How to start a truck wash

The transport industry in Nigeria in most parts of Africa and the world has continued to grow. In Nigeria, the rise of big industry leaders like the Dangote Group, the growing consumption of petroleum products in remote parts of Nigeria, and the movement of agricultural products from largely rural Nigeria and most African countries to The few overcrowded urban centers have meant that the trucking business continues and will continue to grow for years to come.

Trucks have become and will continue to be an essential part of the distribution network business around the world. Consumer goods, industrial equipment and materials, and critical fuel transportation would ensure that trucks of all kinds, shapes, and sizes continue to ply our highways year-round in all kinds of weather conditions. The implication of this is that the trucks would continue to accumulate dirt, grime and mud. No particular weather condition would produce less dirt. Instead, there would be different types at different times.

Professionals and trucking companies wash their vehicles regularly to keep them clean and remove corrosive chemicals that build up on trucks on the line of work. This therefore means that a truck wash business would be a lucrative venture worthy of investment with a reasonable expectation of financial success and profitability in the new future.

Here are some basic steps to start a truck wash business:

Find a suitable location:

Location seems to be everything here. If the location is suitable for the business and the use of trucks, the chance of success is almost fifty percent guaranteed.

Places to consider would be in the middle of interstate highways where trucks interrupt their journey every day. Other suitable locations would be near truck repair shops.

In Nigeria, the places where truckers normally stop for rest, refueling and minor maintenance are on the Lagos-Ibadan highway, Obollo-Afor Nsuka in Enugu state on the road to Makurdi, Lokoja and Abuja in the Territory. of the Federal Capital. There are similar locations at Lokoka on the way to Abuja and Ore on the way to Lagos. All countries have similar locations where a truck wash business has a great chance to prosper.

The space for the truck wash business must be sufficient for trucks to move and turn easily without getting caught between other trucks and structures, especially during peak periods.

Register your business as a limited liability company:

Plan to register a limited liability company for the operation of the truck wash business. This would ensure that your liability is limited to company assets and that your personal assets are protected from the consequences of a truck accident on your company premises.

Organize your location:

Arranging your truck wash location is another critical thing to do before you really take off. One of the ways to do this is to designate a particular place in the space that you have to wash the trucks. Then mark the path to enter the location and the path you will use to exit. The best way is to make sure that the entrance door is different from the exit door to avoid accidents or traffic jams and delays. Consider installing a pit or ramps so you can easily wash the underside of the trucks and allow for lubrication.

You should also consider the locations for your equipment and materials and the different activities related to the truck wash business on the premises and establish those as well.

Consider putting a roof over your laundry area so you can wash in all weather conditions: rain, snow, or shine.

Acquire equipment and supplies:

Once you’ve designed and organized your space, get the necessary equipment and supplies. Basically, you would need the following equipment and materials, among others:

Electric or pressure washer with extended hose

· Stairs

· Scrub brushes

vacuum cleaners

cleaning chemicals

water deionization system

If you would use the two-step scrub-and-rinse method, add acid-based soap and alkaline neutralizer to your materials to help remove dirt and grime from trucks.

Establish a financial framework for the business

Open a corporate merchant account with a bank in the company’s name so you can accept credit and debit card payments. You would need point of sale (POS) machines at your facility. Drivers of some large companies are required to make payments with credit or debit cards. Therefore, you will need to accept payments via debit or credit cards. This would increase your customer base and ensure that you do not lose any business. This payment method would also ensure that you don’t have a lot of cash left on your premises that could be susceptible to being stolen by fraudulent employees or theft attacks.

Provide professional attire for your employees that bears your company insignia or logo:

The common sight at many car wash sites across the country are gaunt looking boys or men who are downright scary. Have your employees wear truly professional looking uniforms and clothing. This will make your customers feel at ease in your business premises. It would also indicate the level of seriousness of your operations. If you are doing the truck yourself, you should also show up each time in a uniform that gives you a professional appearance.

Put up your sign and start trading and washing:

Strategically and prominently install your sign near your business premises to attract customers. Place signs along the highway or in strategic locations where truck drivers passing or just arriving at truck stop locations would see you and might find you.

Think of different forms of advertising: word of mouth, billboards, flyers, newspaper ads. Distribute your flyers generously to the trucks you’ve washed or to anyone you can find around you. Stop by the truck stop and pass out your flyers and posters.

Use your first customers to show your efficiency by providing fast and efficient service to quickly build a following of loyal customers and they will soon become your army of salespeople.

Conclusion:

This business can be started on a small scale or on a large scale. Large corporations of someone with large capital can start up sophisticated versions in multiple locations in a country like Nigeria.

Individual small-scale operations could also easily start with basic equipment and materials in single locations.