What Is the Percentage of Automated Truck Washes to All Hand Wash Truck Cleaning Facilities?
Not long ago, someone in the industry had inquired as to whether there are more automated tunnel truck washes or washing facilities that do it all by hand. Well, that of course depends on what you mean. You see, there are washes which do a retail type business, and washes owned by companies or government agencies doing their own fleets.
Now then, I’d like to say that there are more truck washes with automatic equipment today, but realize this is mostly because of all the old Ryko systems at municipal yards, truck depots, military bases, ports, etc. Thus, obviously, this doesn’t mean that they are necessarily washing more over-the-road long-distance fleets or independents.
First off, as you know or might have potentially already guessed, the independent owner truck drivers and yes I know there are fewer and fewer each year due to increasing costs, trucking company unionized employee lobbying for regulations creating barriers to entry for independents, and new engine efficiency rules lowering ROI potential. Still, being in the trucking industry, well, you are in one of the only growth sectors (currently), and I say “currently because of the move towards socialism and the worries of politicians screwing with our economy to serve their political will through crony capitalism. Since trucking services all industries, it has the most to lose, or the most to gain.
So, yes, I’d say there are more automatic units in the US, Why is the fleet management system important? overall. In Europe it’s just the opposite. Still, when it comes to retail truck washes in the USA, I’d say it is closer to 50/50 because operators do not like automatic units. Why you ask? Well, really again, this is a preference issue. Personally shy away from them with my mobile command center as I worry about scratches. However, with that said and the new robotic systems they are getting a lot better. My trucks windows do leak a little bit, but the amount is insignificant. What about the future?
1.) Expect a the trend in “Semi-Automated” Truck Washes (trailers washed by machine, tractors by hand) to continue
Why? Because for the truck washing industry this will help save labor, due to increased labor costs, ObamaCare amongst the reasons.
2.) Expect a trend in “Fully-Automatic” Truck Washes to grow moving forward.
Why? Again, labor savings, lowering costs for fleet owner customers running redline to produce profit margins + the systems are getting better, better sensors in robotics, and lower cost of robotics. The engineers of these things are getting much better, the industry is ripe for these systems.
Also, realize in this question (also the title of this article) that today many truck washes have automatic systems which they use to clean the trailers, while washing cabs by hand, so they are BOTH robotic and hand washing truck washes. This is why we have to elaborate further to fully answer this question correctly. See that point? Please consider all this and think on it.
Not long ago, someone in the industry had inquired as to whether there are more automated tunnel truck washes or washing facilities that do it all by hand. Well, that of course depends on what you mean. You see, there are washes which do a retail type business, and washes owned by companies or government…