Reading Body
Reading Body (Reading Truck) is a US work truck body manufacturer founded in 1955 and owned by J.B. Poindexter & Co. It sells service, enclosed, crane, aerial, dump/landscape, hauler/platform, combo, and RHD truck bodies, plus parts and upfitting services, through 26 branch locations across 23 US states to fleet operators, construction, and industrial/utility customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1955
- HeadquartersReading, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Reading Body does
Reading Body, operating commercially as Reading Truck (legal entity: The Reading Truck Group), is a US manufacturer of work truck bodies founded in 1955 and headquartered in Reading, Pennsylvania. It operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the diversified manufacturing conglomerate J.B. Poindexter & Co. The company designs and fabricates heavy-duty truck bodies across eight core product lines — service bodies, enclosed bodies, crane bodies, aerial bodies, dump and landscape bodies, hauler and platform bodies, combo bodies, and RHD service bodies — together with a catalog of parts and accessories (air compressors, cargo control, lighting, power/electric, replacement parts, safety/security, storage, towing, trailers, truck caps). A wholly-owned subsidiary, GTB Custom Shop, handles custom modifications and specialty builds.
Reading Truck makes money through four streams: one-time sales of truck bodies, professional services revenue from truck upfitting, outfitting, and fleet customization, hardware sales of replacement parts and accessories, and recurring service and maintenance work performed at its branch network. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with contracts typically structured as multi-year fleet engagements. The company sells through 26 company-owned Reading Truck Center locations across 23 US states, an authorized distributor network, an SMB-facing e-commerce storefront (Ready to Roll), and a dedicated Fleet Solutions division that handles enterprise fleet customers.
Its served market spans fleet operators and commercial businesses (primary), construction and landscaping companies, and industrial and utility services. End applications include mobile equipment transport, tool storage, on-site service delivery, heavy material handling, mobile crane operations, and aerial work. Distribution is exclusively domestic, and the company does not disclose revenue, leadership team, awards, patents, or regulatory actions in the available data.
Reading Body firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reading Body
- Legal name
- The Reading Truck Group
- Website
- https://readingbody.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1955
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Reading Body (Reading Truck) is a US work truck body manufacturer founded in 1955 and owned by J.B. Poindexter & Co. It sells service, enclosed, crane, aerial, dump/landscape, hauler/platform, combo, and RHD truck bodies, plus parts and upfitting services, through 26 branch locations across 23 US states to fleet operators, construction, and industrial/utility customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reading Body industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Truck Bodies
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing (336211), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)
- SIC
- Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Truck Body & Upfitting Manufacturing (Box Bodies/Service Bodies/Cranes/Liftgates) (IMACABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC), Vocational/Work Truck Manufacturing (Dump/Refuse/Mixer/Utility) (IMACABAF)
Keywords
Where Reading Body is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reading
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices22 records
Markets served
Reading Body business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Truck Body Sales: One-time sale of custom work truck bodies including service bodies, enclosed bodies, crane bodies, aerial bodies, dump/landscape bodies, and hauler/platform bodies. Sales through direct locations and distributor network.
- Truck Upfitting & Customization: Customization and upfitting services for work trucks including equipment installation, modification, and fleet solutions. Provides ongoing revenue through installation services.
- Parts & Accessories: Sale of replacement parts and accessories including air compressors, cargo control, lighting, power/electric, safety/security, storage solutions, towing, trailers, and truck caps.
- Service & Maintenance: Maintenance and repair services at 26 locations including expert installation, parts, equipment services, and emergency repairs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Quote-based pricing for all products and services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Reading Body product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reading Truck designs, manufactures, and sells custom work truck bodies, including service, enclosed, crane, aerial, dump, landscape, hauler, platform, and combo bodies, for fleet operators and commercial businesses. The company complements these truck bodies with an extensive parts and accessories catalog and provides truck upfitting, equipment installation, and maintenance services through 26 company-owned locations across the United States.
Product overview
Reading Truck is a manufacturer and supplier of work truck bodies and related services. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of truck body products including Service Bodies, Enclosed Bodies, Crane Bodies, Aerial Bodies, Dump & Landscape Bodies, Hauler & Platform Bodies, Combo Bodies, and RHD Service Bodies. These core products are complemented by an extensive parts and accessories catalog (Air Compressors, Cargo Control, Lighting, Power/Electric, Replacement Parts, Safety & Security, Storage Solutions, Towing, Trailers, Truck Caps) and value-added services including Truck Upfitting, Outfitting, and Fleet Solutions. The company operates 26 service locations across the United States for installation, maintenance, and parts support, serving companies and fleets that depend on their work trucks daily.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GTB Custom Shop: Custom truck body modifications and specialty builds
Products and services
- Service Bodies Work truck service bodies designed for storage and utility, built with heavy-duty construction for everyday reliability. For fleet operators and commercial businesses needing organized mobile workspaces.
- Enclosed Bodies Enclosed truck bodies providing a roof on mobile workshops with secure storage for tools and equipment, featuring long-lasting durability. For commercial customers needing protected, lockable mobile workspaces.
- Crane Bodies Innovative crane bodies designed for harsh environments, providing power, productivity, and safety for challenging lifting jobs. For industrial, utility, and field-service operators.
