What Dorsey does

Dorsey Trailer, founded in 1911 in Elba, Alabama, designs and manufactures commercial platform trailers, chip vans, and lowboys for the US over-the-road, construction, oil field, road and bridge, brick, and forestry hauling markets. The product portfolio is organized into four core platform categories—Aluminum, Steel, and Combo flatbed/drop-deck/beavertail/lift-hauler/extendable models, plus Chip Van and Lowboy series—with the company positioning itself as offering more standard models than any other US platform trailer manufacturer. Underlying technology centers on proprietary 130K TruStrength high tensile steel, 6061 T-6 aluminum, fabricated I-beam construction with positive camber, walking-floor systems from Hallco and Keith, and integrated component partnerships with Grote, Jost, and Sherwin Williams/PPG coatings.

Dorsey generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware sales of trailer units, supplemented by aftermarket parts sold through a dedicated parts website, with pricing set on a quote basis that varies by configuration and dealer negotiation. Go-to-market is conducted exclusively through a nationwide US dealer network supported by a dealer locator and Request a Quote system on the corporate website, with end users including named enterprise fleets such as Lowe's, Ryder, U-Haul, and major steel companies. Approximately 80% of end users operate in the over-the-road long-haul sector. The company is privately held and has been wholly owned by Propst Companies since 2022, following a staged buyout from Pitts Enterprises that began in 2019. Manufacturing is consolidated at the Elba, Alabama headquarters, with over 850,000 sq. ft. of footprint following a 2022 facility expansion.

Name

Dorsey

Legal name

Dorsey Trailer

Website

https://dorseytrailer.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Dorsey Trailer designs and manufactures commercial platform trailers, chip vans, and lowboys in Elba, Alabama, selling exclusively through a US dealer network to over-the-road, construction, oil field, and forestry end users.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Platform Trailers

NAICS

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)

akta.pro primary industry

Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC)

Keywords

• Platform trailers
• Commercial trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Chip vans
• Lowboy trailers

Headquarters

HQ city

Elba

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Trailer Sales: One-time hardware sales of trailers including aluminum flatbeds, steel trailers, combo trailers, chip vans, lowboys, and tagalongs. Revenue generated from initial purchase of trailer units.
2. Parts and Aftermarket: Parts department offering replacement parts and components for Dorsey trailers through dedicated parts website (dorseysemitrailerparts.com).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Dorsey designs, manufactures, and fabricates a full line of commercial platform trailers and chip vans from its Elba, Alabama facility. Its portfolio spans aluminum, steel, and combo flatbed trailers, lowboys, chip vans (open top, closed top, and walking floor), and tag alongs, using proprietary materials such as TruStrength 130K high tensile steel and 6061 T-6 aluminum. The company sells exclusively through a nationwide dealer network to over-the-road, construction, oil field, forestry, brick, and road/bridge end users.

Product overview

Dorsey designs, manufactures, and fabricates a full line of commercial platform trailers and chip vans from its headquarters in Elba, Alabama. The product portfolio consists of four primary platform trailer categories — Aluminum Trailers (Aluminum Giant Flatbed, Aluminum Drop Flat), Steel Trailers (Steel Flatbed, Steel Drop Flat, Steel Beavertail, Steel Lift Hauler, Extendable Steel Flat, Extendable Steel Drop), Combo Trailers (Combo Giant Flatbed Series, Ultra-Light Series, Combo Giant Drop Deck Series, Combo Giant Beavertail Series, Combo Giant Lift Hauler Series, Extendable Combo Flat), and Chip Vans/Open Top, Closed Top, and Walking Floor configurations) and Lowboys (LB35-33CS Fixed Neck, LB35-38CS Fixed Neck), plus Tag Alongs. The company positions itself as a platform trailer specialist, offering more standard models than any other platform manufacturer, with a dealer network across the United States serving over-the-road, oil field, brick, road and bridge, and construction markets. Founded in 1911, Dorsey is the fastest growing platform trailer manufacturer in the country and has introduced new aluminum trailer products as recent as 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aluminum Giant Series: All-aluminum platform trailer series designed for weight savings and increased payload capacity.
• Steel Giant Series
• Combo Giant Series

