How to Prep Fleet Vehicles for Graphics: Your Part and Ours

A fleet graphics job goes fastest when everyone knows their part before the first vehicle is ready. Who does what depends on where the vehicles are, where the work happens and how much of the prep your own crew wants to take on. What never works is a vehicle that isn't ready when the installer is. Here is how the job usually splits, and exactly what "ready" means.

How a Fleet Graphics Job Works

Trucks, vans, trailers, buses, equipment, even food carts: every vehicle goes through the same steps, in the same order.

1. Survey. Photos and measurements, so the graphics get scaled to the vehicle.
2. Design and proof. We lay the art out on the vehicle and send a proof to sign off on or mark up.
3. Print. Printed and laminated to the approved proof and measurements.
4. Prep the vehicle. Old graphics off if there are any, parts pulled, surfaces clean.
5. Install. Our crew, or a 3M certified installer we line up near you.
6. Take care of it. How the vehicle gets washed decides how long the graphics last.

Where the Work Happens

At your place (most jobs). Most fleets have us come to them: a yard, a lot, a shop or wherever the vehicles park. If you have techs, they pull the parts and get the vehicle clean enough for us to start, and we install on site.

At our shop. If the vehicle comes to us, we take the parts off, but it has to show up clean.

Either way, we handle the design and layout, printing and materials, and the install, and we schedule it with you.

Measurements and Photos

The photos and measurements are what we scale the graphics from. If they are off, the graphics are off.

Who does the survey:

• Local fleets: we come out and take the photos and measurements ourselves.
• Out of state: either a certified installer near you does the survey for us, or your team does it and we tell you exactly what we need. When your team measures, we build a little room into the layout to absorb small measuring differences.

If your team does the survey, use our photo & measurement guide (PDF). It shows how to take the photos and what to measure, with a survey sheet for each vehicle.

If your team takes the photos:

• straight on to the vehicle (square), not at an angle, with the camera aimed at the center of the side, kneeling if you need to,
• the whole vehicle in the frame, nothing cut off,
• driver and passenger sides,
• good light, no heavy shadows or blur.

If your team measures:

• measure every area on the survey sheet, from defined edges or welds,
• double-check every number before you send it,
• include the unit number and the last 8 digits of the VIN, so each set of graphics goes on the right vehicle.

Lettering info: send us the USDOT number, unit numbers and anything else that has to be lettered on the vehicle, when they're needed.

Notes: write down anything that could affect the layout or the install: dents or rust, past body repairs, odd features or obstructions, and any design requests. If it is not written down, we can't plan for it.

Removing Old Vehicle Graphics

Not every vehicle has old graphics. If yours does, they have to come off completely before new ones go on. Vinyl over vinyl, or over leftover adhesive, won't stick right and won't last.

Who takes them off: it depends on the job. Removal takes a lot of time, so it often makes sense for your own crew to do it. Sometimes it's on us, and then it's listed on the quote.

If your crew does it:

• Heat and peel first. A heat gun softens the old vinyl and adhesive so you can try to peel it off.
• Eraser wheel if it won't peel. If the vinyl is breaking or coming off in small pieces, switch to a pneumatic removal tool with a rubber eraser wheel. It takes off old vinyl and adhesive without hurting the paint. The wheel is the important part.
• Plastic razor blades only. Plastic blades in a holder are the safe way to scrape. Never use metal razor blades on the vehicle, anywhere. They cut the paint.
• Let adhesive remover work. A good adhesive remover cuts removal time a lot. Some need time to sit before you wipe, so follow the label. Specialty removers cost more and work better.

Old, sun-baked graphics take longer. Plan for it. Download our old graphic removal guide (PDF) for your crew, with the steps, tools and products we recommend.

Final Surface Prep

Once any old graphics and adhesive are off, the vehicle gets cleaned for vinyl, not just washed. At your place, your techs can handle this. At our shop, the vehicle has to arrive this clean.

