Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co.  — a manufacturer of dry freight vans, reefers, flatbeds and Tautliner curtain-sided trailers – today announced the launch of the next generation D-X product, the
4000D-X® Composite™, an innovative composite wall trailer. Production of the new 2010 model year trailer will begin in January 2009 at two of the company’s manufacturing facilities: Paragould AR and Glade Spring VA.

The newly-designed standard side wall of the 4000D-X Composite™ offers the same durability traits of a common plate trailer, plus such added performance characteristics as enhanced payload carrying capability, load securement versatility and long life expectancy.

The lower tare weight of the 4000D-X® Composite™ further expands Utility’s lead in providing customers the lightest weight, most productive trailers on the road. The bonded construction of the composite side wall combines Utility’s patented sheet and post design with the foam technology benefits pioneered in the industry-leading #1 selling 3000R® reefer.

The same aluminum exterior side skin panels used with Utility’s time-proven 3000R® reefer now gives the 4000D-®X Composite™ operator additional weight savings without compromising the side wall strength or the 101” minimum wearband-to-wearband inside width of the trailer.

The polyurethane foam core of the 4000D-X® Composite™ structurally bonds the interior lining panels to the outside skin panels providing side wall durability, strength and lower tare weight. The primary advantage in Utility’s polyurethane foam core over the polyethylene core found in common plate trailers is that polyurethane has a much lower density. This translates to a lower weight, more productive trailer.

Premium features available standard, not as options or upgrades, with the 4000D-X® Composite™ include an interior that is fitted with fully-recessed vertical logistic posts on 24” centers (minimum) throughout the trailer. Utility’s 80,000 psi interior lining panels are “squeeze” riveted to the outer skin and side posts to form a patented Snag Free™ high-strength, durable wall system. Lining and side post structural fasteners are fully-recessed so they won’t be impacted by cargo or lift trucks.

The first line of defense for the trailer’s sidewall is the wearband. The lower portion of the interior panel of the 4000D-X® Composite™ includes a full-length, one piece 12” high 80,000 psi galvanized steel wearband for added impact protection, strength and stiffness.

Utility’s new 4000D-X® Composite™ also offers the industry’s strongest 27” deep integrated threshold plate. It is fully-welded to both the buckplate and the 24” deep side gussets. Extra floor support is built in, with two 5-1/8” deep steel channel crossmembers that are welded to the slider subframe and the bottom of the threshold plate.

Design Evolution of the D-X®:

Winter 2000. After extensive R&D testing, a new 101” interior width option for the standard plywood dry van model premieres.

Fall 2002. Further enhancements bring inside width to 101¼”; trailer weight reduced by53 lbs. Product named D-X.

Winter 2002. D-X100 option is developed to offer the steel lining with a stiffer wall, especially useful for wall-bearing and logistic-intensive loads.

Summer 2003. Both D-X options use white, pre-painted steel lining, improving interior appearance and illumination.

Summer 2003. Weight savings initiative for D-X101 saves 447 lbs., making the D-X101 only 172 lbs. heavier than a traditional plywood-lined trailer.

Fall 2004. 80,000 GVWR option for D-X100 is released, leaving few options unavailable for the D-X design.

Spring 2006. Base-model dry freight trailer is converted to the D-X101 design.

Summer 2007. The 4000D-X dry van makes Utility Trailer the first trailer manufacturer to offer a qualifying model certified by the EPA as a SmartWay®
trailer.

Fall/Winter 2008. Composite side wall trailer using a polyurethane foam technology benefits pioneered in the #1 selling 3000R®.

About Utility Trailer
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is America’s oldest privately-owned and operated trailer manufacturer. It was founded in 1914 by brothers E.W. and H.C. Bennett and is still family-owned to this day. Utility Trailer is the largest producer of refrigerated vans and the third-largest trailer manufacturer in the United States.

The company designs and manufactures from five fully-operational trailer facilities across the United States products such as dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans and curtain-sided Tautliner® trailers. The company features an extensive dealer network with more than 100 independently-owned locations
throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America.

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Co. — a manufacturer of dry freight vans, reefers, flatbeds and Tautliner curtain-sided trailers — announced the appointment of John Harris to Director of Purchasing and Logistics. Since joining the company in 1988, Mr. Harris has been recognized for driving numerous successes and efficiencies throughout the organization, including enhancements in design and layout of production facilities as well as improved vendor relationships within the purchasing department.

“John is an integral part of the improvements we have achieved within our trailer manufacturing operation,” said Stephen F. Bennett, Vice President of Purchasing. “”He has been a tremendous asset to driving momentum and synergies within our expansive vendor network, particularly from his work in opening communication channels with our partners.”

In addition to continuing his current responsibilities with the Company’s purchasing operations, Mr. Harris will be working to reduce costs for both in-bound freight to Utility Trailer’s five manufacturing facilities and out-bound delivery of trailers to dealers nationwide.

About Utility Trailer
 Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is America’s oldest privately-owned and operated trailer manufacturer. It was founded in 1914 by brothers E.W. and H.C. Bennett and is still family-owned to this day. Utility Trailer is the largest producer of refrigerated vans and the third-largest trailer manufacturer in the United States.

The company designs and manufactures from five fully-operational trailer facilities across the United States products such as dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans and curtain-sided Tautliner® trailers. The company features an extensive dealer network with more than 100 independently-owned locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America.