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

Running down the road in a tricked-out truck makes the same money as the dirty piece of crap,actually the dirty truck makes more because he isn't paying the high price of keeping it clean,and it's probably better on fuel than the truck with the extra weight from all that chrome.

 

I've been on both sides of this so I'll offer my two cents. I don't think it makes much difference now. It used to back years ago when most trucks had little chrome and you never saw any trucks with budd wheels till the seventys. Even then they were steel.

When I drove for Carolina Western, they were the first company that I had seen that had a fleet of "Large Cars". People would follow us into our fuel stops just to look at the trucks, including shippers.

Now I own my truck, it's pretty plain by today's standards but my customers have told me that they appreciate the cleanliness and appearance of my truck and trailer.

So, I really don't see what you describe as being an advantage.

 

Seems like you'd get better jobs in the sense the company or whoever, would think you'd take better care of their load etc if the truck was nice and clean. Just my 2 cents lol

 

Companies are a whole lot more interested in what YOU look like, well-groomed, than the amount of chrome your 18 has on it. Just ask them, they'll give you the word!

 

You might think that is true(It once was), but nowadays, the business has gotten so cutthroat that price is usually the determining factor.

 

Just for the sake of an argument...
1. Is this a beauty contest or do you just want freight moved from point A to point B

2. You are never going to see him before you hire him...

3. For all you know the guy with the nice looking pete might have a problem getting your freight delivered on time because he spends so much time at the truck wash.


Its not all appearance there has to be some accountability too.

 

EXACTLY!

 

I think making your truck all clean and purdy does one thing. It sucks money out of your wallet. Sure, it may make you look good and all, but that speaks nothing of your personal attitude, driving skills, history or anything else. All it means is "hey...I know how to wash my truck"

Besides, hauling a load of crusty O's to General Dollar in a shiney rig is about the same as Hauling a load of Crusty O's to Saks fifth ave. The product doesnt know and doesnt care. I mean seriously...do you think the guy at the warehouse is going to pop his head and look at your cargo van hauler and say "wow...look at my woopity doos drivin down the road!"