CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., May 11, 2011 – Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, the industry’s largest manufacturer of refrigerated trailers and a leading manufacturer of dry freight vans, flatbeds, and Tautliner® curtainsided trailers announces the reopening of Utility’s dry van manufacturing facility in Glade Spring, Virginia.
Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company’s Glade Spring dry van plant was struck by a tornado early Thursday morning on April 28, 2011. Utility is now pleased to announce the reopening at Glade Spring the week of May 9, 2011. The Glade Spring plant is one of Utility’s five trailer manufacturing facilities across the United States. The Glade Spring plant manufactures Utility’s 4000D™ and the 4000D-X Composite™ dry vans trailers.
Due to severe weather, Utility’s 340 employees were sent home early that evening before the tornado struck. Fortunately, the tornado had swept through while no employees were present in the facility. While the building and roof sustained damage, Utility was fortunate that machinery and tools were undamaged by the storm. “Our employees and contractors have done a masterful job of clean-up, debris removal, clearing damaged inventory, and helping the community rebuild what was lost from the tornado devastation. We plan to build up our production and reinstate most employees at an aggressive rate,” says Harold Bennett, President of Utility. “To help increase production, some of our Glade Spring trailer backlog has been transferred to our second dry van plant in Paragould, Arkansas. Between the two plants we hope to be caught up on our delivery commitments within 90 days.” Mr. Bennett further states, “The committed effort by Utility employees at cleaning up and restarting Glade Spring reinforces our faith in the human spirit and people’s ability to rise above near tragedy.”