At the big annual Great American Trucking Show, the most attractive event inside is the Pride and Polish Contest. A lot of shining and fancy trucks are exposed in a parade of colors, shapes and concepts. Every proud owner expects an award for this or that beauty.
The appearance of the truck has two sides: the practical side and the fashionable and artistic side. Even the practical side is divided in two more aspects. First, the truckers are interested in the best way to paint their trucks, because of the protection.
Today, the protection must be efficient and non expensive. The vinyl graphics are options of durability and fast application. The efficiency stays also in the re-usability of the products. The companies and fleet owners prefer the logos that could be set up and removed. Some trucks are covered partially with these labels; others are entirely covered by the company logo. That is because the painting achieves double purpose.
This takes us to the second aspect of the practical appearance matters: marketing. The trucking companies, the owners or the private carriers understand that the truck and its proper trailer could be used as a way to advertise them. Distinguishing marks, the logo and the color that carry the truck are important part of the business as the freight itself.
Again, the durability, the brightness and the quality are part of the marketing too. The companies take advantage of the new truck painting techniques and innovations to make its fleet more marketable. The vinyl is the favorite in these cases. There are also digital graphics, the ecological coating paints, or the paints which change color depending on the point of view (but only used for small strategic areas).
On the other hand, there is the fashionable side of the trucks. As the conventional cars, trucks have a number of accessories, modification possibilities and of course, extreme painting options. The look of the truck becomes an extravagant but exciting concept.
Chrome Aluminum grilles, special bumpers, fifth wheel covers, rear frame covers, horns, wings, deck plates, and many more accessories for the exterior and the interior of the truck are available in the parts and accessories shops. You can get a specific part for a Freightliner, Peterbilt, Mack, GMC or Kenworth.
But the beauty is not only accessories. The greatest truck appearances are made by specialists that modify the shape, the color, the entire look of a truck, working on the base of a concept.
These people offer plastic surgery for the crashed trucks, but also offer extreme makeovers that transform an ordinary truck into an object of admiration. That is the case of the "Mob Sled"; this is a Freightliner truck rescued by the Boyz in the 4 State Trucks Co. According with 4 State Trucks, the white and green truck has a 290" wheel base and a hood of 3", special green and chrome foot pedals, a dashboard with green led and an ultimate sound system. The painting is formed by skull in suit on its side, and white flames burning the green.
Another famous truck on the road is the one called "The Beast". This orange truck won the Mid America Big Rig Build Off. The 1999 Peterbilt 379 truck was re-built as a project in Elizabeth Truck Center. Red flames surround the entire truck, chrome grilles, bumpers and accessories bright in every axle of the truck. Inside, the cabin has red seats, red and chrome dashboard, TV and sound systems. It was made in a total of four months, more than 7,360 hours of work and 27 coats of paint. These are just examples in the world of the truck of the cost of the beauty.