Winter Fleet Wash Prep: How CTW-100 Removes Road Salt, Brine, and Winter Road Film

Late September is an appropriate time for fleet operators to establish winter wash procedures. As temperatures decline, commercial trucks and trailers are exposed to road salt, liquid brine, sand, diesel exhaust, brake dust, grease, and persistent road film. Without a defined cleaning schedule, these contaminants can accumulate on painted panels, aluminum wheels, fuel tanks, frames, suspension components, and undercarriages.

CTW-100 from Pro-Chemical Products is an extra heavy-duty truck and trailer wash concentrate formulated for the removal of road film, brake dust, exhaust deposits, bug residue, and other high-load traffic contamination. When incorporated into a controlled two-step wash program, CTW-100 serves as the alkaline detergent stage for winter fleet maintenance.

Why Winter Deicers Create a Corrosion Risk

Winter road treatments commonly include:

• Sodium chloride, or rock salt.
• Magnesium chloride brine.
• Calcium chloride deicer.
• Sand and salt mixtures.
• Liquid anti-icing brines applied before snow or freezing rain.

These materials are effective because dissolved salts lower the freezing point of water. The same chemistry creates a concern for fleet equipment. Chloride-containing moisture can function as an electrolyte, allowing corrosion reactions to occur on steel, aluminum, galvanized components, chrome, fasteners, and other vehicle metals.

Magnesium chloride and calcium chloride are particularly persistent because they are hygroscopic. Hygroscopic materials attract and retain moisture from the surrounding air. A vehicle may appear dry while a thin chloride-containing film remains active on the surface. That film can rehydrate during humid conditions, overnight temperature changes, or subsequent exposure to moisture.

The Minnesota Stormwater Manual’s review of road salt and deicing chemicals identifies chloride-based deicers as having a high potential to initiate and accelerate corrosion. The same resource identifies hygroscopic properties as an additional corrosion concern for calcium chloride and magnesium chloride.

The corrosion risk applies to more than visible body panels. High-exposure areas include:

• Frame rails and crossmembers.
• Trailer landing gear and support structures.
• Aluminum fuel tanks.
• Aluminum and chrome wheels.
• Brake components and wheel-end hardware.
• Electrical connectors and brackets.
• Suspension components.
• Undercarriage cavities where salt-laden water can remain trapped.
• Lower trailer panels and rear impact structures.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s deicing material BMP also identifies salt as highly corrosive and recommends regular washing of equipment after exposure. Wash water containing salt and other contaminants should be captured, treated, or recycled in accordance with applicable requirements.

Why a Regular Fleet Wash Program Is Required

A single end-of-season wash is insufficient for vehicles operating through repeated winter events. Chloride residues can accumulate in layers with oil, sand, exhaust soot, and grease. This composite contamination is more difficult to remove than isolated salt residue.

Regular washing assists in reducing:

• The duration of chloride contact with metal surfaces.
• Moisture retention in undercarriages and seams.
• Accumulation of oily road film.
• Visibility problems around wheels and chassis components.
• Premature deterioration of finishes and protective coatings.
• Appearance-related reductions in resale value.

The EPA’s winter road salt publication documents the broader effects of road salt, including corrosion of cars, trucks, bridges, and infrastructure. For fleet operators, the financial impact can include increased maintenance requirements, reduced equipment presentation, and accelerated depreciation.

A scheduled wash program does not eliminate corrosion risk. It reduces exposure by removing contaminated moisture and suspended soil before those materials remain in contact with vehicle surfaces for extended periods.

How CTW-100 Fits Into a Two-Step Winter Wash

CTW-100 is an alkaline truck and trailer wash concentrate. Its intended cleaning targets include:

• Road film.
• Diesel exhaust deposits.
• Brake dust.
• Grease and oily soil.
• Bug deposits.
• General traffic contamination.
• Dirt bonded to petroleum-based films.

Alkaline detergents are particularly appropriate for oily and organic contamination. Surfactants assist in wetting the surface and suspending soil, while alkaline builders support the emulsification and removal of grease and traffic film.

Winter fleet contamination is rarely composed of one soil type. Mineral residues and oxidation may coexist with grease, soot, and salt. For this reason, a two-step procedure is frequently more comprehensive than a single detergent application.

Stage One: Acidic Presoak

An acidic presoak may be utilized to address mineral deposits, oxidation, and inorganic components of road contamination. Pro-Chemical Products offers a commercial-strength Heavy-Duty Aluminum Brightener for appropriate fleet washing applications.

The acidic stage may be applied to compatible aluminum components, wheels, tanks, and other surfaces when the vehicle condition and product label permit. Acidic products require strict controls because hydrofluoric and sulfuric acid chemistry can present serious hazards and can damage sensitive surfaces if incorrectly applied.

The following controls should be established:

• Required personal protective equipment.
• Label-directed dilution.
• Surface compatibility testing.
• Short, controlled dwell time.
• Prevention of product drying.
• Adequate ventilation.
• Runoff containment and management.
• Separation from incompatible chemicals.

The acidic stage should never be mixed directly with CTW-100 or any other detergent in a chemical container.

Stage Two: Alkaline CTW-100 Detergent

After the acidic presoak has performed its intended function, CTW-100 can be applied as the alkaline detergent stage when specified by the product procedure. In some operations, the manufacturer’s label may direct the reverse sequence. The applicable product label, technical guidance, and surface-specific procedure should control the order of application.

CTW-100 assists in:

• Emulsifying grease and oily road film.
• Releasing exhaust soot and carbon-based soil.
• Loosening brake dust bonded to traffic residue.
• Suspending dirt for removal during rinsing.
• Reducing manual brushing requirements.
• Improving cleaning consistency across multiple fleet units.