Products and services

• Aluminum Giant Flatbed All-aluminum flatbed trailer with 80,000 lb GVWR, rated at 52,000 lbs in a 4-foot section. Features extruded 6061-T6 aluminum construction, integrated stake pockets, J-hook tie-down integration, bolt-on LL track, aluminum landing gear, galvanized suspension, and aluminum 5th wheel. Starting at 8,900 lbs.
• Aluminum Drop Flat All-aluminum drop deck flatbed and newest addition to the Aluminum Giant Series. Features ultra-light weight design with corrosion-resistant all-aluminum construction, fabricated I-beam with all-aluminum neck design using 6061 T-6 aluminum, and natural aluminum finish. Starting at 9,230 lbs., rated at 52,000 lbs in 4 feet.
• Steel Flatbed Steel flatbed trailer with fabricated high tensile steel construction and optional coil package. Features 6-inch steel channel siderail, white blasted and two-part primer with Sherwin Williams black acrylic urethane top coat. Starting at 11,300 lbs.
• Steel Drop Flat Steel drop deck flatbed in the Steel Giant Series combining strength and value. Features 6-inch steel channel siderail, Grote LED lighting, multiple axle and beam configurations, with 10-foot 2-inch air spread. Starting at 11,700 lbs.
• Steel Beavertail Workhorse of the Steel Giant Series. Features a 5-foot beavertail with two standard self-cleaning spring assist ramps and an optional third ramp. Starting at 13,400 lbs.
• Steel Lift Hauler Most versatile and fastest growing model in the Steel Giant Series, designed to accommodate forklifts. Features 60,000 lbs in 10 feet capacity. Starting at 13,350 lbs.
• Extendable Steel Flat Extendable steel flatbed trailer for hauling needs beyond standard platform series. Available in 48-foot closed to 80-foot open configuration, or 53-foot closed to 90-foot open. Features fabricated high tensile steel TruStrength construction, 80,000 lbs GVWR. Starting at 16,650 lbs.
• Extendable Steel Drop Extendable steel drop deck trailer for oversized hauling needs. Available in 48-foot closed to 68-foot open configuration and 53-foot closed to 72-foot open. Features 6-inch steel channel, Sherwin Williams black acrylic urethane paint, 80,000 lbs GVWR. Starting at 16,925 lbs.
• Combo Giant Flatbed Series Combo flatbed with 10-foot 2-inch air spread, one of the most popular trailers in the Combo Giant Series. Lightweight and durable design featuring Jost A500 landing gear. Starting at 10,300 lbs.
• Ultra-Light Series Lightest weight combo trailer in the industry without sacrificing strength and durability. Features Grote LED lighting with 7-year warranty, 4-inch aluminum crossmembers on 16-inch centers, and full-width coil package. Starting at 9,500 lbs., 48,000 lbs in 4 feet.
• Combo Giant Drop Deck Series Most versatile trailer in the Combo Giant Series with rear axle slide, combining lightweight and durable design. Features 130K True Strength steel with coil package and Sherwin Williams paint. Starting at 10,600 lbs., 54,000 lbs in 4 feet.
• Combo Giant Beavertail Series Most versatile model in the Combo Giant Series, allowing customers to haul a wide range of products including hay, lumber, and equipment. Features extruded aluminum floor and side rail with LL track integration. Starting at 12,600 lbs.
• Combo Giant Lift Hauler Series Heavy duty combo trailer with weight savings a combo model offers. Standard universal mounting kit accommodates Moffett, Princeton, Navigator, Palfinger, and Sellick forklifts; optional kits for Manitou and Donkey. Starting at 12,250 lbs., 54,000 lbs in 4 feet.
• Extendable Combo Flat Extendable combo flatbed for extended hauling needs. Available in 48-foot closed to 80-foot open configuration and 53-foot closed to 90-foot open. Features fabricated high tensile steel TruStrength, 80,000 lbs GVWR. Starting at 15,650 lbs.
• Chip Van Open Top Lightweight and durable chip van for forestry and commodity hauling. Exterior post aluminum wall vans available in 96-inch and 102-inch widths, lengths from 40 to 53 feet, with 120 yards cubic capacity. Features HD aluminum rails and mesh pull tarp. Starting at 9,360 lbs.
• Chip Van Closed Top Lightweight and durable closed top tipper van for forestry and commodity hauling. Exterior post aluminum wall vans available in 96-inch and 102-inch widths, lengths from 40 to 53 feet. 104 yards cubic capacity with strongest full-width fifth wheel design. Starting at 9,940 lbs.
• Chip Van Walking Floor Walking floor chip van with factory-installed Hallco or Keith moving floors for easy unloading. Exterior post aluminum wall vans available in 96-inch and 102-inch widths, lengths from 40 to 53 feet. Side-to-side lock and roll tarp standard. Starting at 13,100 lbs.
• LB35-33CS Fixed Neck Lowboy 35-ton fixed neck lowboy in the Load Giant Series with 70,000 lbs capacity in 16 feet. Features full width top deck, 21 degree loading slope, fabricated 4 I-beam design, 33-inch loaded deck height, 3 heavy-duty axles with 49-inch spread. Starting at 13,500 lbs.
• LB35-38CS Fixed Neck Lowboy 35-ton fixed neck lowboy with 70,000 lbs capacity in 16 feet. Features full width top deck, 21 degree loading slope, fabricated 4 I-beam design, 38-inch loaded deck height, 2 heavy-duty axles with 49-inch spread, fully sealed wiring harness with LED lights. Starting at 13,900 lbs.
• Tag Alongs Tag along trailers built to accommodate an extra piece of equipment. Features wide flange mill roll I-beam with pierced main frame design, available in electric and air brake configurations. Starting at 5,900 lbs., 20,000 lbs equally distributed.
• Dorsey Trailer Parts and Aftermarket Replacement parts and components for Dorsey trailers offered through the dedicated parts website dorseysemitrailerparts.com, supporting ongoing maintenance and repairs for the installed base.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000 lbs capacity in lowboy models
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wabash National Corporation: Largest U.S. trailer manufacturer with a broad portfolio spanning dry vans, reefer, platform, and specialty trailers. A direct competitor in aluminum platforms and a benchmark for scale, dealer reach, and OEM-grade engineering.
• Great Dane: Long-established U.S. trailer manufacturer of dry vans, reefers, and platform trailers. Overlaps with Dorsey in the platform/flatbed segment but serves a wider overall trailer customer base.
• Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company: Major U.S. trailer OEM focused on dry vans and reefers, with a meaningful platform presence. Comparable as a large-scale trailer manufacturer selling through dealer networks.
• Hyundai Translead: U.S.-based subsidiary of Hyundai with dry van and reefer trailer production. Comparable manufacturer-scale player serving the same over-the-road and dealer-driven channels.

