Where to draw the line?

[RZIM1115]

We are a new company that started washing fleet trucks in Jan. and we have been having a problem on where do you usually draw the line between a regular wash and detailing...We currently use a brush on some truck and wash mits on others depending on condition of the truck and preference of the customers. We recently came across an account with Tractor trailer trucks with stainless stacks... They asked us to if we would clean up the stacks from road grime and diesel exhaust. To do so is a 2 part process that could take sometime depending on the time between washes. Any and all comments with definatley help the situation were in...
Thank you,

 

[grasshawg]

I suppose it would vary from place to place. It's always understood around here that stacks are part of a regular truck wash.

If that's not true for your area, I suggest making it a part of your regular truck wash serivces. That may be the deal breaker when it's a toss up between you and a competitor.
Randy

 

[Larry B]

I break it down for the customer. Some of them just want the trucks look shiny driving down the road, while others go for the detail. Just give them a base price and how much each additional service will cost them. Let them choose.

I will still throw in stacks and such every so often to be better than the others anyhow, I just don't tell the customer that upfront but I am sure they notice the extra service.

 

[Larry L.]

I read the post as tho the fleets trucks you have been washing does not have stacks,is this right?

 

[Dan S]

we wash `em b/c it is part of da truck !

It's like washing the trk. and not cleaning the rims...............>>

If it takes you some time to do it figure out a quicker way!

 

[Larry B]

I do wash them, blast bugs off etc.. Chrome combined with heat and dirt require a little more attention to look super shiny. That is the extra, whether it means brushing or a chem application, sometimes they need it to look their best. Some customers do not want to pay an extra $1-$2/ truck for nice shiny stacks.

 

[Scott Stone]

This is one of those things I am scratching my head about. If it is on the truck, the company that owns them is going to expect it to be done. I don't know what the problem is.
Shoot, Bigboy miht have a stroke over this, but we get our best results on these with a wash mitt and bucket. We even use it on the frames, because our customers like it.

 

[Larry B]

I wish there were more companies around here that wanted a premium service. Most of them are just plain cheap. All that matters to them is the bottom line, just get it clean enough to keep the drivers happy and the scale operators satisfied.
The only ones who want to pay the extra are owner/operators.

 

[Larry L.]

I see your still washing like a wantabee,any professional knows a fleet washer can and will clean them with his wand and chemicals and not leave mitt or brush marts.

 

[Larry B]

I see your still washing like a wantabee,any professional knows a fleet washer can and will clean them with his wand and chemicals and not leave mitt or brush marts.

I may not have the years that you do, but I am not a wantabee. I have been 2 stepping for over 8 years. I make my own chems from raws and would put them up against ANYBODIES out there. Its pure plane and simple, while 2 stepping is the fastest most effective way to clean, it does not do everything by itself.

In order to get chrome stacks 100% clean it requires a stronger application of chems or brushing. I use my chems at 50:1. You want the chrome to super shine every time, then pay the extra for me to hit it with acid in a sprayer at 10:1 or brush them. If you don't want to pay, fine they will not be "extra" shiny.

I do not leave wand marks anywhere. Maybe this is good enough?
P.S. that is just water running off the hood.

 

[RZIM1115]

Thank you all

Thank you all for you comments. I'm still not sure if you guys understand the question. We have no problem washing the stacks whether it be by brush or by mitt. I am talking about using the 2 part "purple stuff". Rub in and buff out to get them all shined up again. We definatly wash the stacks as part of the regular price. Also what are you guys gettin per truck out there, just wondering what the goin price around the US was. Here in NY we get any where from $25 for a six wheel flat bed lumber truck up to $85 for a Tractor and a sandbox trailer.

 

[Larry L.]

I was talking to Scott the wantabee fleetwasher,its a side joke.

I brush every stack with a stack pad dipped in a acid mix or should say I brush from muffer up only.

 

[grasshawg]

Thank you all for you comments. I'm still not sure if you guys understand the question. We have no problem washing the stacks whether it be by brush or by mitt. I am talking about using the 2 part "purple stuff". Rub in and buff out to get them all shined up again. We definatly wash the stacks as part of the regular price. Also what are you guys gettin per truck out there, just wondering what the goin price around the US was. Here in NY we get any where from $25 for a six wheel flat bed lumber truck up to $85 for a Tractor and a sandbox trailer.

I don't wash many trucks. Mainly around here in East Texas, we have a lot of log trucks, and water tankers. I will get $80 for a truck and tanker trailer, and $65-$75 for a log truck and trailer, depending on the mess and type of trailer (deck or pole).
Randy

 

[MPW]

This is why I don't do 1z 2z's. I hate washing 1 or 2 trucks at a yard for owner operators. No matter how good you wash them, they ALWAYS bitch about something! I fired all of my 1z 2z's 3years ago, and I'm sooooooooo glad I did. I do fleets only.

 

[Larry L.]

Rub in and buff out...

In another words they are wanting you to polish the stacks..

I do not offer polishing to any of my accounts,not that I cann't do it put cann't at what they want to pay extra for it.

I do buff and polish my own stuff and know you can get pretty nasty buffing out chrome or aluminum.

If they are chrome you can use a paint cleaner to clean them and use a chrome polish to buff out to a high shine.

 

[Larry B]

Using a stronger concentration of acid will leave the stacks looking good. The "purple stuff" is a degreaser right? If it is, that is why you have to rub it. Use the suggested acid method and see how good they look.

 

[Scott Stone]

As my teenager says, "talk to the hand"

Just remember Bigboy, my guys washed about 90 trucks on Saturday and I am sitting in Hawaii. [white]

 

[Larry L.]

90 trucks sounds as tho they throwed the mitt away when the boss went to play,maybe you should stay in hawaii .

I do not bust a gut nomore and do not want nothing over 10 to a fleet,4 to a fleet is just about right for me,I'd pee down both pants legs ifen I had 90 trucks facing me.

O by the way if that purple stuff is degreaser your going to damage the chrome and aluminum,it'll burn it if to strong and it doesn't take much degreaser to do so.

 

[north coast]

Try a little Soft Scrub on your stack brush, then the driver will be able to shave in it in the morning, unlike acid or strong degreasers it will not harm chrome or polished aluminum. Also get rid of those wash mits unless your getting big bucks for a hand wash use a hogs hair brush if the truck is really nice.

 

[RZIM1115]

Thanks

Thanks for all the comments!!! We will try the soft scrub method because we don't feel comfortable enough yet to get those chemical mixtures right. We don't wanna damage any trucks! If any of you can e-mail me something to RACEPOWERWASH@aol.com and tell us how to do the mixtures right we have Aluma Brite and a Degreaser that we would like to use, but are afraind of ruining the trucks! Any other mixtures would also be helpfull. (Larry) No the "purple stuff" is not a degreaser it is a 2 step chrome polish. Here in NY we find it faster and easier to wash with mitts, we can get into those tight spots and don't wind up scratching the paint. Are fleets aren't to big yet.. the biggest fleet is 10 trucks and 8 fork lifts. We just started the business this January. But already business is booming from word of mouth, flyers and price sheets we made up. Once again thanks alot you all have been alot of help so far and I hope that one day I might be able to answer yours, or any of the newbie's questions!!!