The Hidden Cost of Limited Wash Locations
For government fleets, limited car wash options create real operational challenges. Relying on a single wash vendor can increase drive time, fuel use, and administrative work. And as fleets grow, those extra minutes and costs add up.
These challenges are common for public-sector fleets operating on limited budgets, where improving service often means improving efficiency rather than adding new expenses.
A Government Fleet Facing These Challenges
The Atlanta Housing Authority operates a large government fleet that supports housing and community services across the city. Before expanding its wash options, the fleet relied on just one car wash location.
This setup made daily operations complicated. Drivers often had to go out of their way to wash vehicles, which increased fuel use and took time away from their regular work. Wash schedules depended on vendor availability, and fleet managers spent extra time coordinating services and tracking usage.
The fleet needed a way to make washing easier while staying within existing budget constraints.
Expanding Wash Options Without Adding Complexity
Instead of continuing to rely on one wash location, Atlanta Housing expanded its options by using a wash network, giving drivers access to many nearby locations across the city and surrounding areas.
This approach allowed the fleet to expand coverage without needing multiple contracts or increasing overall program costs. Drivers could choose nearby wash locations based on where vehicles already operate, rather than traveling to one designated site.
At the same time, wash activity was tracked in one place, and all charges were combined into a single monthly invoice. This reduced manual tracking and made billing easier to manage.
Results: More Coverage, Less Disruption
By expanding its wash network, Atlanta Housing increased access from one wash location to more than 135 locations across the metro area. This led to clear improvements in day-to-day operations:
Reduced travel time and fuel use by washing closer to where vehicles operate
More flexibility for drivers who travel across the city
Easier scheduling with fewer delays
Less administrative work through centralized tracking and invoicing
As one fleet supervisor shared:
“We were losing valuable time either waiting for our detailer or driving out of the way just to get a wash, which cost us significantly in fueling.”
The new wash network increased locations without increasing costs or requiring multiple contracts, keeping fleet operations easy to manage.
Creating a Balanced Fleet Wash Program
As fleets grow and operate across larger areas, relying on a single wash vendor can limit flexibility and increase expenses.
Expanding wash options through a broader vendor network helps fleets reduce unnecessary travel, support drivers more effectively, and simplify administration—while maintaining predictable spending.
For government fleets reviewing their wash programs, location coverage, flexibility, and centralized management are becoming just as important as price.
This article reflects the views of Rynse and does not necessarily represent the views of Government Fleet or Bobit Business Media.
