Fruehauf Manufacturing Semi-Trailers In The U.S. Following 25-Year Absence

---

Earlier this month, Fruehauf North America celebrated the grand opening of its new production facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. (Photo courtesy of Fruehauf.)

Fruehauf North America recently celebrated the grand opening of a $15 million facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where it assembles dry van trailers, as well as dollies, platforms, container chassis, tanks and hoppers. The new facility is the first in the U.S. since Fruehauf ceased U.S. production in 1997.

“Fruehauf literally invented the semi-trailer, and the company is known the world over for their long-standing contribution to the transportation industry,” says Warren County Judge Mike Buchanon. “We are delighted to be celebrating this new facility, which is Fruehauf’s first manufacturing plant in the United States in 25 years.”

A Brief History

Fruehauf’s founder, August Fruehauf, is credited with having invented the semi-trailer in 1914. As the story goes, a customer visited August Fruehauf’s blacksmith shop and asked for a way to move an 18-foot sailboat to his summer lake home using his Model T Ford. The resulting invention, which Fruehauf called the “semi-trailer” would lead to more orders and the company was producing three types of trailers by 1916. Fruehauf operated in the U.S. until 1997 under the names Fruehauf Trailer Company, Fruehauf Corporation, and Fruehauf Trailer Corporation; in the years after closing U.S. operations, Fruehauf trailers were manufactured in Mexico.

---

The new facility produces Fruehauf dry van trailers. (Photo courtesy of Fruehauf.)

A Return To The U.S.

The new facility was announced by Fruehauf North America in June 2021, and it opened earlier this year. At the grand opening, the company indicated it has already filled 75 positions and it plans to add 215 more by the end of 2022.

“On target with our short-term goal to become a top-five player in the region, this facility adds 5,000 units of capacity for a total of 13,000 units for Fruehauf North America,” says Eugenio Clariond, chairman of Fruehauf North America. “We will continue investing and developing our brand in the region and are delighted to have partnered with the Bowling Green community for this endeavor.”

Source: Kentucky Cabinet For Economic Development