Welcome to our latest installment in The Technician’s Log. With it being winter in North America, we decided now would be a good time to focus on an issue truck drivers and fleets must deal with when wintry weather rears its head: Corrosion.
It may not be a sexy topic, but it is a necessary one. If you operate in cold, wet, wintry conditions, your commercial motor vehicle may be susceptible to corrosion. Why? Because it is nearly impossible to avoid highly corrosive chemicals that states, and municipalities, use to clear roadways during the winter months.
It is up to trucking companies themselves to understand how de-icing compounds work and what preventative measures can be taken to ensure your nice new trucks don’t find themselves prematurely rusting.
Cabs and Corrosion
Conventional wisdom may dictate that corrosion is only an issue outside of the cab, but it is important to remember that chemicals routinely used in winter wreak havoc inside the cab as well. Why? Because the spray that comes off the road not only impacts the underside of the cab, but driver footwear brings corrosive chemicals into the cab several times a day.
The fact is this: truck drivers get in and out of their trucks all the time, and as a result, track whatever is on the ground into the cab. It’s bad enough having snow and ice combined with the deicing chemicals, but the problem is made worse because of the chemicals’ hygroscopic nature.
According to the Technology and Maintenance Council, hygroscopic material continues to draw moisture from the air even in seemingly dry environments. So, even when you think the environment is nice and dry, it is very likely that excessive humidity is already damaging components on your vehicles. Corrosion simply cannot be wished away.
Because here is the deal: when a truck driver enters the cab and his or her shoes dry out, whatever is left of the chemicals that were on the road will wind up recirculating through the vehicles HVAC system. As they are circulating through the cab, their hydroscopic nature will ensure they gather more moisture and blanket themselves on more systems.
It’s More than the Floor
It may be easy to assume that inside the cab, the only thing in danger from corrosion and deicing chemicals is the floor itself. And while it is true that floor corrosion is the problem, it is not the only part of the cab that is susceptible to moisture damage and corrosion. Seat belt mounts and retractors can also be damaged, and the cost to replace electrical wiring and connectors is very expensive, as a fleet technician you know this.
When your HVAC system is blowing hydroscopic chemicals around your cab, imagine the damage they can do to items that you spent many thousands of dollars on. Whether it be a power inverter or a television, deicing chemicals cause major problems within the wiring on many of a cab’s expensive electrical components.
Also consider how expensive sensors and in-cab technology is nowadays. If corrosion winds up damaging a $1,000 sensor, expect your bottom line to feel it. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage.
Even if the floor of the cab fails to show rust, consider the beating it will take. You are going to lose a lot of equity on your vehicles because of corrosion alone. And consider the effect it will have on your retention efforts. Worn or dirty looking cabs can be a deterrent in a fleet’s efforts to attract and retain drivers.
Truck Drivers Care
Truck drivers admit the condition of the vehicle plays a role in whether they leave. This is an observation that should not be a surprise. Truck drivers spend a lot of time in the cab; indeed, it could be their office. Would you want office workers hating their work environment because of something preventable? Likely not.
Many fleets are experiencing driver turnover rates of more than 100%. Some estimates put from eight to 10 different truck drivers in a particular cab over the life of a truck. That means his fleet will clean the cab interior eight to 10 times over the course of the first five years it is in use. And this can be a time-consuming process after it has been subjected to deicing chemicals and general wear and tear.
Just remember, there are options out there to prevent corrosion and truck driver swill be grateful when you use them. One option for fighting the effects of in-cab corrosion are tray-style floor mats. The mat’s raised edge will contain any spills or messes – including deicing chemicals – and keep them off the floor.
Another advantage is the speed with which they can be cleaned. Rather than spend a day in the shop scrubbing and detailing the cab, most tray-style floor mats can be cleaned in seconds. A pressure washer can often remove stubborn material in less than a minute.
What Can You Do?
Remember, there are steps you can take. After all, your technical program does not happen in a vacuum. First, you want to make sure you inspect all sealed connectors in the cab because once moisture gets in, it is nearly impossible to get out. And even worse, it gets in the wires. Expect all types of short circuiting through multiple systems once moisture invades them.
The problems lie in the chemicals used. Most highway departments have switched to chloride deicers, such as calcium chloride and magnesium chloride, to keep roads passable during the winter months. Both chemicals are more effective than sodium chloride because they provide lower freeze points, cost less and are less harmful to the environment.
But it isn’t just man-made chemicals that many state departments work with. Many DOTs also mix in liquids such as sugar beet juice or vegetable oil to improve adhesion to road surfaces, and they have started spraying road surfaces before storms hit to get ahead of the snow and ice. While these chemicals are more sustainable, they come with their own problems. Still, there is a reason why they are used.
The speed at which ice melts is determined by how easily it dissolves when exposed to snow or ice to form a brine solution. This brine lowers the freezing point of water to melt additional snow and ice on contact. So, in many cases, different biological solutions can be mixed with the chemicals to create an ideal brine solution.
When it comes to corrosion, just think about how much money your fleet can save. Trucking companies can put a lot back into their bottom line simply by installing tray-style floor mats. They could save around a thousand dollars a truck, over the life of the truck. Unfortunately, these mats may not do a good job of keeping the floor clean and free of corrosive deicing chemicals. Unlike most tray-style floor mats, they are not laser fitted for a specific cab.
Just remember, you can control how badly corrosion impacts your vehicles simply by paying attention and ensuring the trucks are cleaned consistently. Corrosion is a tough opponent and winter is not going away. Fleet owners must find a solution that works for them and keeps harmful chemicals off cab floors. Trust us, your bottom line will thank you.