Great Dane

What Great Dane does

Great Dane LLC is a 125-year-old American manufacturer of commercial trailers and truck bodies, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company designs and produces a full product lineup organized across three categories: refrigerated (Everest reefer trailers; Alpine and Johnson truck bodies), dry vans (Champion trailers; Sahara truck bodies), and open deck flatbeds (Freedom). Its installed base exceeds 400,000 trailers, supported by an extensive authorized dealer and service network across North and South America. The company holds an estimated 17% share of the global truck trailer market, positioning it as the second-largest player behind Wabash.

The business operates primarily on a quote-based, custom-specification hardware sales model, supplemented by aftermarket parts and service revenue through its dealer network. Great Dane layers proprietary technology features onto its core products — including FleetPulse telematics (standard on every trailer), ThermoGuard composite liners, Microban-infused antimicrobial liners, SlipNot anti-slip flooring, LED strip lighting, and the Strata sidewall system — which the company markets as exclusive differentiators. Go-to-market is channel-led: most revenue flows through authorized dealers and service centers, with direct sales to large fleet operators and an online inventory/quote portal (buygreatdane.com). Key verticals served include foodservice, grocery, refrigerated truckload, dry freight truckload and LTL, and flatbed/industrial haul.

Recent activity indicates a company in operational transition alongside active defense of its domestic market. Mel Cohen was appointed Interim CEO in May 2026 and Diana Yan was appointed EVP/CFO in June 2026. Great Dane is a founding member of the American Trailer Manufacturers Coalition, which has secured preliminary U.S. Commerce Department countervailing and antidumping duties on van-type trailer imports from China (82.3%–128.7% CVD; 130.76% AD) and Mexico (1.9%–1.95% CVD), and was named Penske Truck Leasing's 2025 Supplier of the Year. The Pennsylvania manufacturing plant reached a 25,000-unit milestone in May 2025, and a new Northeast parts and service facility opened in Sutton, Massachusetts in September 2025.

Name

Great Dane

Legal name

Great Dane LLC

Website

https://greatdane.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1900

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Great Dane is a 125-year-old US manufacturer of refrigerated, dry van, and flatbed trailers and truck bodies, selling through an authorized dealer and service network across North and South America to foodservice, grocery, and freight fleet operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Trailers and Truck Bodies

NAICS

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (3362), Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312), Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423740)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Refrigeration & Service Industry Machinery (3580)

akta.pro primary industry

Semi-Trailer Manufacturing (Dry Van/Reefer/Tanker/Lowboy) (IMACAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (Dry Van/Reefer/Flatbed/Tanker) (IMACABAH), Heavy-duty truck, trailer & commercial vehicle parts distribution (CRAOANAJ)

Keywords

• Commercial trailer manufacturing
• Refrigerated truck bodies
• Dry van trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Trailer telematics

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Trailer and Truck Body Sales: Great Dane manufactures and sells a complete lineup of trailers and truck bodies including reefers, dry vans, flatbeds, and specialized truck bodies. Revenue is generated through direct sales to fleet operators and through dealer network sales across North and South America.
2. Aftermarket Parts and Service: The company provides parts, service, and maintenance support through its network of authorized dealers and service centers, supporting the installed base of trailers on the road.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Great Dane manufactures and sells a complete lineup of commercial trailers and truck bodies, including refrigerated reefers, dry vans, and flatbeds, along with specialized last-mile refrigerated truck bodies. The company also provides proprietary technology add-ons such as telematics (FleetPulse) and composite liner systems (ThermoGuard), and supports its installed base through aftermarket parts and service via an extensive North and South American dealer network.

Product overview

Great Dane manufactures a comprehensive lineup of trailers and truck bodies as a single unified product portfolio, organized across three product lines: Refrigerated (Everest trailers, Alpine and Johnson truck bodies for single and multi-temp applications), Dry Vans (Champion trailers and Sahara truck bodies available in sheet-and-post and composite configurations), and Open Deck (Freedom flatbeds in steel, combo, and aluminum). The portfolio is complemented by proprietary technology add-ons including FleetPulse telematics (standard asset tracking with optional real-time analytics), ThermoGuard thermal liner system, Microban-infused liners, SlipNot safety flooring, LED strip lighting, AnchorPoint mounting systems, and the Strata sidewall system. Great Dane's products serve multiple industry verticals including foodservice, grocery, dry freight truckload, LTL, and flatbed applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Everest: Single & Multi-temp refrigerated trailers
• Alpine
• Johnson
• Champion
• Sahara
• Freedom
• FleetPulse
• ThermoGuard
• Great Dane Cares
• ETT Magazine

