I've been asked to detail a Semi, how much to charge?

W

Whitethunder46

New member
I've been asked to give an estimate on a semi truck.



Here's the background:

I met a guy the other day and got to talking about his vehicle (show car, '95 Vette). anyways, he calls me this morning asking me how much I would charge for a semi, a 10 wheeler at that.



He gave me the model info of a 2005 Volvo S80 so I could research. Needless to say, I was somewhat dumbfounded of the idea of detailing a semi, I totally didn't realize he gave me the model info of the car. Anyways, I'm pretty sure he meant the VT 880 (at least this matches the description).



So, how much would you charge for the following? How much for a "package" deal?



He def. wants an engine cleaning/detail and at the very least a vacuum on the interior. I told him more than likely the farthest I'd go on the exterior is a one step polish via rotary.



Anyways, what would you chrage for the following?



Engine: $?

Interior vacuumed, surfaces simply wiped down, windows cleaned: $?

Interior vacuumed, surfaces protected (303), carpets and upholstery spot cleaned, de-oderized, windows cleaned: $?

Wash exterior, wheels cleaned/tire shined, windows cleaned: $?

Wash exteriro, wheels cleaned/tires shines, windows cleaned, sealant: $?

Wash exterior, wheels cleaned/tires shined, windows cleaned, polish w/ one step (Optimum PS via rotary): $?







How much for the following two packages??



Package 1:

vaccuumed and windows cleaned

wash and sealant (w/ tires/wheels)

engine cleaned/detailed



Package 2:

vacuumed, windows cleaned, spot stained, de-oderized surfaces conditioned

wash and paint polished w/ one stepper

Engine cleaned/detailed







I have no idea where to start on pricing. Anyone have a roughhhh idea on amount of hours this might take? I would definately try and get some help for this one.
 
OTR Drivers can be rough on their equipment. Not only are you cleaning their vehicle, you're cleaning their house!



If you price it out like a boat or an RV (by the foot) or by the hour, the end result should be close to being the same.



I'm figuring somewhere between $250 and $350. Figure 4 - 6 hours.



*As an aside... I've met guys that get $5/wheel to polish them by hand.
 
kvfalcon said:
OTR Drivers can be rough on their equipment. Not only are you cleaning their vehicle, you're cleaning their house!



If you price it out like a boat or an RV (by the foot) or by the hour, the end result should be close to being the same.



I'm figuring somewhere between $250 and $350. Figure 4 - 6 hours.



*As an aside... I've met guys that get $5/wheel to polish them by hand.
Click to expand...



4-6 hours to do inside and out w/ one step? Are you kdding? There's no wayyyy.



With that aside, I figure go by hour, maybe $25-30?
 
I was contacted a couple weeks back. I basically said no way. It would be a major PITA for me to coordinate said effort. Had I quoted the job of wash, one step exterior, vaccum, dress interior, glass, light chrome polish, It would have been at the very least $500, but most likely higher.



Greg
 
That is one type of vehicle I have never detailed but want to.



I did turn one down years ago that was black and had to be done in July out in the open.
 
something I usually go by...



if you havent done one before, then price it by the hour, then figure out how long it takes so you can tell people in the future....also, i price the first one kinda low just to get the job, but the next ones make up for it
 
25 to 30 dollars an hour is to lite of a price. More like 40 to50 dollars per hour. If that thing dirty, and you don't charge enough, you'll regret it.Been there done that. If the guy seen your work, and likes it, I don't think he'll mind paying for it. Have fun.
 
I would check it out first and see what's the truck's condition. Then I would decide on how much I would charge him. Don't price your work cheap!!!
 
Do not price Semi's, etc. at the same per hour rate you would do regular vehicles. You will be using a whole lot more products on trucks. I wash 2 large dump trucks, 1 small dump truck, a utility truck, 3 open construction trailers, & three pieces of equipment every weekend, and I spend and use about $30-$60 in product EACH time. If he wants aluminum polishing....DEFINITELY DO NOT GO CHEAP!!
 
If you multiply out the hours, it ends up being the same thing. I charge people an hourly rate, based on my time, effort, and product usage. What would it be different if it is a bigger car.
 
If it's a working truck, I'd charge 350 to wash, seal, vacuum interior, detail engine, dress tires.



If it was a truck where appearance was very important (race trailer, 5th wheel puller, boats etc) I'd try to upsell him to 800 for ABC wash, shampoo interior, spot compound with Presta/wool, follow with Polycharged M66/Cyclo, aluminum brightener on tank and wheels, basically get it perfect. I could knock that out in 16 hours or so, $50 an hour for two full days of work.
 
I just washed/sealed/polished aluminum on a 2004 kenworth day-cab for $150. Took about 2.5 hrs, but the truck was in good shape.



I would figure about 3-4hrs for you, and around $200.
 
3-4 hours? It takes me 6 hours to do a car and full package.



Anyways, I'm thinking $40 an hour and no more than $600 depending how far he wants to go. I'm def going to check it out first.
 
You will have a hard time selling a $600 cleaning package to a trucker. They love their trucks, but not enough to pay $600.



You need some different supplies as well for the big rigs.
 
joshtpa said:
If you multiply out the hours, it ends up being the same thing. I charge people an hourly rate, based on my time, effort, and product usage. What would it be different if it is a bigger car.
Click to expand...





For trucks, you'll be using a larger number of products and also will be consuming a larger amount of each product (tire shine for example)....compared to regular automobiles. Regular autos I charge $40 an hour, trucks I charge $50+ an hour.
 
Do you have ladders that allow you to work the roof and airfoil?



I promise you these things are BIG! I know you are not doing the trailer, but that's a Volvo cab in the picture... Can you see how high the airfoil is?



36282jimnmaryremovingbigrig.jpg




Me? I wouldn't do it. I've got enough 'regular work', but if I needed it I'd charge 12 hours.



Let us know if you do the job...



BTW, are you coming to the Meg's class in Indy?



JB
 
I have been following this thread to see when someone was finally going to ask about having the necessary ladders to do this type of work. Like Jimmy, I also wouldn't do it. Simply because I have enough regular work and I would rather not get involved with the necessary ladders and possible scaffolding that would be required to properly work on vehicles this big. Much more enjoyable working on exotic sports cars.
 
As long as it doesent have a high-rise sleeper and it is a normal day cab tractor, you dont need any ladders. The tanks have steps all over and it's easy to find a place to stand to reach all points of the truck's paint.
 
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