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.

If there’s one lesson I wish every first-time LED truck buyer heard on day one, it’s this: the box of spare modules you leave with matters more to your long-term success than half the specs in the brochure. Most folks don’t know to ask, most builders don’t slow the sale to explain it, and most screen manufacturers ship only 1–2% spares. On a 300–400 module truck, that’s 4–6 tiles—you’ll burn through those well before year three if you’re running real routes.

Why does that matter so much? Because modules aren’t like power supplies or cables you can reorder anytime. Modules must visually match—color, brightness, uniformity. Manufacturers “bin” LEDs into batches so panels look seamless; mix in a different bin a few years later and you’ll see checkerboards, color casts, or brightness bands your clients won’t miss. That’s when operators learn the hard way that a rear rescreen to harvest matching tiles runs $15k–$20k+—and resale takes a hit.

This week’s feature is a practical deep dive into the stuff nobody tells you: how to think in years 5–7 (not just through the 2-year warranty), what “enough spares” actually means, the exact questions to put in writing before you sign, and a simple SOP to track, swap, and calibrate so your screens stay clean and your asset value holds.

Whether you buy from me or not, take this standard with you. Protect your future self—and your balance sheet—by leaving delivery day with more than a shiny truck. Leave with a plan, the right inventory, and the confidence that you can keep your screens looking new long after the ribbon-cutting.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

If you’re new to LED trucks, here’s the truth nobody leads with: the long-term value of your truck has less to do with the brochure specs and more to do with a cardboard box in your shop labeled “SPARES.”

Most first-time buyers don’t know to ask about it. Most new truck builders don’t want to slow a sale by talking about it. And most screen manufacturers ship only 1–2% spare modules with an order. On a truck with ~300–400 modules across the sides/front/rear, that’s 4–6 spare modules total. You’ll burn through those well before year three if you’re running routes.

Once you’re out… the clock starts on expensive decisions.

Why this matters more than you think

LED panels weren’t designed for the way we use them. In their native habitat, panels:

• hang on a wall (stationary LED billboards), or

• get assembled/dismantled at venues (rental/staging), then sit still during shows.

Trucks are different. Daily vibration, potholes, temperature swings, hard stops and curb hits accelerate wear. That pretty spec sheet “lifetime” assumes a lab, not a delivery route at rush hour. Which means field failure rates are higher and sooner.

When (not if) modules fail, you start seeing:

• clusters of dead pixels

• color shifts and brightness mismatches

• colored squares (typically blue or pink)

• intermittent flicker

A few defects are manageable—if you have matching spares. Without them, the problem becomes a patchwork you can’t hide.

The moment the math turns against you

What happens after those 4–6 spares are gone?

With power supplies, receiver cards, and cables, you can order replacements as needed. They’re commodity parts; brand and spec matter, but visual uniformity doesn’t. Modules are different. A module is a visual surface composed of hundreds of LEDs that must match the surrounding tiles in color, brightness, and uniformity. That’s why manufacturers bin LEDs—grouping them by wavelength (tint), luminous flux (brightness), and sometimes forward voltage—so panels assembled from the same batch/bin look seamless.

Two consequences follow:

1. You can’t just “buy two more later.”
   Even if a vendor still carries your model number, the LEDs used today are almost certainly from a different bin (and often a different PCB/driver IC/mask revision). Mix-binning creates visible seams: checkerboard effects, color casts, brightness bands, or lines that your clients will notice.

2. Discontinued lines make matching nearly impossible.
   Over a 3–5 year span, manufacturers change suppliers, components, and calibration profiles. Finding a few same-batch modules years later is like hunting NOS car parts—rare and expensive.

So when you hit year 3 or 4 and a side develops four bad tiles, the practical path usually becomes: rescreen one entire panel (most operators choose the rear) and harvest the good modules from the old panel to fix the sides. In today’s market, that’s $15,000–$20,000+ for quality product—before labor and downtime.

It also crushes resale. A truck with visible blemishes and no spare inventory is a hard pass for serious buyers. My rule of thumb when evaluating used trucks: if there aren’t at least 5–10 spare modules included at years 4–5, I immediately discount the offer by a minimum of $15k-40k, depending on the severity of the issue, because that’s what it will cost me to make the screens marketable again.

Why many builders miss this (and why you can’t)

Most builders optimize around two milestones:

1. Delivery day (get it off the lot), and

2. Warranty horizon (often ~2 years on screens).

Very few engineer their spare strategy for years 5–7, which is exactly how an owner/operator must think. Pair that with the fact that most MDB buyers are first-time truck buyers, and you get the same painful pattern: people don’t know what to ask; they learn the lesson only when it’s expensive.

The three questions smart buyers ask up front

Ask these—verbatim—before you sign:

1. “Exactly how many spare LED modules—from the same production batch/bin as the installed panels—are included? (Put the quantity and batch ID(s) on the invoice.)”

