Cleaning Concrete off Ready Mix trucks: The MYTHS and TRUTHS:

For years, everyone knew the only way to clean concrete off a truck (ready mix truck) was with an acid, more specifically, a hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. That trend went on for many years.  Although it worked, yes it absolutely takes off the concrete off the truck; drivers hated cleaning the trucks due to the odor, the skin irritation, etc. Plus, what most drivers and companies did not know was what the acid was doing to their trucks. The acid they were using were going into the pores of the trucks and causing corrosion and rust without anyone knowing until it was too late. But what was another option, hydrochloric acid was the only product on the market that would clean the truck.  But as time went on, companies realized the acid they were using were damaging the wiring, the hopper and chute areas, and of course the cabs. Companies started to go to truck manufacturers like Mack saying it was their truck and paint that was causing their problems. That is so false.  It was the acid that was causing the corrosion, the rust, the constant replacing of parts that the companies encountered.  The owner of Mack at the time put out a competition to any truck wash/concrete remover company to come up with a cleaner that would not hurt their trucks in any way.  More on that later.   The truth of the matter is, every time you use an acid based product to remove concrete, the acid is getting into the pores and causing more corrosion and rust and you won’t realize that until the corrosion and rust comes to the surface, at the point it’s too late. So for all these years, companies were forced to use an acid that harmed the equipment, their employees as well as the environment.  Imagine a product that you wouldn’t have those concerns. The truth of the matter is there are a company and a line of products that is safe for the entire truck, the employees, and the environment.  Part two of this blog will expose the companies making claims that are false and they ignore them and pay yearly fines to the government because, well, they basically don’t care. At the end of the day, just because someone tells you their product are the best thing on the market and the best thing since sliced bread and they have literature to prove, doesn’t make TRUE!!!

Now I want to explain how there are companies on the market, many/most of them, that make claims that are false.  They claim they are a safer acid, that they are biodegradable, that they don’t contain hydrochloric/muriatic acid; which is true, but they contain phosphoric, glycolic, or an acid blend acid. SO technically they are not lying, but they are because all acids are harsh, dangerous, and cause damage to trucks, employees and the environment.  Any company that claims they have a safe acid and is user friendly, well that is a lie unless their HMIS score is a triple zero, and I know for a fact that no other company can make that claim. That is the only way to have a truly safe acid.  What’s even funnier is they make all these claims and have literature that claims they are safe. BUT, one thing they don’t tell you is to look at the product label.  That is a HUGE mistake, on the label it tells the truth about the product, the restrictions of when you can and not use the product, testing an area before you use it on the entire truck. If the product was that safe, why would you need to try it on a small sample area?  A great question I love to ask clients is would you use your current product to use on your personal vehicle to clean off any concrete splatter, etc.  The looks I receive says it all.  If you aren’t willing to use your current product on your own vehicle, why would you use it on a truck that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars?  Another question to ask is which companies (Mack, Volvo, McNeilus, Azko Nobel, etc.) which ones they endorse. If they won’t endorse a product, why would you want to use it on your fleet?  Who wouldn’t want to use a product that not only is endorsed by those companies but also is written in their warranties NOT to void their warranty if you use the products they recommend more on that shortly?  Also, when a company has restrictions of when and when you cannot use their product that has to raise a red flag.  If a product is as good as it claims, you should be able to use it at any time, no matter how hot or cold it is and no matter if it’s sunny or overcast.  Those restrictions make me laugh.

Now, finally, some good news. What if there was a product that cleaned the concrete off your trucks didn’t hurt your employees AND was safe for the environment.  What if there was a product that not only Mack and McNeilus have endorsed but are written into Mack and Volvo’s warranty that if you use these products your warranty will not be voided. Believe it or not, there is a product line that is PATENTED (we’ve been taken to court many times by other companies claiming that our claims are false, and we’ have won every time), that is 100% acid free, non-corrosive, removes concrete and grease, non-skin and eye irritant, no PPE is required, although we aren’t here to tell you to change your safety protocols, products that are safe on chrome, aluminum, glass, and paint, that are OSHA and EPA compliant, and is 100% biodegradable within 10 days, no more paint jobs required, no pointless repairs, no more injuries, no more fumes, AND NO MORE ACID.  Well, it’s true, there finally is and has been a product line that can make and prove all those claims.  Synpro Products are all acid free, clean concrete off your mixer trucks, endorsed by Mack and McNeilus, are written into Mack and Volvos warranties, and are safe for your equipment, employees and the environment.  We are also the only OEM approved truck wash and concrete remover on the market.  We have EPA approval for direct ground release; no other company can make that claim, at least legally. No matter what companies tell you about their “Safe” acid, at the end of the day, they are still selling you an acid, which is still hurting your equipment, employees, and the environment.  SO when choosing a truck wash/concrete remover for your fleet, make sure you do you research, ask the right questions, READ THE LABELS, and make the right choice for your company, both for the short term and the long term.  BTW, we were the company Mack’s owner said was the best product to use on their trucks.