A custom semi-truck can attract attention long after it leaves a truck show. For owners who have invested in distinctive paint, polished chrome, or a carefully restored cab, photography competitions provide another opportunity to showcase their equipment. Some have offered substantial cash prizes, while others feature selected trucks in calendars distributed to customers and trucking enthusiasts.
The competitions recognize different qualities, including customization, photography, and the history of trucks still in service. Their previous contests offer several opportunities worth keeping an eye on as organizers prepare future programs.
Full Tilt Performance’s Truck of the Year Competition
Full Tilt Performance offered a substantial prize package for its 2026 Truck of the Year competition. First place received $2,000 in cash, second place earned $500, and third place received $250. The grand prize winner also received a $2,500 Full Tilt Performance gift card, a custom jacket, merchandise, and tickets to the Mid-America Trucking Show.
The competition began with public voting in January, followed by head-to-head matchups on social media. Topher Trucking and the Helton family won the 2026 title, following McGlothlin Trucking in 2025 and Dice Mayhem Trucking in 2024.
Public participation distinguishes the contest from traditional photography competitions. Trucks advance based on the votes they receive, giving owners an opportunity to build support around their custom equipment. Additional prizes were awarded to participants who reached later rounds, including merchandise and show tickets for the top 10.
The Full Tilt Performance contest page provides the previous prize schedule and winning entries. Another competition has not yet been announced.
Custom builds are a natural fit for public voting contests, but expensive modifications are not always necessary to earn recognition. Manufacturer-sponsored programs also feature trucks that spend their working lives hauling freight, delivering products, and supporting other commercial operations.
Mack Trucks’ Annual Calendar Competition
Mack Trucks announced the winners of its 2027 calendar competition on May 21, 2026, following a public voting process that attracted more than 200 entries from across North America.
Nine customer trucks were selected, including a Mack Pioneer operated by Scooter’s Coffee in Omaha, Nebraska, and a 1954 Mack L Model belonging to the Last Alarm Foundation in Tucson, Arizona. The historic vehicle earned recognition in the Old Bulldogs Still Hard at Work category, which celebrates older equipment that remains in service.
The winning vehicles were professionally photographed during the summer. Their images will appear alongside three new Mack models in the 2027 calendar, which is scheduled for release later in 2026.
Under the contest rules, winners receive 50 complimentary calendars and 12 professionally photographed and edited images for personal, noncommercial use. Mack requires nominated trucks to be actively used in commercial operations, with permission from the vehicle owner.
The official contest rules explain the eligibility requirements, and Mack’s winner announcement identifies the selected vehicles.
Mack’s program provides professional photography after the winners have been chosen. Other calendar competitions take a different approach, evaluating the photographs submitted by entrants rather than arranging a separate photo shoot.
Ohio Peterbilt’s Calendar Photo Challenge
Ohio Peterbilt accepted entries for its 2027 Calendar Photo Challenge between May 11 and September 10, 2026. The competition invited eligible U.S. residents age 18 or older to submit original photographs featuring Peterbilt trucks.
Twelve monthly winners were eligible to receive a Peterbilt pullover jacket and have their photographs featured in the calendar. The cover winner was also eligible for a $250 dealership gift card, while the company owning the featured truck could receive a $500 sponsored event or equivalent Visa gift card.
Photographs were judged on originality, image quality, and how well they represented Peterbilt equipment. Entries had to be submitted in horizontal orientation, and participants needed to own the images or have permission to use them.
Ohio Peterbilt’s published rules called for winners to be announced by October 31, 2026, with prizes awarded by December 31. The rules do not, by themselves, establish which entrants were ultimately selected.
The official Calendar Photo Challenge rules provide the full eligibility requirements and details of the previous awards.
Beyond the prizes, the terms governing submitted photographs deserve attention. A winning image may eventually appear in advertising or other promotional materials, and entering a contest can give the organizer permission to use it well after the competition has ended.
Photo Ownership and Contest Requirements
Photographs taken by professional photographers generally remain their intellectual property unless a separate agreement transfers ownership. Truck owners who have hired someone to photograph their equipment may therefore need permission before submitting those images to a competition.
Company-owned vehicles can involve additional requirements. Mack expressly requires approval from the truck’s owner, while other organizers may establish separate conditions for entrants and businesses associated with the equipment.
The rights granted to contest organizers also vary. Ohio Peterbilt’s published rules give the dealership and its parent company a permanent, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, edit, and use submitted photographs for promotional purposes. Mack’s rules establish that the professional photographs produced for its calendar belong to the manufacturer.
These agreements are particularly relevant to owners who use truck photography for business marketing or have paid for professional images. The opportunity for recognition may be worthwhile, but entrants should understand how their photographs can be used after submission.
Image specifications are another factor. Some contests require particular orientations, file formats, or minimum image quality, while others select trucks first and arrange professional photography afterward. Reviewing those details before submitting an entry can prevent an otherwise eligible photograph from being rejected.
The next round of competitions will bring new opportunities for owners to put their trucks in the spotlight. With previous contests awarding thousands of dollars in prizes and featuring working equipment in nationally distributed calendars, a well-chosen photograph can do more than capture a truck’s appearance. For owners considering an entry, keeping an eye on upcoming announcements and having photographs ready will put them in a good position when submissions reopen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which semi-truck photography contests have offered cash prizes?
Full Tilt Performance awarded $2,000 for first place, $500 for second, and $250 for third in its 2026 Truck of the Year competition. Future cash prizes have not been confirmed.
Can company drivers submit photographs of their trucks?
Some contests permit photographs of company-owned equipment, but entrants may need approval from the vehicle owner and permission from the photographer. Requirements depend on the organizer.
Do trucks have to be customized to qualify?
Not always. Mack’s calendar competition recognizes eligible working trucks, including historic equipment still in service. Other programs emphasize custom appearances or photographic quality.
When will the next truck photography competitions open?
New entry periods have not been confirmed. Interested owners can monitor the organizers’ official websites for announcements about future competitions.
The TDUSA editorial team creates practical, driver focused content covering trucking news, industry updates, safety, regulations, and career information for professional truck drivers across the United States. Each article is built to reflect real world experience, industry developments, and information drivers can use on and off the road.
Last Updated: November 2, 2026
