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KENTUCKY TRAILER:
A Long History of Innovation,
Leadership, and Custom Manufacturing
1879: THE KENTUCKY WAGON MANUFACTURING COMPANY
Kentucky Trailer traces its roots back to 1879, when the Kentucky Wagon Manufacturing Company was founded in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to many models of specialty wagons, Kentucky Wagon produced "The Old Hickory" and "The Tennessee," two of the nation’s most popular horse-drawn wagon models. The quality and durability of Kentucky Wagon's products were unmatched, and Kentucky Wagon became the largest wagon manufacturer in North America.
1916: KENTUCKY WAGON JOINS THE AUTOMOBILE AGE
Never a company to rest on its laurels, Kentucky Wagon was mindful of changing tides in America’s growing transportation needs. In 1916, Kentucky Wagon began building automobile bodies for the Hercules Motor Car Company of New Albany, Indiana. Kentucky Wagon later bought Hercules Motor Cars' assets and moved its auto production operation to 2601 South Third Street in Louisville, Kentucky--a move that made Kentucky Wagon the first automobile manufacturer in Louisville. At that site--which remained the company's primary manufacturing facility until June 2009--the Dixie Flyer motor car was designed and built. The Dixie Motor Car Company manufactured automobiles, delivery trucks, and the two-seat Dixie Firefly--the only known surviving example of which now resides at Kentucky Trailer’s main production plant in Louisville.
 
1936: THE R.C. TWAY LEGACY BEGINS
R.C. Tway, an early icon of the Louisville business community, purchased the assets of Kentucky Wagon Manufacturing in 1936, renaming it the Kentucky Manufacturing Company. Mr. Tway changed not only the company's name but also its direction, focusing on cutting-edge advances for the transportation industry. Tway’s resolute strategy was to make trailers, rather than rail, the preferred mode of commodity transportation. Tway's bold vision set the course for Kentucky Manufacturing Company for over 75 years. Kentucky Trailer is now in its fourth generation of family ownership and management.
 
1940s: WARTIME PRODUCTION LEADS TO NEW FOCUS ON CUSTOMIZATION
During World War II, Kentucky Manufacturing was commissioned by the United States government to produce flatbed trailers for the United States Army. After the war, Kentucky Manufacturing continued to focus heavily on custom trailer manufacturing as a means of serving the country’s evolving transportation needs. Custom manufacturing on a large scale was a revolutionary concept at the time, and Kentucky Manufacturing excelled by designing and building a wide variety of trailers, including livestock, platform, low-boy, logging, chip, and grain trailers.
The focus on customization has continued through today. , Kentucky Trailer is the nation’s leading manufacturer of custom moving vans, and its clients in the moving and storage industry include Allied, Arpin, Atlas, Mayflower, New World Van Lines, North American, United Van Lines, Wheaton World Wide Moving, and many others. Other specialty-application customers include Frito-Lay and UPS.
2001: KENTUCKY TRAILER SERVICES OFFERS MANY OPPORTUNITIES
At the turn of the millennium, in April 2001, Kentucky Trailer opened the doors to the new Kentucky Trailer OEM service facility for all makes and models of trailers and truck bodies in Louisville, KY. Through the years, Kentucky Trailer Services has serviced and reconditioned thousands of existing trailers and truck bodies to like new condition. In record time, Kentucky Trailer Services has trailers and truck bodies repaired, reconditioned and back on the road. The facility offers repair and service on ABS brake systems, fuel saving aerodynamic tractor and trailer wind fairings, corrosion resistant components such as axle replacements, aluminum lock pans and hold backs, interior/exterior LED light conversions, aftermarket additions to lift gates as well as complete trailer and truck body repair and service capabilities. With over 100 years of collective experience, Kentucky Trailer Services provides full service and custom solutions tailored to our customer’s specific need- on time and on budget.
2003: TRAILER TECHNOLOGIES DIVISION OPENS UP NEW POSSIBILITIES
In 2003, Kentucky Manufacturing acquired Trailer Technologies, a custom trailer manufacturer located in Walled Lake, Michigan. The new Kentucky Trailer Technologies division focuses on being the best in the world at the design, manufacture, and servicing of custom enclosed auto transporters, expandable trailers, and self-propelled (truck body) vehicles. Mobile Marketing, Mobile Medical, Mobile Command, Mobile Simulation/Training Centers, and TV/Broadcast are just a few of the many applications Kentucky Trailer Technologies produces for commercial and government customers.
 
