Truck & Fleet Auto Glass in Wichita, KS

Pickups: big glass, more features

Full-size pickups are everywhere around Wichita, and their windshields are big, steeply raked and often loaded with features: forward cameras for lane keeping and automatic braking, rain and light sensors, heated wiper areas and acoustic interlayers. A late-model pickup windshield can need ADAS calibration after replacement just like a car. Pickups that run on gravel county roads collect rock chips quickly, so prompt rock chip repair saves a lot of windshields. For rear sliders and fixed rear glass, see back glass replacement.

Commercial trucks and the federal windshield rule

Commercial motor vehicles operate under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and 49 CFR 393.60 sets specific limits on windshield damage (49 CFR 393.60). In the area of the windshield above the top of the steering wheel (excluding a 2-inch border at the top and a 1-inch border at each side), the windshield must be free of damage except for:

• a crack that is not intersected by any other crack, and
• a damaged area that can be covered by a disc 3/4 inch in diameter, if it is not closer than 3 inches to another such damaged area.

The same rule limits where decals, stickers and devices can be mounted on the windshield, and requires replacement glazing to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 and be marked accordingly. A chip that grows past the size limit, or a second crack crossing the first, can put a truck out of compliance at an inspection. Drivers and fleet managers usually find it cheaper to repair qualifying chips right away than to replace windshields later.

Semi and heavy truck windshields

Heavy trucks use either a one-piece windshield or a two-piece (split) windshield with a center divider. Many are set in a rubber gasket rather than bonded with urethane, which changes how they are installed and how long the truck is out of service. Windshield availability for heavy trucks varies by make and model, and not every auto glass shop handles them. Tell the shop the make, model, year and whether the windshield is one or two pieces; a photo of the cab helps.

Work vans and box trucks

Cargo vans used by contractors, delivery routes and service companies often have very large windshields with cameras, and some have unusual side and rear door glass. Box trucks and cutaway chassis share windshields with their van platforms. Getting the exact part right the first time keeps a revenue vehicle on the road, so have the VIN ready.

Fleet service: questions worth asking a shop

• Can you work at our yard, shop or job site, and what do you need there (power, shelter, a level surface)?
• Can you handle several vehicles in one visit?
• How do you invoice: per job, monthly statement, purchase order numbers?
• Can you work with the company's insurer or fleet management company if a claim is involved?
• Do you keep records per unit, such as glass part numbers, dates and calibration reports?
• Do you handle heavy trucks, or only light-duty vehicles?
• What are your written warranty terms for leaks and workmanship?

Every shop answers these differently, which is exactly why it is worth asking before you need emergency service.

Rear glass, mirrors and the rest of the cab

Truck glass work is not only windshields. Pickup rear sliders break from shifting cargo and thrown rocks; door glass breaks in yard break-ins; and many shops that handle truck glass can also replace the mirror glass in large towing mirrors, which often includes heating elements and turn-signal lights. On heavy trucks, side windows, door glass and sleeper-cab windows have their own parts. When you request a quote, list every damaged piece of glass on the unit, so one visit can cover it all instead of two.

Keeping trucks on the road

• Make windshield condition part of the pre-trip inspection, and report chips the day they happen.
• Replace worn wiper blades; heavy trucks on dusty roads wear them fast.
• Keep extra distance behind gravel trucks and on fresh chip-seal.
• Do not mount phones, GPS units or toll tags in the wiper sweep area; follow the placement rules in 49 CFR 393.60.
• After any windshield replacement on a vehicle with driver-assistance cameras, confirm the systems work before the vehicle goes back into service.

Wichita-area driving that is hard on truck glass

Trucks here split their miles between highways (I-135, I-235, K-96, Kellogg and the Kansas Turnpike), where high-speed rock strikes cause chips, and county roads, gravel lease roads and job sites, where dust, gravel and debris do the damage. Spring hail hits trucks parked outside at yards and job sites. Fleets with vehicles spread around Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, Reno and Sumner counties often benefit most from mobile service.

Paying for fleet glass

Commercial auto policies vary even more than personal ones. Some fleets self-insure glass, some carry comprehensive with a deductible per vehicle, and some have glass coverage. Kansas law on choosing a glass shop (K.S.A. 40-2,155) applies to policies covering motor vehicles in Kansas. For typical cost factors, see the replacement section of the cost guide.

What does it cost? See published Wichita-area and national ranges for replacement cost factors in the cost guide.

Related guides

• Is a Cracked Windshield Illegal in Kansas?
• K-TAG, Dash Cams and Stickers After a Windshield Replacement

Good to know: Requesting a quote is free and there is no obligation. Ask for a written quote that lists the glass, any calibration and the warranty terms.