TRUCKING& FREIGHTING
“We pride ourselves in knowing for sure that our products
will perform.” -Craig Bennett, senior VP of sales and marketing
Customized Quality
UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING CO. WORKS
WITH ITS DIVERSE CLIENT BASE TO ENSURE ITS
TRAILERS MEET THEIR NEEDS.
> U T I L I T Y T R A I L E R M A N U FA C T U R I N G C O .
which is the first to be U.S. EPA SmartWay
“[That customer] values quality, perform-
When clients come to Utility Trailer
verified with Utility’s USS-160 side skirt
ance and features in a product,” he says.
Manufacturing Co., they are looking for
and low rolling resistance tires.
BY A L A N D O R I C H
trailers that are built to last and can en-
Utility distributes its products through
Utility serves a broad customer base,
“what we believe to be the best independ-
dure the harsh conditions of the road,
Craig Bennett says. “We design and sell
ent dealer network throughout the Amer-
Craig Bennett says. “There’s an old saying
semi-custom [trailers] to private fleets,
icas,” Bennett says, explaining that the
that ‘a trailer is a box on wheels,’” he says.
for hire trucking companies, leasing com-
firm has 106 full-service locations that
“Don’t believe it.
panies and to owner operators,” he says.
not only work on its own products, but
“A trailer is a working piece of equipment,” he says. “It will have a life of 10
Its primary client, though, is found in
the middle market of the trucking industry.
those from other brands. “They’re in
business to service their local market and
years for its first owner and five to seven
years for the second owner. It is used and
can be abused [throughout its life].”
Bennett is the senior vice president of
sales and marketing for Utility, which
manufactures dry vans, reefers, flatbeds
and Tautliners. Bennett’s grandfather
and great-uncle, H.C. and E.W. Bennett,
founded the company in 1914.
Initially, the two manufactured a singleaxle trailer that could transport 60 bales of
cotton. Today, the City of Industry, Calif.based firm manufactures products such as
its 4000D-X Composite dry freight van,
-----------------------------------------------[ P R O F I L E ]
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.
www.utilitytrailer.com
2012 sales: $1 billion+
Headquarters: City of Industry, Calif.
Employees: Approximately 3,600
Specialty: Dry vans, reefers, flatbeds
and Tautliners
-------------------------------------------------------------
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TLIMAGAZINE.COM SUMMER 2013
// Utility says understanding the dynamics of
the loading and unloading operations is just as
important as the load being carried on the road.
TRUCKING& FREIGHTING
know their customers’ specific hauling
Problem Solvers
through our dealer network, our cus-
needs and design a trailer specification to
When customizing trailers, Utility
tomers have access to our engineering
do that specific job.”
works closely with clients to determine
and drafting team to design answers to
what their needs are, Director of Mar-
their current problems,” he says.
Success Strategies
keting Larry Roland says. “Working
“That’s a regular part of our business:
“We strive to design and build the best
trailer in each of our chosen product categories,” he says.
The firm continuously reinvests in its
operations. Recently, it added a second assembly line in its factory in Glade Spring,
Va., and sizeable modification shops in its
locations in Arkansas and Virginia.
With these additions, “We raised our capacity and ability to grow to handle more
accessory-type equipment and trailers
that are not as production-line oriented,”
he says. “It allows us to be more of a customized producer.”
SUMMER 2013 TLIMAGAZINE.COM
53
TRUCKING& FREIGHTING
working directly with the customers and
meeting their needs on a case-by-case
basis,” he says. One example, Roland
notes, is food distributors, who often
have temperature-control needs that
Utility has to meet.
Another example, he adds, is paper distributors, who need different capacities
and a different floor life than the average
trailer. “It’s not always the product that is
loaded on the trailer, but how it’s loaded,”
he says. “In a paper haul specifically, the
size and weight of the forklift must be
considered in addition to the weight of
each pallet.”
Some clients also have different dock
// Utility continuously reinvests in its operations.
heights, Roland says. “We need to under-
It recently added a second line in Virginia and
stand that and work with them in that
sizable modification shops at two other locations.
particular area,” he says.
important as the load being carried down
the road,” he says. “This is an area Utility
>MORE
“Understanding the dynamics of the
loading and unloading operations is just as
PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT
Utility Trailer has not let green practices pass it by. The company says it has adopted envi-
excels in with the advantages that we have
ronmental standard practices such as responsible resource usage, material recycling, waste
in our independent dealer network.”
reduction, air emissions reductions and energy conservation “to help preserve the environment for future generations.”
