Managing a fleet of vehicles is a demanding job. Because, a fleet manager must be able to estimate load arrival, which means he or she needs to be a weatherman as well as a traffic analyst. Fleet managers must maintain accurate records, comply with federal regulations, and track vehicle maintenance. It’s much more than scheduling an oil change — it’s staying ahead of the needs of the vehicle while keeping enough trucks on the road to meet customer needs. Not an easy job. A successful fleet manager solves problems for drivers, customers, and vendors. A fleet manager must be an excellent communicator, able to speak professionally with knowledge, sincerity, and empathy. On top of all this, there are hundreds of other responsibilities shared by fleet managers — including vehicle graphics and these 4 graphic mistakes fleet managers learn to avoid.

4 Graphic Mistakes Fleet Managers Learn to Avoid

Logistics — taking too many vehicles off the road for vehicle graphic preparation and application can adversely affect an operation. At the same time, paying graphic applicators to sit and wait on trucks, trailers, or vans can be expensive. How to Wrap 4,000 vehicles at 200 Locations and keep them on the road
Environment — graphics installation requires a clean and warm environment. When temperatures drop too low, vehicle graphics fail. Installing adhesive vinyl graphics below 60 degrees Fahrenheit leads to problems. FAQ: Can Vehicle Graphics be installed in the Cold? Most adhesive vinyl suppliers recommend installation at a minimum of 70 degrees and no more than 50 % humidity. Bringing an installation crew, tools, and materials to an outdoor lot in winter can be a costly mistake.
Condition — overestimating the condition of a vehicle or trailer can delay installation. Graphics may not adhere to oxidized surfaces, vinyl graphics will not cover or hide damage to the substrate, and older vehicles may have damage below the surface—all could make for an expensive do-over. Vehicles that require de-identification because they are older, damaged, or used poor quality adhesive graphics can delay the entire process.
Style — this manifests itself in several ways. Incomplete vehicle descriptions, for example, not mentioning four windows on a box van, skirts on a trailer, or the type of rear door on a service truck, may cause graphic production mistakes. Imagine coordinating vehicles, setting up a staging area, and bringing in installers only to find the graphics don’t fit the vehicle. Another consideration is the construction of the vehicle, for example, wrapping a corrugated trailer will add time and cost to an installation.

Learn the Hard way or the Easy way

Being an effective fleet manager takes more than mechanical knowledge. It takes discipline, endurance, and hard work. It also takes someone ready and willing to learn new competencies — including vehicle graphics. There are two ways to learn from failure and from mistakes, ours and the mistakes of others. Take the time to learn these 4 graphic mistakes fleet managers learn to avoid and you’ll be much happier. If you’d like our help in avoiding these mistakes, make no mistake about it—we’re happy to help, contact us!