CTW-100 should be applied at the appropriate dilution for the soil load, equipment, water conditions, and vehicle surfaces. Dwell time should be sufficient for chemical action but controlled to prevent drying. Thorough rinsing is essential because residual detergent, dissolved chloride, and loosened soil should not be permitted to remain on metal surfaces.

Recommended Winter Fleet Wash Sequence

A repeatable procedure can be adapted for fleet wash bays, mobile operators, and maintenance facilities.

1. Inspect the unit.
   Identify painted panels, decals, polished aluminum, uncoated aluminum, chrome, rubber, glass, and damaged coatings.

2. Perform a preliminary rinse.
   Use appropriate pressure and water volume to remove loose sand, salt, and road debris before chemical application.

3. Apply the prescribed acidic presoak.
   Concentrate on mineral deposits, oxidized aluminum, wheel areas, lower panels, and other affected surfaces. Follow all label and SDS requirements.

4. Apply CTW-100 according to the specified sequence.
   Use the product at the recommended dilution. The acidic and alkaline products should be applied separately and should not be mixed.

5. Maintain controlled dwell time.
   Work in sections when necessary. Direct sunlight, wind, and elevated surface temperatures can accelerate drying.

6. Rinse from the top downward.
   Give additional attention to wheel wells, frame rails, crossmembers, trailer seams, landing gear, and other undercarriage areas.

7. Perform a visual inspection.
   Remaining road film may indicate insufficient coverage, incorrect dilution, inadequate water volume, premature drying, or a contamination type requiring supplemental chemistry.

8. Repeat undercarriage rinsing regularly.
   A low-pressure, high-volume undercarriage rinse can remove chloride-laden water from cavities without unnecessarily forcing contaminated water into seals, seams, or electrical areas.

Undercarriage Rinsing and Runoff Controls

Undercarriage rinsing should be treated as a scheduled maintenance activity rather than an optional finishing step. Salt and brine can remain on surfaces that are not visible from a normal standing position. Lower frame areas, suspension components, wheel ends, and trailer structures should receive adequate water coverage during each winter wash.

Runoff also requires procedural control. Wash water may contain:

• Chloride from road salt and brine.
• Petroleum residues.
• Brake dust and suspended metals.
• Detergent components.
• Soil and sediment.
• Grease and organic contamination.

The EPA deicing material guidance recommends measures that prevent salt-containing wash water from entering downstream waters without appropriate capture, treatment, or recycling. Local stormwater, sanitary sewer, and industrial discharge requirements should be reviewed before a fleet wash program is implemented.

Where a downstream wash-bay sanitation procedure is required, commercial-strength sodium hypochlorite may be considered for appropriate sanitation applications. Sodium hypochlorite should never be mixed with acidic products, including acidic aluminum brighteners. Chemical compatibility, ventilation, labeling, storage, and SDS requirements must be maintained.

Packaging Options for Fleet Operations

Pro-Chemical Products supplies commercial cleaning chemistry in refillable bulk sizing appropriate for different fleet volumes:

• 275-gallon totes.
• 330-gallon totes.
• 55-gallon drums.
• 15-gallon drums.
• 5-gallon pails.
• 4 × 1-gallon cases.

Bulk purchasing can reduce packaging waste and simplify chemical inventory management for high-volume truck wash operations. Smaller containers remain appropriate for mobile contractors, limited-use facilities, and Residential and Commercial customers with lower consumption requirements.

The Pro-Chemical Products line includes Fleet Wash products, Cleaners, Degreasers, Soft Wash/Pressure Washing chemistry, and auto detailing products. The company also provides custom formulation services for industry-specific cleaning requirements.

Preparing a Fleet Before the First Winter Event

A late-September preparation program should include:

• Inventorying CTW-100 and other required wash chemicals.
• Inspecting proportioners, injectors, hoses, pumps, and nozzles.
• Establishing label-compliant dilution procedures.
• Training personnel on acid, alkaline, and sodium hypochlorite incompatibilities.
• Scheduling recurring undercarriage rinses.
• Reviewing runoff capture and discharge procedures.
• Inspecting aluminum wheels, tanks, frames, fasteners, and electrical components.
• Documenting vehicle condition before the winter season.
• Establishing a consistent post-wash inspection standard.

Pro-Chemical Products is a family-owned and operated Chattanooga, Tennessee manufacturer established in 1971. Its product portfolio supports fleet washing, pressure washing, auto detailing, industrial cleaning, and other maintenance applications. Custom formulation services are also available when a standard product does not match a specific soil profile, equipment configuration, or operating requirement.

The company’s storefront is located at 702 East 13th Street, Chattanooga, TN 37408. Product and purchasing inquiries can be directed to 423-265-4966, or submitted through the Pro-Chemical Products contact page. Company history and formulation capabilities are described on the About Pro-Chemical Products page.

Conclusion

Road salt, magnesium chloride brine, and calcium chloride residue should be treated as active fleet maintenance concerns. Their chloride content, moisture retention, and corrosive behavior can affect steel, aluminum, chrome, wheels, trailers, and undercarriages.

A controlled two-step program (acidic presoak followed by alkaline CTW-100, or the reverse sequence when directed by the applicable label) addresses both mineral and organic components of winter road film. Regular undercarriage rinsing, complete chemical removal, appropriate runoff management, and consistent inspection further assist in limiting corrosion exposure.

With CTW-100 incorporated into a documented Fleet Wash schedule, commercial operators can maintain cleaner equipment, improve wash consistency, and preserve fleet appearance and asset value throughout the winter season.