Great Dane Trailers
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Commercial truck trailers and truck bodies manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Savannah Blowpipe Company, Steel Products Co. |
| Founded | January 1, 1900 in Savannah, Georgia, United States |
| Founder | J.P. Wheless, T.H. McMillan |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru |
| Products | Dry van trailers, refrigerated van trailers, flatbed semi-trailers, dry freight truck bodies, refrigerated truck bodies |
Great Dane, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, stands as a prominent producer of dry van, refrigerated van, and flatbed semi-trailers, as well as dry freight and refrigerated truck bodies. Established in 1900 by founders J.P. Wheless and T.H. McMillan under the name Savannah Blowpipe Company in Savannah, Georgia, the enterprise has evolved into one of the foremost commercial truck trailer manufacturers worldwide.
1900s to 1930s
Originally specializing in sheet metal systems tailored for sawmills, the company broadened its scope by 1916 to include steel plate and structural steel products, adopting the name Steel Products Co. In 1920, it moved into a 10,000-square-foot facility on Lathrop Avenue, which remained operational for nearly a hundred years. The economic challenges of the Great Depression coupled with New Deal infrastructure programs allowed Steel Products Co. to venture into the trailer manufacturing sector, concentrating on over-the-road freight transport. By recruiting skilled trailer craftsmen, the firm introduced trailers branded as Great Danes, inspired by the dog breed. Beginning with flatbed models, it expanded its lineup by 1934 to incorporate tank trailers and enclosed vans. To meet state-imposed truck size and weight restrictions, Great Dane pioneered the use of thin, high-strength steel to decrease trailer mass.
1940s to 1960s
Throughout World War II, Great Dane produced robust trailers essential for military operations. Following the war, rising demand for transporting fresh produce led to the debut of refrigerated trailers (reefers) in 1947, initially utilizing wet ice bunkers combined with gas-powered blowers, later evolving into the Sno-Zone Reefer series. The passage of the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act in 1956 spurred Great Dane to design longer and lighter trailers, including aluminum van trailers and tandem axle configurations suitable for nationwide routes. By the mid-1950s, its sales network spanned 31 cities across 18 states. In 1958, reflecting its primary focus on trailer production, the company rebranded as Great Dane Trailers, Inc., simultaneously changing its iconic dog emblem from black to red. The 1960s marked diversification into alternative transport sectors: in 1961 Great Dane entered rail transport by manufacturing piggyback trailers and began producing maritime shipping containers by 1963.
1970s to 1990s
Great Dane’s growth continued with the 1972 acquisition of a versatile trailer manufacturing plant in Memphis, Tennessee. Two years later, in 1974, it inaugurated a production facility in Brazil, Indiana—initially targeting van trailers for western and midwestern regions; this location remains its largest plant today, focusing on reefers and dry freight vans. That same year saw completion of the Savannah Engineering Research Laboratory, which doubled production capacity and reinforced a strategic emphasis on innovation and expansion. In 1982, Great Dane installed a distinctive computer-controlled road simulation system at its Savannah R&D facility that remains operational. The acquisition of the SuperSeal reefer line in Wayne, Nebraska in 1988 significantly enhanced its refrigerated trailer offerings. International growth commenced during the 1980s. In 1996, Great Dane launched a dry van manufacturing plant alongside a parts distribution center in Terre Haute, Indiana. The following year’s merger with Pines Trailer created Great Dane Limited Partnership, elevating it to one of the largest trailer manufacturers globally. By 1999, branch offices underwent modernization including upgrading the Little Rock sales location to a full-service branch.
2000s to Present
In 2002, Great Dane expanded its operations by acquiring Strick’s Eastern Van facilities located in Danville, Pennsylvania, along with Trailmobile’s manufacturing site in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Two years later, in 2004, the company further grew by obtaining a production plant from Wabash National Corporation situated in Huntsville, Tennessee. The Memphis facility ceased operations in 2005. By 2006, Great Dane reached a significant production achievement, having manufactured 60,000 trailers across nine different plants. Economic downturns led to the closure of the original Savannah plant in 2009. The following year, 2010, saw Great Dane revamp its product portfolio and brand identity by inaugurating a new refrigerated trailer plant in Statesboro, Georgia, and acquiring Johnson Refrigerated Truck Bodies to strengthen its refrigerated product segment. Leadership changes occurred in 2011 when Phil Pines retired after more than five decades with the company; Dean Engelage took over as president. That same year, the firm rebranded itself from "Great Dane Trailers" to simply "Great Dane." By 2016, the company introduced two innovative truck body models—the Alpine and Sahara—and broadened its manufacturing footprint with a new dry van facility in Elysburg, Pennsylvania, facilitating growth and increased market penetration.
