Work trucks and vehicles within the heavy hauler class are some of the hardest working vehicles on the road. Getting the job done often means exposure to harsh elements that can damage a vehicle’s finish. To gather insight on coatings designed to protect commercial vehicles—and how to keep them looking great—we chatted with Scott Colvin, PPG brand manager, fleet segments, USCA Commercial Coatings – Refinish.
MWS: PPG IS A HOUSEHOLD NAME, AND ITS PRODUCTS SPAN MANY INDUSTRIES. HOW DID PPG FIND ITS WAY INTO THE WORK TRUCK INDUSTRY?
COLVIN: PPG’s long history of innovation in transportation coatings spans more than 10 decades, back to 1928 when we purchased Ditzler, Inc.—the leading OEM supplier of paints for automobiles at the time. In the 1980s, we introduced the PPG DELTA® line of commercial coatings, the forerunner to the PPG DELFLEET® brand we offer today. Our commercial coating innovations were specifically created to address the harsh conditions that work trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, buses, emergency vehicles, and the like operate within. The goal back then, just like today, was to provide these commercial vehicles with coatings that deliver a high level of durability and corrosion resistance. By combining quality products with a strong commitment to support and service, PPG today is a world leading supplier of commercial coatings.
MWS: LET’S TALK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTS IN WHICH WORK TRUCKS AND HEAVY HAULERS OPERATE. WHEN IT COMES TO COMPROMISING A TRUCK’S FINISH, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EXPOSURES THEY FACE AND WHAT TYPE OF COATINGS DO YOU RECOMMEND TO HELP WITHSTAND THESE CONDITIONS?
COLVIN: The obvious one is road salt. When applied to ice and snow, road salt dissolves in the moisture and creates a saltwater solution, which can be highly corrosive to a vehicle’s undercarriage and body panels.
The key to preventing corrosion damage seems fairly simple—protect the metal substrate. However, this is much easier said than done when we’re talking about work trucks, which typically suffer more day-to-day abuse than most vehicles and would benefit from a coating that contains a higher level of corrosion protection.
For a heavy hauler or work truck fleet that faces prolonged exposure to road salt, for example, I would recommend a PPG corrosion-resistant system that includes a zinc-rich primer and a polyurethane topcoat. Zinc is a crucial ingredient because it acts as a sacrificial coating that prevents oxygen and water from reaching the steel substrate. Even if the zinc coating is scratched off, it will continue to help protect adjacent areas of the underlying steel by forming a protective coating of zinc oxide.
MWS: WHAT ABOUT EXPOSURES THAT ARE NOT CLIMATE RELATED, SUCH AS ROAD DEBRIS AND GRAVEL?
COLVIN: The unfortunate reality is that no matter where you operate your vehicle, there’s no way to escape airborne stones and gravel. And just like road salt, they can wreak havoc on a vehicle’s finish. But there’s a difference between road chips that remove a top layer of paint and those that penetrate all the way down to the metal substrate. That’s when you start seeing corrosion.
To limit the damage caused by flying stones and gravel, start with an epoxy primer. You’ll find this provides strong adhesion to the substrate. Follow this with a high-quality polyurethane topcoat and a durable clearcoat. Again, you can’t avoid road chips, but I believe a PPG coating regimen is your best defense.
I think it’s also important to mention the damaging effect the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays have on a vehicle’s finish. This is especially true for work trucks and heavy haulers, which are typically stored outdoors on a 24/7 basis. Direct, prolonged exposure to sunlight can damage a vehicle’s finish in a number of ways. At the top of the list is fading. UV light breaks down the pigments in the paint, causing them to fade, change color, or create a “yellowing” effect, which is more common in light colors. UV rays can also cause oxidation, paint surface degradation, and clearcoat damage.
Taking everything into consideration, one of the best ways to combat the damaging impact of UV rays is a premium PPG coating system that includes an epoxy primer, a polyurethane topcoat, and a relatively new clearcoat that in addition to delivering a deep, high-gloss appearance, is very effective in preventing the yellowing effect.
MWS: FROM A MAINTENANCE PERSPECTIVE, CAN YOU SHARE TIPS THAT FLEET OWNERS CAN IMPLEMENT INTO THEIR OPERATIONS TO PROLONG THE LOOK AND LIFE OF THEIR VEHICLES’ FINISH?
COLVIN: Keeping a vehicle clean is vitally important—especially for trucks exposed to winter conditions. The sooner you can wash off contaminants such as road salt and other harmful chemicals like acids, solvents, and fuel spills, the less likely they are to cause damage to your coating. Much like your car in winter, the more often you wash it, the less likely it is to rust.
It’s also important to perform routine touch-up maintenance on painted surfaces. If you have chipped paint or even small scratches, you should take care of them promptly because exposed bare metal will eventually corrode.
While you’re touching up your paint work, don’t forget about the wheels. The PPG Wheel Refurbishing System makes it easy to perform fast, high-quality wheel refurbishments without the use of a paint booth. This aerosol-applied method is a cost-effective alternative to outsourcing the refurbishing of dirty, corroded wheels in order to preserve their appearance and structural integrity.
MWS: WHY IS HAVING A PRISTINE FINISH IMPORTANT FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES?
COLVIN: I think you should look at your work truck as a rolling advertisement that can reflect a positive or negative business image—depending on how well or how poorly it’s maintained. Would you want to do business with a company that has a fleet of vehicles covered in rust? On the other hand, when a company has a fleet of vehicles in pristine condition, it says a lot.
MWS: ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS?
COLVIN: PPG, along with our distributor network, believes that there’s great value in finding a coating supplier that offers more than just a can of paint. You want a partner that understands your business and provides coating solutions based on your individual needs. That’s what we’re all about. And I think that makes a big difference.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Scott Colvin is the PPG brand manager, fleet segments, USCA Commercial Coatings – Refinish. His experience in the coatings industry spans 30 years, of which 16 years have been in the commercial coatings segment. Along the way, he has worked in refinish training, customer service management, and product management. Find out more about PPG, visit www.ppgcommercialcoatings.com.
