A network of UK and European truck-washing sites that can be paid for on three major diesel fuel cards has been launched by Euro Truckwash. Under the scheme operators can not only clean their vehicles while they are out on the road, but also avoid the hassle of waste water disposal and have their wash costs integrated within their existing fuel card bill.
The Euro Truckwash network currently consists of 17 sites with a further three planned, based around long-established British truck-washing points stretching from Inverness in Scotland to Hythe in Kent and Dublin in Ireland. As well as handling normal general haulage vehicles the sites can also provide internal and external cleaning of refrigerated trucks and external cleaning of tankers.
"We can also sanitise bulk grain trailers and other types of vehicles involved in agriculture or the food-chain," says Euro Truckwash's Gary Taylor. "Using fuel cards to pay for washing saves a lot of admin time for fleet operators and truckwashes alike, leaving both to concentrate on their core business."
Drivers using Red Diesel, Key Fuels and DKV cards can add the charge of a truckwash to their fuel bill and Taylor is confident the number of fuel card companies looking to partner with Euro Truckwash will grow. "We've been talking to all the major fuel companies regarding adding it to their cards and have had a very positive response so far," he says.
"We know there are more than 15m fuel cards in circulation and our service aims to allow any fuel card holder to use their nearest truckwash; this reduces off-route travelling which saves driver time and fuel consumed."
Prices for cleaning a truck typically range from £20 for an artic to £17 for a rigid. Taylor adds: "It can take as little as eight minutes to wash a vehicle. All the washes are mechanically-operated gantry units with additional jet-wash 'detailing' from the on-site wash teams."
The Norwich-based Euro Truckwash network operates on a drive-up-and-wash principle. "You don't need to book in," says Taylor. "It's run on a first-come first-served basis; you just turn up and join the queue."
Taylor insists there are a number of benefits to using existing fuel cards to pay for a vehicle wash. "There are no more petty cash claims, managing accounts with several different truckwash sites or exposing your business to fiddles. You're also no longer sorting through invoices from different wash companies either - prices for each of our sites are displayed on our website."
According to Taylor: "Fleet operators can register their vehicles and trailers and set washes to weekly, fortnightly or monthly. If a driver tries to wash more frequently, you can set an override for the driver or transport manager to authorise an additional wash. The transport office can view all transactions as they happen, download reports and enjoy complete traceability - and that's never been done before. We're now offering instant control through the internet allowing the transport manager to correctly manage his wash budget over more of his fleet."
Being able to consolidate washing bills into one account is a key selling point of the network. "One European fleet operator we spoke to admitted to maintaining accounts and dealing with 300 different truckwash operators over Europe, in order to keep his fleet clean. Imagine having to deal with payments and any disputes with 300 suppliers!"
Another attraction, particularly for smaller operators with limited depot facilities, is that Euro Truckwash can help remove the burden of waste water disposal and environmental compliance. Taylor reckons this will become a major selling point for the network. "All our sites are fully-licensed with the Environmental Agency and we take care of all the waste water disposal properly."
Euro Truckwash already claims to offer the largest capacity network in the UK, with more gantry washes than any other network, and has ambitious plans to grow. "We plan to expand to 2,000 sites over UK & Europe," says Taylor.
"All our sites will be based around existing, independent truckwashes. We're welcoming new sites every day, but we won't restrict sites for being too close together."
The Euro Truckwash network includes:
- Lymm Truckstop on the M6 (five gantry washing bays)
- Junction 1 Truckstop in Rotherham on the M18 (three gantries)
- Detling Truckstop in Kent (two gantries)
There are a further 10 in Belgium and Euro Truckwash's Gary Taylor says: "The intention is to create a whole network across a number of EU countries.
"If any haulier would like to use this service and their local commercial truckwash is not yet a member, they should let us know who they are and we will get in touch with that site. Likewise, if any commercial truckwash would like more information they should e-mail Gary Taylor."
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