Semi Detailing - Any experience here?!?!?

[Midnight1700]

We have a few Semis under our belt and can offer some advice. First, many of the semi's are painted with Emron paint (Or something simular). These paints are very hard and usually requires aggressive compounds to correct paint issues. Also, you'll want to be very good at polishing aluminum. Truckers are usually very picky when it comes to their tanks and wheels. Because of the number of trucks we do, we have decided to accept Wright Express Credit Cards along with Visa, Mastercard and so on. In your area, truckers may be using some other form of business card services other than Wright Express. You'll want to check with them to see what most popular.

 

[Bates Detailing]

We have a few Semis under our belt and can offer some advice. First, many of the semi's are painted with Emron paint (Or something simular). These paints are very hard and usually requires aggressive compounds to correct paint issues. Also, you'll want to be very good at polishing aluminum. Truckers are usually very picky when it comes to their tanks and wheels. Because of the number of trucks we do, we have decided to accept Wright Express Credit Cards along with Visa, Mastercard and so on. In your area, truckers may be using some other form of business card services other than Wright Express. You'll want to check with them to see what most popular.

I actually already take wright express for government vehicles..... and Ive got the aluminum polishing down for sure...... Do you guys use the large clothes for cyclos to polish the aluminum?!?!!? I may need to invest in those. Seems like it would be a pain to get behind the stacks with a DA or rotary (if needed). Good to hear that the paint is hard.... I am very familiar with hard paint (aircraft, school buses, etc.) I actually like the hard paint over auto for sure. Are there any real problematic areas I need to be concerned with?!?!??! Thanx for the advice man!

 

[SeaJay's]

Sorry I can't help ya out here! Good luck with this though. Sounds like B&B maybe expanding soon!

 

[forrest@mothers]

It take a 3 man crew 3 days to properly detail our big rigs.

The most effective way to wax them is with a DA and a scissor lift. Ladders don't work well - there's not enough stability to move around up high.

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

Yeah I saw that the other day - very impressive!



I am going to have to disagree my friend lol. I have a slight foot in the door of a local trucking company and my foot in the door says they pay very good money up front for contracts to keep up on their rides. The only people I know out here that detail Semis make 1,000 a pop..... they have 60 in middle TN and 3,000 in the South East. I am going to spend the rainy days of the week proposing a nice package for this company - so pray for me guys!!! This would be it for sure :dblthumb2:. But I do need a lot of advice still....... every industry has their little things that are different. RVS have gel coats and fiberglass / Aviation has its safety areas / etc. What are the little things with Semis?!?!?!

$1000 per truck... I gotta call bs on that. You can have a semi truck washed by hand in the blue beacons for around $45. Anyone who runs a truck for a living cannot afford to pay $1000 for a detail. The truck will be dirty by the end of the week. Im sure a couple hundred for a wash and wax would not be out of the question, but come on $1000? All the power to you if you can get that from countless truckers. BTW what fleet are you talking about that is willing to spend that kind of money to keep their trucks shiny?

 

[Bates Detailing]

$1000 per truck... I gotta call bs on that. You can have a semi truck washed by hand in the blue beacons for around $45. Anyone who runs a truck for a living cannot afford to pay $1000 for a detail. The truck will be dirty by the end of the week. Im sure a couple hundred for a wash and wax would not be out of the question, but come on $1000? All the power to you if you can get that from countless truckers. BTW what fleet are you talking about that is willing to spend that kind of money to keep their trucks shiny?

Ok , Haven't been on here in a long while (busy with business..... kid on the way this week..... etc.), but I got this response in email so when I hear "gotta call BS" Im gonna answer lol.

1: The people making 1,000 a Semi (which I was told by the owner, havent peaked at their books), are detailing semis at a location where Semi Sales are all over the exit.

2. They are detailing them, not washing them. 3 step, full interiors, preping to sell.

3. I make roughly 500 to 600 a school bus for a sales company....... I told a school bus owner that it would cost 500 to detail his bus, and he looked at me like I was crazy - of course someone doesnt want to pay out of pocket for that....... but if you are trying to sell a 50,000 dollar to a 150,000 dollar Semi, a grand making it look tip top is nothing when it produces a faster sell and a higher profit.

So calling BS, or calling me a liar, or whatever you want to say - keep it to yourself...... and good luck with your next detail :dblthumb2:

 

[Bates Detailing]

It take a 3 man crew 3 days to properly detail our big rigs.

The most effective way to wax them is with a DA and a scissor lift. Ladders don't work well - there's not enough stability to move around up high.

I was actually just talking to a company that rents scissor lifts - if I can get a contract with a local Semi company that is defintely the way I will go - thanx for the advice...... reiterates what I was thinking - Thanx!

 

[Flash Gordon]

Hey Anthony


Good to hear from you. Let us know when the baby pops out

 

[AdrenalineJunky]

Ok , Haven't been on here in a long while (busy with business..... kid on the way this week..... etc.), but I got this response in email so when I hear "gotta call BS" Im gonna answer lol.

1: The people making 1,000 a Semi (which I was told by the owner, havent peaked at their books), are detailing semis at a location where Semi Sales are all over the exit.

2. They are detailing them, not washing them. 3 step, full interiors, preping to sell.

3. I make roughly 500 to 600 a school bus for a sales company....... I told a school bus owner that it would cost 500 to detail his bus, and he looked at me like I was crazy - of course someone doesnt want to pay out of pocket for that....... but if you are trying to sell a 50,000 dollar to a 150,000 dollar Semi, a grand making it look tip top is nothing when it produces a faster sell and a higher profit.

So calling BS, or calling me a liar, or whatever you want to say - keep it to yourself...... and good luck with your next detail :dblthumb2:

I didn't mean to offend... I was under the impression you were talking about daily used trucks not trucks going up for sale. Thats an entirely different animal and maybe closer to the $1000 could not be out of the question. I would think a bus would be worse than a Semi, $500 seems like a great price. Good luck with the kid on the way.

 

[Jimmie]

Big job, and I don't envy you. I'll tell you what helped me with my motorhome. I used two ladders spanned by a 10' scaffolding board between them. It sure felt safer than just being on one ladder as mentioned above.

 

[Kristopher1129]

It's funny that anyone would respond as if $1000 is out of the question for a semi, ha. If someone came to my shop and asked to be detail a semi using the 3 step process...He would be talking about a $3000 bill on his hands. I would quote that without even blinking!

Granted, if we would be having a discussion about an account with steady work...the price would be more along the lines of $1000-$2000 letting the cards lay where they lie depending on the conversation.

But, $1000 for a 3 step on a semi is an absolute STEAL. I mean steal. That customer should snatch up that deal with the quickness. Cause up here in NH...he would be paying double! lol

 

[Ted S.]

It's funny that anyone would respond as if $1000 is out of the question for a semi, ha. If someone came to my shop and asked to be detail a semi using the 3 step process...He would be talking about a $3000 bill on his hands. I would quote that without even blinking!

Granted, if we would be having a discussion about an account with steady work...the price would be more along the lines of $1000-$2000 letting the cards lay where they lie depending on the conversation.

But, $1000 for a 3 step on a semi is an absolute STEAL. I mean steal. That customer should snatch up that deal with the quickness. Cause up here in NH...he would be paying double! lol

TN prices are awefully low...especially compaired to anywhere up north in new england.