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Building an Effective Rust-Prevention Strategy for Your Fleet

Vehicle on snowy road in winter

For vocational fleets operating in inclement weather, protecting and maintaining specialized equipment and other components is essential. Rust-related damage can lead to unexpected or extended downtime, disrupting operations and impacting your ability to conduct business and serve customers. For fleets in regions prone to harsh winter conditions – particularly snow, ice, and freezing temperatures – a comprehensive rust-mitigation strategy is critical.

Recently, Holman’s Jeff Klinghoffer and Dave Broadwater shared their expertise with Fleet & Mobility, outlining best practices for preventing and addressing rust damage. In the article, Jeff highlighted that an effective rust-prevention strategy begins during the vehicle spec’ing process. He shared that rust resistance should be a key consideration when selecting key components such as service bodies, plow blades, and salt or sand spreaders.

“When vetting a component supplier, ask whether components are dipped in, or sprayed with zinc oxide as part of the manufacturing process before paint or a topcoat is applied. These processes help inhibit rust and provide additional durability benefits.”

Jeff Klinghoffer

Director, Regional Engineering Managers

Jeff also reviewed the various rust-prevention options available for specialized commercial equipment, outlining the advantages and limitations of each solution. However, even with proactive measures in place, it is inevitable that some components will incur rust damage. That’s why regular inspections are essential to identify and address issues as soon as possible.

“Repairing rust damage can be expensive and time consuming, so you’ll want to make sure you identify any issues well before the start of the season. This should be part of your routine preventative maintenance, addressing issues that may arise to help mitigate any potential long-term problems.”

Dave Broadwater

Manager, Fleet Management Services

To read the entire article and learn more about protecting your vehicles and specialized components from significant rust damage, visit www.FleetMobility.ca.


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