Editors Note

Welcome to this issue of Digital Display Insider! In this issue, we will be giving you valuable information as you navigate the Mobile Digital Billboard (M.D.B.) startup process.

This week, I’m sharing a story I’ve never fully told in detail here at Digital Display Insider—the time I lost $100,000 on my first LED truck. It was supposed to be the start of a profitable side business, but less than one month in, I found myself sitting in my living room as an industry expert told me, “Your truck is really only worth the value of the chassis.”

At that moment, panic set in. Not just because of the financial loss I was facing, but because I knew the strain it would put on my family, my marriage, and my future. I had trusted someone who I thought was a guide, only to realize he was the villain in my story. And because I didn’t have the right mentor, I paid a multiple six-figure price for it.

The truth is, this same mistake is still happening today. There are still brokers out there selling low-quality LED trucks to unsuspecting buyers. There are still entrepreneurs jumping into this business without the right knowledge or guidance—only to find themselves in financial disaster a year later.

That’s why I’m telling this story. Not just to share what happened, but to help you avoid making the same mistake.

If you’re thinking about buying an LED truck, this issue is a must-read. Let’s dive in.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

The Moment Everything Changed

I still remember the exact moment my world collapsed.

I was sitting across from Brian, a fellow LED truck operator, in my own living room. He had just finished inspecting my LED truck that had massive screen issues—the one I had just borrowed $140,000 from a friend to purchase, the one that was supposed to be my entry into a new, profitable business.

He sighed, looked me dead in the eye, and said words that hit me like a freight train.

"Jerry, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but your truck is really only worth the value of the chassis."

I sat there in silence, staring at him.

My first thought wasn’t even about the money. It was about my marriage.

I had spent the past year rebuilding my car shipping business after its near collapse, trying to get my life back on track. The LED billboard business was supposed to be a passive side hustle—a way to generate extra income without taking too much time away from my family.

I had started this process while my wife and I were still separated. Now, we had just reconciled, and I knew the strain of losing this much money would put immense pressure on our fragile marriage.

The panic set in immediately.

How did I let this happen? How did I not see this coming?

What scared me more than anything wasn’t the six-figure financial loss—it was the thought of losing everything I had just fought to rebuild.

The “Guide” Who Turned Out to Be the Villain

When I first started looking into Mobile Digital Billboards, there were only a couple dozen LED trucks in existence in the entire U.S. It was still a brand-new concept, and there was only one website I could find selling them.

That’s where I met Peter, a broker who seemed to have all the answers.

From the very first phone call, he fed into my excitement about the business. He was a smooth talker and knew exactly how to sell the dream.

"The truck sells itself," he told me. "All you have to do is pull up to a business with their ad on the screen, and they’ll practically throw money at you."

I believed him.

But what I didn’t realize at the time was that every great story has a hero and a guide—and Peter was playing the role of the guide.

At least, that’s what I thought.

The truth? He wasn’t a guide. He was the villain.

And I didn’t realize it until it was too late.

Buying Sight Unseen: My Biggest Mistake

One of the worst decisions I made—and a mistake that many new operators still make today—was buying the truck sight unseen.

That’s how Peter was able to misrepresent everything about it.

He told me the truck was only six months old, practically brand new. But when I finally got it home and started inspecting it, I found a hidden build tag that told the real story.

It wasn’t six months old.

It was five years old.

In fact, this truck wasn’t just used—it was one of the very first LED trucks ever built in the U.S.

And the problems didn’t stop there.

The LED screens weren’t even rated for outdoor use. They were indoor modules with a sheet of plexiglass on the outside, which meant water seeped in constantly, corroding the electronics.

The generator—while technically functional—was older than me and was so loud and oversized that it felt like a semi-truck engine was running inside the truck.

And now, I was stuck with it.

The moment I confronted Peter about the deception, he vanished. Calls stopped getting returned. Emails went unanswered.

I had been scammed.

And I wasn’t the only one.

As I started reaching out to other operators, I discovered a long trail of victims. People who had been sold the same false dream and were now sitting on useless equipment that they couldn’t sell, couldn’t fix, and couldn’t use to generate revenue.

The Emotional Toll & The Breaking Point

Losing $100,000 is bad enough. But when your entire financial future is on the line, your marriage is still fragile, and you’ve borrowed money from a friend who trusts you—it’s a different kind of pressure.

Every waking moment was filled with fear and anxiety.

Every time I took the truck out, I was praying it wouldn’t break down on me.

Every time I talked to a potential advertiser, I was terrified I wouldn’t be able to deliver what I promised.

I had no choice but to keep pushing forward.

But after 11 grueling months of trying to keep the truck operational, I finally had to face reality.

I couldn’t keep this truck any longer. But I also couldn’t just quit.

I needed a better truck, but I had to figure out a way to buy it before selling the old one—otherwise, I’d have no business left.

So I did what felt impossible at the time—I secured a new private lender, purchased a better-built replacement truck, and finally got rid of the first one.

The truck I paid $140k for was sold 1 year later for a mere $40k

The $100,000 Lesson: Why You Need a Real Guide

Looking back, I see my mistake clearly: I thought I had a guide, but I really didn’t.

I thought Peter was the expert—the person who was going to help me get started and make money fast. But in reality, he was the villain of the story.

He wasn’t a guide—he was a scam artist. And because I didn’t have a real mentor to guide me, I lost six figures and a year of my life.

If I had a mentor—someone who had actually built a successful LED truck business—none of this would have happened.

I could have avoided:
❌ Buying the wrong truck
❌ Losing $100,000 in borrowed money
❌ Wasting a year struggling to make a bad investment work

Instead, I had to learn the hard way.

And that’s why I share this story.

Because this same trap still exists today.

There are still brokers out there selling low-quality LED trucks to unsuspecting buyers and representing them as high quality trucks.

There are still people getting into this business thinking it’s easy money, only to find themselves in financial disaster a year later because they were wrong on how to make money with the truck.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I learned the hard way so you don’t have to.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Make the Same $100,000 Mistake

If you’re thinking about buying an LED truck, you have two options:

You can go in blind, trust that everything will work out, and hope you don’t end up like I did—staring at a six-figure loss and wondering how you’ll recover.

Or…

You can learn from someone who’s already been through it.

Buying an LED truck is a massive investment, and if you get it wrong, it could sink your business before it even starts.

The difference between success and failure isn’t luck—it’s guidance.

So before you make the biggest financial decision of your life, make sure you’re learning from someone who’s actually been there.

Because having the right guide won’t just save you money—it could save your entire business.

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LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

I’m excited to announce that Legion LED Trucks has partnered with Currency to offer flexible financing and lease options for both new and used LED trucks! Whether you’re looking to start or grow your MDB business, these leasing plans provide an affordable way to get on the road with minimal upfront investment.

Leasing is an excellent option for operators who want to keep cash flow steady while upgrading their equipment regularly. With 36-, 48-, and 60-month turnback leases available, you can keep your fleet up to date without the commitment of long-term ownership. For example:

• Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.

• A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.

• Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

To qualify, applicants need a minimum 670+ credit score and three months of bank statements. Additional requirements may apply. Financing is subject to credit approval, and terms may vary based on creditworthiness and truck selection.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

From The Vault: Pictures of the “Yellow Turd” as my first truck became known as.

Bonus Content

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