What Should Fleet Managers Look For When Checking Their Vehicles' Glass?

Summary:

Mike keeps the fleet inspection list focused on the things that affect the driver's view and the safety of the vehicle. Fleet managers should always look for any kind of rock chip and any crack in the window, since those are the issues that can spread and take a vehicle off the road. He also recommends checking for distortions in the glass. Finally, he points to wear from the wipers over time, which can gradually scratch or haze the glass in the driver's line of sight. Anything that affects the view of the driver is worth catching during an inspection, because it is easier and cheaper to address early than after it becomes a bigger problem.

Answer:

When checking fleet vehicle glass, you should always look for any kind of rock chip. That is the first thing, because a chip is the starting point for a bigger crack. You should also look for any crack in the window, no matter how small it looks at the time. Beyond chips and cracks, look for distortions in the glass, anything that makes the view through the windshield look off or wavy. And then look for any kind of wear from the wipers over time. Wipers running across the glass day after day can wear it down and affect the view of the driver, especially in low sun or at night. Everything on that list comes back to the same thing: anything that can affect the view of the driver. If a fleet manager is walking the vehicles and checking for chips, cracks, distortion, and wiper wear, they are going to catch most glass problems early, before they turn into something that pulls a vehicle out of service.