Trick My Truck

Did You Know?

• The crew was called the "Chrome Shop Mafia" only in Seasons 1-3.
• The shop location changed from Joplin, Missouri (Seasons 1-3) to Florence, South Carolina (Seasons 4 and 5).
• Loaner trucks came from Ryder in Seasons 1 and 2, J. B. Hunt in Seasons 3 and 4, and Hino in Season 5.
• A spinoff called Trick My Trucker premiered on CMT on November 10, 2007, focusing on trucker makeovers.

Premise

Each episode kicks off with the mechanics goofing off until their foreman and lead designer step in, announcing they’ve got a truck—usually a tractor unit—to overhaul. The bosses fill the crew in on the rig and what its owner does for a living, typically trucking, and the team agrees to take on the job. Family or friends share stories about the owner. The crew then tracks down the truck, surprises the owner, and lets them know their loved ones arranged for the makeover.

The vehicle gets hauled to the shop—Chrome Shop Mafia in Joplin, Missouri for the first three seasons, then K&L Chrome Shop in Florence, South Carolina for seasons four and five. Meanwhile, the owner drives a loaner, provided by Ryder in seasons one and two, J. B. Hunt in seasons three and four, or Hino in season five. Back at the shop, the truck gets a full transformation based on the owner’s job or hobbies. Typical upgrades include fresh paint, add-ons, electronics like a TV, and a revamped interior.

Most work is cosmetic, with mechanical repairs rarely shown. Once done, the owner visits the shop, where the crew walks them through every change. Every episode wraps with the crew cheering as the owner drives off in their newly customized truck. Beyond tractor units, the team has also customized pickup trucks and specialty vehicles like tow trucks and an ice cream truck.

Reception

Common Sense Media reviewer Sierra Filucci wrote that the show's dialogue felt scripted and its delivery lifeless, making for less-appealing characters than other personality-driven shows, and that some jokes fell flat or seemed corny. Jennifer Hall of the St. Joseph News-Press compared the show to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and thought it told the unique stories of over-the-road truck drivers across the nation. She noted that the updates take place in a short amount of time, adding suspense to the final product.