Fleet Cleaning 101: Traffic Film and Truck Wash Tips
A fleet is, before anything else, an investment, so naturally, you want to protect it from damage for as long as possible. When you care for your vehicles properly, they reflect your professional image, build customer trust, and even help you meet compliance standards. Not to mention that regular cleaning will extend the lifespan of your fleet. Long-term damage? Not on your watch!
One of the biggest challenges fleet managers is traffic film build—a stubborn layer of road grime, oil, and exhaust residue that won’t rinse off with water and, if left, dulls paintwork and traps contaminants.
This is where HLS Supplies comes in. We pair the right process with professional-grade products so you can remove traffic film quickly and safely, keeping your lorries and HGVs clean, protected, and looking presentable.
What Is Traffic Film and Why Does It Matter?
It's the invisible enemy of fleet and truck cleanliness. Sticky and stubborn, traffic film consists of dirt, oil, exhaust particles, grease, and road salt. It clings tightly to vehicle surfaces, so it's really hard to remove it with water alone.
The problem is that, if left untreated, traffic film can:
- Damage your paintwork: Over time, the finish and shine will dull.
- Accelerated corrosion: This is particularly true if you keep the vehicles in areas exposed to salt during winter.
- Shorten the lifespan of the vehicle: Traffic film can allow grime to eat into surfaces over time.
So, as you can see, learning to keep it at bay will prevent costly long-term damage and repair headaches. Arm yourself with the tips and tricks of proper cleaning, and you'll have a smart maintenance strategy in your hands and a vehicle that performs better, lasts longer, and represents you in the best possible way.
Essential Fleet Cleaning Tips
At HLS Supplies, we have a variety of products to help you keep your trucks spotless and pristine at all times. Our biodegradable, non-caustic formulas are prepared for heavy-duty cleaning, delivering powerful performance against stubborn dirt and grime, while being kind to the environment. And if you need extra strength, some of our more powerful caustic concentrations can provide a robust solution for the toughest cleaning tasks.
Whichever product you opt for, always follow the application guidelines. That said, these general steps will help you achieve consistent, professional results every time:
Pre-rinse:
Before applying any detergent, give the lorries a gentle pre-rinse with a low-pressure, wide-fan spray to remove loose grit. This reduces the risk of scratching and lets the detergent work much more effectively.
Pre-rinse top-down with a low-pressure, wide-fan nozzle (keep 30–50 cm from the surface). This clears loose grit, reduces scratching, and allows the detergent to attack the bonded traffic film rather than mud
Tip: Rinse the vehicle with cold water to cool the paintwork if you wash it on a hot, sunny day. This will prevent the cleaning solution from drying on the surface.
Choose the right cleaner for the job:
Some of our fleet cleaning solutions, such as the
FW-75 Fleet Wash TFR Caustic, are powerful cleaners designed for heavy-duty use. This will be ideal if you're dealing with large fleets that regularly perform duties on the road.
On the other hand, the
PW-50 Power Wash—High Strength TFR is a highly concentrated solution designed for high-performance washing and pressure washers.
And finally, products like our
TW-25—Truck Wash TFR Non-Caustic are a safe but tough option that helps you remove dirt from your fleet without damaging your surfaces.
Dilution & Application:
Each product we offer is concentrated and designed to be diluted based on the level of grime. Lighter cleaning will require a weaker mix, but heavy dirt will need a stronger dilution. If you have heavily soiled areas like the wheels, tyres, and undercarriages, we recommend you pre-treat these areas with a concentrated TFR and scrub with a non-metal brush if need be.
Then, dilute the solution you've chosen following the product guidelines. For example, our traffic film remover can be applied up to 100:1 dilution and can be used to remove traffic film, grease, oil, diesel, smoke, bitumen, and road grime. You can apply it by hand, using a brush, a snow foam lance, a pump sprayer, or a pressure washer set between 2 – 4% for general cleaning.
Give the product time to work and break the traffic film, but don't overdo it! Do not allow the solution to dry on the surface of your vehicle.
Tip: Always work from the bottom of the truck upwards.
Rinse & Finish:
Once the cleaner has done its job, rinse thoroughly from the top of the truck downwards to remove all residue and prevent streaking.
Immediately after, dry the vehicle with a soft cloth, so no water spots appear. This is especially important in hot weather.
Some Additional Truck Cleaning Tips:
1. Clean the wheels and tyres first so no dirt is splashed on the clean parts of the truck afterwards.
2. Use the right brushes. Soft bristles are best if you're working on hard-to-remove dirt.
3. After washing, you can go the extra mile by applying a protective wax, sealant or hydrophobic coating such as our Platinum – Quick Detailing Spray or
Speed Seal – Super Hydrophobic Coating to protect the paintwork and bring out its shine.
4. Do not forget the undercarriage. That's where thick mud, grease, and other grime accumulate the most.
5. Whenever possible, aim to wash your vehicles away from direct sunlight so that the chemicals don't dry too quickly on the surface.
Safety and Environmental Best Practices
Now that you have the supplies and the technique, it's equally important that you stay safe at all times. And with HLS Supplies, that's all handled. Our Non-caustic products are sustainable and safe, environmentally responsible, and have eco-friendly formulas that are fully biodegradable.
However, if you're using caustic or other high-strength fleet cleaning solutions, make sure you handle them properly by:
- Protecting yourself: Wear gloves and goggles when handling the concentrate. Follow our product dilution guidelines for optimum safety.
- Disposing responsibly: Wastewater should be managed carefully to prevent harmful runoff into drains and natural waterways. We recommend investing in a proper disposal system, especially if you're a business, to stay compliant with environmental regulations.
Protect yourself and protect the environment by making sustainable choices.
How to Build a Fleet & Truck Cleaning Routing
Consistency is key in everything, and your fleet maintenance is no exception. The frequency of washes, though, will depend on several key factors:
- Weather conditions: During winter, road salt and grit may require you to wash your vehicle more often to prevent corrosion. In summer, on the other hand, less frequent cleaning may suffice unless the vehicles travel through dusty and dirty environments.
- Road conditions: If your fleet operates on the motorway, it will generally have fewer problems with dirt than those in construction and off-road environments. For the latter, more regular cleaning is recommended.
- Vehicle usage: If your trucks have high mileage or you use them daily, they'll naturally need proper care and washing more often than those with lighter schedules.
To keep things consistent, fleet managers often build cleaning into weekly or fortnightly maintenance checks.
Fleet Cleaning Made Simple with HLS Supplies
HLS Supplies keeps your vehicles' longevity, performance, and professional image. With the right products and a consistent cleaning routine, you can stay on track and preserve the quality of your business at all times.
We make it simple with trusted, professional-grade solutions that deliver outstanding results. And if you ever need guidance,
our team is here to help. Whatever your fleet’s needs, we’ve got you covered.
