semi truck cab cleaning business?

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by MontanaSkies, Aug 29, 2012.

Would you utilize such a service?

  1. *

    Yes

    75.0%
  2. *

    Maybe- If it was cheaper

    16.7%
  3. *

    No

    25.0%
  4. No-Other Reason- Please post why in the thread

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. MontanaSkies

    MontanaSkies Bobtail Member

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    Aug 29, 2012
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    Hi all!

    I signed up for this forum in the hopes of having a few questions answered. I've been toying with the idea of offering cab interior and exterior cleaning services at the Flying-J next to where I live. It is a very busy truckstop, with trucks constantly coming in and out and has a very large lot area for parked rigs. I would be offering exterior quickwashing and interior cleaning to include dusting, upholstry/seat cleaning, carpet shampooing, inside and outside windows, dash, etc. Basically a quick, thorough cab cleaning. All for only 10-15$ and would only take about 20 minutes, less if you only want some of the services done. I imagine only owner-operators would be interested in this service, since they own the truck. Am I wrong in that?
    So a few basic questions:

    1. How much would you expect to pay for such a service? Remember that this is actually pretty thorough, using appropriate cleaning products commonly used in the detailing industry.

    2. How long is too long a time to perform the service. i.e. is 20 minutes too long? 15 minutes?

    3. What is the average time you spend sitting at a truck stop?

    4. What other services would you love to see performed this way?

    5. If you drive a route, how often do you stop at the same truck stop? Would you stop more often if it offered such a service?

    Thanks everybody, I look forward to hearing your answers! And if you have had any experiences with similar services, please let me know how you feel about it. Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2012
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  3. Short Bus

    Short Bus Light Load Member

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    Aug 24, 2012
    Nashport, Ohio
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    Would the Flying Hook be on board with this idea? It's not a bad idea. And you're right about the owner ops.. Some choose to keep things spotless themselves.. Maybe because they have the option to take some time off and 'bug out'.. lol

    If a company jumped on board, you'd quickly become inundated with some (sometimes) crummy trucks... Watch out!
     
  4. MontanaSkies

    MontanaSkies Bobtail Member

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    Aug 29, 2012
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    I haven't talked w/ the manager yet, I'm just researching right now. But maybe I could work something out w/ them...
     
  5. j3411

    j3411 Medium Load Member

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    Buckner, Il
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    I've seen several wash services at various truck stops I've stopped in. Just a power washer on a trailer set-up. I'm sure if you wanted to run any kind of service like this you'd have to have the truck stop on board. They may go for it if it wouldn't conflict with any other wash business on their lot.

    Never know till ya ask.
     
  6. Short Bus

    Short Bus Light Load Member

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    Aug 24, 2012
    Nashport, Ohio
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    He (or she) talking interior exclusively.. I think..

    Gotta iron it out with the 'powers that be' for sure..
     
  7. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Owensboro , KY
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    Many state EPA's prohibit running wash water into storm drains . If there is a violation they don't fine the person washing . They go after the property owner . I heard this firsthand when I had a pressure washing business and went to the MA EPA office to make sure I wouldn't be hit with violations .
     
  8. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    I've spent countless hours weighing similar prospects. #1, you'd have to gauge wether the truck stop owner, management, and corporate would allow this. They might even require the operator to pay a daily/weekly fee to conduct business on their lot. #2, it should be an interior only, and exterior glass only service. I honestly imagine this will be more successful with attractive women independent contractors with their own "bicycle rig". Then you have to be concerned with safety issues. Furthermore, taken to the extreme, I see this as a franchise operation offered to "independent contractors" to provide protected territory services with exclusivity to a few select chains. They pay a franchise fee that gets them exclusivity and advertising and reputation/integrity.

    Would require certain legal documents excluding both parties from liability. Everything would have to be done without the need for 120 volt ac. i.e. use battery operated mini shop vacs (a few are available that do a decent job) and could not involve any water runoff.

    It needs to be put together in a way that it is gives the truckstop an advantage over the competitor across the street but there needs to be a "fueling incentive" attached. A truckstop manager will want to know that any income you may generate also resulted in fuel sales for the facility. Truckstop owners do not want "parkers", they want fuelers and store item buyers.

    I feel most drivers (o/o's and company) would utilize such a cleaning service at least once a month if it was available and convenient and reasonably priced and the service and results were consistently good. However, I'm not sure this could be done on a wide-scale basis with large chains because if were to prove a success, the chain would kick them out and provide this service themselves and perhaps utilize their own points system. But I suspect it would be a challenge for them to keep the positions filled with qualified individuals if paid poorly.

    I could go on and on about this concept as I've spent many many hours contemplating it from every possible angle but I was thinking on a national level and it just never seemed viable in my mind, long term.
     
  9. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    Longview, TX
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    And as a company driver most of my driving life and currently 6 months out of the year (semi-retired), I feel there is MUCH more money to be had from company drivers for such a service. Owner operators do care about their truck, but perhaps too much ... they want to take care of it themselves. There are about 9 company drivers for every 1 o/o or lease operator and they have money and need the services more than the owners do. So long as the service was good and reasonably priced, company drivers will utilize the service. Furthermore, i think that the more they use it, the quicker they will return.

    Every time a driver get's in the truck, he tracks in dirt on his shoes. While waiting with the windows down, dust and pollen fill the truck quickly, this all gets stirred up every time the driver moves from driver seat to sleeper and ends up all throughout the truck and it only takes a week to see dust anywhere and if it's anywhere, it's everywhere. Ideally, if a driver would get his driver floor area vacuumed every other day, a truck interior could be kept reasonably clean. i.e. a vacuum service offered at the pump free, paid, or whatever. Vacuum availability for drivers is very [too] minimal and often when one does run across an available vacuum, it operates poorly.
     
  10. Balakov100

    Balakov100 Road Train Member

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    Temple, TX
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    > 1. How much would you expect to pay for such a service? Remember that this is actually pretty thorough, using appropriate cleaning products commonly used in the detailing industry.
    I wouldn't

    > 2. How long is too long a time to perform the service. i.e. is 20 minutes too long? 15 minutes?
    Depends on inside or outside or both?

    > 3. What is the average time you spend sitting at a truck stop?
    Depends :p
    10 hours for a Break and if Waiting on a preplan or to PU or deliver a load.

    > 5. If you drive a route, how often do you stop at the same truck stop? Would you stop more often if it offered such a service?
    With route do you mean like dedicated?


    I'm a Company Driver and we have an Account with Blue Beacon to get the outside washed and we can get this done 2x a month.
    I would never pay somebody to clean the inside even if the Company reimbursed me to get it done.
    But you won't find the inside of 'my' truck very dirty at all ever. I'm very 'anal' (maybe a bit OCD) about keeping the inside clean especially the floors.
     
  11. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

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    you can start on my truck next week
     
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