Demand for versatility driving severe service market

Sept. 29, 2003
DALLAS – Independent Trailer Manufacturing said that severe-service fleets especially those in construction, road paving and building, demolition, and waste removal are demanding more versatile equipment. “Versatility is what really sells today,” Tom Norcross, regional sales manager of the Kansas City, Mo.-based company told Fleet Owner. To meet that need, Independent worked with Fayette, AL-based
DALLAS – Independent Trailer Manufacturing said that severe-service fleets especially those in construction, road paving and building, demolition, and waste removal are demanding more versatile equipment.

“Versatility is what really sells today,” Tom Norcross, regional sales manager of the Kansas City, Mo.-based company told Fleet Owner.

To meet that need, Independent worked with Fayette, AL-based construction body and trailer maker Ox Bodies to develop a new line of multipurpose trailers for the severe-service market.

Its new 26-ft all-steel trailer can carry between 27 and 30 cu. yd. of material weighing up to 80,000 lbs, depending on various state bridge laws, said Norcross. The key, however, is the trailer’s specially designed rear door hinge, which allows it to lay asphalt as well as carry boulders.

“That’s the key today especially in the construction industry – a trailer has to be able to haul boulders, gravel, and sand yet also be able to work in paving operations,” he said. “It has to be versatile and durable – that’s what customers want today.”

About the Author

Sean Kilcarr | Editor in Chief

Sean reports and comments on trends affecting the many different strata of the trucking industry -- light and medium duty fleets up through over-the-road truckload, less-than-truckload, and private fleet operations Also be sure to visit Sean's blog Trucks at Work where he offers analysis on a variety of different topics inside the trucking industry.

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