Does owning a "tricked out truck" land you better gigs?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by iowabmw, Jul 24, 2007.

Does having a "tricked out truck" land you better contracts?

  1. *

    Yes

    19.0%
  2. *

    No

    82.3%
  1. ssbowles

    ssbowles Heavy Load Member

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    Sep 27, 2007
    High Desert,CA
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    Okay, I've got 2 answers for ya on this one.
    1. If I'm a shipper, what do I care what the truck looks like while he's hauling my stuff? My customers won't be looking at the truck thinking "Man I can't wait til that gets on the shelves!" My product will get from Point A to Point B just as well in a plain Jane truck as it will in a "large car."
    2.If I'm an owner operator, rather than spend a couple grand on 8" stacks, or more chicken lights, I'm gonna keep my truck and trailer clean and in good condition. What do I care about how purdy I am while I'm rolling down the road? Freight pays by the mile, not by how much glare your chrome gives off.
    Chrome won't get ya home.
     
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  3. coastie

    coastie Road Train Member

    Appearance and over doing it is 2 things. Clean nice truck going down the road is seen by everyone.

    The Names are noted by the Shippers. Do they take that into mind? Yes to a point. I have driven a Old truck into a place and barely allowed in. So yes your Equipment need to be nice. Does it have to be fancy with all the chrome and whistles? No.

    I do plan on tricking out my Truck once I buy one, It will be a POWMIA Theme. But it will be for a cause that I am involved with big time. A reminder of our Missing in Action Troops.
     
  4. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

    1,871
    1,089
    Oct 1, 2007
    Duncannon, Pa
    0
    Freight cost is the prime motivating factor for shippers today. They do not care who is driving the truck or what the truck looks like. As long as the driver picked up the freight on time and delivered it on time without damage the customer is happy.
    If you want a shiny tricked out truck then thats great FOR YOU. Money is the bottom line though. How much you earned and kept. The more a driver spends on the shiny stuff the less he will have to pay his bills at home. Just simple economics.
    Work smarter not harder. Aerodynamic rigs with no chrome are smarter and more profitable compared to a large car with more traditional styling with a square texas bumper. The manufacturers realize this and have revised their truck designs over the past few years.
    Finally the drivers are beginning to understand the key to success is managing your costs and saving money by not squandering it on chrome. Remember a truck is a WORK vehicle designed to be used to pull freight from point to point. Get rid of it after the warranties have expired and the cost of maintaining it becomes impractical.
     
  5. Carolina_Beaver_Teaser

    Carolina_Beaver_Teaser Light Load Member

    186
    20
    Apr 8, 2007
    Mooresville , NC
    0
    You pull the same load, paying exactly the same money, as the guy in the Dressed out Pete, with a Mack, Freightliner, International, or Volvo.

    Just depends on what you are after.
     
  6. Southcarolinaman

    Southcarolinaman Bobtail Member

    10
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    Oct 21, 2007
    Spartanburg, SC
    0
    I figured I would get some replies like that. Pete379 you should jump over to the "buying a truck" post and defend the good ole Pete. Eskimo is armed and ready to take some shots. I still belive a customer would rather have a nice shinny truck hauling its freight than the truck that hasn't been washed in 10 years. I also belive every driver should get the freight there on time and safely. Do you honestly think sitting in a truck wash won't get your load there on time? I used to work for TMC and you had to wash your truck every week the whole company managed to get it done and still get the loads there on time.

    I have two friend's of mind here that are reading this. One is a Broker and the other owns a business that ships alot of frieght. Both said the same thing. They could care less what you drive or when was the last time you washed your truck. All both care about is what do you charge. One says he uses a guy that drives a OLD OLD Pete that looks like he washed it last in the late 60's. But he does a great job and he is always on time. And both say he will always make more money because he don't waste time washing his truck 10 times a week. So I am out of this...
     
  7. Etosha

    Etosha World Citizen

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    Aug 19, 2007
    Edmonton, AB
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    You can tell your friends that the old unwashed Pete will only make money like that if it NEVER encounters DOT...:biggrin_2552:
     
  8. Carolina_Beaver_Teaser

    Carolina_Beaver_Teaser Light Load Member

    186
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    Apr 8, 2007
    Mooresville , NC
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    Did the FMCSA add a reg about truck had to be washed ?:biggrin_2556:
     
  9. Raafi

    Raafi Light Load Member

    188
    19
    Oct 1, 2007
    Durham, NC
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    i think TMC does good by keeping their trucks clean, without the glitter

    it shows a certain level of professionalism and respect for property

    does it work? in most cases, it can only be a plus

    as far as a lot of bling? i dont know, i guess it depends on who is judging
     
  10. wc5b

    wc5b Medium Load Member

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    Nov 5, 2007
    Flint, MI
    0
    I voted yes becouse, the way I see it, it can if you play your cards right. For normal running its an EASY NO! But if you are running trade shows or maybe a merchendise truck at nascar events and such, I would say its a hell ya!
     
  11. rosalina

    rosalina Light Load Member

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    5
    Mar 28, 2007
    0
    i really doubt it, most customers do not see the trucks, the people ins ales and shipping and receiving do not care what the trucks look like, just that the trailer is good, ok to haul freight, they could care less ia ma sure if the pallets of dog food and toilet paper arrives in a shiny truck


     
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