my neck of the woods. Its tough to compete against that if you want to expand your own company. Where would we find someone who is hungry to kick butt for $12-$15/hr when this company probably pays there workers alot less but who will work like crazy because they are hungrier due to there immagration status

The old landscaper mentality. Tough to beat.

John

John Tornabene
Clean County Powerwashing

The labor force they use in my area is all mexican. Once the work visa runs out they send a new guy from the same village[or a brother]. They only ride bicycles. No drivers lic. and are paid $8 on hour no benifits and get time and a half for overtime[they work 60 hour weeks]
thats 560.00 a week[gross] about $400 bring home-they keep 1 check a month for living exp. the rest gets wired home. A nice size 2 beadroom apt. will split the rent for the 6 that will live there. They keep there sleeping bags hidden so the fire marshall dose not know how meny act. live in the apt. but you allways tell by the amout of bikes locked up out front. On sunday the landlord drops off materials[paint,wood,grass seed, ect...] and they have the understanding that [the landlord] knows they are overloading the apt. and in return they fix the place up.
I cant evan get a kid from my street to cut the grass. The local Mc Donalds has to pay $9 to flip hambergers. Kids today dont even know what a shovel is.
As far as selling out to someone like fleetwash-you sell your customers to them-sell your eqip.-and then get there crews started on your customers-after they have that settled you become a salesman and sell more wash jobs. They try to corner the local market and slowly raise the prices. In return for this you keep your feet dry,your back wont hurt,and no waiting for your check at the end of the week.[if you do not recycle your wash water and they want your customer [and dont play ball with them] they will call the EPA untill you cant wash anymore. They dont recycle All Wash Water just when they have to.

The more you learn the more you earn! Thanks to everyone for their help.
My motto '' Do it right or dont do it.''

Fleetwash is a big outfit and they wash a ton of trucks but poor quality work and poor quality help is where we have the advantage. Don't let them intemidate you, they are not what they seem.I have taken an account away from fleetwash because of there poor quality work and charged a higher price to do it, and just like someone said in an earlier post they or someone else called the EPA on me, but guess what.... I reclaim my water also .
I know of three big accounts that are very unhappy with there work and when the contracts are up I will be Knocking on the door offering enviromentally friendly quality work.
We can compete with these guys but its not easy.I for one will not let them take anything with out a fight.

Daren

Hello everyone,

It's me Bridget....new computer at home, no cookies, had to re-register.

So, nothing like pulling a thread out of the archives. But guess what? Fleet Wash just stepped into Michigan.

They were awarded the FedEx Freight account nationally.

Anyone out there receive a call this week from your FedEx Freight customer saying so long, nice knowing ya and oh, by the way if you want to chance at washing us - call Fleet Wash they are looking for contractors just like YOU????

Happen to anyone lately?

Bridget & Gordon