Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
| Private | |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Headquarters |
City of Industry, Los Angeles County, California, U.S. |
| Products |
Semi-trailers, refrigerated vans & trailers |
| Website | www.utilitytrailer.com |
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is an American truck semi-trailer and refrigerated van manufacturing company, based in the City of Industry, Los Angeles County, California.
Company overview
Utility Trailer Co. designs and manufactures dry freight and refrigerated freight vans, flatbed trailers, and Tautliner curtain-sided trailers.
It is the oldest privately held trailer manufacturer in the United States. They are the largest manufacturer of refrigerated vans, and the third largest manufacturer of trailers in the United States.
Factories
Utility Trailer Co. operates five factories. Refrigerated trailers are made in Marion, Virginia, and in the Freeport Center in Clearfield, Utah. Dry vans are produced in Glade Spring, Virginia and Paragould, Arkansas. Flatbed trailers and Tautliners are made in Enterprise, Alabama.
History
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company was founded in 1914 by E.W. Bennett and H.C. Bennett, and was one of the first truck trailer manufacturers in the United States. The first product was a single axle trailer designed to accommodate 60 bales of cotton.
During World War I, Utility Trailer built cable reel trailers for the U.S. Government. The trailers allowed one person to pick up and move a large spool of wire with minimal effort. During World War II the company manufactured ammunition trailers and other military items to the U.S. Government.
The rapid expansion of the Interstate Highway System in the U.S. helped Utility Trailer Co. to survive the Great Depression and grow during tough economic times. Over the years, factories were built and acquired, and the company invested in developing new trailer technology.
