Truck wraps are one of the most overlooked marketing tools in pest control. I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way, from plain logos to blending in with competitors, but eventually I figured out how to turn trucks into brand builders and lead generators.

If you’re running trucks without wraps, or if your current wrap isn’t getting attention, here’s what I’ve learned through experience.

My First Wraps Were Rough, But Better Than Nothing

When I started Olson’s Lawn Care, I didn’t know much about branding, but I knew I needed something. My first truck was a silver F-150 with a red logo on the door. It wasn’t good, but it was still better than the blank white trucks most companies run.

Eventually I got a white truck and decided to make it stand out. Instead of wrapping it, I painted it lime green and added our logo. That single decision changed everything. People noticed. Even with just a few trucks, people thought we had a whole fleet.

That was the first time I realized how important it is to be seen.

Why We Switched to Pink

When I launched Pest Badger in a new market, I quickly saw that almost every company used green. If I brought a green truck into that space, I’d disappear.

Around that time, I was reading Purple Cow by Seth Godin. There was a story about a single pink truck in New York that stood out so much, people thought there were dozens of them. That was the inspiration. I wanted our trucks to be the pink ones people remembered.

So I studied every local competitor. I looked at their websites, logos, and color schemes. Then I chose pink, outfitted every truck with it, and even had our team wear pink uniforms and use pink yard signs.

Immediately, people started turning their heads. We were the purple cow in our market, and it worked.

Great Wraps Bring in Real Leads

People think wraps are just for branding, but they can also be a lead source. We had one month where $20,000 of revenue came directly from people seeing our trucks.

If a single truck generates ten leads a month, that could be $10,000 in business. With just a few trucks, that adds up fast. You can track it too. When someone calls in, just ask how they heard about you. If they say they saw your truck, source that lead accordingly.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Wrap

There are a few big mistakes I see pest control companies make with wraps:

• No wrap at all

• A generic name that no one remembers

• Listing every service you offer

• Using outdated taglines

• Adding a phone number that no one will ever call

Think about it. How many times have you taken a picture of a phone number on a truck? Probably never. People see your truck, then Google your name. If they remember your name, they’ll find you.

That’s why we don’t even put a phone number on our trucks anymore. Our trucks just show our name, mascot, brand colors, and a simple tagline. That’s enough.

What You Should Include

Keep your wrap clean and simple. The essentials are:

• A bold and unique color

• A memorable brand name

• A strong logo or mascot

• An optional tagline or website

That’s all you need. Don’t clutter it with service lists or vendor logos. Every part of your truck should represent your brand. I’ve even seen companies promote their equipment provider just because they got a discount. That space should be for your business, not someone else’s.

What It Costs and When to Invest

Truck wraps typically cost between $3,000 and $5,500 depending on the vehicle and the size of the wrap. That might seem like a lot if you're still under $500K a year, but it pays for itself quickly.

If you’re doing over $100K per year, it’s worth looking into. Waiting will only make it more expensive. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll see results.

Final Thoughts

A great truck wrap is not just branding. It builds trust, creates awareness, and brings in leads. When your trucks are parked in neighborhoods or driving around town, people notice. And when they see your trucks over and over again, that familiarity builds credibility.

If you want to grow, you need to be seen. A great wrap can help make that happen.