When you consider taking your big rig to a professional detailer or ordering a mobile detailing service, the first question that pops into your mind is, “How much does truck detailing cost?” In short, the cost depends on your specific needs as a truck owner or fleet owner. There is a list of criteria that determines your detailing bill. Some of these criteria are non-negotiable. Other factors may figure into the final cost based on your unique truck detailing needs which may include the transportation cost if you order the mobile detailing services. Below are the top 6 truck detailing cost determiners.
Truck Detailing Cost: Factors that Dictate Cost
The Non-negotiables
1. Size
The size of your truck is at the top of this list. If you own a light truck model such as a pickup, your truck detailing cost will be much lower than if you own a box trailer truck, for instance. It is worth noting that some detailing services charge for each square foot they clean, while others charge a single price for each model. Also, many services give you the option of detailing either the cab or the trailer.
A detailing service will charge you approximately $130 for a full exterior detailing of your semi-truck. On the other hand, complete detailing (both interior and exterior) will cost no less than $250. A standard pickup truck detailing will cost you between $100 – $150. You can get a box trailer truck detailed for approximately $300 or more. If you are getting a whole fleet detailed, the price per truck will change considerably.
2. The Current Condition of Your Truck
If you have not taken your truck to a wash in a few weeks or even months, it will have accumulated a lot of dirt and grime that has toughened over time. Thus, the detailer will have to put in extra work to getting it all out and giving the truck a superior clean. This hard work, of course, comes with a price. The moment you take the truck into a detailing shop, they will inspect it and let you know whether extra work is needed.
3. The Quality of the Detailing Products
A professional detailer who is committed to giving you the best results for the price you pay will use high quality detailing products. Of course, these will carry an extra cost, but your truck will get a superior clean. A cheap truck wash on the other hand will probably use low quality products that will give “OK” results or just detergents and water. Don’t forget to ask your detailer about the products they use before you hand over your truck.
The Negotiables
1. The Detailing Method
Most truck detailing services will use water and a pressure washer to clean your truck. But, you also have the option of going to a service that uses steam cleaning. Steam gives far superior cleaning results than water, but it is also an innovative method that is more expensive. If you want to experience this superior detailing whilst conserving water and protecting the environment, then steam cleaning is the way to go.
2. Mobile Detailing
Mobile detailing is a hassle-free, convenient way to have your truck detailed at your own place. Most truck detailing services offer on-site truck detailing, especially if there is a truck fleet to be taken care of. Depending on the magnitude of the job, the detailer will send over a crew of two or more employees who will even bring their own water. They will also bring their water reclamation and re-use system to your home.
Moreover, this is in accordance with the environmental laws of your state. In most cases, mobile detailing is recommended if you have a truck fleet that needs to be clean because it’s cheaper for you to pay for the mobile detailing service than to bring the entire fleet to the detailer warehouse. All these will factor into your final truck detailing cost, hence, mobile detailing is more expensive than getting your truck detailed at a fixed site.
3. Detailing Extras
Whether your truck needs a full interior detailing job, or the paint needs waxing or the tires need dressing, detailing services are equipped with the tools and products to meet these demands. There are many benefits to treating your truck to these specialty services. For instance, a good wax will protect the truck paint. A full interior detailing package that comes with vacuuming and shampooing of carpets and upholstery, air sanitation, mold removal, and stain removal is ideal to restore the cabin to its original state. Truck detailing including tire dressing will significantly expand the durability of the tires. They are definitely worth the extra cost.
Making sure you get good value for money when it comes to commercial truck detailing is not the same as hunting down the cheapest deal. It is about doing your research beforehand to get a better idea of what is included in the costs. When it comes to semi truck detailing prices, any additional information makes it easier to work out what is a reasonable amount for you to pay.
Bear in mind, different factors will come into play. In general, semi trucks are made up of a tractor unit with a semi-trailer attachment to transport your freight. There are many different types and sizes. Model designs include box or dry van, car hauler, container, flatbed trailers, and so on. Detailing prices will vary between make and model. Furthermore, certain cleaning procedures and sub-services make a difference to the overall truck detailing cost. Read on to discover what to look out for when researching semi truck detailing prices to make sure you get a good deal.
Key Factors That Determine Semi Truck Detailing Prices
Firstly, it is helpful to have an idea of standard interior and exterior detailing prices. As a rough guide, expect to pay around $150-$199 for box truck interior detailing. Interior cleaning for semi trucks includes vacuuming/shampooing carpets and seats, cleaning vents, cup holders, door panels and interior windows. Exterior detailing can start at around $129 to wash the cab, windows and wheel/rims. These prices are based on just cleaning the tractor. Then factor in the various sub-services including the semi truck mobile detailing. To discover the range of semi truck detailing prices, see below.
Sleeper Cab Semi Trucks
Semi trucks with sleeper cabs make it easier for drivers to catch up on sleep without the need to leave his or her truck and cargo unattended. If you want to sanitize the cabin interior of a semi truck with a sleeping area, detailing prices will rise, because it takes more time and effort to clean a sleeper than a day cab interior. The sleeper cab sub-service can take anything from 3-6 hours depending on the package and detailer. The bed/mattress, refrigerator, tables, closets, and TV should be left in pristine condition after a professional interior clean.
Interior/exterior detailing for a sleeper truck can start from $399 compared to $299 for detailing a day cab inside and out. Generally, expect to pay around $100 more for sleeper cab detailing.
