It might not surprise you that Ford F-Series trucks were, once again, the best-selling light trucks in the United States last year. Ford has held this distinction for nearly half a century.
But it’s not just Ford. Pickup trucks are white-hot in the automotive market. They outsell vehicles in other categories as more people climb behind the steering wheels of trucks that are getting increasingly bigger.
Truck Drivers Have to Deal With Many Stereotypes
What people do with their hard-earned money is their business and shouldn’t bother anyone else. That said, here are 15 assumptions that non-truck owners make about people who ride around town in pickup trucks.
They’re Making Up for Some Unhealed Trauma
Many non-truck owners believe that people who drive trucks are making up for some undiagnosed inefficiency. Whether unhealed trauma or the need to project a particular image, truck owners, according to judgemental non-truck owners, are making up for what they lack.
They’re Taking Up Too Much Space
Non-truck owners sometimes roll their eyes at the increasingly large trucks on the roadway. They believe people with highfalutin pickups are taking up more than their fair share of space on the road.
They Drive Aggressively With a King or Queen of the Road Mentality
Truck drivers face many stereotypes—one is that they’re aggressive drivers who believe they own the roads and highways and that motorists with low-ground-clearance vehicles should know their place.
They Tailgate Other Motorists
Many non-truck owners believe truck drivers feel so entitled that they tailgate smaller vehicles on the road, forcing them to move out of the way. While not all truck drivers tailgate, enough do to breathe new life into an old stereotype.
They’re Inconsiderate in the Parking Lot
Ever seen a truck so large it can’t fit properly in one parking space? It’s unfortunate as it makes it difficult for anyone to park on either side. Pickup truck drivers don’t do this out of spite—their big vehicles simply aren’t suited to suburban environments, leaving drivers of smaller vehicles to suffer the consequences.
They Don’t Give a Hoot About Fuel Efficiency
Non-truck owners sometimes want to make truck drivers scapegoats for global warming. They think truck owners care nothing about fuel efficiency and will end civilized society because of the amount of fuel their gas guzzlers require to stay on the road.
Some people drive pickups because they want to rather than need to. But that’s their right in a free society.
They Modify Their Vehicles in the Strangest Ways
Non-truck owners shake their heads when they see truck owners modifying their pickups with lift kits, etc. While lifts can make it easier to work under the vehicle, getting in and out of lifted pickup trucks can be more of a challenge than it’s worth.
They’re Enemies of the Environment
Some people who hate trucks with a passion believe that truck drivers are enemies of the environment—like it’s their goal to fast-track global warming.
It’s unfair to make them scapegoats, though. Technological advancements mean plenty of relatively fuel-efficient trucks are on the market, especially hybrid and EV varieties in the truck space.
They Hate the EV Movement
Because truck owners are often criticized for selfishly clinging to their gas guzzlers at the expense of the environment, they’re seen as being anti-EV. However, this assumption isn’t fair. If someone drives a truck for towing and hauling, an EV may not be the right choice.
Recurrent says a truck with 250 miles of range could see the range drop to around 125 miles when towing an 8,500-lb trailer. Range goes down a ton when towing or hauling with an EV. So, it’s a no-go for some.
They Buy Trucks to Project a Certain Image
Non-truck owners believe that people who buy trucks do so to project an image of being tough. They look at truck owners as insecure posers who fake it until they make it.
They’re Self-Centered
Another stereotype is that truck owners are self-centered. They’re only concerned with what they want and couldn’t care less how their vehicle choice might impact others and the environment.
They’re Money Wasters
Imagine buying something for tens of thousands of dollars and barely using its features. That would be silly. Non-truck owners might have a point with this criticism since some truck drivers pay a premium for vehicles they’ll never get their money out of.
They’re Politically Conservative
Is it possible to determine someone’s political beliefs based on what they drive? We’ll leave that for someone else to figure out. Non-truck owners tend to assume that people who drive big trucks are card-carrying members of a particular political party. The reality is that people from all walks of life and ideological leanings love to drive pickups.
They Oppose Environmental Regulations
People who own trucks are sometimes believed to be anti-environmental laws. If they want to drive vehicles that produce high emissions, they may roll their eyes at any talk about stricter environmental policies.
They’re Not Concerned About Fuel Costs
Another belief some non-truck owners have about truck owners is that they’re so wealthy they don’t care about fuel costs—fuel costs don’t enter their thought process. But if you’ve ever seen someone filling up their pickup at the gas station, you might notice their expression is not of indifference; they just accept reality.
Not All Assumptions About Truck Drivers Are True
While there’s sometimes a hint of truth in every stereotype, it’s never wise to make sweeping statements about an entire group of people. Some of these assumptions may be true regarding some truck owners, but they’re misconceptions when applied to others.
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