Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | H. C. Bennett, E. W. Bennett |
| Headquarters | City of Industry, California , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada, Mexico, South America |
| Products | Dry van trailers, flatbed trailers, refrigerated semi-trailer trucks |
| Parent | Bennett family (ownership) |
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is a U.S.-based producer specializing in dry van, flatbed, and refrigerated semi-trailer trucks. Its main headquarters are located in the City of Industry, California, complemented by a sales office situated in Alpharetta, Georgia and a Parts Distribution Center in Batavia, Ohio. The firm’s product range includes dry freight vans, curtainsided trailers, and advanced aerodynamic solutions. It holds the distinction of being the leading manufacturer of refrigerated van trailers within the United States.
The company was established in 1914 by siblings H. C. Bennett and E. W. Bennett after they sold their lumber enterprise in Phoenix, Arizona and purchased a wagon manufacturing business in Los Angeles. The brand name "Utility" originated from its initial specialization in trailers designed for diesel trucks serving California utility firms. Since its founding, ownership has continuously stayed within the Bennett family. Initially, operations were focused on the western region of the U.S., but by the 1960s expansion began eastward, with the majority of business transitioning to the East Coast by the mid-1990s, all while retaining its headquarters in Los Angeles County.
Utility maintains six production plants throughout North America. Refrigerated trailers, including both single-temperature and multi-temperature units, are manufactured in Clearfield, Utah, Atkins, Virginia, and Piedras Negras, Mexico. Dry vans are assembled at facilities located in Glade Spring, Virginia and Paragould, Arkansas. The Enterprise, Alabama plant produces flatbed trailers such as aluminum/steel combination flatbeds, all-steel flatbeds, drop decks, and curtainsided models. The Clearfield factory began operations in 1993 on a 58-acre site; Atkins followed with a 55-acre facility opening in 1994. Due to expansion limitations at Clearfield in 1998, Utility launched the Glade Spring plant in 1999.
The company supports an extensive independent dealer network exceeding 100 locations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. This network offers trailer sales along with aftermarket parts and service support.