JUNE 2009: KENTUCKY TRAILER OPENS MIXED-MODEL CUSTOM PRODUCTION FACILITY
In June 2009, Kentucky Trailer opened the doors to a new 240,000-square-foot facility in the Riverport Industrial Park at 7201 Logistics Drive in Louisville, Kentucky. This new, state-of-the-art plant was specifically designed for mixed-model trailer production and is a LEEDS-compliant facility, marking Kentucky Trailer's entry into eco-friendly trailer production.
The main assembly plant was located at South Third Street in Louisville, KY on approximately 30 acres for 66 years and relocated to the Riverport complex at 7201 Logistics Drive in Louisville, KY. Kentucky Trailer currently employs approximately 375 associates, across all locations.
 
NOVEMBER 2009: KENTUCKY TRAILER AND HIGH TECH PERFORMANCE TRAILER ENTER JOINT VENTURE
For two decades, Kentucky Trailer made trailer shells for High Tech Performance Trailers of Painesville, Ohio. Founded in Painesville in 1982, High Tech Performance Trailers has excelled in building custom trailers for all facets of the motorsports racing industry, including transport, corporate training, hospitality, mobile display and event marketing. In addition, the company operates High Tech Performance Awnings, which excels in the design, manufacture, and servicing of custom trailer awnings.
In November 2009, Kentucky Trailer and High Tech Performance Trailers entered into a joint venture to cohesively design, manufacture, sell, and market custom trailers to a broader market base, including the experiential marketing industry, under the name Kentucky Trailer - High Tech Performance Trailers.
2010: KENTUCKY TRAILER ACQUIRES WESTERN TRUCK AND TRAILER
Western Truck and Trailer opened in 1963 as a trailer repair facility in Los Angeles, California. Identifying a need for better cargo protection, WTT focused on suspension improvements and aftermarket modifications. In October 2008, the business moved to Fontana, California, a growing hub for the trucking industry, to better serve its clients. In January 2010, Kentucky Trailer acquired Western Truck and Trailer, incorporating the facility into its Service Division. Kentucky Trailer now offers complete trailer service, repair and reconditioning at two locations: Kentucky Trailer Services - Fontana and Kentucky Trailer Services - Louisville.
KTS - Fontana has converted thousands of units from spring-ride to air-ride, earning its reputation as the nation's premier specialist in suspension replacement and repair. In addition, KTS - Fontana has manufactured specialty trailers for clients in a wide range of industries, from military (U.S., Army, U.S. Navy, Vandenberg Air Force Base) and aerospace (NASA, Boeing) to power generation (Southern California Edison), water treatment (Los Angeles County), finance (Wells Fargo Bank), entertainment (Disneyland), and personal care products (Neutrogena).
KTS - Fontana also specializes in drop-frame trailer service and repair, particularly for the moving and storage industry, servicing such popular brands as Mayflower, United, Atlas, Allied and North American. Today, KTS - Fontana continues to build on 20 years of great customer service by providing their customers with the best OEM-quality service, repair, and reconditioning in the Southern California market.
2011: KENTUCKY TRAILER ADDS STATE-OF-THE-ART PAINT AND RECONDITIONING FACILITY
The latest addition to Kentucky Trailer is a new state-of-the-art paint and reconditioning facility located at 7070 International Drive in Louisville, Kentucky, near the main OEM operation. This facility is the home of both Kentucky Trailer and its partner, Mickey Truck Body. The facility is called the Kentucky Trailer & Mickey Truck Body Paint and Reconditioning Center. The new facility is a one-stop refurbishment and reconditioning center, giving both companies the opportunity to broaden their capabilities in servicing truck bodies and beverage trailers as well as new trailers and tractors.
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