Up to the Test
By producing quality products, Utility says it has improved its manufacturing process and
Utility extensively tests its products before
reduced the carbon footprint of its trailers. Each of its reefers are insulated with an EPA-
they leave its facilities, Bennett says. “We
approved zero ozone depletion potential 245-FA foam blowing agent, which has no volatile
don’t believe in [having the customer] test
organic compounds. Additionally, its paints and coatings are lead-free, and low in VOCs or
them for us,” he says. “We pride ourselves
hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).
in knowing for sure that our products will
outperform others in the marketplace.”
Utility performs laboratory testing,
and it also is the only trailer company
“We have reduced our VOCs by over 20 percent and our HAPs by over 87 percent,”
Bennett says. In addition, Utility uses wood products from suppliers that participate in
Sustainable Forestry Initiative or Forest Stewardship Council programs.
The company’s manufacturing facilities also have reduced their impact on the environ-
that has its own testing track. It is located
ment. For instance, “We have converted part of our forklift fleet to clean-burning natural
in Southern California close to the corpo-
gas,” Bennett says.
rate office where engineers can see the ef-
Utility also is implementing a change-out program towards low-energy fluorescent light-
fects of compression, tension, torsion
ing and is using computer systems to control lighting and heating in its manufacturing facili-
and abuse on its products. The company
ties. “Source control and process changes have led to a 33 percent reduction in scrap metal
only approves new designs, specifications
and up to 33 percent diversion of waste going to local landfills,” Bennett adds.
and components if they meet its performance standards.
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TLIMAGAZINE.COM SUMMER 2013
REACHING A
MILESTONE
Utility Trailer recently celebrated the
>MORE
TRUCKING& FREIGHTING
Bennett asserts that this testing is more
that is hard to replicate in the public
important than ever, thanks to the deteri-
world,” he says.
orating road conditions in the United
The family involvement also adds con-
States. “The impacts on the trailer are
tinuity to the firm’s work environment.
getting more intense,” he says. “In addi-
Recently, Utility Chairman and CEO Paul
manufacture of its 50,000th dry van
tion to our deteriorating roadways, the
Bennett celebrated his 50th year with the
trailer at its Glade Spring, Va., manu-
trailer ‘duty cycle’ is increasing due to the
firm. “We [also] have the fourth-genera-
facturing plant. The manufacturer
shorter average length of haul in most op-
tion family members in key positions as
marked the milestone by building the
erations. Utility’s testing ensures that
we speak,” Craig Bennett adds.
trailer for K-VA-T Food Stores Inc., a
Utility products will outperform in this
company that owns 106 Food City
operating environment.
“We would like to congratulate Utility
Business Continuity
Utility will celebrate a century of busi-
Trailer Manufacturing Co. and their
ness next year. “We’re the No. 1 refriger-
team of dedicated associates on reach-
ated trailer seller throughout North
ing such an important milestone in their
America,” Bennett says. “Just over the last
plant’s history,” Food City President and
18 years, we’ve been the No. 1 producer.”
CEO Steven C. Smith said in a statement.
private because the strategy is working
well, he notes.
retail supermarkets in Kentucky,
Virginia and Tennessee.
Utility is growing and plans to stay
He notes that his family’s involvement
“Their success has certainly been vital
in the firm has helped it prosper. With
to our local economy, while providing
Bennett family members managing the
quality jobs to scores of individuals
company, “We have a certain trust factor
Hendrickson is the leading global manufacturer and supplier of medium- and heavy-duty mechanical, elastomeric
and air suspensions; integrated and non-integrated axle
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global commercial transportation industry. Hendrickson is
committed to being a world-class ride solution supplier focused on meeting the increasing needs of the global commercial vehicle market with innovative, cost competitive
products for today and into the future. Hendrickson – A
name you can trust. This year marks Hendrickson’s 100th
year anniversary; for more information on the Hendrickson
story visit www.hendrickson-intl.com/company/100-years
throughout our region.
“As a locally owned and operated
company ourselves, we’re extremely
proud to partner with Utility to not only
secure top-quality trailers at a very
competitive price, but a product that is
manufactured right here in our own
community by our friends and neighbors,” Smith says.
“From one privately held and privately owned company to another, we are
pleased that Food City is the company
that received the 50,000th trailer from
our Glade Spring plant,” Craig Bennett
said. “They are an important customer
of ours and we will continue to support
their growth by providing them with the
highest-quality products and solutions
for their business.”
56
TLIMAGAZINE.COM SUMMER 2013
// Utility customizes its trailers for customers and
works closely with them to determine their needs.