What Wilson Trailer does

Wilson Trailer Company is a privately held, family-owned US manufacturer of aluminum over-the-road trailers, founded in 1890 in Sioux City, Iowa, and currently led by fourth-generation family members Bill and John Persinger as Co-CEOs. The company operates four dedicated manufacturing plants in Sioux City (IA), Yankton (SD, 172,384 sq ft), Moberly (MO, 100,000 sq ft), and Lennox (SD, 141,252 sq ft), and serves customers across the United States and Canada through an authorized dealer network plus eight company-operated factory direct sales branches in Indiana, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma/Texas, Kansas/Colorado, the Iowa region, and Minnesota, with twelve additional used trailer sales locations. Its product portfolio spans five lines: grain hopper trailers (Pacesetter, Commander, Super-B, Patriot belt trailer, AgriLite conveyor, Sand Commander frac sand), livestock trailers (Silverstar drop-center, Stockmaster PSADL/PSAL, Stockmaster-PSAGL), flatbeds (Roadbrute combo steel/aluminum, Premier all-aluminum), goosenecks (Foreman, Ranch Hand, Roper), plus financing through Anchor Acceptance Corporation and aftermarket parts/service.

Wilson's core technology centers on corrosion-resistant aluminum construction using riveted (rather than welded) assembly for flexibility and durability, supplemented by patented innovations including RollerTrap™ strap grain trap openers (1996), SlamCatch™ spring-loaded rear door catches, TJ aluminum crossbars, the Quick Tie Plate securement system, and Z2 extruded long-member sub frames that eliminate corrosion and loose fasteners. Product design emphasizes lightweight aluminum for higher payload capacity (e.g., approximately 1,500 lb weight savings versus conventional designs, 300 lb aluminum subframe savings, 80,000 lb maximum distributed load capacity on the Premier flatbed) and animal welfare features in livestock trailers including biosecurity-focused U-shaped crossbars and bruise-eliminating construction. Wilson pioneered the combo steel-and-aluminum flatbed in 1983 and has produced it longer than any current North American manufacturer.

The business model is B2B hardware sales of high-ASP trailers ($50K–$150K+ range) with a vertically integrated aftermarket: financing is provided in-house via Anchor Acceptance Corporation (25% down, risk-based pricing, $5K minimum, monthly billing), while parts and service flow through factory branches, authorized dealers, and an e-commerce parts store at shop.wilsontrailer.com. Customer segments are agricultural/grain hauling and livestock hauling (both primary), with secondary exposure to construction/industrial flatbed hauling and ranch/farm operations. Marketing combines major industry trade shows (World Pork Expo, Farm Progress Show, World Ag Expo, NCBA Cattle Con), a dealer locator tool, and dealer recruitment through an online application portal. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; sales transactions occur through dealer relationships or direct factory contact.

Name

Wilson Trailer

Legal name

Wilson Trailer Company

Website

https://wilsontrailer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Wilson Trailer Company, founded 1890 and family-owned, manufactures aluminum grain, livestock, flatbed, and gooseneck trailers from four US plants, serving agricultural, livestock, construction, and ranch customers across the US and Canada through dealers and factory-direct branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Trailers and Truck Bodies

NAICS

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (3362)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Trailer Manufacturing (Utility/Enclosed/Flatbed/Car Hauler) (IMACAGAA), Farm Transport & Hauling Equipment (Farm Trailers, Grain Carts, Wagons) (AFAAAAAD)

Keywords

• Aluminum trailers
• Grain hopper trailers
• Livestock trailers
• Flatbed trailers
• Gooseneck trailers

Headquarters

HQ city

Sioux City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Trailer Sales: Wilson Trailer generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of aluminum trailers including grain trailers, livestock trailers, flatbed trailers, gooseneck trailers, and specialty trailers. The company sells through authorized dealers and factory direct sales locations across the United States and Canada.
2. Financing Services: Through Anchor Acceptance Corporation, Wilson Trailer offers financing and leasing options to customers purchasing new or used trailers. This includes flexible financing terms designed exclusively for customer needs.
3. Parts and Service: Wilson Trailer operates parts and service departments that provide replacement parts and repair services for Wilson trailers and other trailer makes/models. Parts are available online or through direct contact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wilson Trailer Company manufactures corrosion-resistant aluminum over-the-road trailers for agricultural, livestock, flatbed freight, and energy/proppant hauling. The product portfolio spans four lines: grain hopper trailers (Pacesetter, Commander, Patriot, Super-B, Agrilite, Sand Commander), livestock semi-trailers and goosenecks (Silverstar, Stockmaster, Foreman, Ranch Hand, Roper), flatbed/drop deck units (Roadbrute, Premier), supported by factory-direct financing and parts/service operations.

