Washing your truck just got smarter

3 MinutesBy NZ Trucking magazineAugust 22, 2016


Above: Greg McQuaid (L), Director of Clean Co Hamilton shows Ryan, Driver for Stevenson Construction Materials the features of the new smartphone app.

A new smartphone app for truck drivers has just been released, designed to make the task of getting your truck washed that little bit easier. 

The first of its kind smartphone app from Waikato Truck Wash (Clean Co Hamilton) gives drivers instant access to a live CCTV camera to check queues at the Hamilton facility, local weather in the region, online bookings for specialist services, an electronic loyalty card, the ability to rate the quality of the truck wash they just got, along with live feeds to relevant online trucking news and video services from local publications DieselTalk and NZ Trucking magazine.

Company director Greg McQuaid has a background in information technology and developed the app in-house.

“Even in the world of truck washing, some clever technology can make a difference for customers. We listened to what drivers told us about how their working day unfolds, and identified some things we can do to make getting washed here easier, and technology is in place now to deliver lots of these straight to a smartphone,” said McQuaid.

The task of washing trucks can be a juggling act between run schedules, weather forecasts, and wait times at a truck wash, all of which play a part in drivers decision making. With many drivers thinking the same way, fine weather at the end of the week can see a stampede of dirty trucks arrive at the nearest truck wash.

“We realise it‘s an important part of the transport business to keep the fleet looking its best in front of customers and displaying their own brand in the best possible light, and trying to do this while staying on schedule and not driving immediately into a rainstorm is the trick,” said McQuaid.

“We have focused our app around three key areas: checking if ‘now‘ is a good time, rewards and feedback so we maintain a positive and responsive relationship with our customers, and utilities for the drivers – that being news, future bookings and contact mechanisms to make dealing with us easy.”

The app is free, and initially available for Android only, but an iPhone version is due for release soon. To get the link to install the app, email hamilton@cleanco.co.nz

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