- Aerial Bodies Aerial bodies built for reach, reliability, and strength to work safely and efficiently at various heights. For utility, telecom, and field service operations requiring elevated work platforms.
- Dump & Landscape Bodies Dump and landscape bodies ideal for construction, landscape, and nursery handling, designed for tough terrain and safe payload loading/unloading. For construction and landscaping contractors.
- Hauler & Platform Bodies Stakebed and platform bodies for moving tools, equipment, and bulk materials, customizable to fit various work needs. For commercial users needing versatile flatbed hauling.
- Combo Body Combination body combining service body storage with open platform capabilities for versatile work truck applications. For fleet operators wanting storage and platform functionality in a single body.
- RHD Service Body Right-hand drive service body built for crews demanding more from work trucks with heavy-duty construction. For commercial users operating right-hand drive vehicles such as curbside delivery and utility fleets.
- Parts & Accessories Catalog of replacement parts and accessories for work trucks, including air compressors, cargo control, lighting, power/electric, replacement parts, safety/security, storage solutions, towing, trailers, and truck caps. For fleet owners maintaining and customizing their trucks.
- Truck Upfitting Services Customization and upfitting services for work trucks and fleets, including equipment installation, modification, and configuration to specific business requirements. For commercial buyers needing specialized truck configurations.
- Fleet Solutions Tailored fleet solutions addressing unique business needs for companies relying on work trucks daily, including custom configurations, volume purchasing, and dedicated account support. For large commercial fleet operators.
Companies that use Reading Body
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Reading Body technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Reading Body partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Reading Body competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Auto Truck Group: Auto Truck Group specializes in commercial vehicle upfitting, fleet modifications, and truck body installation services. It competes with Reading's upfitting, fleet solutions, and parts/service operations.
- Hackney & Sons: Hackney specializes in specialty vehicle body and truck body manufacturing for beverage distribution, vocational, and commercial applications. It is a direct peer in custom specialty body manufacturing.
- Royal Truck Body: Royal Truck Body manufactures service bodies, utility bodies, and specialty truck bodies for commercial fleets. It competes directly with Reading across core work truck body product lines.
- Morgan Truck Body: Morgan Truck Body manufactures truck bodies and trailers including refrigerated, dry freight, and specialty bodies. It is a sibling company under the J.B. Poindexter & Co. umbrella and operates in overlapping product categories such as service and dry van bodies.
- The Knapheide Manufacturing Company: Knapheide is one of the largest US manufacturers of truck bodies and upfitting services with a multi-state distribution footprint. It directly competes with Reading in service bodies, utility bodies, and fleet upfitting for commercial customers.
- Heil (Envirotech): Heil manufactures specialty commercial truck bodies including refuse, dump, and rear-loader bodies. It is a direct peer to Reading's Dump & Landscape Body product line for municipal and vocational applications.
- Crysteel Manufacturing: Crysteel specializes in dump bodies, hoists, and snow & ice equipment for commercial trucks. It is a direct peer in the dump body segment that overlaps Reading's Dump & Landscape Body offerings.
- Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment: Dejana designs, manufactures, and upfits truck bodies and equipment for fleets. It directly overlaps Reading's service body and upfitting business with multi-location US operations.
- Stahl (a Scott Fetzer company): Stahl manufactures service bodies, utility bodies, and truck accessories for commercial fleets. It directly competes with Reading in service and utility body segments across the US.
Broad incumbents
- Velocity Vehicle Group: Velocity Vehicle Group is a Daimler Truck partner operating commercial truck dealerships and upfitting locations across the Western US. It is a broader incumbent that competes with Reading's upfitting and fleet solutions business as part of a larger commercial vehicle portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Reading Body social profiles
Digital presenceReading Body financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reading Body leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Reading Body subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Reading Body funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reading Body M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reading Body
What does Reading Body do?
Reading Truck designs, manufactures, and sells custom work truck bodies, including service, enclosed, crane, aerial, dump, landscape, hauler, platform, and combo bodies, for fleet operators and commercial businesses. The company complements these truck bodies with an extensive parts and accessories catalog and provides truck upfitting, equipment installation, and maintenance services through 26 company-owned locations across the United States.
Is Reading Body a public or private company?
Reading Body is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Reading Body founded?
Reading Body was founded in 1955. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Reading Body based?
Reading Body is headquartered in Reading, United States, in the North America region.
How does Reading Body make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Truck Body Sales are the primary driver. The others are truck Upfitting & Customization, parts & Accessories and service & Maintenance.
Who are Reading Body's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Auto Truck Group, Hackney & Sons, Royal Truck Body, Morgan Truck Body, The Knapheide Manufacturing Company, Heil (Envirotech), Crysteel Manufacturing, Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment and Stahl (a Scott Fetzer company). Velocity Vehicle Group is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Reading Body have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reading Body.
What industry is Reading Body in?
Reading Body's product category is Commercial Truck Bodies. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACABAI, Truck Body & Upfitting Manufacturing (Box Bodies/Service Bodies/Cranes/Liftgates), with a secondary code of IMACAGAC, Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse). Its NAICS code is 336211 and its SIC code is 3713.