• Get the grease off. Remove all grease, oil and hydraulic fluid with a degreaser, then glass cleaner or 70% isopropyl alcohol. Anything with an engine or hydraulics builds it up, heavy equipment especially, and it has to come off completely.
• Clean where the vinyl tucks. Open every door and compartment. Clean the edges, seams and corners, so the film can wrap around them and stick.
• Dry and clean on arrival. The vehicle has to be completely dry and free of dirt when the install starts.

Parts that come off before the install (your techs at your place, or us at our shop). On trucks, that usually means:

• toolbox door handles,
• headlight bezels,
• grilles and fender wells on flat-nose cabs,
• old, worn or damaged safety stickers. Order new ones from the original manufacturer; they go back on top of the new graphics.

Everything else, case by case. We'll talk through other removable parts with you. Some parts just can't come off, and we work around them. When a part comes off easily, it makes for a better install: we can tuck the edges and seams behind it, where they stay covered and protected, and that helps the graphics last longer.

If the Vehicle Isn't Ready

If the prep isn't done when the installer arrives, the install has to be rescheduled. That means more fees and a longer timeline for everyone.

When a vehicle is ready, we can install it efficiently and correctly.

Install Day

There are two ways the graphics go on:

• Our crew. We install in Colorado and travel to you when the fleet can't come to us. Travel is on the estimate up front, and the actual trip costs are billed after the trip.
• A 3M certified installer near you. For vehicles spread across the country, we can line up an installer through the 3M installer network, where one is available.

When our crew or an installer we line up does the job, we stand behind the install. If your own team or another installer puts the graphics on, the install is on them.

When the work is done, we walk every vehicle with you before it goes back on the road.

See samples

After the Install

• Wait to wash. Don't wash the vehicle for 48 to 72 hours, so the adhesive can fully bond.
• Keep the pressure washer back. At least 18 inches from the graphics. Don't aim at edges, seams or corners, and don't hold it in one spot.
• Hand wash when you can, and skip harsh chemicals unless they are safe for vinyl.
• Don't chip or scrape on the graphics. Take care knocking concrete and debris off wrapped areas.
• Check the edges and seams every so often.

Vehicles that work hard get washed hard, and their graphics wear faster. Our workmanship warranty covers install problems, not damage from aggressive cleaning. Everything else is in our vehicle wrap care guide (PDF), and in our guide How to Care for Fleet Vehicle Wraps.

Quick Questions

Can our own crew do the prep?

Yes, and plenty of fleets do. Your techs can take off any old graphics, pull the parts and clean the vehicle so we can start as soon as we get there.

Can you take off the old graphics for us?

Yes. Sometimes that's on us, and then it's listed on the quote. Removal takes a lot of time, so having your own crew do it often saves money. If they do, give them our old graphic removal guide (PDF).

Do you come to us?

Yes, most of our fleet work happens where the vehicles are. Out of state, we travel to your vehicles or line up a 3M certified installer in your area where one is available.

What if we don't have a yard or shop?

If you're local, the vehicle comes to our shop. Out of town, we find an indoor spot near you whenever we can. We'll do some spot graphics and lettering outside, but never a full wrap.

Who measures the vehicles?

For local fleets, we do. Out of state, a local certified installer can survey for us, or your team can, using our photo & measurement guide (PDF).

Do we need to take off the safety stickers?

Yes, if they are in the way of the graphics. Order new ones from the manufacturer; they go back on top of the new graphics.

Why no metal razor blades?

They cut the paint. Plastic blades and adhesive remover do the job without the damage.

Who stands behind the install?

We do, when our crew or a 3M Certified or Preferred installer we line up does the work. If your own team or another installer puts the graphics on, the install is on them.

How long does each vehicle take?

It depends on the job. It takes whatever it needs to be done right.

Tell Us About Your Fleet

Send us the vehicle list, where the vehicles are and a few photos of a typical one, and tell us how much of the prep your crew wants to handle. We will put the plan together. Request a quote