Products and services

• Everest Single and multi-temp refrigerated trailer designed for precise temperature control and cold chain integrity in truckload applications, sold to fleet operators and dealers.
• Alpine Single and multi-temp refrigerated truck body for delivery applications requiring temperature-controlled cargo protection, targeting foodservice and grocery operators.
• Johnson Walk-in and reach-in series last-mile refrigerated truck bodies designed for foodservice delivery with easy-access loading.
• Champion Composite and sheet-and-post dry van trailers offering durability and weight efficiency for dry freight truckload and LTL applications.
• Sahara Composite and sheet-and-post dry freight truck body engineered for durability, uptime, and long-term performance in demanding delivery environments.
• Freedom Steel, combo, and aluminum flatbed trailers for heavy-duty and industrial load transportation.
• FleetPulse Trailer telematics and asset tracking solution offering real-time analytics, diagnostics, and fleet insights; included standard on every Great Dane trailer with optional subscription upgrades.
• ThermoGuard Exclusive composite trailer liner solution delivering thermal efficiency and lower reefer operating costs for refrigerated trailer applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• LED interior lighting 74% brighter than traditional dome lights
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Penske Truck LeasingminorOthers · 27 April 2026Great Dane was honored as a 2025 Supplier of the Year by Penske Truck Leasing during its supplier conference in Frisco, Texas. Awards were determined through surveys of Penske field service locations, corporate feedback, and supplier scorecards.
• Platform SciencecoreTechnology or Integration · 11 March 2026Great Dane is one of ten strategic partners in Platform Science's 2026 Connected Vehicle Lab North American roadshow. The roadshow features a 53-foot mobile demo trailer showcasing connected fleet technology. Great Dane participates to demonstrate innovations in fleet safety, connectivity, and operational efficiency.
• American Trailer Manufacturers CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2025Great Dane is a founding member of the American Trailer Manufacturers Coalition, alongside Stoughton Trailers LLC and Wabash National Corporation. The coalition filed antidumping and countervailing duty petitions against van trailer imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, alleging unfair trade practices.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hyundai Translead: Hyundai Translead is a direct peer manufacturing dry van and refrigerated trailers in North America, serving comparable TL and LTL customers. It competes head-to-head with Great Dane's Champion and Everest product lines across the dealer channel.
• Wabash National Corporation: Wabash National is Great Dane's largest direct competitor in North American trailers and truck bodies, holding 19% global market share vs. Great Dane's 17%. Both manufacture dry vans, refrigerated trailers, and truck bodies for fleet and dealer customers with overlapping product lines.
• Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company: Utility Trailer is a long-established direct peer manufacturing dry vans, reefers, and flatbeds for the North American truckload market. Its product portfolio, dealer network model, and customer base closely mirror Great Dane's Champion, Everest, and Freedom lines.
• Stoughton Trailers: Stoughton is a direct peer in dry van, refrigerated, and intermodal trailer manufacturing, serving similar North American fleet customers. It is also a co-founding member of the American Trailer Manufacturers Coalition alongside Great Dane, indicating directly comparable trade and competitive positioning.
• Wilson Trailer Company: Wilson Trailer is a direct peer manufacturing grain, livestock, and platform/flatbed trailers for North American fleets. It overlaps with Great Dane's Freedom flatbed line and shares the same agricultural and industrial customer base.
• Vanguard National Trailer Corporation: Vanguard is a direct peer in dry van and refrigerated trailer manufacturing serving North American truckload fleets. Its product positioning and dealer-driven go-to-market overlap significantly with Great Dane's core trailer lines.

Broad incumbents

• Daimler Truck North America: Daimler Truck (Freightliner, Western Star) is a broad incumbent specifying trailers for its Class 6-8 trucks. It does not directly compete in trailer manufacturing but influences OEM specifications and represents an important channel partner for trailer makers like Great Dane.
• PACCAR Inc: PACCAR is a broad incumbent in commercial vehicles via Kenworth and Peterbilt, which directly specify and source trailers from manufacturers like Great Dane. While not a trailer OEM, it shapes purchasing preferences and represents a key customer ecosystem.
• Carrier Transicold: Carrier Transicold is the dominant manufacturer of transport refrigeration units integrated into reefer trailers like Great Dane's Everest line. While not a competing trailer maker, it is the primary component supplier and technology peer in the refrigerated trailer ecosystem Great Dane serves.

Emerging players

• Wabash (previously Supreme Industries) / Reading Truck Body: Reading Truck Body specializes in truck bodies and upfits for vocational fleets, partially overlapping with Great Dane's Sahara and Alpine refrigerated and dry freight truck body lines. It serves similar last-mile and delivery applications with a narrower product focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_greatdane
• Facebookfacebook.com/greatdanetrailers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/great-dane-trailers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Great Dane