Are there no experts that sell trucks?

Stereotyping, I know, but I don't think most salespeople really ever set out to be salespeople. It is a job you fall into when you don't have better options. If you are good at it and interested, you'll quickly move up in to another position w/in the dealership. Otherwise, it is a job you'll do for a few months until you find something else to do. Many here, at least, spend a few months on a Dodge lot, then a Honda lot, then a GM dealership, etc. I have run into a couple reasonably informed ones -- one who actually knew what the RPO codes in the glove box of GM trucks were, and another who kept a tie rod for a Cummins diesel and a Powerstroke at his desk to show the difference in internals (he worked at a Dodge dealership, and it was a very good sales tactic). But I've also argued with a Dodge salesman about how many cylinders the Dodge Cummins I was test had (it has 6), or a GM salesman about whether Suburbans come with different gear ratios (they do!).

I was hired on as a salesman on a large lot once during some downtime between my graduate school entrance exams and starting up my graduate program. I only did it for 3 days, decided there was something else I'd rather do. Thinking back to the interview process, I wasn't asked a single question about my knowledge of cars, other than "why would you want to sell this brand." It was all about sales, people interactions, "sell me this pen" type questions. They hired me, "recommended" that I read through a stack of sales brochures for the particular lot (it was an Acura dealership). And I was told to come back 2 days later to start my shift! The 2 staff mtgs I sat through were the same thing -- numbers, sales, etc., and no car information.

Of course, most consumers aren't any better. My neighbor didn't know what engine his new F150 had. You have to keep in mind that the 'strange' people who populate these forums are not your typical vehicle owner!