The US Truck Wash Industry is Ready to Rebound in a Big Way

Not long ago, an acquaintance of mine went to the NATSO Las Vegas Convention. NATSO stands for North American Truck Stop Organization - this is a trade association for owners and operators of truck stops. The Travel Center and Truck Stop businesses have been disadvantaged because of the economy and fuel costs. Let's face it, fewer Americans travel or turn on RVs lately, and we all know that hotels, tourist attractions, and tourist destinations have been hammered since financial failures occurred.

But what about the truck washing business, an industrial sector that is strongly linked to the success and traffic of truck stops and the travel center industry? Yes, it also experienced periods of storm during this economic crisis. Not all challenges faced by truck washing are caused by the economy, but most of the problems. There are some mismanaged truck washes at truck stops, proven when you compare it by saying the location of Blue Beacons is well managed, with the existing management system.

Not all truck washes make money, this is a labor-intensive business, related to dump truck hino weather, challenges with industry dynamics, and serious economic conditions since diesel prices reached $ 1.35 and never returned, I said. My friend who has found out for me this year confirmed some of what I have read and pondered in this industry in recent years.

Most truck stops note that their additional business is too far away - for example, the truck scales traffic business at the travel center and truck stops. Flying J has done well with its scales, the Pilot too. T&A has been challenged along the way - the tire business is okay, but they have difficulties. Nobody broke the speed record, but the goods moved again, and I hope the shortage of drivers will make big news in the Transportation Topic soon.

Truck stops that are too general don't always make money on all services, but often provide them because one-stop-shopping carries lots of drivers. Because drivers like to do everything in one place, fuel, food, parking, bathing, sleeping, TV, telephone, cash checks, coffee refills, weighing, washing, oil change, maintenance problems - and then RV Crowd, sewer dumps, propane gas, water tank filling, etc. You can see why they want everything at once, right?

So even if "Truck Washing" doesn't break any speed record, if it's a little breakeven or a little "plus", it's still okay for a truck stop. Indeed, during I-95, I recorded several sad stories with truck washing lately - of course weather related. Most of this information gathering is about what I expect from the Truck Stop Owners, that is what I also take.

It is wise to talk with them and see what is happening, industrial innovation in these sectors is moving slowly, making things stable, but that only benefits the fast movers and innovators who have the guts to do it. There have been many success stories in this sector in the past 20 years.

Does this mean that stand-alone truck washing must consider alternative revenue streams or sub-business units - and provide additional services? What about pursuing a local fleet business, which is usually served by mobile truck washers?

My thoughts about local cellular services are too many to mention, because for 25 years I have specialized in them. But this is big business, and that's why I mentioned it. Many truck washers are out of town and thus their dilemma is location, far enough out of town that local fleet managers nix the concept of using their facilities. But that does not mean that this truck was unable to get some of them.

Many cellular operators fly at night too, which is great for our team, and not all of them reclaim their washing water and therefore violate NPDES permits for the local city or district, and I guarantee you, no business owner runs a the fleet wants pollution coming from their property in this day and age! I guess that is some thoughts for now, just keep driving the truck.