Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd.

What Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd. does

Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd. is a family-owned Australian heavy-duty trailer manufacturer operating as part of The Drake Group, with over 60 years of operating history and a headquarters in Queensland alongside a regional office in Western Australia. The company designs, engineers, and builds low loader trailers (4-axle through 8-axle configurations), side loaders, and custom-engineered transport solutions targeting the mining and heavy haulage sectors, with secondary exposure to general freight and logistics. Core technical capabilities center on high-strength steel fabrication, proprietary hydraulic systems (widening, lifting, adjustable ride heights), and anti-lock braking integration, all engineered for the demanding conditions of Australian mine sites and long-distance heavy transport. The O'Phee Trailers brand, acquired in 2015, extends the portfolio into semi-trailers including curtainsiders, drop decks, flat tops, and skeletal trailers.

The business operates a direct enterprise sales model with quote-based pricing, no public list prices, and customer acquisition driven by phone enquiry, website contact forms, and field relationships rather than third-party dealers. Revenue streams comprise one-time trailer sales (the primary stream), recurring trailer hire/rentals, and an aftermarket layer covering Drake Parts supply, service and repairs, and engineering services via the Dalzell and Bagley subsidiary. Customer evidence centers on long-tenured enterprise clients in heavy haulage, with one disclosed customer (Patlin Transport) reporting 14+ year asset lifespans. The company is privately held with no external institutional investors or public listing, and operates exclusively in the domestic Australian market with no global footprint claim.

Name

Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd.

Legal name

Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd.

Website

https://draketrailers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drake Trailers is a family-owned Australian manufacturer of heavy-duty low loaders, side loaders, and semi-trailers (via O'Phee Trailers), serving mining, heavy haulage, and freight customers with custom-engineered hydraulic and high-strength steel solutions across Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy-Duty Trailer Manufacturing

NAICS

Truck Trailer Manufacturing (336212), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (3362), Truck, Utility Trailer, and RV (Recreational Vehicle) Rental and Leasing (53212)

SIC

Truck Trailers (3715), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Container Chassis & Intermodal Trailer Manufacturing (IMACAGAK), Truck Trailer Manufacturing (Dry Van/Reefer/Flatbed/Tanker) (IMACABAH), Specialty Trailers Leasing/Rental (Lowboy, RGN, Double Drop, Extendable) (TLABACAG)

Keywords

• Heavy-duty low loaders
• Semi-trailers manufacturing
• Mine site trailers
• Side loader trailers
• Custom trailer engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Queensland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 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 Sales: Direct sales of heavy-duty trailers including low loaders, semi-trailers, side loaders, and custom-engineered solutions. One-time hardware purchase model with potential for add-on services.
2. Trailer Rentals: Trailer hire services available for customers needing temporary access to equipment
3. Parts and Service: Drake Parts sales and service/repair services for existing customers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd. designs, manufactures and sells heavy-duty transport equipment including low loader trailers (4-axle to 8-axle configurations), semi-trailers under the O'Phee brand (curtainsiders, drop decks, flat tops, skeletal and retractable units), and side loaders (BoXLoader and Swinglift). The company also offers custom-engineered trailers, trailer hire/rentals, replacement parts, and service and repair support tailored to mining, heavy haulage and general freight operators in Australia.

Product overview

Drake Trailers is a family-owned Australian company with over 60 years of experience, offering a comprehensive portfolio of heavy-duty trailers and transport equipment. The product lineup centres on two primary sub-brands: Drake Trailers (low loaders, mine site trailers, side loaders) and O'Phee Trailers (semi-trailers including curtainsiders, drop decks, flat tops, and skeletal trailers). The range spans rows-of-four and rows-of-eight low loader configurations, side loaders, custom-engineered solutions, and complementary services including trailer hire, service/repairs, and parts supply. Products feature innovations such as adjustable ride heights, state-of-the-art hydraulic systems, anti-lock braking systems, and high-strength steel construction engineered for demanding Australian conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• O'Phee Trailers: Leading manufacturer of semi-trailers in Australia, joined The Drake Group in 2015
• Drake Collectibles
• BoXLoader Multiloader
• Swinglift
• Retract-X

