With the rising cost of almost everything in the fleet sector, a fleet manager’s job is becoming increasingly difficult. Finding effective cost cutting measures can seem like a full time job in and of itself.

One area in particular that can significantly increase the size of your budget is fleet graphics. A major fleet branding or re-branding project can literally add millions to your expenditures, not to mention the time wasted while vehicles are out of service. The good news is, using a changeable fleet graphics system can cut your branding cost in a meaningful way.

In this article, we explore 5 specific ways changeable fleet graphics can save you time and money in 2024. Each of these benefits can be effective on their own, but when combined, they can make a major impact on your budget.

5 Ways To Save With Changeable Fleet Graphics

Eliminate Wrap Removal and Expensive Surface Prep

One of the major expenses involved with fleet branding or is surface prep. When it comes to semi trailers, prepping the surface can involve dirt removal, manual wrap removal, pressure-washing, and body surface repair.

As you know, a decal wrap that has been exposed to the sun and elements for an extended period of time, can be very difficult to remove. An old, faded, baked on fleet wrap, can be very time consuming, and labor intensive. Removal can involve using harsh chemicals, and require tedious scraping by certified installers.

This all adds up to increased labor cost and more downtime for your fleet. Time is money in the transportation industry, and we know how important it is to keep your trucks on the road.

A Changeable Fleet Graphic System, one that utilizes a frame and non-adhesive vinyl media, can eliminate wrap removal all together! Most frame based fleet graphics install right over old wraps and require little to no surface prep. No chemicals, scraping, or pressurewashing needed. Thus, eliminating the high cost of removing and re-installing traditional wrap graphics and saving a ton of time in the process.

Significantly Lower Labor Cost

As I just referenced above, wrap removal and extensive surface prep can cost a fortune in labor and downtime for your fleet. The truth is, even brand new trucks and trailers will come with a higher labor cost when installing traditional decal wraps. The tedious attention involved in massaging every rivet and eliminating every bubble, will quickly add to the installation time and labor cost in your budget.

The typical time involved to install a fleet wrap on a 53′ trailer can exceed 1 or 2 days. That’s right, 2 certified 3M installers adhering 24 separate decal panels to either side of your trailer can take 16 to 32 man hours. Multiply that by a fleet of 10, 50, or 100 trailers, and watch your budget skyrocket.

Fame and banner graphics on the other hand take significantly less time to install. In fact, the same 53′ trailer requires only 2 seamless graphics, one for each side. And, because these changeable graphics are not stuck directly to the side panel of the trailer, there are no rivets to deal with and no bubbles to smooth out. Simply, a frame that installs in 1 hour per side and stretches the vinyl graphic to a drum tight finish.

You read that correctly, frame and banner fleet graphics can typically be installed in 2 hours. Compared to the 16 to 32 man hours involved with installing a wrap, you can see why more and more fleet managers are choosing this method.

Save Big on Graphic Changes

The savings you can find on the initial installation of changeable fleet graphics is enough to justify making a change. The money you will save when it comes time to change your branding, will blow you away.

Replacing a decal wrap will cost at minimum, the same price as the initial installation. If the wrap has been on your trailer for an extended period of time, you may also pay for wrap removal and surface prep. All of which can make your budget grow out of control.

One of the biggest advantages to frame and banner fleet graphics, is that once the frame is installed, changing your messaging is fast and affordable. It can literally take less than 1 minute to remove the graphic from one side of a 53′ trailer. Watch this quick video to see how easy it can be…..

The time it takes to put a new a graphic on its frame, can also be measured in minutes. Lower labor costs, paired with the low cost of nonadhesive vinyl, can cut your graphic replacements by up to 75%.

DIY Capabilities

The possibility of doing fleet graphic changes in-house, is a benefit that only frame and banner graphics can offer.

Traditional fleet wraps must be completed by a 3M certified installer, in a temperature controlled environment. Those two, prohibitive requirements add to the massive cost of re-branding your fleet. To the contrary, Frame and banner graphics can be replaced in almost any environment by, in-house staff with very little training or experience.

In fact, we’ve had clients replace our EZ-Change Fleet Graphics with little more than an instruction manual and some videos. The simple design of our frame, makes DIY graphic replacements very easy, and very convenient.

Imagine the benefit of changing your messaging, whenever you like!

By utilizing in-house staff to replace your graphics, you can implement the cost cutting measure you need to keep your budget in line.

Earn Extra Revenue

The final way changeable fleet graphics will save you money is by earning you money. I know that sounds strange ,but it’s another feature you will only find with frame and banner graphics. When you have a fleet of trucks and trailers, you have massive potential for exposure. I’m sure you’re familiar with the following statistic…

“a single truck with fleet graphics can generate up to 70K impressions per day.”

Outdoor Advertising Association of America

Multiply the above statistic by the size of your fleet, and you’ll be amazed at the massive reach your brand can have. With changeable fleet graphics, you have the ability to leverage that exposure and generate revenue.

That revenue can come in different forms, such as advertising other brands, co-promoting vendor products, or running seasonal campaigns. How creative you get is up to you, but the opportunity is there.

Generating revenue from your fleet is just another strategy you can deploy in your never ending battle against skyrocketing budgets.

Changeable fleet graphics are a must have if you want to take advantage of these opportunities.

If you would like to learn more about how EZ-Change Fleet Graphics can save you money, Download our media kit below…