A mobile billboard is a device used for advertising on the side of a truck or trailer that is typically mobile. Mobile billboards are a form of out-of-home advertising (OOH); radio, static billboards, and mall/airport advertising fall into this same category. Using a mobile billboard for advertising is an advertising niche called mobile outdoor advertising.
Most mobile billboards are dedicated, customized trucks with large, but narrow, bodies for posting the advertisements. Some of these dedicated units offer features such as external sound systems, illumination, and hot/cold boxes for product sampling. This type of mobile billboard is the most popular among vendors, and the most capable in terms of gaining exposure and quick deployment. An innovative development of mobile billboards is dynamic advertising trailers called "SkyBoard" to hoist large format vinyl banners up to 4,000 square feet (370 m2).
Another trend is to use smaller but more distinctive looking mini mobile billboards, often based on the Daihatsu Midget from Japan, as it is an unusual looking vehicle in Europe and the US. These one-seater vehicles have a very short wheelbase; they can be parked sideways so the large advertising panels on the side are facing the traffic flow.
Some mobile billboards are installed on trucks and trailers that are in service delivering goods. This form of mobile billboards can be less expensive than dedicated trucks, but may also make fewer impressions because the trucks spend more time at loading docks.
Box-type trucks with glass panels enclosing the cargo space can be turned into a mobile 3D display case. Many companies use these trucks for parades, product launches, furniture displays, and general rapid-awareness creation. Almost anything can be placed inside of the boxes for display.
For micromarketing campaigns, small engine scooters are used to pull a tall and narrow signage trailer. This form has become a very effective intercity advertising method for Atlanta, Georgia.