Subbing W/ Logo'd Up Trucks And Trailers.

Mr. D

I've got to say my business identity is great. When my truck and trailer drive down the road my ship looks tight! Right down to the letterheads on my invoices. I'm always getting compliments on my business identity.

Anyhow, I've been doing some sub-contract work lately (siding). The siding company owner is a real decent guy. Pays, gives us presents, bonuses etc. seems to have as much work as we need/want. So if I have some down time I can give him a call and he's got a job for us in a couple days.

Last week he calls me and asks if I can sqeeze in a garage for him. I say sure, next week would actually be great.

So, we meet today to drop off tools and review what needs to be done. He mentions that it would be great if I could not drive my truck to the job because of the logos for my business on my truck. And he's got another job lined up for us in October with the same criteria. Then, offers to give me some adhesive remover if I would like.

This is the second time in the past two years that somebody I've subbed from has asked this of me. My company is only 4 years old and it's tough to be busy year 'round with my own jobs. There are more contractors in the yellow pages than doctors! About 2 years of 4 have been my own jobs. The other half has been subbing.


Luckily, I have another company truck w/ no logos. My brother uses it and lives about 25 minutes out of the way for me to meet him in the morning and go to the job. Kind of a hassle but I'll do it. I could use the work.

So, I was just wondering how you guys feel about hiring subs with logos on their trucks and trailers.

RobertCDF

See if you can just cover your truck/trailer with a sheet or something to cover your logo. Maybe even get magnets that COVER your lettering. As I think it would be a little to expensive to have it removed and put back on later. And magnets kind of suck for all the time use.

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slickshift

As much as it pains me to say this, I do believe that if you take the King's coin, you must play the King's tune

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

slickshift

Perhaps that might work
Worth looking into anyway

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

Big Dave

My first thought was does he ask the same thing of his plumbers, roofers, HVAC, etc. My bet is he does not and he sees you as a threat to his business. I wouldn't do it. You are a sub not an employee.

Just my 2 cents, Dave.

edit: oops my bad, after rereading I realize this is a siding only contractor. I still stick by what I say though.

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mdshunk

I've been meaning to take a few pictures of some trucks that I see in my area on a regular basis. One set of trucks says simply, "Roofing Contractor" in black block letters, with no phone number. One group of trucks says only, "Tile Man". I'm sure that these guys only sub to bigger fellas, and they don't want work of their own. (at least they put who they are on their truck, in case you need to ask someone to move their truck out of your way).

Teetorbilt

Everybody that I use has logos on their trucks and I consider it good advertising for the quality of my jobs. It also keeps inspector harrassment at bay, nothing like a bunch of unmarked trucks to attract their attention.

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maj

That was my exact thought. I do some sub work for other GC's also. Never, ever a problem having my signage on trucks. I even put out my jobsite sign by the road. The GC actually encourages it because of my reputation. He figures he will get more jobs if people know I am doing the work for him. I also have no problem when I hire other IC's to help me out. They park right in front of the job with their own signage on their trucks. No problem by me.

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Mr. D

Yep, Dave it's a tricky one. I did some repair work for him last month. I was the only one in six trips in five years to repair some leaks on two different houses for him. The homeowners were quite impressed. When they asked me for my card i said: "Just call Joe if there's anything else you need." I don't want him to feel threatened. He's one of the most up front, honest contractors I've met. I want to keep everything cool ya know. That's why I'm obliging him by meeting my brother and showing up in the other truck.

Grumpy

I only hire subs with their own logos when I am in a pinch. I practice the don't ask don't tell policy when it comes to using subs. If the customer doesn't ask, I don't tell. Many of mu subs ASK me to give them yard signs and truck magents. They know the more work I get, the more they get.

However I'd never force a sub to remove their lettering. Perhaps ask this guy to buy you his magnets large enough to cover your logos.

I've found some guys here don't fully understand the whole subcontractor setup as it pertains to specialty trades but only as it pertains to the builder & sub relationship. I, as a roofing contractor, sub my work out to other roofing contractors. Of coarse I don't want to promote them, and the professional sub contractors I use don't even want to be bothered with their own work, and selling and advertising and blah blah.

Mr. D

I do agree with you guys Teetor and Maj. I feel the same way when I hire subs to work for me. I might have to chat with him about his position. Because, unfortunately I think he does feel threatened.

Mr. D

I can see your side too Grumpy.

maj

You're just an agreeable type of guy aren't you Mr. D!!!!!!

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R&S Exteriors

I agree. I would not take a job from someone who wanted to pass me off as his employee. I have a business name that I am proud of and I would not cover it up for anyone. He sees you as a threat. If he does not want to do business with "your" business then compete against him.

Rich Turley

I got a contractor friend who doesn't like subs with lettering. He has magnetic signs he keeps for them to use on their vehicles.

Myself, I don't have a problem with it. My clients know I use some subs for certian work and I talk them up. Point out how good the work is. The client knows he isn't going to find the same quality or reliability out of the yellow pages. Also knows it is up to code and their quality levels.

Rich

joasis

I agree, and I don't mind subs having the signage showing. However, I reserve the right to have the yard sign/job site sign. For instance, since we don't shingle roofs anymore, I sub all the comp roofing out...the guy gives me a deal. But the customer called me, so I don't want company X roofing sign in the yard. It isn't a threat from someone else being a roofer, it is business, my customer, my job site.

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PipeGuy

I sub a lot of work from larger companies and have never been asked to 'cover up'. I wouldn't like it a bit if a customer asked me to fly his colors - but that's notto say I absolutely wouldn't. If you're OK with it, ask the guy to provide you magnetic signs with HIS logo to cover yours. If that's not an expression of good faith on your part I don't know what is.

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Scott Young

well i have been in a similar situation, and i didn't handle it the best of ways. i lost the contractor, but if i had to do it over again i would have said the same thing only more tactfully. i told him if he wanted an employee then go hire one. if he wanted a sub with the tools and experience then that is what he got. he went with another sub and let him keep his lettered truck. he got my point, but i lost out.

now when i bid out work and i know what subs i will be using i let the customer know in advance. this has sealed the deal on more than one occassion. i have a sheetrock finisher sub that is top of the heap. i also use a painter that is a real artist. when it comes to selling a job i sell a job off my subs many times. they know it and it is recipical.

Gordo

None of my subs have lettering on their trucks because they do not need it. They say busy year round.

If they did have lettering, I would not mind one bit.

My truck has itsy-bitsy lettering with no phone number.

Mr. D, I think your GC is trying to control your business thus making you his employee.

It sounds as if your business is on the verge of taking off and I would be leary of letting it slip to the GC.

Tell him to pound sand.

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