A truck fleet’s identity and image are increasingly important for fleet equipment executives to address. Effective paint choices are not only an integral part of a fleet’s identity, quality finishes lead to longer lasting appearance and can enhance overall vehicle durability as well.
There are many fleet trucks on the road today that are identified by their color long before you can read the name on the side of the cab or trailer. Perhaps one of the best examples is Schneider National Inc. One of the largest truckload carriers in North America, with 14,000 tractors and 40,000 trailers in operation, the company’s trademark orange vehicles cover more than five million loaded miles every day out of 36 locations in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
“Having a recognizable fleet allows motorists and the general public to identify Schneider National for reasons outside of our orange-colored tractors and trailers,” says Janet Bonkowski, public relations manager. “When they see Schneider orange on the road they know that the driver is trained to the highest safety standards in the industry, and that our fleet is committed to providing a high level of service to customers.”
The color of Schneider’s fleet is legendary. While stories about its origin and adoption may vary, the most notable tale comes from former CEO and President, Don Schneider, the son of the company’s founder. Schneider was known to say that the fleet color was selected because orange is linked to safety and it’s the easiest color to see on the road.
Regardless of how and why “Omaha Orange” became the color of the Schneider fleet, there is no question that sticking with one color to maintain an identity has value for the carrier. “Painting your fleet one color is similar to branding,” Bonkowski notes. “When the public and your customers interact with your brand, you want them to think of your core values. At Schneider, we believe in safety first and always, and when motorists, fleet managers and even competitors see our orange fleet on the highway we want that experience to be synonymous with safety and service excellence.”
Rolling billboards
John Lewis, brand manager for commercial transportation at PPG Commercial Coatings, points out several things that fleets should consider when making a paint choice. “Requirements for trucks are more stringent than for autos,” he says, “because commercial vehicles travel large numbers of miles and serve as rolling billboards for their companies. Of special importance is a paint’s durability and resistance to wear factors. When it comes to refinishing as well, color match is important for helping ensure a high resale value.”
Other refinishing issues related to paint, according to Lewis, include a product’s characteristics that contribute to making effective repairs as efficiently as possible, limiting downtime for fleets. Also important is the availability of a certified repair network across the wide geographic areas that on-highway fleets cover.
PPG’s commercial vehicles coatings include Delfleet Evolution, a premium paint system for meeting the needs and specifications of vehicle manufacturers and fleet maintenance operations. Ready for clearcoat in as little as 30 minutes, Delfleet Evolution FBCH Polyurethane Basecoat is a fast drying, high-solids basecoat available in over 40,000 solid, metallic, pearl and OEM color formulas.
Designed to complement Delfleet Evolution, Delfleet Essential is a single-stage paint system. Offered at an economical price, and easy to apply; it is designed especially for refurbishing older vehicles.
Save time and money
At Sherwin-Williams, OE Fleet Industrial Product Specialist Luis Morales says it is important to select the correct coatings for commercial vehicles for a number of reasons. “Choosing the right paint, additives and hardeners is a matter of knowing what a fleet needs and making choices that are best for each application,” he states. “A quality finish will address durability and image concerns, and that saves time and money down the road.”
Offered by Sherwin-Williams is its GENESIS Fleet Refinishing System for OEM and fleet applications. Available in base coat and single-stage systems for use on Class 3 through 8 trucks, the finish comes in over 30,000 solid and metallic colors. The GENESIS product line, which is accompanied by a complete line of undercoats that are specific to various metals, also includes additives, primers and sealers, and hardeners.
Complete finish system
Fran Cassidy, segment manager at DuPont Commercial Finishes offers several finish choice factors that will lead to satisfaction with a vehicle’s durability and the image it portrays. “Even the best basecoats and topcoats will not provide an optimum appearance and superior durability if they are not used as part of a complete finish system that includes undercoats,” he relates. “Undercoats are critical to helping prevent corrosion and enhancing the gloss of the basecoat or topcoat.”
Primers and sealers, Cassidy adds, serve as the backbone for the finish system and are essential for ensuring a long-lasting finish. “Using high-quality primers and sealers can make a significant impact on overall durability,” he says. “Quality primers block moisture and other elements from reaching the substrate. Sealers provide two equally important benefits –– an additional barrier layer and a uniform base of color.
Cassidy goes on to note that high-quality topcoats deliver much more than just color. They also block harmful UV rays and provide another layer of protection against corrosion. In addition, using a clearcoat is an effective way to limit the harmful effects of chemicals, weathering and abrasion, and makes it easier to keep the vehicle’s surface clean.
One other key to any durable, long-lasting finish, Cassidy points out, is in the pretreatment and priming stages. “Proper pretreatment is especially important with today’s fleet vehicles,” he explains, “because many of the surfaces on heavy-duty trucks are made of aluminum and plastic where paint doesn’t naturally stick as well as it does to steel.”
DuPont Imron Elite, the company’s primary OEM paint system offering, is a two-component polyurethane technology offered in more than 18,000 color formulations. For refinishing vehicles, DuPont Imron Elite Express is offered. DuPont also offers its Imron 5000 and 6000 polyurethane single-stage and basecoat/clearcoat systems for spot, panel or overall collision repairs. In addition, ideal for repainting, refurbishing and re-branding is DuPont Excel, a single-stage topcoat specially designed to match existing paint schemes.
Protecting fleet reputations
An accidental splash of fuel, harsh chemicals used to treat icy roads and weather –– from intense sun to driving rain and sleet –– all subject today’s fleets to conditions that can easily damage a finish. By understanding finish systems and making effective choices, fleet managers can take steps to protect a company’s investment and its reputation.
