Fleet Vehicle Painting — Ontario Commercial Truck & Van Livery

Ontario has Canada's largest fleet of commercial highway vehicles. When those trucks, vans, and trailers need a repaint or new livery, they go to specialized fleet shops — and when they come back out, compliance lettering must go back on before they roll.

🚛 Truck Cab Repaints 🚐 Van Livery 🚌 Trailer Graphics ⚖️ CVOR Compliance ✅ WSIB Verified

Fleet Painting Services Across Ontario

What Ontario's specialized fleet painting shops offer.

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Highway Tractor Repaints

Full cab and sleeper repaints for Class 8 highway tractors. Requires proper prep of existing finish, epoxy primer, and 2K urethane topcoat for fleet-grade durability. Enclosed spray booth essential for quality results.

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Cargo Van & Cube Van Livery

Full paint or vinyl wrap livery for delivery fleets. Painted livery offers superior durability for 5–10 year hold periods; vinyl is faster and cheaper for shorter refresh cycles. Both methods require CVOR re-application.

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Trailer Repaints & Graphics

53-foot refrigerated and dry van trailer repaints. Trailer bodies are typically painted with direct-to-metal epoxy coating or single-stage polyurethane. Logo and DOT/CVOR graphics applied after base coat cures.

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Vocational Truck Repaints

Dump trucks, concrete mixers, flatbeds, and service trucks. Vocational units face higher wear and require more frequent touch-up. Heavy prep including sandblasting is often needed for heavily rusted bodies.

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Fleet Colour Standardization

Multi-unit fleets undergoing brand relaunch or acquisition integration need colour matching across varied substrates and ages. Experienced fleet shops maintain brand colour formulas and can match across dozens of units.

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Post-Paint Compliance Lettering

After any repaint, CVOR numbers and company identification must go back on before the vehicle returns to Ontario highways. Pre-cut vinyl lettering kits from Compliance Lettering go on the same day as the final coat.

⚠️ Critical: CVOR Lettering Must Be Re-Applied After Every Fleet Repaint

Under Ontario Regulation 424/97 (made under the Highway Traffic Act), every commercial vehicle operating in Ontario must display its CVOR number on both sides of the cab in letters at least 3 inches (76 mm) tall, in a colour that contrasts with the vehicle's painted surface. Paint-over or removal of this lettering during a repaint creates an immediate violation. MTO scale officers at Vineland (QEW), Fort Erie (Hwy 3), and Port Hope (Hwy 115) check these markings at every Level I inspection. Compliance Lettering stocks pre-cut vinyl CVOR kits in standard 3-inch and 4-inch heights — they ship next day across Ontario.

The Fleet Repaint Process — Step by Step

What a professional fleet repaint involves from drop-off to road-ready.

  1. Document Existing Condition

    Photograph all sides before work begins. Note dents, rust, existing decals, and lettering positions. CVOR number placement must be documented so it can be restored.

  2. Decal & Lettering Removal

    All existing vinyl decals, lettering, and reflective tape are removed using heat guns and adhesive remover. Adhesive residue must be fully cleaned before painting.

  3. Surface Preparation

    Sanding, feathering of chip edges, rust removal, and body filler application as needed. For heavily corroded units, sandblasting or media blasting is used. This step determines the final paint quality.

  4. Primer Application

    Epoxy or urethane primer applied to bare metal and repaired areas. Sealer coat applied over existing paint. This provides adhesion and corrosion protection for the topcoat.

  5. Topcoat Application

    2K polyurethane or urethane colour coat applied in an enclosed spray booth. Typically 2–3 coats for full coverage. Colour matching to fleet standard performed at this stage.

  6. Compliance Lettering Applied

    After final coat cures, CVOR number, company name, and address lettering is applied per O.Reg 424/97. DOT numbers for cross-border units applied at same time. Reflective tape re-applied per CMVSS requirements.

CVOR Decal Kits — Ready to Apply on Paint Day

Compliance Lettering supplies pre-cut vinyl CVOR number and company name lettering kits to Ontario fleet operators and paint shops. Available in 3-inch (regulation minimum) and 4-inch heights. Multiple colours for maximum contrast on any cab colour. Ships next day to any Ontario address via Canada Post. Order before your repaint is booked so the kit arrives the same week.

O.Reg 424/97 s.6 · MTO enforcement active provincewide · Made in Niagara, Ontario
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Frequently Asked Questions — Fleet Painting

How much does it cost to repaint a commercial truck in Ontario?
A full cab repaint for a Class 8 highway tractor in Ontario typically costs $4,000–$9,000 for single colour, or $7,000–$15,000+ for multi-colour livery with graphics. Trailer repaints run $3,500–$8,000 for a 53-foot unit. Prices vary based on surface prep required, paint system specification, and whether the shop has an enclosed spray booth for fleet-grade work.
After repainting a commercial truck in Ontario, what compliance lettering needs to go back on?
Under Ontario Regulation 424/97, after any fleet repaint the following must be re-applied before the vehicle returns to service: (1) CVOR number — both sides of cab, minimum 3 inches (76mm) tall, contrasting colour; (2) Company name and address — HTA s.16. These must be on before the vehicle hits Ontario highways. Pre-cut vinyl kits from Compliance Lettering include both elements ready to apply on paint-day.
What paint system is used for commercial fleet vehicles in Ontario?
Commercial fleet vehicles in Ontario are typically painted with 2-component (2K) polyurethane or urethane topcoats over epoxy primer for maximum hardness and chemical resistance. This is significantly more durable than 1K waterborne systems. For trailers and box bodies, direct-to-metal (DTM) epoxy coatings are common. The paint system should be specified in the contractor's written quote — vague quotes often result in cheaper 1K products being used.
How long does a commercial truck repaint take in Ontario?
A standard single-colour cab repaint typically takes 3–5 business days depending on the shop's workload and the extent of prep work required. Multi-colour livery with graphics takes 5–10 days. Heavily corroded units requiring media blasting can take 2 weeks. Most Ontario fleet shops work on multiple units simultaneously — confirm your timeline in writing when booking.