It’s very common to see the trucks of popular brands like Walmart and Amazon rolling down the freeway. The graphics on the sides of the trailers play a critical role in the advertising and brand strategy of these organizations. More and more, trucks are being used as rolling billboards. But how do the graphics get installed on the side of trucks?
The Benefits of Trailer Graphics
Many benefits come with having graphics installed on the side of semi-truck trailers. Sometimes, the graphics are for aesthetics. However, in most cases, there is a strategic business reason for having graphics on the side of a big rig.
Brand Publicity – According to studies, consumers need to be exposed to a brand 5 to 7 times before they begin to recognize the brand. Having your company name, logo, and other elements on the side of a truck trailer is a great way to expose millions of drivers to your brand.
Advertising a Product or Service – In addition to branding, the side of a truck is a great opportunity to highlight specific products, services, or special promotions. A great example of this is McDonald’s. They frequently use mouth-watering images of their burgers or fries on their distribution trucks.
Renting Advertising Space – The branding on the side of your rig doesn’t have to be for your own company. In many cases, large fleet operators are renting out the side of their trucks to be used for advertising messages. Depending on the route of exposure to high population areas, a single truck can generate hundreds of dollars each month.
Types of Trailer Graphics
There are few different ways that graphics can be applied to the side of semi-trailers. Each approach comes with its own pros and cons.
Paint – The most traditional option for truck graphics is paint. The best feature of using paint is the longevity of the color and graphics. Paint can withstand many years of harsh conditions and wear and tear. The challenge with painting is that it can be very time-consuming and expensive to create complex graphics. They also can’t be easily changed without repainting the entire trailer.
Vinyl Lettering – If you are looking to install a simple logo or company name, vinyl lettering may be the way to go. This option is the cheapest solution and requires less installation labor. Vinyl comes from manufacturers in many different colors. Each color layer must be installed individually, so the more colors you use, the higher the price will go. Vinyl lettering is also very easy to remove, replace, or change.
Vehicle Wraps – The most commonly used type of graphic is a vehicle wrap. This option is also a vinyl application but is digitally printed. This allows you to be very creative with the design and have unlimited color options. The graphics can be applied to both flat and curved surfaces. Most vehicle wrap companies boast a 5 to 7-year lifespan of vehicle wraps. To save a little money, you can choose to only install a partial wrap.
How are Vinyl Graphics and Vehicle Wraps Applied?
The installation process for both vinyl graphics and vehicle wraps is similar. First, the surface of the truck is cleaned thoroughly. Any oil, dirt, or residue can affect the adhesion of the graphic material. The backing is peeled away and the graphics are applied to the surface of the trailer.
This can be done with both wet and dry applications. Dry applications require accurate placement of the graphics. Once applied, they cannot be repositioned. Wet applications use a liquid solution (typically a combination of soap and water). With the wet application, the graphics can be easily moved into position.
Once the graphics are applied to the surface, the installer will use a squeegee tool to smooth out the material and press out air bubbles or the liquid solution. Any excess is trimmed away with a razor knife.
Finding a Graphic Installer
Many companies specialize in the installation of graphics for semi-truck trailers. Start by getting referrals from another driver or fleet owner. They likely know someone who can do this work for you. Companies that do window tinting and signage installation likely have experience in this type of application as well. Before you decide, ask the company about their pricing, warranties, and examples of recently completed projects.