WIU Athletics Has a New Rolling Billboard

Prairie City’s (IL) Hiel Trucking unveiled a pair of Western Illinois University trailers that will travel throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States.

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois University Athletics has a new rolling billboard as of August 1. Prairie City's (IL) Hiel Trucking unveiled a pair of Western Illinois University trailers that will travel throughout the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States.

WIU Athletics and WIU Supply Chain Management graphics were applied to two new 53-foot dry vans which run routes daily from the Quad Cities to locations in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. The trailers will also make occasional deliveries in Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Florida. Hiel Trucking, which has been in business for 40 years, transports mainly animal feed directly to farms and local elevators, and dog food to distribution centers.

Hiel Trucking is donating the use of the WIU Athletics trailer to the department this fall, and it will be used to transport WIU football equipment and gear to all road games. Fans will also be able to see it parked just outside of Western Hall for all Leatherneck home games.

"We are proud to carry the Western Illinois name on our equipment," said operations manager Travis Hiel, who together with his cousin, Danny Mahr, runs the business. "It will provide our company with good exposure and will not only provide WIU Athletics a moving billboard, but a means to transport equipment to road football games this fall."

"This is a mutually beneficial partnership," said Western Illinois Interim Director of Athletics Danielle Surprenant. It's a great promotion for Hiel Trucking, and it's something that the entire University can be proud of. Furthermore, it's a huge help to our Leatherneck Football program, which will now be able to transport equipment and gear that we've never been able to take to road games before."

The WIU Athletics trailer, designed by Creative Director David Vallandingham, features a photo of a Leatherneck football student-athlete on one side, with the words "Western Illinois University Leatherneck Football" and the department's web address, www.goleathernecks.com. The other side reads "Western Illinois University Athletics" and "TraditionOfTough," and is set on a large basketball crowd photo from inside Western Hall. The back of the trailer features a listing of Western's football playoff appearances and the department's social media information.

The WIU Supply Chain Management trailer features photos of students, along with the Western Illinois sweep logo and the program's web address, www.wiu.edu/scm. The front of both trailers has the Hiel logo in purple.

"We had done something like this before with the Leatherneck Express trailers, and were amazed by the reactions, inquiries, and compliments we received pulling them," said Hiel. "When WIU Athletics approached us about updating the graphics and helping the football program, we were happy to help."

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