very expensive to set up and you have to have certifications , EPA , NSF, state board of health ect ... and when you do it you have to stay on top of things the hardest is to keep employees as its hot and wet work and someone always falls from the top of the trailers and gets hurt ( which is always $$$ and then OHSA visits ) , and by the time your done with expenses thers hardly left for them to make ends ( in chicago they get paid about $12 a hour for hazmat $8for Food grade ) . and one screw up can cost your business . you have to know your stuff . and you also need a very big boiler to keep the water hot and for the dryers , water treatment systems ( clean water to wash and efulants) as alot of municipalities cannot handle the excess water flow or soaps( 30-35K gallons aday average of waste water ) .a 3 phase hook up for the pumps to operate the spinners and transfer systems , and a very clean building set up to keep from freezing in the winter , and some driver services ( bathroom , shower ) as this is what attracts them . and also you have to be able to operate on a 30 day payback period as alot of companies don't pay fror 30 days and if your terms are expensive they will send there drivers out of route ( I have been sent 200 miles out of route to a company that would do business on my companies terms . ) and have to be able to take payment from compdata and others too . drivers don't carry large amounts for cash and don't pay for these services out of pocket . a large lot as you will find out some companies will do drops at your yard and use your yard as a miniterminal ( part of keeping customers )
the local tankwash I use here in town charges about $175 to do a simple washout but if its Kosher ( you must have a rabi come bless the facility and keep current ) or a Coke wash ( trailer must be washed with water of a high temp ( 180+ ) for 4 minutes or more , padded , (people with confined containment licenses ) go inside and wipe the interior out , itt costs alot extra and then you have to watch for the scum who try to get a washout that is chemicals but they say are food grade ( which is not handled at food grade facilities as its hazmat ) like I said if your not experianced in it get some real schooling on it before attempting to do it , as liability for a accidental poisoning from a miswash will be on your shoulders and the lawyers will go after you civally after the company closes . you can try to hook up with a established tankwash company as a partner as some trucking companies I know are looking for investors in this .
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