Products and services

• Full Widener Low Loader A heavy-duty low loader trailer that maximizes stability with adjustable ride heights and hydraulic widening capabilities for demanding heavy-duty conditions. Targeted at heavy haulage and oversized load operators.
• Deck Widener Low Loader A low loader trailer with fixed wheel track designed for optimal manoeuvrability around town and on job sites, intended for transport operators handling heavy machinery.
• AG Widener Low Loader A superior low loader trailer designed to handle payloads up to 50 tonnes with hydraulic suspension, intended for agricultural and heavy haulage operations.
• Dolly Low Loader A low tare weight, high tensile frame low loader suited to high-duty cycle fleets, fully customisable for specific heavy haulage needs.
• Forklift Trailer A low tare trailer with 15-tonne capacity, independent hydraulic suspension, and low load angle for optimal safety when transporting forklifts.
• Telescopic Steerable Low Loader A telescopic steerable low loader available in 3X4 or 4X4 tyre configurations, customisable to suit specific oversize load transport requirements.
• Swingwing Low Loader A hydraulic widening low loader available in 3X8, 4X8, and 5X8 tyre configurations with extendable options for oversized load transport.
• Swingwide Low Loader A low loader with options including hydraulic gooseneck, drop deck, extendable deck, radio control, and various ramps for versatile heavy haulage.
• Steerable Full Modular Low Loader A top-line premium build modular low loader offering maximum versatility for oversized load transport.
• Steerable Semi Modular Low Loader An ultimate solution for efficiently transporting oversized loads with steerable capabilities for heavy haulage fleets.
• Steering Widener Low Loader A low loader combining benefits of a deck widener with improved stability and quality build for demanding heavy haulage conditions.
• Lowboy Drop Deck An ultra heavy-duty drop deck featuring low tare weight, high strength, and high tensile frame for high-duty cycle fleets.
• Mine Site Low Loader A low loader specifically tailored to meet mine site requirements, including various towing vehicle options, for mining industry operators.
• Custom Engineered Trailers Custom trailer design and engineering services allowing customers to specify unique configurations and solutions for specialised hauling needs.
• BoXLoader Multiloader A state-of-the-art side loader with superior lifting capacity, stability, and performance, custom-built to specifications for container and freight handling.
• Swinglift Side Loader A side loader featuring swing-lift technology for efficient container and cargo handling, custom-built to operator specifications.
• O'Phee Curtainsider Trailer A semi-trailer with curtain-sided design for easy side access during loading and unloading operations, targeted at general freight operators.
• O'Phee Flat Top Trailer A flat top semi-trailer design for versatile general freight transport applications.
• O'Phee Drop Deck Trailer A drop deck semi-trailer with lowered deck height for transporting tall cargo and oversized loads.
• O'Phee Drop Deck Widener A drop deck trailer with widening capability for accommodating wider cargo loads.
• O'Phee Skeletal Trailer A skeletal trailer designed for container transport with lightweight but strong frame construction.
• O'Phee Retractable Skeletal A retractable skeletal trailer offering flexibility for various container and cargo configurations.
• O'Phee Retract-X A specialized retractable trailer design offering enhanced versatility for load configurations.
• O'Phee Dollies A range of dolly trailers for coupling and support in heavy haulage transport operations.
• Trailer Hire/Rentals Trailer rental services for customers requiring temporary access to Drake and O'Phee trailer equipment.
• Service & Repairs Maintenance and repair services for Drake and O'Phee trailers ensuring ongoing reliability and performance.
• Drake Parts Genuine replacement parts and components for Drake and O'Phee trailers, supporting aftermarket maintenance.
• Engineering Services Professional engineering services supporting custom trailer design and technical consultation for transport operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trailers lasting 14+ years in harsh transport conditions

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• O'Phee TrailerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015The Drake Group acquired O'Phee Trailers in 2015, one of the leading manufacturers of semi-trailers in Australia. This acquisition brought new capabilities and expanded the product portfolio to include curtainsider, drop deck, flat top trailers, and skeletal trailers. O'Phee operates as a brand under The Drake Group umbrella.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vawdrey Australia: Australian manufacturer of road transport equipment including curtainsider, flat top, drop deck, refrigerated, and specialised trailers. Direct competitor to O'Phee Trailers in the Australian semi-trailer market, with overlapping product categories and customer base in freight and logistics.
• Freighter Group: Australian trailer manufacturer offering curtainsider, tautliner, drop deck, and refrigerated semi-trailers. Directly comparable to O'Phee Trailers' curtainsider and drop deck products, competing for the same Australian freight and logistics customers.
• Nooteboom Trailers: Dutch specialist in low loaders, semi-trailers, and modular vehicle transporters. Directly comparable to Drake's low-loader and modular product range (Full Widener, Steerable Full Modular, Telescopic Steerable), serving identical heavy haulage and oversized-load end markets across Europe, Australia, and globally.
• Broshuis BV: Dutch manufacturer specialising in low loaders and modular heavy haulage trailers with extendable and hydraulic-widening capabilities. Highly comparable to Drake's Swingwing/Swingwide hydraulic widening low loaders and modular platforms; both target the same specialised heavy haulage customer base.
• Faymonville Group: Belgian manufacturer of low loaders, semi-trailers, and modular heavy haulage vehicles with a global export footprint. Directly comparable to Drake's low-loader (lowboy) and modular steerable product lines, competing for the same heavy haulage and oversized load customers globally, though at larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Goldhofer AG: German manufacturer of heavy-duty and modular trailers for mining, construction, and oversized load transport. Directly comparable to Drake's mine-site low loaders and modular steerable products, serving the same end customers (mining operators, heavy haulage contractors) globally.
• Trail King Industries: US manufacturer of heavy haulage trailers including lowboys, detachable goosenecks, and specialised equipment-hauling trailers. Direct international peer to Drake's low-loader product line, competing in the same heavy haulage and oversized-load end markets with comparable axle configurations and modular capabilities.
• Talbert Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of heavy haul trailers and specialised transportation equipment, with a strong focus on lowboy and heavy equipment transport. Comparable to Drake across low-loader axle ranges and custom engineered configurations, serving similar heavy haulage customer profiles.

Broad incumbents

• MaxiTRANS Limited: ASX-listed Australian trailer manufacturer with a broad portfolio spanning dry freight, refrigerated, tankers, tippers, and specialised trailers. The closest large-scale Australian incumbent to Drake/O'Phee, competing in semi-trailers (overlapping with O'Phee's curtainsider/flat top/drop deck range) while operating at substantially larger scale across multiple end markets.
• TII Group (Scheuerle / Kamag): German-owned heavy haulage and special-purpose vehicle group encompassing Scheuerle and Kamag brands with self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) and heavy low loaders. Comparable to Drake's mine-site and modular low loader offerings, though at substantially larger scale with a global sales network.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drake-trailers-pty.-ltd.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Drake Trailers Pty. Ltd.