Hey guys im thinking about getting my truck lettered and I would like to know how effective this actually is. I talked to one buddy and he has had 1 confirmed call and I have had one also. The reason I wonder is because this is my personal vehicle as well and am not sure if I always wanna drive a “work” truck. I am also in So Cal.
SO if you can give region, magnet vs lettering, and # of jobs from it that would be great
thanks
my truck is lettered and is my daily driver… you can never underestimate having your truck lettered and looking professional, its advertising 24/7.
my experience has been this;
i live in mass and work south of boston in small old towns right on the ocean. people will stop and ask for an estimate or take down the number on my truck when im in their neighborhood. also people will call when they get one of my postcards and say “i see you around town all the time, just got one of your postcards and wanted to get an estimate from you… i need my windows cleaned.”
last but not least the up sell… when youre at an estimate like i was this week for gutter cleaning the woman looked at my truck and said “oh, you wash windows too!?! can you give me an estimate on that while youre here?” what was only a $130 gutter cleaning job turned into a $435 window cleaning job as well… all from my truck being lettered.
in my opinion its definitely worth it
Magnet signs can wreak havoc on your paint job if left on for many months. If it’s professionally done and you remove it often it’s okay. Still, I’d go for a good quality lettering if I were you.
As for the response; when I got my van lettered the guy talked me out of having my phone number in large print. He told me he’s been in business for 3 decades and knows what gets a return. “If they want your service, they’ll look at the smaller lettering” he told me. Total BS. Last year I got 1 confirmed call from it. This year I went back to him (he’s just down the street) and got my phone number in much larger print. I’ve received at least 10 confirmed calls (all turned into jobs) since last June.
Our magnets make us 2 or 3k a year. It also looks nice pulling up to a customers house.
This year I went from magnets to full lettering on my van.
HUUUUUUGE difference- not just in direct results from people seeing it and calling but also in comments made about how ‘professional’ it is and “I see your trucks everywhere”.
My per-ticket average has gone way up.
Truck lettering is the cheapest advertising on the
planet (that can actually work)
You pay once to get the letters and nothing more- ever
I would not go with magnates. One is because they lose
the “professional” appeal. Two they tend to move around.
Three they are usually too small to read.
If they fail at all of those, what’s the reason of having them?
If you get lettering, focus on the words "Window Cleaning"
not the company name. So when people see the truck they
know exactly what you do.
Try to use it for generating leads and not awareness.
Buy another vehicle when you start kicking a$$ 
Yeah, if you can only afford one vehicle it needs to be a fully-lettered work vehicle.
I want my client’s neighbors to be aware of my truck when it’s rolling through their neighborhoods and or is parked in their driveways. It is on a rare occasion that some1 does not comment, compliment, inquire about services,ask for an estimate when out w/ my truck. My graphix almost paid for themselves withing the 1st 2 weeks after they were applied, that’s been almost 2 years now. Attached is an older pic of the truck but some of the graphix have been updated w/ some additions. Hope this helps
No wonder you’re getting that response Art, is an awesome truck and amazing graphics to go with it. Vinyl Lettering is the way to go, consider partial or full wrap, but that gets really expensive.
To JansenServices, last time you posted about this I offered to create a logo or a mock up for your vinyl, but your suggestions were really vague, give me some more precise ideas of what you want and I can design it and cut it for you. Just let me know
I have to agree with the sentiments from the others here too. I would go for the lettering with the possibility of a custom wrap. However, those wraps can get $$$$$. I had my Titan bid for a full and 3/4 wrap at $3900 and $2750 respectively. I couldn’t, nor would I do it, for that price. However, I did go to the local sign guy, took them my logo, and had them print the signs (lettering) for me. Cost me $180 and I installed it myself.
If I were to give advice on how to do the lettering, this is what I’d say:
1.) Go BIG. Big letters get noticed. Especially big on the Phone #.
2.)Be Simple and Brief. Don’t get too complicated as it will all run together.
3.) Stick to one or two colors (maybe a specific colored lettering with an alternate color shadowing). Too much visual stimulation will turn the prospect off and they will not call.
4.) Stay with one or two fonts. Again too much visual stimulation by different fonts or colors will turn the eyes.
5.) If you take Credit/Debit Cards as a part of your business, have those stickers made too and have them where everyone can see but they aren’t the biggest part of the graphics/lettering. I have had more customers say, “Oh and you accept Credit cards too”. That gets me a lot of work.
6.) Also, if you need some design help, you can call me and I’d be happy to help. Just like Carlos has offered his services, I can help you decide where/what to put on your truck, as I have done several of these. Also, if that’s too personal for you, do a search for an online company that has templates for your to design your lettering on. They will have your car or truck on a side elevation style drawing that you can edit your own lettering. They will also sell you the lettering, but it is very high pricewise. Stay local for your products.
7.) Lastly, apply the stickers yourself. All you need is the vinyl itself, a small squeegee or something flat to drag the bubbles out, a spray bottle with a little soapy water, and tape. Does anyone know a window cleaner that doesn’t carry all of this stuff??? Having a partner to help is also a good idea.
Good Luck. I hope your project goes well.
One thing to consider also is legality on roads. I know here in NY there are certain roads/highways you cant have a commercial vehicle. Right now I use magnets…although I do think about switching to big vinyl/wrap. If I go on a road that does not allow any commercial vehicles with lettering/advertising, I just take the magnets off.
Does anyone know, if the vehicle is lettered, do you have to carry commercial auto insurance on it, like if you lettered a Subaru, its not a work truck but would you have to insure it that way in the event you got run over by another car and the adjusters take pictures and see the lettering and want to know why its not on the commercial policy? Could they deny the claim?
I think that is something that will vary from state to state. You may also run into problems with the DMV. In Massachusetts if you have lettering on your vehicle you need commercial plates, if you have commercial plates you need to have company name and contact info(i think email or phone)permanetly affixed, magnets don’t cut it. The DMV dosen’t check on it but its something small town cops and meter maids whack you for on a slow day.
My truck has been lettered only a few months. I wished I would have done it the day I got it. It’s brought in a lot of work. I bought a vinyl cutter and made the signs myself.
Same in NY. When I had my ford ranger, I didnt have commercial plates. That was one reason I went for the magnets. I got lucky, and never was pulled over. Now I have a truck that mandates commercial plates due to the weight of the truck.
Go to the local DMV website to see a Q & A area
I was told by a previous auto ins. guy that if I had signs on my truck and did not carry a commercial policy that I would NOT be covered.
Even if they don’t tell you I think is just a matter of common sense, save a few bucks per month, and pay WAY more if you ever get into a fender bender.
gotta agree w/the guys, go w/lettering, looks way more professional. Dont forget the back of van/truck- hard to miss if youre in front of someone at red lite. Ive got so many calls and jobs because theyve seen my van. and a lot people tell me they see our van all over the place (sometimes its just my hubby running to Lowes to pick something up, but it looks like were always working)…“FREE ESTIMATES”, I think helps too.
I Love that truck!! Nice. Im in the market for a truck and have been looking at Toyotas. I was trying to get it before the end of the year but I have too much stuff going on.
I agree Sharon, keep the vehicle out in public eye because it’s not doing it’s job parked in the driveway. 
