How to Plan a Large Fleet Rebrand: A Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: To plan a large fleet rebrand, start with a list of every vehicle, design one master look and adapt it to each body style, then roll it out in batches so most of the fleet keeps working. At Ardor Printing our crew wraps more than 20 vehicles a week at full speed, installs at our Snohomish shop or on-site at your yard or lot, and can do WEATHER GUARD upfitting in the same visit. Greenwood Heating rebranded more than 100 Ford Transit vans with us in two months. See our fleet wraps page for prices and examples.

Key takeaways

• Start with a fleet list. Each body style in your fleet needs its own layout, so list every vehicle before design starts.
• Design one system, not twenty designs. Build one master look, then approve a proof for each vehicle type before anything prints.
• Plan around downtime. Batch installs, on-site installs and pick-up and delivery keep your vehicles working.
• Keep the files. Every vehicle you add later should match the rest of the fleet.

Rebranding a whole fleet is one of the biggest marketing moves a service company can make. Every van, pickup and box truck becomes a moving sign for the new brand, and across 194 fleets we've branded, companies grew revenue by an average of 25% in the 6 months after their wrap. It's also a project with a lot of moving parts. Here's how we plan large fleet rebrands at Ardor Printing, from the first walk-around to the last van.

1. Start with a fleet list

Before any design work, list every vehicle: make, model, year, body style and where it's based. Mixed fleets are normal. A list of Ford Transits, a few pickups and a box truck is common, and each body style needs its own layout. The list also tells us how to schedule the rollout around your routes.

2. Design one master look, then adapt it

The design should be one system, not twenty separate designs. We start with your logo, colors and message, build a master layout, then adapt it to each vehicle type. You approve a proof for every vehicle type before anything prints. If you already have brand guidelines, we match them. If you're rebranding at the same time, our in-house designers can help build the vehicle side of it.

3. Pick materials for how long the brand needs to last

For full wraps we print in-house on 3M and Avery Dennison cast wrap film and laminate every print. The film and laminate are what make a wrap hold up through years of Pacific Northwest rain and road grime. If some vehicles only need lettering or door logos, those can be part of the same system and cost much less. Our materials and durability page compares the options.

4. Plan a rollout that keeps vehicles working

A fleet that's off the road isn't earning. We install in batches so most vehicles keep running, schedule around your busy season, and can install on-site at your yard or lot. A full Ford Transit wrap can be done in as little as 4 hours. At full speed our crew wraps more than 20 vehicles a week. For vehicles that come to our Snohomish shop, we can pick up and deliver.

5. Do the upfitting in the same visit

If your vans and trucks need shelving, ladder racks or toolboxes, plan it with the wrap. We're an authorized WEATHER GUARD dealer, so the upfit and the wrap can happen in one visit instead of two.

6. Keep the files for every vehicle you add

Fleets grow. Keep the approved files so every new vehicle matches the rest. We keep them on hand, so adding a truck next year is quick and it looks like it came from the same rollout.

7. Know what's covered after install

Ask about warranty before you sign. Our installs come with a 1-year installation warranty, and our We Fix It program promises a field review and a solution within 24 hours at no cost. See our warranty and We Fix It policy.

A real example: 100+ vans in two months

Greenwood Heating, a heating and home services company based in Seattle, rebranded more than 100 Ford Transit vans with us. Our design team built mockups with their logo, colors and messaging, they gave feedback, and we refined the designs. We printed every wrap in-house on 3M vinyl, and our 3M Certified installers finished the whole fleet in two months without disrupting their business. Read the full Greenwood Heating case study.

Part of the Greenwood Heating fleet: Ford Transit vans in matching printed wraps, designed, printed and installed by Ardor Printing.

What does a fleet rebrand cost?

Fleet wraps start from $3,500 per vehicle. Van wraps start from $3,900, full pickup wraps from $4,000, box trucks from $4,500 and trailer wraps from $1,500. Simple door logos (both front doors) start at $350 and a door lettering package at $495, so mixing full wraps and lettering is a good way to fit a budget. Fleet pricing is available on request. Our fleet wrap cost and timeline guide breaks down pricing per vehicle.

Fleets we've branded

Along with fleets across Snohomish County and Greater Seattle, we've branded fleets and spaces outside Washington, including fleets for Alaska Airlines, Leavitt Machinery and Kawanti Adventures in Ketchikan, Alaska, Google office spaces in Denver and San Francisco, and FlyOver Las Vegas.

Frequently asked questions about large fleet rebrands

Ready to plan your fleet rebrand?

Book a free fleet branding consult. We'll walk your vehicles, show mockups on your own fleet and build a rollout plan. We reply to every quote request within 1 business day. Call (425) 629-0796 or request a quote online. See examples and prices on our fleet vehicle wraps page.

About the author: Dayne Remlinger founded Ardor Printing in 2012. His team has completed more than 25,000 projects from its shop at 12531 Old Snohomish Monroe Rd, Snohomish, WA 98290.