Starting a Tractor Washing Business

In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good money and provide an important service for your clientele. You can save them man-hours, chemical costs and free up time for more important needs such as preventative maintenance and repairs. The client also has a better looking fleet which makes community public relations easier and also helps in operator retention. Heavy off road equipment needs to be clean, especially radiators and ventilation to prevent over heating. It is best to charge per unit rather than per hour and then work very hard and efficiently to increase your income.

An operator of a Heavy Equipment business knows it takes many hours to clean a D7 Dozer or a large Caterpillar Grader. They also know that when paying hourly rates to employees they must pay unemployment insurance, payroll, taxes, insurance, and administrative costs, so they are thinking real costs. In the Heavy Equipment power washing business you are literally making money by saving the companies you service money and costs.

Usually Heavy Equipment operator companies will normally want a Demonstration wash and generally give you a filthy piece of equipment that they would never ask one of their own employees to clean. Once you prove yourself you will be able secure the account and be flooded with work and referrals. You will be given lists of equipment to clean in multiple job sites.

You will need to purchase some of the following equipment:

A hot water pressure washer with a minimum of 2500 psi

A 250 gallon or bigger water tank

A 5ft or taller industrial ladder

Ten Gallons of high alkali degreaser

Ten Gallons of aluminum brightener

A Truck Wash Brush

A Hudson chemical sprayers or electric inline chemical pump

You will need to also secure extra tanks for fuel if your hot water pressure washers does not come with large fuel tanks. You will need one for fuel for the pump and one for the fuel for the heater. If it runs diesel fuel for both then it will be much easier to work with one type of fuel.

Lance Winslow