Winter time washing

B

Big Dog

Member
How do you guys deal with rain/snow and the scheduling of fleet washing.

My largest customer (about $4k mo) is being extremely hard on my income right now. If it even looks like rain/snow, they don't want there trucks washed. They can only be washed on weekends any way so there is no chance of rescheduling. I have a regular schedule worked out with each of their five locations and my other accts also. They don't mind driving dirty trucks till the next scheduled wash date but it's costing my some major $$$$$$ in missed work.

How do you folks handle this? I am not complaining as I am Thankful to God that I can have any winter work. I would just like to find a solution if there is one.
 
Big Dog I wish I knew the answer to your Q'tion been there done that.

IF I get back into fleetwashing as in the #'s,these is how I'm going to handle it on accounts like that or someone like you can go ahead and washem,like you said it hurts.

If they miss just because its going to rain or show the next day or two I'm going to charge more for the next wash,its bad enough to miss a wash not counting its costing more to washem,your,we're loseing in two or three ways.If you have emplooyee's its even hurts worse or keeps you from getting bigger.If I cann't depend on them they cann't depend on me on pretty days.

I have went with this outlook for the last few years and trying to get them to understand I have to make a living too.Some now how been though afew powerwashers and are getting to see the picture as in depending ON,some still don't care which I call user's.
There is a newbee in my area thats reading these forums now and I've been helping him all I can,,,he's now complaining about them not washing when it looks like rain or snow which I have told him they would.......lol he's even telling them or calling them and telling them he's needing to work or get off he's pot lol......which some not all will let him wash.I don't have to worry to much about him getting bigger washing like that,it seems like we have alot of rainly weekends around here.

It not only hurts missing because of the weather but it also hurts when you cann't wash them all in the same day when its pretty and everybody hallowering I need washed.

In others words "They Are Not Running MY Business I Am"..If I cann't depend on the account for weekly washing unless down pours or freezen weather they can kiss my in a nice way b/c they are alot out here that will leave it up to you as weather to wash every weekend or not b/c of the weather.

Will really you don't want to get me started on this subject b/c several around here are pissed at me b/c of the you can kiss my if they wash with the weather att'a'to'd.......cann't make a living not knowing if I can make a living.....yel 4k's I hear ya...but not everyweek...............it doesn't feel good wondering 'IF"
 
Im like the mailman>>>>> rain,sleet,snow.
Im there....It's my income....This is what I do (right or wrong)

When it gets too bad out, And it really does not make any since washing 'em b/c of the "roads".....Lets face it as soon as it hits the open road it looks like doo doo again.....

It is a big IF ....Take this w/end for example it snowed all day saturday got 6 " I did'nt even back the van outa the garage. but sunday was better .....so out I go .... all I did was use hot h20 no soap. basically I just blew the snow and ice off the lights,windshield,doors,.I guess it;s the same thing if they had a "yardy" out there brushing the trk's off before the drivers got in

My argument to this is, My job is to make the drivers happy when they come to work it is snow,ice free and ready to roar.

Never had a problem doing this and the drivers are happy.....even though there trk. is not as shinny as it could be if I had used soap.

For this I reduce my price by a couple bucks and make sure they know it.. I tell 'em that I didnt use any soap but washed it down w/hot h20 ..........It gives me that paycheck every w/end and makes 'em happy....> go figure<

Probably b/c of dependability they know I will always be there and b/c I dont charge them the whole amount I think It makes 'em realize that Im not just here for a paycheck but to make sure the drivers are happy ... It may not make any since to some but I have 3 trk. accounts and never had a problem in 7 years with this method.........maybe its a sales tatic maybe just good business but I do get that pay every week.. sometimes not as much .. But even if it was $100.00 it was more then ZERO........
 
Dan,can see your reason for blow and go with the snow and ice.

What I was running into was if it was pretty on the weekend but if they where calling for rain or snow monday or tuesday they don't want washed.When you have afew accounts set at every two weeks and they wash this way its hard and it hurts when they both want washed the same weekend enough tho they aren't booked for that weekend b/c of missing the rainly weekend.Going alweek long not knowing IF they are going to let you wash b/c of the weather isn't wor'it it to me any more,I like knowing where I stand in making a living one way or the other.Like I said before this is a sore spot for me or they can kiss my in a nice way,I'm not a user and don't like being used at the price set for weekly washing,,to me weekly means weekly unless down pour or freezen weather nomatter what it going to do on manday or tuesday......same goes for the every two weeks
 
Hello Big Dog,

We seldom talk to any of our fleet accounts. They are set up on a interval and we stick to it! If the temperature is below freezing we do not do their equipment (fear of freezing doors, or walkways in the area, etc).

Maybe if you get your accounts to agree to a interval you would not need to talk to them and being told not to clean! We also have keys to gain access to any locked yards or buildings.

Dave Olson
 
big-boy ,,
I ..... c... u.. point... I have my accounts set up every week so I guess Thats a better way to do it.... I go if it is frezzing or not....... Never had a complaint about any ice........ or a frozzen lot.....
 
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