If your current cleaning crew decides to use the same chemicals on your truck fleet that they’d use on their minivan, you might want to question it. Washing a truck fleet is typically NOT the same as washing a car fleet for many reasons. But if you’re trying to save money on truck soap, you might be doing so at the expense of quality, and it could cost you more in the long run.
Your trucks and trailers aren’t just a form of transport to and from the office like a regular car. It’s a cross-country mobile billboard trailblazing its way through all kinds of dirt, grime, and debris to deliver goods. And you need the right chemicals to clean it properly. Here’s why:
Personal vehicles only serve the person who drives them, and maybe some messy kids in the back. A commercial truck and trailer have a lot more people to please.
The conditions that cause a dirty truck never stop. Whether it’s salt and snow in the winter, or dirt and road film in the summer — it’s always something. Many fleet owners try using traditional car washing methods to keep things clean, but they quickly realize it does not get the job done. The difference between a passenger vehicle and a commercial truck reaches beyond just size.
Cars aren’t generally put through the same rigorous journey as a truck fleet. They tend to be smaller in size, yes, but they are also shaped differently, made from different materials, have different paint coatings, and rarely have branding decals on the side.
When you use a washing process meant for cars, it may not keep up with the demands of a dirty truck. You may need more specialized chemicals or at least some extra manual labor to get it clean. Vice versa, using truck wash soap for your car might be overkill, particularly with more aggressive products that should be used a little more carefully or only when wearing specific PPE.
The size and scale of commercial trucks and trailers also means more surface area. They need better cleaning at a different scale than your Chevy Malibu. Additionally, there are often different materials you need to think about and consider that could change how the wash will impact your vehicle.
Fiberglass panels, chrome and stainless steel, and plastic parts are a few examples. An example might be aluminum rails and keeping them bright. Another, one of the most important and obvious differences, is the vinyl logos and graphics. These designs typically need extra care and protection to avoid scratching and damage.
There are a few needs your trucks and trailers have when entering a wash that cars don’t ever need to worry about:
Often, when cleaning large vehicles with fleets that have many units, the owner's goal is likely to be "good", with a wash providing a vehicle that is clean and clear of contaminants that degrade the surfaces and increase maintenance needs.
In contrast, a car is usually just one unit and physically much smaller. This means the owner can more easily receive a hand-washed, detailed clean and they often have that expectation level that is closer to exceptional instead of just "good enough"
It's common to hand wax or ceramic-coat a personal vehicle, but it's much more difficult to do that at the scale of large fleets. Foam is also very popular in the car wash industry, but can lead to difficulty and increased rinse times, making it a little more difficult to use on big vehicles with a lot of surface area that are trying to reduce their downtime. Using products meant for a passenger vehicle on a big fleet is going to be expensive and likely not work quite as well as products that are made for the trucking industry.
The most stark difference between a car wash and one for a truck/trailer is in the chemistry required in the soap. Effective commercial washing typically requires a 2-step process unless you're going to manually scrub the entire vehicle.
These formulations are made for fleets, and some are more aggressive than what you may need for a car. Others are specialized to work for specific problems that certain vehicles encounter, like concrete and cement buildup, or even some grime like dried milk on a tanker! The recommended dilutions and concentrations are carefully engineered so you get a full clean on the first wash without all the extra scrubbing.
When you go through a regular car wash, you’re often getting the same ingredients as every other car. No matter the make, model, or purpose your car serves. There isn’t any consideration for how many extra variables are involved in cleaning a truck of that size and dirtiness.
Here’s a perfect example of what we mean: a few years ago, the Michigan Department of Public Works saved over 60k when they realized how much maintenance they avoided when using the proper wash process on their fleet. The more specialized soaps, combined with our 2-step process, meant they were able to clean their undercarriages better after they were damaged from road salt. Their resale value even increased.
Knowing the distinction between a car and truck wash is essential. It’s easy to take the cheapest or easiest route, even when it doesn’t do the job well.
The difference between the two isn’t only a matter of size and scale. It’s the necessary approach you need, and the “why” behind the clean. Your business isn’t cleaning to keep you busy, you’re trying to maintain an image, protect the fleet's lifespan, and reduce costs.
Choosing the right approach and chemicals will show you its value with the first few uses. Take your vehicle cleaning from a checklist to an advantage, and you'll have a leg up on competitors who aren't doing the same.
Fleet managers who know the important difference between a car wash and a truck wash don’t just get cleaner trucks — they minimize maintenance costs, reduce downtime, and manage a more efficient fleet.