How do I check an industrial cleaning company’s vacuum trucks and pressure washers?

Start with a unit-by-unit list: age, hours or kilometres, last major service and who owns it. Ask for the maintenance file for each truck, covering pumps, valves, tank interior and hydraulics. Look for corrosion inside the tank, leaking seals and worn hoses. A pump that has been rebuilt more than once is a flag. Ask which units are used most and which sit idle.

For pressure washers, run them at working pressure and watch for pulsing, leaks and overheating. Check the hoses, lances and nozzles, and ask about the trailers and heaters that go with them. Request purchase and repair invoices to see how much has gone into keeping them working.

Next, think about the jobs. Some contracts may call for a particular type of truck or equipment, so ask which jobs would stop if a unit failed, and whether the company rents extra units at busy times. Confirm that the sale includes every unit on the list and that none are leased. An independent mechanic and a pump specialist can inspect the key units for you. Your accountant can show how repairs and depreciation appear in the books. Ask also how drivers and operators are trained on each unit, and whether the company keeps spares or relies on rentals when a truck is in the shop.

Key takeaways

• List every unit with age, usage, ownership and last major service.
• Test pumps and washers under real working conditions.
• Find out which jobs would stop if a key unit failed.