An LED billboard truck gives a local campaign a large moving sign that goes to the neighborhoods, events and busy streets you choose. It fits best in three jobs: building name recognition, showing up at events and reminding people to vote.
A truck is one tool among many. It works next to door knocking, mail and yard signs, not in place of them. This guide explains where it fits, how to pick areas and times, how to keep your creative readable and what your campaign is responsible for. It is written for any campaign, of any size, on any side.
Where a Truck Fits in a Local Campaign
Name recognition
In a local race, many voters start out not knowing the names on the ballot. A name they have seen several times on their own streets feels familiar. That is the first job of a billboard truck: show your name and the office you are running for, large and clear, again and again.
Our LED trucks have three screens, on the driver side, the passenger side and the rear. People see the message from the sidewalk, from the next lane and from the car behind.
There is also a local reason to consider a truck. Sioux Falls has limited traditional billboard options because of local zoning rules. A truck is a way to put a billboard-style message on streets that have no billboard.
Events
Campaigns run on gatherings: rallies, meet-and-greets, parades and community events. A truck gives your event a visible landmark and tells people passing by what is happening.
The truck has a DJ sound system with a microphone and speakers, which helps when someone needs to speak to an outdoor crowd. The screens can show graphics and video, so you can run a short campaign video while people arrive. Our event advertising page has more on using the truck at events.
Get-out-the-vote reminders
Late in a race, the message changes. People who know your name now need a nudge to act. A truck can carry a short reminder, such as the voting date, into the areas where your supporters live and work.
Keep these reminders factual and simple. Confirm every date and time against official sources before it goes on a screen.
Choosing Areas and Times
You have two ways to run.
The first is our shared daytime route. It covers 41st Street to 57th Street and Minnesota Avenue to Western Avenue, including major shopping centers like The Empire Mall and Lake Lorraine. The truck runs this route 40 hours per week, for about 180,000 to 230,000 impressions per week. Your ad rotates with other advertisers. See the truck route page for the packages.
The second is Exclusive Use. Only your ads are on the truck, in the area you choose, and you are not limited to the shared route. It is booked in 4-hour and 8-hour blocks.
For most campaigns, the district decides. Only people who live in your district can vote in your race, so time spent outside it does less for you. Exclusive Use lets you keep the truck on the streets that matter to you. Our service area page shows where we operate.
A few planning tips:
- Follow the daily rhythm. Main roads are busy during the morning and evening drive. Shopping areas are busy at lunch and on weekends. Neighborhoods are busy in the evening.
- Use the roads people share. Streets like 41st Street, Minnesota Avenue and Louise Avenue carry traffic from many neighborhoods.
- Go where people gather. Downtown Sioux Falls, Phillips Avenue and the area around the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center draw crowds when events are on.
- Match the truck to your field plan. If volunteers are knocking doors in one area this weekend, send the truck there too. The two efforts support each other.
Changing Messages During the Race
A printed sign says one thing from the first day to the last. An LED screen does not have to. Ads can be changed during a campaign, and with LED trucks it is easy to switch messages or images.
That lets your message follow the race.
- Introduction. Your name, the office and a photo.
- Reasons. One short line about who you are or what you stand for.
- Events. Where people can meet you.
- Reminder. When to vote.
Plan the whole sequence at the start. Prepare the files early so a change is a quick swap, not a rush job. Keep your name, colors and photo the same in every version. Voters should recognize the ad before they read it.
Keeping Creative Readable
A voter sees a moving screen for a few seconds. Design for that.
- Lead with the name. It should be the largest thing on the screen.
- Add the office. People need to know what you are running for.
- Use one message per screen. Seven words or fewer is a good target.
- Choose strong contrast. Light type on a dark background, or the reverse.
- Use a clear photo. A face helps people connect a name to a person.
- Skip the long web address. A short one, or none, is better.
- Leave room for the disclaimer. Plan the space from the start so it does not crowd the design later.
Our sales team gives you the aspect ratios, file type and other specs, and designers are available to create the artwork. Designing ads for both sides and the rear screen usually costs $395 to $695. For layout tips, read our ad design guide.
Disclaimers Are the Campaign's Responsibility
This part is short and important. Campaigns are responsible for following South Dakota and federal disclaimer ("paid for by") rules. That includes the ads you run on our trucks.
We are an advertising company, not a law firm, and we do not give legal advice. Check with the South Dakota Secretary of State or your counsel before your artwork is final. Do it early, so the required wording is part of the design and not a last-minute patch.
Book Early
The last weeks of any race are when every campaign wants more visibility at the same moment. A truck can only be in one place at a time. If certain days matter to you, ask for them as soon as your plan is set.
Booking early helps in other ways too. You have time to get your artwork right, to have your disclaimer checked and to line up the truck with your events and your volunteers.
You can rent for a single day, a week, or longer. Pricing is by quote, with no hidden fees. A campaign on a digital LED truck usually ranges from $1,200 to $3,600 per truck. Rates depend on the type of vehicle, campaign length, location and billboard size.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
- The office you are running for and a map or description of your district.
- The dates that matter most to you, including events.
- Your logo, colors and an approved photo.
- The disclaimer wording your counsel has approved.
- A rough budget and how many days you want to run.
- One contact person who can approve artwork quickly.
Talk With Us About Your Campaign
Mobile Billboard SF is a Sioux Falls company, and political campaigns are one of the groups that use our trucks. We work the same way with every campaign: you bring the message, we put it on the road.
Read more on our political campaign advertising page, then book a call to talk through your areas and dates. If you would like to see numbers first, you can download our pricing.
