The transportation industry in Nigeria in most of Africa and the world has continued to grow. In Nigeria, the rise of large industrial leaders such as the Dangote Group, the growing consumption of petroleum products in remote parts of Nigeria, and the movement of agricultural products from the largely rural sector of Nigeria and most African countries to The few overcrowded urban centers have meant that the trucking business continues and will continue to grow for years to come.
Trucks have become and will continue to be an essential part of the distribution network’s business around the world. Consumer goods, industrial equipment and materials, and critical fuel transportation would ensure that trucks of all types, shapes, and sizes continue to ply our roads year-round in all types of weather conditions. The implication of this is that the trucks would continue to collect dirt, grime and mud. No particular weather condition would produce less dirt. Instead, there would be different types at different times.
Trucking professionals and companies wash their vehicles regularly to keep them clean and remove corrosive chemicals that build up on trucks in the line of work. This therefore means that a truck wash business would be a lucrative venture worthy of investment with a reasonable expectation of financial success and profitability in the new future.
Here are some basic steps to starting a truck wash business:
Find a suitable location:
Location seems to be everything here. If the location is suitable for the business and the use of trucks, the chance of success is almost fifty percent guaranteed.
Places to consider would be in the middle of interstate highways where trucks interrupt their journey every day. Other suitable locations would be near truck repair shops.
In Nigeria, the places where truck drivers normally stop for rest, refueling and minor maintenance are on the Lagos-Ibadan highway, Obollo-Afor Nsuka in Enugu state on the road to Makurdi, Lokoja and Abuja in the Territory. of the Federal Capital. There are similar locations in Lokoka on the way to Abuja and Ore on the way to Lagos. All countries have similar locations where a truck wash business has a great opportunity to prosper.
The space for the truck wash business should be sufficient for trucks to move and turn easily without getting caught between other trucks and structures, especially during peak periods.
Register your business as a limited liability company:
Plan to register a limited liability company for the operation of the truck wash business. This would ensure that your liability is limited to company assets and that your personal assets are protected from the consequences of a truck accident on your company premises.
Organize your location:
Organizing your truck wash location is another critical thing to do before it really takes off. One of the ways to do this is to designate a particular place in the space that you have to wash the trucks. Then mark the path to enter the location and the path you will use to exit. The best way is to make sure the entrance door is different from the exit door to avoid accidents or jams and delays. Consider installing a pit or ramps so you can easily wash out the bottoms of trucks and allow for lubrication.
You should also consider the locations for your equipment and materials and the different activities related to the truck wash business on the premises and set them up as well.
Consider putting a roof over your laundry area so you can wash in all weather conditions: rain, snow, or shine.
Acquire equipment and supplies:
Once you’ve designed and organized your space, get the necessary equipment and supplies. Basically, you would need the following equipment and materials, among others:
Electric or pressure washer with extended hose
· Ladders
· Scrubbing brushes
vacuum cleaners
cleaning chemicals
Water deionization system
If you would use the two-step method of scrubbing and rinsing, add acid-based soap and alkaline neutralizer between your materials to help remove dirt and grime from trucks.
Establish a financial framework for the business
Open a corporate merchant account with a bank in the company’s name so you can accept credit and debit card payments. You would need point of sale (POS) machines at your facility. Drivers for some large companies are required to make payments with credit or debit cards. Therefore, you will need to accept payments via debit or credit cards. This would increase your customer base and ensure that you don’t lose any business. This payment method would also ensure that there is not a lot of cash left on your premises that could be susceptible to being stolen by fraudulent employees or theft attacks.
Provide professional attire for your employees that bears your company insignia or logo:
The common sight at many car washes across the country are gaunt-looking boys or men who are truly scary. Have your employees wear uniforms and garments that look truly professional. This will make your customers feel comfortable in your business premises. It would also indicate the level of seriousness of your operations. If you are doing the trucking yourself, you should also show up each time in a uniform that gives you a professional appearance.
Put up your sign and start marketing and laundering:
Strategically and prominently install your sign near your business premises to attract customers. Post signs along the highway or in strategic locations where truck drivers passing by or just arriving at truck stop locations would see and be able to find you.
Think of different forms of advertising: word of mouth, posters, flyers, newspaper ads. Distribute your flyers generously to trucks you’ve washed or to anyone you can find around you. Stop by the truck stop and distribute your flyers and posters.
Use your first few customers to show your efficiency by providing fast and efficient service to build a following of loyal customers quickly and these will soon become your army of salespeople.
Conclusion:
This business can be started on a small scale or on a large scale. Large corporations of someone with a lot of capital can start sophisticated versions in multiple locations in a country like Nigeria.
Small-scale individual operations could also easily start with basic equipment and materials in single locations.