Products
Since initiating trailer manufacturing in the 1930s, Great Dane has played a pivotal role in shaping the motor carrier industry through its manufacturing advancements. Originally established as Steel Products Company, it produced its first flatbed trailers ranging from 16 to 20 feet in length, featuring single axles and payload capacities between three and six tons. By the early 1960s, the company had diversified into piggyback and container trailer markets. During World War II, Steel Products fulfilled government contracts by producing approximately 12,000 trailers.
In 1980, Great Dane enhanced its research and development efforts by implementing computer-controlled Road Simulation Equipment at its Savannah plant in Georgia. This was complemented by the adoption of Finite Element Analysis software designed to optimize trailer strength relative to weight. Further technological innovations included Space Age Simulation Equipment, CADCAM computer graphics systems, robotic welding capabilities at the Memphis facility, and plasma arc cutting technology. In 1985, the company began manufacturing FRP panels at its Composite Panel plant located in Brazil.
Refrigerated
Great Dane was at the forefront of refrigerated trailer innovation with its SuperSeal line of reefers, which offered one of the most extensive product ranges in the industry and facilitated long-haul transportation of perishable goods. By 1953, aluminum refrigerated trailers had become standard equipment across eastern U.S. markets such as Florida. The initial insulated and cooled trailer was developed during the early 1940s and featured a wet ice bunker system powered by a gas engine-driven blower.
Throughout the 1940s, all-steel refrigerated trailers were introduced and further evolved during the 1950s with designs including “oval-nose” and “underslung” reefer units; however, some models were eventually discontinued due to operational challenges. In the late 1950s, Great Dane briefly explored dry ice refrigeration solutions. This era also witnessed key innovations like the Dual Temp reefer design that allowed separate compartments for frozen and fresh products and early use of nose-mounted Thermo King refrigeration units. Insulation typically consisted of block Styrofoam lined with plywood panels, reflecting prevailing industry practices.
This progression underscores Great Dane’s strategic role as an innovator in refrigerated trailer technology, underpinning its competitive edge and influence within the transportation sector.
Dry Freight
By 1934, Great Dane's offerings had expanded to include tank trailers and enclosed trailer vans. In 1938, Steel Products Company introduced innovative lightweight tank and van trailers crafted from high-tensile steel, addressing both economic challenges and new highway weight regulations. The stressed skin van, recognized for its reduced weight, became the flagship product for Great Dane. Starting in 1974, the Brazil plant began manufacturing straight frame aluminum and FRP dry freight vans, while refrigerated van production increased at the Savannah facility. In 2002, Great Dane enhanced its design capabilities with the SSL dry freight van, which featured patented steel-lined interior walls. By 2006, sales of SSL trailers surpassed 20,000 units, accounting for nearly 15% of all industry shipments.
Flatbed
Great Dane’s flatbed trailer lineup comprises three models: the Freedom SE constructed entirely of steel; the Freedom LT combining steel and aluminum; and the Freedom XP made exclusively from aluminum.
Truck Bodies
The truck body range from Great Dane includes the Sahara dry freight series, Alpine refrigerated bodies, and Johnson composite refrigerated bodies. The Sahara series is available in two configurations: the composite plate C-Series and the sheet-and-post S-Series. Meanwhile, the Johnson Series offers three refrigerated composite variants: C-Series, R-Series, and S-Series.
Corporate
Great Dane’s main headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois, with an additional corporate office situated in Savannah, Georgia.
Plants
Production facilities are located in Jonesboro (Arkansas), Statesboro (Georgia), Kewanee (Illinois), Brazil and Terre Haute (Indiana), Wayne (Nebraska), Danville and Elysburg (Pennsylvania), Huntsville (Tennessee), and Rice Lake (Wisconsin).
Branches
Branch offices support major markets including Atlanta (Georgia); Birmingham (Alabama); Bolingbrook (Illinois); Charlotte (North Carolina); Dallas (Texas); Columbus (Ohio); Houston (Texas); Indianapolis (Indiana); Jacksonville (Florida); Knoxville and Memphis (Tennessee); Little Rock and Springdale (Arkansas); Miami (Florida); Mount Joy and Philadelphia (Pennsylvania); Nashville (Tennessee); Richmond (Virginia); and Tampa (Florida).
Dealers
Authorized Great Dane dealerships provide products and parts throughout the United States, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru.