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Most Americans are very upset with the illegal immigration issues in our country. Yet everyone knows that many jobs need to be filled that Americans are not filling. Today we have such low unemployment that businesses struggle to get all the work done.

Many industries are in crisis due to this problem such as the restaurant, landscaping, car washes, construction and agriculture trades. But they are only a subset of the problems with labor. One major problem in the future with truck washing companies is going to be that when the Department of Homeland Security tightens down on illegal immigration, we will see labor supply issues, as most of the tuck washing companies are hiring Hispanic Labor and often they are illegal aliens.

Thus we will see many close or have trucks so backed up that truck dispatchers of commercial carriers will tend to opt not to have drivers stop at the truck washes, especially considering the coincidence of the hours of operation going into effect for drivers. These limits mean that drivers will have to be on the road more and in line at places like a truck wash for two-hours less. This will be a critical factor in the future. If you are in the Truck Wash Business, then think on this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

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Would a truck wash business make sense on the North West Side of Houston? Many truck drivers take a short cut on Highway Six through Texas and also heading out of town on the 290 to get to Austin or to I-35. But would a truck wash survive there without actually being on I-10 or I-35?

Well indeed I am familiar with this region of our nation and know where that is and have done much business with the Auto Dealership in Hempsted there, before they sold out to the large consolidator auto dealership. And I have certainly also have noticed the truck traffic on that Hwy 6 from my travels and business;

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If a truck wash was placed on or near the cross roads area of Hwy 6 and 290 then yes that is a good location for a 1-2 Bay Truck Wash. I agree. As a big bonus to employees and staff you might note that near Hempsted is the World Best Beef Jerky too on the southern side road, which parallels 290 back into Houston.

What advice do I have for a truck was in that location? Well keep your costs down and be very frugal on the start-up. Yes you can do this, perhaps add some Truck Detailing later, as that is a good add on and there are some Used Truck Dealers near there, and maybe some tanker truck washing later down the road as there are many food grade tanker and petroleum based tanker truck companies near there too and lots of building, as the area keeps growing out towards Hempsted, look at the construction also and they build South out of Bryan and College States. It’s all good; so, consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

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Most Truck Wash Entrepreneurs know that a good location is the key to success. But it is only one of the keys and there are several doors to go thru. Customer service, quality of wash and marketing must also be considered. So now that you have a worthy location for consideration, now what? Well I have some thoughts on the matter.

Having been in the fleet cleaning business for 28 years; I would recommend personal sales calls to all the local agricultural fleets and petroleum fleets near the truck wash too. Also make personal visits to all the truck dealers, fleet sales departments, ask for their business but more importantly all their referrals, as a good fleet truck dealer will have over 500 clients or more with potentially 1000s and 1000s of trucks you see?

If you got slow you could promote quick hand car washes in the second bay and also lots of motor homes, which may pass thru and visit all the storage yards and give them coupons to mail out in their invoices to their customers too as a bonus, it makes them look good and could bring you business too.

Make a deal with the truck stops in all directions to promote your truck wash with flyers in a nice little display on their counter and offer it as a coupon $5.00 off to promote your business and get give drivers free snacks and ask them to discuss the truck wash if they like it on the C.B. while driving away.

Also contact the trucking lines which use that short cut to haul and get the names of the dispatchers and talk with them about “speed of wash” and prices to compete. This is doable with a little grass roots industry savvy. You can make this happen, you will need to be smart about it of course and also consider washing Horse Trailers and Livestock trailers also.

Think about every possible thing you can wash, do not limit your self to only trucks, remember there are school buses, tour buses, NASCAR, larger city vehicles and larger vehicles which may not be able to go thru the local car wash. So consider doing a little networking in that regard too. Think outside the box if you choose to take this risk.

Lance Winslow

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