2. “If I need to order spare modules, what is the cost per module and minimum order quantity”
   (This questions is more for used LED trucks)

3. “How many total spares—modules, power supplies, receiver cards, data/power jumpers—are in the crate today, and are all part numbers/batch IDs listed on the packing list?” 
   (Open and count together before final payment.)

What “enough spares” actually means

Here’s the standard I coach operators to hold (this is primarely for new trucks):

• Spare module count:
  For a typical 300–400-module truck, ~20 spare modules minimum at delivery. That’s ~5–7%—enough to carry you into years 5–7 if you’re running routes.
  At Legion LED Trucks, we order at least 20 spares per new build and frequently more, plus essential electronics. Most trucks we see elsewhere ship with 4–6. That difference shows up in year 4.

• Same-batch matching:
  Spares should come from the exact same production batch/bin to minimize color/brightness mismatch. Ask for batch IDs on your invoice and keep them with the spares.

• Beyond modules:
  Keep at least: 2–4 spare power supplies (per screen family), receiver cards, data/power jumpers, and weather gaskets. Those are easy to source later; modules aren’t.

Your spare parts playbook (day one → year seven)

Day one setup

• Label & log every spare with screen location compatibility (L/R/Rear/Front), batch code, and date.

• Store right: dry, climate-controlled, with desiccant packs. No truck cabs.

• Save configs: export and back up your control system configs (Novastar/Colorlight). Keep a copy in the truck and offsite (USB + cloud).

Annual maintenance

• Inventory check: count remaining spares by screen family.

• Visual audit: night and day inspections for emerging artifacts.

• Plan ahead: if your spare count drops below 8–10 remaining and your truck is <5 years old, start budgeting for a rear rescreen to harvest good tiles before you’re forced to.

The economics—why this pays for itself

Let’s keep it simple.

• Scenario A (thin spares): 6 spares included. You average 3 module swaps per year across screens. By late year 3 you’re at zero. In year 4 a side develops four bad tiles. You rescreen the rear to harvest good modules: $17,500 parts + labor/downtime. Resale still suffers if the harvest doesn’t perfectly color-match.

• Scenario B (proper spares): 20 matching spares included. Same 3 swaps/year. You hit year 5 with ~5–8 spares left, buy another 4–6 from the same vendor (if available) or plan a strategic rear rescreen on your timeline before year 7. The difference isn’t just the dollars—it’s control. You keep your route clean, your clients happy, and your resale strong.

A $4–6k increase in day-one spares often avoids a $15–20k panic rescreen and preserves $15–30k in resale value. That’s a 5–10x swing in your favor.

What to look for in a contract or invoice (copy/paste checklist)

Ask your builder to include these lines in writing:

• “Includes __ spare LED modules from the same production batch as installed screens.”

• “Includes spare power supplies, receiver cards, data/power jumpers, and gaskets.”

• “Builder provides batch IDs and control system config backups (USB + cloud link) at delivery.”

• “Spare inventory target supports 5–7 years of normal mobile operation.”

If a vendor won’t add plain-language commitments like these, believe their silence.

If you’re buying used (real-world guardrails)

• Non-negotiable: at least 5–10 spare modules included.

• Visible artifacts: price it as if you’ll rescreen the rear immediately (because you probably will).

• Test drive with content: play full-white, full-red/green/blue, motion graphics, and a 5%–10% gray to expose uniformity issues.

Bottom line

Most people don’t discover the spare-parts problem until they’re staring at a mosaic of dead pixels with no matching tiles left. By then, it’s expensive and urgent.

You can avoid all of it by thinking like an owner, not a buyer:

• Plan for year 5–7 on day one.

• Demand proper spare inventory and same-batch modules. A BIG part of this is that YOU get the spare inventory. Don’t let the manufacture keep posession of the spares.

• Build a simple SOP to track, swap, and calibrate.

• Protect your resale with clean screens and documented spares.

At Legion, we spec every new build with a minimum of 20 spare modules plus essential electronics because we know where the pain shows up—and we want you to skip it. Whether you buy from us or not, take this standard with you. Your future self (and your balance sheet) will thank you.

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Industry Discover Day: See It. Touch It. Decide

If you’re seriously considering a Mobile Digital Billboard business, Discover Day was built for you. This one-day, in-person session goes far beyond anything you’ll find on Google or AI—pulling from years of real operator experience to answer the questions that actually determine success.

You’ll get a clear framework to decide IF this business is the right fit for you (and your market), plus a hands-on demo of a brand-new Legion 714—so you can see the build quality, control systems, and operating workflow up close. We modeled the day after franchise discovery events: direct access, unscripted Q&A, and practical guidance you can’t get from a brochure.

Seats are limited. If you want the fastest path to clarity—and a true, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes—reserve your spot at www.ledtrucks.com/discoveryday.

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!

Equipment For Sale

Pre-listed: This truck just came into our inventory and won’t last long. It’s a brand new LED body build on a 2018 Ford Transit 350HD with 79k mi. For more information, call Jerry 402-403-4097