Direct peers

• MAC Trailer: Privately held platform and dump trailer manufacturer with comparable product mix (aluminum and steel platforms, drop decks, specialty trailers). Closest direct competitor to Dorsey in the platform specialty niche.
• East Manufacturing: Family-owned platform, dump, and specialty trailer manufacturer based in Ohio. Comparable mid-size competitor with overlapping flatbed and lowboy product lines.
• Heil Trailer International (Heil/Coavis): Specialty trailer OEM focused on construction, refuse, and heavy-haul platforms. Directly comparable to Dorsey in lowboys and vocational/heavy equipment transport.
• Stoughton Trailers: Wisconsin-based trailer manufacturer of dry vans, chassis, and platforms. Comparable mid-size OEM with overlapping dealer-network distribution and over-the-road customer base.
• Strick Trailers: Mid-size platform, dry van, and intermodal trailer manufacturer. Comparable in scale and product mix, with a strong dealer network serving similar over-the-road customers.

Regional players

• Manac Inc. Canada's largest trailer manufacturer producing platform, dry van, and specialty trailers. Comparable product portfolio, but operates primarily in Canada with limited U.S. dealer overlap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeD4SYSCu1rAQ9XAww7oWYw
• Facebookfacebook.com/DorseyTrailer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dorsey-trailer-co
• Instagraminstagram.com/dorseytrailer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dorsey