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AT Staff
/ Nov 14 2022
"Hey, I have to move my [insert large object here]. Can I borrow your truck?"
If you're a pickup truck owner, you've likely heard this question more times than you can count. No matter how much you love your ride, being "the friend with the truck" can sometimes be a giant pain in the tailgate.
American Trucks surveyed over 400 truck owners about their experiences with being "the truck friend." How often are they asked to help someone move or pick something up? Are they usually compensated for their help? And what do their non-truck-driving friends think about them? We also questioned 400 non-truck owners to find out.
We're all happy to lend a helping hand sometimes, but being the unofficial moving and delivery driver can get old really fast. How do pickup owners feel about being asked for so many favors?
If you ever felt like your truck friend was annoyed at being asked for a favor, they probably were. About 90% of truck owners felt at least slightly annoyed at being asked to use or borrow their pickup, while around half of them (49%-57%) found it very annoying.
Surprisingly, most non-truck owners were fully aware of how annoying truck owners found these requests: over 90% assumed they were at least a little annoyed, and around half (43%-50%) thought they were very annoyed.
Yet, non-truck owners continue to ask their truck friends for help. Perhaps it's out of necessity, as 88% of truck owners were the only person in their friend group with a pickup. With only one truck to go around, there's only one person to turn to for hauling-related favors. The lack of others to turn to may also account for the frequency of truck use requests despite non-truck owners' awareness of their cargo-bedded friends' feelings about being asked.
Apparently, being relied on for moving-related favors doesn't automatically earn you a good reputation. Many non-truck drivers viewed pickup owners as not as smart as car drivers (55%). More than half also assumed that trucks are usually dirty and that their owners make their vehicle their entire personality.
Despite these negative views, 60% of pickup owners said they've never been stereotyped for driving a truck — but maybe it just wasn't done to their face.
Owning a pickup makes you a target of both stereotypes and favors, but even the most generous truck owner can't help everyone. How often do owners agree to lend a truckload, and for what favors are they asked?
Pickup truck owners are generally willing to help a friend in need, but it's not something most of them want to make a habit. Only 8% said they always help, while nearly three-quarters said they sometimes or often do. Just 2% never helped, which is surprising since so many owners reported being annoyed at being asked for help.
Truck owners were most often asked to pick up large purchases or help people move (59% each). As non-truck owners usually ask for these favors to save money on delivery trucks and moving companies, it's not surprising that almost half of the pickup owners we surveyed said they only sometimes got offered compensation.
When compensation was offered, it was done more often with food (64%) than with cash (56%). Unfortunately, gas can be expensive, and pickups are known to require a lot of it. Truck owners reported using an average of $149 in gas the last time they did someone a favor; it would take a pretty fancy meal to pay that back. With the lack of fair compensation, it's no wonder truck owners are hesitant to grant favors.
As for who asks for these favors, family members have made the most demands. Parents were the most likely to ask (51%), siblings were second (48%), and kids were third (41%). Friends were fourth most likely (34%), followed by more family: in-laws (29%), grandparents (27%), spouses (26%), and other family members (25%). One-quarter of truck owners reported co-workers asking for help, and 18% have even been asked by their boss.
With so many family members and friends asking for favors, why do drivers choose to buy a truck in the first place? Once they're on the top of everyone's delivery list, do pickup owners ever get buyer's remorse?
Reasons for buying a pickup were split; some people felt they needed one, while others simply wanted one. Half of truck owners bought theirs for work purposes, 47% because they always wanted one, and 43% because they considered it a practical purchase. Baby boomers and Gen Zers were more likely to need a truck, while Gen Xers and millennials were more likely to want a truck.
Moving stuff and practicality were among the top three buying reasons for every generation, showing what a double-edged sword truck ownership can be; the practicalities that make pickups desirable to own also make them desirable to borrow. But owners who are kind enough to lend out their truck often get burned in the end, as 81% have had theirs damaged by someone borrowing it.
Perhaps that's why 64% of owners said they regret buying a truck. Owning something everybody wants to borrow is tough, especially when they don't return it in the same condition.
A pickup truck can be a great asset. Suitable for driving, convenient for hauling, and great for towing, most can tackle any task you throw at them. Unfortunately, truck owners aren't the only ones who know this.
Being the "friend with the truck" can be tiring, but it doesn't have to be. As with anything in life, truck ownership requires setting boundaries. If you love helping people and are happy to move anything anywhere for anyone, have at it.
On the other hand, if you worry about mileage, gas prices, or wear and tear, you can choose who you help and when. Or you can not help at all. After all, multitudes of truck rentals, delivery services, and moving companies do this sort of thing for a living.
So, use your truck how you see fit and leave that truck owner's buyer's remorse behind. Because whether you need or want your truck, you've earned the right to enjoy it.
American Trucks surveyed 463 truck owners about their preferences and 400 non-truck owners about their perceptions of truck owners.
AmericanTrucks.com is established as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers in the business. Catering to the needs of truck owners and enthusiasts, we sell the hottest products at the best prices you can find.
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