Many companies operate fleets of vehicles (cars, vans, buses, trucks, etc.) in their day-to-day operations. For the drivers, a handbook or reference guide can provide critical information about company policies concerning safety, vehicle operation, maintenance guidelines, emergency procedures, etc. Such handbooks or reference guides are often required to be kept in the vehicle during operations and, hence, are subject to wear and tear that can shorten the lifespan of their usefulness.
Ways to Create Durable Handbooks/Reference Guides
• Laminated Covers – Plastic film lamination on the front and back covers will provide excellent protection from repeated handling and exposure to liquids, oil, grease and other chemicals encountered in the course of driving a motorized vehicle. The combination of a cover card stock with a film laminate, particularly a sealed-edge laminate, can insure the handbook/resource guide will have a long shelf life.
• Laminated Interior Pages – Although more costly, laminating all interior pages would create the most durable, long-lasting handbook.
• Coil Binding – In addition to enabling pages in the handbook/reference guide to open a full 360° for ease of use, coil-binding (whether pure plastic or plastic-coated metal) will last longer than saddle-stitch or perfect binding.
• Rounded Corners – Handbooks/Reference Guides kept in vehicles are subject to being shoved in tight spaces like a glove or storage compartment, under and between seats, etc. By rounding the corners of the cover and interior pages, the corners are less likely to get bent back when the handbook/reference guide is shoved into a tight space.
• Laminated Interior Pages – Although more costly, laminating all interior pages would create the most durable, long-lasting handbook.
If you have any questions about Driver Handbook/Reference Guides, give us a call at 330-597-8560. We’re happy to help you get the most out of your printing project.
