QUANTICO, Va. -- The Marine Corps Recruiting Command recently 'wrapped' up the "1000 Trucks" marketing campaign as the 1000th trailer received its vivid blue vinyl wrap donned with Marine Corps imagery spanning across the trailer sides. The tractor-trailer, belonging to Interstate Van Lines, was the final truck to be wrapped up within this campaign, March 19.
The "1000 Trucks" campaign which kicked off in the early part of 2003, utilizes the commercial trucking industry to post "rolling billboards" to boost the awareness of the Corps across America's highways and cities each day.
"It's really a campaign used for public service awareness about the Marine Corps," said Captain Maxwell Boucher, Paid Media Officer, Marine Corps Recruiting Command. "We can have our graphics, icons and symbols out there where key influencers and folks in our target market can be inspired about their Marine Corps."
The program is designed to provide the Marine Corps a low cost alternative that will portray our Smart, Tough, Elite Warrior recruiting message. The Marine Corps will get more for their money with the rolling billboards.
"The 'rolling billboard' campaign continues to assist our recruiting efforts by increasing awareness about opportunities for young men and women to serve in the Corps," said Major General Christopher Cortez, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruiting Command. "The colorful Marine images on the sides of these 1000 tractor-trailers are seen daily by untold thousands of prospective applicants and their families as the vehicles travel throughout the nation."
There are actually three billboards for the three covered sides of a trailer on the road. The moving billboards have a lifespan of approximately five years, giving the Marine Corps more value for their marketing dollars. The Marine Corps pays for the materials and application of the billboards on the trailers. The private trucking companies have donated the space as a public service.
However, the trucking companies aren't the only ones showing their patriotism. Members of Y3K Grafix, Inc., the company who manufactures these moving billboards and oversees the application of the graphics on the trucks, feels very privileged to assist an organization so steeped in tradition.
"We wanted to show our dedication, commitment and sense of participation towards national defense," said Tom Flynn, president of Y3K Grafix, Inc. "We decided to support the United States Marine Corps in their efforts to find a low-cost way to reach hundreds of thousands of young men and women and expose them to the Marine Corps message of transformation and opportunity."
Flynn also added that he has had the opportunity to develop relationships with former, retired and active duty Marines who are proud to participate in this program. Flynn noted that his company has provided similar wraps for other Marine Corps organizations such as the Marine Corps Rifle Team and the buses that transport Marine Corps bands and ceremonial units.