Refrigerator Semi Truck Interior Detailing
Ideally, a trailer washout is done weekly to keep your semi truck clean and disinfected. However, if you are transporting perishable freight at specific temperatures, it is extremely important to deep clean your truck before each journey to avoid cross-contamination. Specialized detailing for refrigerator semi trucks helps to maintain the highest standards of hygiene. It might cost more to do a specialized clean but it is worth every dollar in order to meet environmental and health standards and to protect the cargo. Get the best value for money with the latest technology.
A good way to achieve this is to steam clean your truck. It does more than just clean. It eliminates bacteria and viruses, effectively sanitizing cab and trailer interiors. Note, detailing a car hauler, for example, is going to cost less than detailing a refrigerator truck because the hygiene requirements are different.
Box or Dry Semi Truck Headliner and Stain Removal
Cleaning the headliner can bump up semi truck detailing prices, especially if the headliner is particularly grubby and needs a deeper clean to remove stains. Steam interior cleaning for your semi truck is perfect for this job. Using steam technology will get rid of stains, marks, fingerprints without over-saturating the problem area. Maybe the fabric also needs repairing to restore its original appearance? This headliner sub-service in addition to standard interior detailing will probably put up the price by about $50-$60.
Wax Treatments for Semi Truck Exteriors
Standard semi truck exterior detailing includes the removal of bugs, dirt, grime and other contaminants. Doors and seals, windows, tires and rims are also washed and cleaned. However, expect to pay higher semi truck detailing prices when you need to protect the paintwork or enhance the shine of your truck. This takes more than soap and water. Applying a wax sealant will make a visible difference. Applying it every 4-6 months is not only good for paintwork but also protects the value of your semi. Prepare to pay $100-$200 extra for a high-quality wax treatment, cab only.
A well-maintained vehicle helps to secure a better resale price. If you have the budget, you might also want to pay for an additional auto paint glaze treatment before waxing to give your semi truck a sparkling shine.
Mobile Detailing Service vs Location-Based Detailing
Mobile detailing is a great option if you need to maximize your working hours and get your truck back on the road as quickly as possible. Having a detailer come directly to you can cost more than location-based detailing but you are paying for a more convenient, time-saving service. LAZRTEK‘s Mobile Detailing Service will steam clean your truck on-site or wherever is most convenient for you. Semi-truck mobile detailing prices can range from $50-$100 for a basic exterior wash and from $150-$200 for a full interior detail.
Semi Truck Detailing Prices of an Experienced Detailer
If you want to get value for money, it is often worth paying a bit more for the services of a detailer who has several years of experience and also uses recommended semi truck detailing supplies to achieve superior results. Ideally, a detailer will use products that are not only effective at cleaning your truck but also environmentally friendly. An experienced detailer may base his or her prices on an hourly rate that can range from $100-$200 for 1-2 hours of work.
Brand Reputation and Quality of Service
There is a saying, you get what you pay for. Try to bear this in mind when you are researching a reputable truck detailing service. If the price of detailing matches its quality, then most of us are happy to pay the asking price, even if it costs more than the cheapest deal. How do you know if higher semi truck detailing prices are worth it? Seek out businesses with a strong brand reputation and positive customer recommendations.
Some of the top detailing packages range from $700-$900 for a sleeper cab semi truck (interior and exterior). This includes waxing, detailing engine and bay, headlight restoration, compound and polish, degreasing and shining tires and more to achieve showroom detailing standards.
Semi Truck Custom-Built Packages
Are you willing to pay more for a bespoke detailing service? Professional detailers are recognizing that customers now want a personalized detailing experience when it comes to their semi trucks. If there is excess soiling inside the truck or you want odor elimination for smoke damage or pet hair removal, be prepared to pay more than standard-package prices. Extra detailing for the engine? It can be done, at a cost. If you want paint correction or paint protection, this can also be factored into your bespoke package, see below.
Semi Truck Detailing Prices for Paint Correction
Oxidized or dull-looking semi trucks will benefit from specialized treatments such as paint correction or a ceramic coating. Expect to pay anything from $800-$1200 to get superior results. This may include a clay bar treatment to get rid of stubborn contaminants, machine compounding and polishing or even a wet sanding to remove obvious swirl marks for the ultimate glossy, scratch-free finish.
Conclusion
Be mindful that some semi truck detailing prices are for the tractor only, not the trailer. Many companies charge per foot for trailer detailing. This can range from $8 to $30 per foot. Prices also depend on the condition of your truck and the time it takes to clean it. Heavy exterior degreasing is going to cost you extra as will excessive oil and dirt stains on interiors. You might be able to save some money by purchasing a combined exterior and interior detailing package, instead of purchasing them separately. It is worth checking if there are any deals.
Learn more about LAZRTEK Shreveport truck wash mobile detailing services and schedule an appointment with us. We can tailor our professional detailing packages including mobile detailing to meet your requirements. You can be sure we will deliver an exceptional, value-for-money service.
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Truck mobile detailing with a professional mobile detailing service, with the add-ons, will cost you upwards of $150. If you are interested in having a fleet of trucks detailed, you can arrange a contract with the LAZRTEK at a special bundled rate. Ultimately, it is important to remember not to settle for unbelievably low or high prices. For a quality truck detailing job at a reasonable rate, call LAZRTEK Shreveport at 318-347-2188 or visit our website.
