A Cuban entrepreneur based in Florida has transformed his septic tank cleaning truck into a viral sensation by adorning it with the faces of Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, and Miguel Díaz-Canel, alongside the bold message "ONLY LOADS SH*T".
Roberto Hernández, the owner of RHL Group Construction Corp., which operates out of Lehigh Acres in Lee County, specializes in property repairs, pool installations, and septic system cleaning.
The controversial design idea emerged almost by chance during a meeting about the truck's logo. A friend suggested featuring the images of the three Cuban dictatorship leaders, and the idea quickly gained traction.
"It started as a joke on the day of the truck's design. I decided to put 'only loads... well, what it says there, sh*t,'" Hernández explained to journalist Yusnaby Pérez from Telemundo 51.
The truck has caused quite a stir on the streets, as Hernández recounted: "People wave, congratulate me, support me, honk, get out of their cars, take photos... It's madness," he shared.
For the business owner, the choice of these faces was deliberate: "We chose the ones that truly hurt us," he stated.
Hernández emphasized that the design carries deep emotional significance for the Cuban exile community: "It was created with the pain I feel as a Cuban and that all Cubans here in Florida, in Cuba, and around the world have in their blood."
The truck first went viral in April 2026 through a TikTok video posted by user Elizabet Lopez, which garnered over 186,000 views.
A month later, the vehicle began making its rounds through the streets of Hialeah, the heart of the Cuban exile community in Florida, where it received an immediate and enthusiastic response.
Pedestrians and drivers stop, take photos, request to record videos, greet, and honk in support whenever the truck is in sight.
Hialeah is home to approximately 225,000 residents, with 74.2% of them being of Cuban descent, making the city one of the primary strongholds of exile in the United States.
This visceral and direct advertising not only tapped into the collective sentiment of a community marked by decades of oppression, but also translated into significant business success for the company, according to Hernández.
The reel posted on Facebook by Yusnaby Pérez about the truck accumulated over 102,000 views, 3,940 likes, and 166 comments, elevating the phenomenon to new media heights.
The case of RHL Group Construction is part of a long tradition of political humor among the Cuban exile community in Florida, where satire serves as a form of cultural and identity resistance against the regime.
"That's the sentiment of all Cubans, the suffering and pain from so many years of oppression, dictatorship, whatever you want to call it," Hernández concluded.
Key Insights on the Cuban Leaders' Truck Phenomenon
Who is the creator of the controversial truck design?
Roberto Hernández, owner of RHL Group Construction Corp., is the mastermind behind the truck's provocative design.
What message is displayed on the truck?
The truck boldly displays the message "ONLY LOADS SH*T" alongside the images of Cuban leaders.
How has the community reacted to the truck in Hialeah?
The community has reacted with excitement and support, as pedestrians and drivers often stop to take photos, record videos, and honk in solidarity.
Why does the design hold emotional significance?
The design resonates deeply with the Cuban exile community, reflecting decades of shared pain and oppression under the regime.