Tips from a pressure washing consultant to take advantage of the rail industry
In this tough economy, it may be surprising to hear that railcar and locomotive pressure washing is a lucrative market. In the past, rail companies did the work in-house, but today most companies outsource the work to a pressure washing company. According to Paul Horsley, professional pressure washing consultant and president of Scotts Pressure Wash in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, it is a market that pressure washing companies should seriously consider tapping into:
“The rail industry in North America is much larger than most people think and, like other modes of transportation, rail companies need pressure washing services,” says Horsley. “Statistics from the American Railroad Association show that there are more than 1.59 million freight cars and 24,143 locomotives in service in Canada, Mexico and the United States. You can bet that a good number of those cars travel through your state in one state! any day! “
From tanker truck graffiti removal to van dry sweeping to locomotive degreasing, the industry offers a source of opportunity for any pressure washing company willing to go the extra mile to build a customer base. and secure contracts.
Although adding the rail industry to your list of services may seem intimidating, most of what you know about pressure washer trucks can be applied to rail cars. With a little extra research and some advice from a pressure washing consultant, working on the railroad is a completely achievable and profitable goal.
This is what you need to know before preparing an offer:
The type of wagon you need to clean. Ask your customer if there are any company or industry specific regulations that you should be aware of. For example, when washing locomotives, power washing the disc brakes can cause corrosion and lead to brake failure. This is a major safety risk, and the American Railroad Association has written guidelines dictating that waterproof tarps must cover the brakes before beginning any pressure washing.
Rental. Where will the work be done? Who is the owner of the land? Is there a source of water available? What are the environmental constraints and where will the wastewater be disposed of? Sewage recovery requires careful planning: trucking water, having access to an elevator to work on top of the wagons, ensuring that all pressure washing units are operating properly and equipped with the appropriate chemicals, and Most importantly, provide adequate safety equipment to protect workers. from excessive chemical spray and fall hazards.
Timeline. Horsley says tight deadlines are expected on rail industry contracts as they need their cars back in service as soon as possible. It is not unusual to be asked to clean an entire train unit, consisting of 125 cars, in three days. Horsley also explains the importance of visiting the site in advance:
“Although I did my due diligence and visited the rural site in advance, I never considered how different that site would be after a period of heavy rain. We only had a short window of opportunity to complete the work, and due to the rain, we incurred large Difficulty getting equipment on and off site. To say it was a challenge to complete the job on time and on budget would be an understatement! Since then, I have learned that it is a good idea to build an additional day on offer, to allow for unforeseen circumstances “.
After speaking with a pressure washing consultant and having a system in place, you are ready to begin cleaning railcars. The most common chemicals used in wagon cleaning are sulfuric acid, ammonium bifluoride, and hydrofluoric acid. Cleaning uses a six-step process:
1) Clean the ceiling: apply chemical wash and rinse
2) Clean the sides and the undercarriage
3) At the same time, start sewage recovery
4) Remove graffiti, which may require manual scrubbing.
5) Apply degreaser, if necessary
6) Rinse entire unit from top to bottom, including wheels and undercarriage.
7) Repeat. To repeat. To repeat.
Rail-related cleanup opportunities include:
– Vans (pressure washing exteriors. Steam / dry sweeping interiors).
– Tanks (Exterior pressure washing and graffiti removal)
– Grain Hoppers (Manual removal of accumulated debris on end covers and pressure washing)
– Locomotives (Exterior pressure washing with special attention to the engine compartment)
“Once a system is installed, the work is done relatively quickly,” says Horsley, who is also a longtime member of the Pressure Washers of North America (PWNA). For more information on train cleaning, contact your local pressure washing consultant or sign up for a two-day workshop at PWNA by visiting http://www.pwna.org.