Use the facilities in the yard (lance only). Takes about 2 hours of my time (salaried - not paid by the hour).
Go somewhere like Lymm or Chesterfield services and claim back the first fifteen quid (meaning that I can be up to 10 quid out of pocket)
Use a local(ish) haulage company’s Truckwash on account (ie NO charge incurred to myself at all), which means a 2 hour round trip all in (salaried, remember).
Would you be inclined to roll up yer sleeves and wash the wagon yourself or be lazy and take it to a Truckwash?
Thankfully mine is a rigid, I wash it every Friday evening (if it needs it or not ) when the yard is quiet (after 16.30) with our jet wash and a brush, 30 minutes and I am done, tacho still in and an hour overtime on my time sheet
Is the job a good one that you want to last till you hang up your gloves.
If the answer is yes to both, then DIY and keep the company profitable as possible.
I wash mine every day when its dirty (when i can get on the wash), takes 15/20 mins cos the dirt never gets ingrained, soap on, brush wash while it soaks in, pressure wash off.
Only takes an hour when its going in for inspection/service when i go to town on it and get the chassis nearly to MOT standard.
We have an account with LPW truckwash so can take the wagon to any of them, Avonmouth is our local one but I certainly wouldn’t be out of pocket even if it was only me driving it.
I’ve washed mine twice since starting early January, as I haven’t had the time. If someone’s on it I park up and go home. Washing isn’t important on tippers for obvious reasons.
Must admit I haven’t washed mine much lately, because half-an-hour later it looks exactly the same as before I did. I put it through the truckwash at Cullompton when I can but that is being re-built at the mo, and twice a year I get a local professional to give it the Full Monty.
Park it up, walk away, then twice a week the mobile truck wash guy comes around and washes every truck & trailer in the yard (70+ units, 200+ trailers).
There is the option of using the pressure washer in the yard but I generally only use it to wash the screen, lights etc between washes
As I said I get paid to wash it but I also take pride in the thing.
If it looks good to customer that’s a bonus rather than turning up in a battered filthy shed and giving a crap impression may just help keep you in a job or get you or your company another order/sale or what ever.
Yes those in the massive companies may think different but for us in smaller depots each job/order/sale counts
I’ve worked for small firms where the boss thought vehicle cleaning was a waste of time.
I used to point out that the vehicle was his only source of advertising. Sometimes it sank in, sometimes it didn’t.
Personally, I’ve always thought that it looks a lot more professional to customers and the public- not to mention the enforcement brigade- if you have a smart vehicle driven by a smart driver.
) when the yard is quiet (after 16.30) with our jet wash and a brush, 30 minutes and I am done, tacho still in and an hour overtime on my time sheet 
