Morgan Olson
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive manufacturing |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Sturgis, Michigan , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
| Products | Aluminum walk-in step vans, delivery trucks, cargo shelving outfittings |
| Parent | JBPCO (since 2003) |
Morgan Olson is a U.S.-based producer specializing in aluminum walk-in step vans, established in 1946 on Long Island, New York. Originally operating under the name Grumman Olson while owned by Northrop Grumman, the firm was later acquired by its senior executives before being sold in 2003 to JBPCO, the parent company of Morgan Corp., which is recognized as the largest truck body manufacturer in the United States. The company adopted the Morgan Olson name in 2004.
History
The idea for the initial all-aluminum walk-in step van was conceived by Walter Heingartner, proprietor of Kinney Motors Chevrolet located in Brooklyn, NY, who identified a demand among local laundry businesses. He partnered with Jimmy Olson, then serving as Commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority, and "Jake" Swirbul, one of Grumman's founders. Despite Grumman's lack of experience in commercial truck manufacturing, plans were made in 1939 to begin production but were delayed due to World War II.
After the war, Olson and his associates founded J.B.E. Olson Corporation on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. The business grew steadily over time and secured its current headquarters in Sturgis, Michigan by 1963.
In 1984, Grumman Olson landed its largest contract ever: a $1 billion agreement with the United States Postal Service (USPS). By 2016, roughly 163,000 Grumman LLVs were still active within the USPS vehicle fleet.
Following shifts in ownership and a decline in market demand during the 1990s, Grumman Olson filed for bankruptcy protection in 2001. In 2003, JB Poindexter, Inc. (JBPCO), which boasts annual revenues over $1 billion, acquired the company and subsequently renamed it Morgan Olson.
Currently, Morgan Olson produces walk-in step vans, P31 delivery trucks, C250 mail and parcel delivery vehicles, along with cargo shelving outfittings at three modern manufacturing plants located in Sturgis, Michigan; Loudon, Tennessee; and Ringgold, Virginia.
Products
- 1946-19?? Olson Kargo King
- Olson/Grumman Kurb Side
- Olson/Grumman Kurb Van
- Olson/Grumman Kurb Van King
- 195?–1990 Olson/Grumman Kurbmaster
- Olson/Grumman Junior Kurbmaster
- 1955-196? Olson Olsonette (compact class 1)
- 1965-2001 Grumman P-500/600/800 (solely marketed to UPS after 1980)
- 1983-1985 Grumman Kubvan
- 1986-1994 Grumman LLV
- 1990-20?? Grumman/Morgan Olson Route Star (7,600–14,000 lb GVWR)
- 1991-?? Grumman Olson Freight Star (van/cutaway variant of Route Star)
- 2023–present Morgan Olson C250 (electric successor to Grumman LLV for Canada Post)
Location
The main office and primary manufacturing site of Morgan Olson are situated in Sturgis, Michigan. A second production plant commenced operations in Loudon, Tennessee in 2015, with a third facility added in Ringgold, Virginia in 2020.