Writer: Rachel Carr | Project
A TRAILBLAZING JOURNEY
brought the Dorsey Trailer dream to life. enables it to go from strength to strength the demands of the road every time
Manager: Michael Sommerfield
Since its founding in 1911, Dorsey Trailer (Dorsey) has established itself as one of the premier trailer manufacturers in the US.
Over 110 years ago, a pioneering company set out on a mission to create the most resilient custom trailers. This unwavering commitment continues today, with highly skilled artisans in Elba, Alabama, devoting themselves to manufacturing an extensive range of trailers built to withstand the exacting standards of the open road.
With a long-standing reputation for innovation, high performance, great value, top-notch quality, and exceptional durability, the Dorsey brand continuously evolves to cater to its customers’ diverse needs.
Leveraging extensive experience, cutting-edge computer-aided design (CAD), knowledgeable employees, and a state-of-the-art facility, the company prides itself on producing trailers that are not only safe but also highly reliable.
Its reputable and enduring features anchor Dorsey’s long-standing presence in the local community and have contributed to its status as an esteemed company that has played a vital role in the area for many decades.
Elba, a city in a picturesque landscape, boasts a rich and diverse history intricately entwined with the Dorsey narrative.
The company’s presence has its roots deeply embedded in Elba and spans back to the 20th century, shaping and sustaining the city’s economy.
Furthermore, Elba was established by residents who have called it home for generations, while many businesses in the area play a crucial role in fostering vibrant and sustainable communities.
A PROUD HERITAGE
What started out as a small machinery repair shop quickly flourished, gaining a reputation for reliable and efficient service in the booming timber industry.
With the rise of automobiles and the decline of horse-drawn buggies, the shop seamlessly transitioned to become the city’s go-to destination for car maintenance.
By 1920, Dorsey was producing 20 to 30 logging units a day and soon began designing and building its own products. In the 1930s, the company’s engineers developed its first commercial freight trailers.
Even during the Great Depression from 1929 to 1941, Dorsey’s sales increased every year, and by the end of the decade, the Dorsey name was synonymous with durability and safety from coast to coast.
The Korean War in the 1950s saw the plant relocate and expand to meet military and commercial demands.
In the 1960s, as the Cold War plunged the US into the missile age,
TRAILERS MANUFACTURED BY DORSEY
ALUMINIUM – Giant flatbed and drop flat
STEEL – Flatbed, drop flat, beavertail, lift hauler, extendable steel flat, and extendable steel drop
COMBO – Giant flatbed series, ultra-light series, giant drop deck series, giant beavertail series, giant lift hauler series, and extendable combo flat
CHIP VANS – Open top, closed top, and walking floor
LOWBOYS – LB55-detach, LB35detach, LB35-33CS fixed neck, and LB35-38CS fixed neck
stopped producing reefer trailers and vans and focused on the growing demand in the flatbed market.
By 2022, Propst Companies had gradually taken over Dorsey. The following year, it invested in new equipment, and several office and plant upgrades, including a new webbing plasma machine, and 401(k) plans were added to employee benefits packages.
DURABLE AND DEPENDABLE
Dorsey is recognized for its unyielding quality, reliability, and commitment to advanced design and precision engineering.
trailer perfectly matches the buyer.
The company recently unveiled a brand-new 55,000 square foot (sqft) manufacturing facility strategically positioned just a mile from its corporate headquarters.
This has propelled Dorsey’s total footprint to over 850,000 sqft, enabling it to meet the surging demand for its trailers. The increased production capacity not only fulfills market needs but also creates 50 new job opportunities.
Dorsey was called upon to design and build rocket transporters and electronic vans and erect equipment to support various missile programs on the ground.
In 1980, Dorsey built a variety of reefer and van trailers, including notable and recognizable products for the country band Alabama, hauler vans for NASCAR, and perhaps most famously, the Dorsey Van in the hit TV show Knight Rider.
However, Dorsey changed direction in 2007 when Jeff Pitts, Owner of Pitts Enterprises, purchased the company.
Over the next few years, Dorsey
Its specialist technicians, who are trained and registered to meet customers’ needs, also offer expert advice and trailer maintenance and repairs.
Moreover, a portion of Dorsey’s success can be attributed to its focus on specialty trailers and customization, with optional toolboxes, dunnage racks, ramp kits, and lift axle kits being offered.
Dorsey also provides accessories such as lights, fire extinguishers, fenders, and mud flaps, while decals, paint, and other finishing touches can be implemented towards the end of the production process to ensure each
The primary emphasis is on utilizing the facility to build 53-foot (ft) refrigerated aluminum trailers to transport perishable foods, as well as open-top wood-chip trailers designed for specific transportation needs.
A dedicated dealer network has also contributed to elevating Dorsey to the status it enjoys today.
A CORNERSTONE OF THE COMMUNITY
Dorsey has strong roots in Elba and a solid relationship with its residents. As one of the fastest-growing platform trailer manufacturers in the US and an industry driver for the rest of the state, the city appreciates its accomplishments and the value it adds to the community.
Together with the Elba Public Library, Dorsey has teamed up to support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Coffee County, which provides free books to children in the area.
In May, Dorsey discovered that the way to the heart is through the stomach, with pizza delivered by one of the company’s employees to Elba Elementary School and Elba High School as a thank you during Teacher Appreciation Week.
DORSEY PARTS CLUB
As a company that stocks a wide selection of essential semi-trailer repair parts, joining the Dorsey Parts Club is a must for customers who want to take advantage of deals for their vehicles. A premium membership guarantees exclusive access to early bird sales, new arrivals, and other special offers.
Joining the community means being part of an insider group that shares extensive industry knowledge about semi-trailers, drawing from over 110 years of experience.
Dorsey Parts Club offers a comprehensive list of vendors, providing nearly every part for all different types of semi-trailers, making networking easy. Members also get priority access to great deals.
Meanwhile, special events offer significant savings, and the list ensures members have early
“PEOPLE MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT DORSEY, PUTTING QUALITY FIRST IN EVERY STEP OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS”
– DORSEY TRAILER
Contributing to the Elba economy by employing team members in and around the area, Dorsey incentivizes its staff to achieve production goals.
Reaching these objectives is reflected in employee benefits and each paycheck.
Dorsey exceeded its targets in 2022 as a result by producing 3,025 trailers, 14 percent more than the predicted 2,650.
Last year, Dorsey hosted an
and production achievements but also highlighted the collaborative efforts that solidified the company’s position as an industry leader.
From raising funds for Dorsey employees and their families battling cancer and saluting veterans to celebrating work anniversaries and handing out candy at the annual ‘Pumpkins on the Square’ in downtown Elba, the company engages with its crew and citizens