Product overview

Wilson Trailer Company manufactures aluminum over-the-road trailers and has been family-owned since 1890. The product portfolio consists of five distinct product lines: Grain Trailers (Pacesetter, Commander, Patriot, Super-B, Agrilite by GEM-L, Sand Commander) for agricultural commodities and frac sand transport; Livestock Trailers (Silverstar, Stockmaster PSADL/PSAL, Stockmaster-PSAGL) for livestock hauling with multi-level configurations; Flatbed Trailers (Roadbrute combo steel/aluminum, Premier all-aluminum) for general freight; Gooseneck Trailers (Foreman, Ranch Hand, Roper) for ranch and livestock use; plus Financing and Parts & Service support. The company emphasizes corrosion-resistant aluminum construction, riveted assembly for flexibility, and patented innovations like RollerTrap hopper openers, SlamCatch door systems, and TJ aluminum crossbars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Trailers achieve maximum distributed load capacity of 80,000 lb
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GEM-L, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWilson Trailer partnered with GEM-L, Inc. to create the AgriLite conveyor trailer. GEM-L provides the removable conveyor system while Wilson provides the trailer chassis and distribution. The collaboration combines Wilson's trailer expertise with GEM-L's conveyor technology to produce the AgriLite aluminum conveyor trailer capable of moving over 3,800 lbs per minute of fertilizer.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wabash National Corporation: Largest North American trailer manufacturer with a broad portfolio across dry van, refrigerated, platform, and specialty trailers. Comparable to Wilson because both serve over-the-road trailer demand with multi-product lineups, but Wabash operates at materially larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Great Dane: Major North American trailer OEM producing dry vans, refrigerated trailers, and platform trailers. Comparable to Wilson in serving commercial trucking fleets but with a much broader product line and stronger presence in temperature-controlled and dry van segments.
• Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company: Privately held major trailer OEM producing dry vans, refrigerated trailers, flatbeds, and Tautliner curtainsiders. Comparable to Wilson in flatbed/roadbrute segment but with much greater scale and broader product portfolio.
• Heil Trailer International: Global manufacturer of bulk transport trailers including tankers, dry bulk, and specialty trailers. Comparable to Wilson's grain hopper and Sand Commander product lines in bulk commodity hauling, though Heil operates at broader scale and global reach.

Direct peers

• Timpte Inc. Family-owned manufacturer specializing in aluminum grain hopper and commodity trailers out of Nebraska. Highly comparable to Wilson's Pacesetter/Commander grain product line in customer base (Midwest grain haulers), construction philosophy (aluminum hoppers), and product positioning.
• MAC Trailer: Ohio-based manufacturer of aluminum dump trailers, grain hoppers, and platform trailers. Directly comparable to Wilson's grain hopper and flatbed segments with similar aluminum construction emphasis and agricultural customer base.
• Stoughton Trailers: Wisconsin-based manufacturer of dry van, refrigerated, chassis, and platform trailers. Comparable to Wilson in platform/flatbed segment with similar Midwest manufacturing footprint and fleet customer base.
• Featherlite Trailers: Manufacturer of specialty aluminum livestock, horse, and utility trailers. Closely comparable to Wilson's Silverstar and gooseneck livestock product lines in construction (aluminum, riveted) and customer base (ranchers, equestrians, commercial livestock haulers).
• Merritt Equipment Co. Colorado-based manufacturer specializing in aluminum livestock, horse, and specialty trailers. Directly comparable to Wilson's Silverstar, Stockmaster, and gooseneck product lines in aluminum livestock construction and ranch/farm customer base.
• MANAC: Canadian manufacturer of specialty and standard trailers including dry vans, flatbeds, and specialty commodity trailers. Comparable to Wilson in product overlap (flatbeds, specialty trailers) and in serving the Canadian market alongside US customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wilsontrailercompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Wilson Trailer