What Can Trucking Companies Gain by Having a Show Truck in the Fleet?

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The 2017 truck beauty show season has come to an end, with many a fine-looking big rig wowing spectators at events both large and small. Some operators nabbed a coveted spot on the Shell-Rotella SuperRigs calendar, some toted home an oversize trophy declaring them the best and others left empty-handed but full-hearted.

When a fleet manager or owner-operator decides to put their precious time and money into making a work truck into a star piece of machinery that inspires awe, they usually do it purely for the fun of it. But start talking to the men and women behind the trucks and another benefit of trucking shows becomes clear.

Everybody’s crazy for a sharp-dressed rig. That, right there, invites further consideration of the working show truck as a business and marketing tool.

With that in mind, here are some reasons to consider whether your fleet needs its very own show truck for the 2018 season and beyond.

A Dazzling Truck Can Spark Interest

If a driver or a potential driver likes what they see, they may want to know more about the company. The show truck is a starting point for conversation. Crete Carrier maintains an internal Patriot Fleet of trucks designed to honor military service, and its drivers make sure that they have plenty of business cards to hand out for recruiting purposes.

A Reward for Prized Drivers

The ultimate in acknowledgment for representing the company well, a customized truck tells drivers that their hard work and professionalism is noticed. Survey after survey shows that drivers stay with companies that appreciate them. Even the drivers who don’t get the fanciest rig may see it as something to strive for.

Name Recognition

In some ways, every truck is a mobile billboard for the company, presenting an image for the world to see. So imagine if your fleet has a truck that makes people perk up and take special notice. That may or may not lead to business from customers far from home base, but it could cause potential customers nearby to remember you when they need a new carrier.

A Sense of Pride

If somebody hands you a precious item, you make sure that you handle it with care. That happens even when the item weighs a few tons. Any driver that you trust with a customized beauty truck will understand the responsibility that comes along with the prestige of being behind it wheel. They will keep the truck clean and tidy, inside and out.

More Time, More Knowledge

Keeping a truck in peak condition absolutely requires time and attention to detail. It may be tedious, but in a short period everyone who works on that truck will be familiar with every inch of every part, every noise, every smell. That knowledge will mean that you can spot problems early and take on some minor repairs or tweaks yourself.

Make no mistake, a lot of companies and owner-operators pour great sums of money into creating a truly unique show truck. But that’s not a requirement. If you decide to enter competitions, or just have a truck that looks like it could hold its own with other rigs, all you really need is a little bit of spit and polish and whole lot of give-a-darn.