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Dorsey Trailer's Overview

Total employees126
HeadquartersElba
Founded1911

Dorsey Trailer Co., founded in 1911 in Elba, Alabama, was a significant American manufacturer of semi-trailers for over 80 years. Known for producing a wide range of durable trailers including vans, flatbeds, and refrigerated units, Dorsey was a major name in the U.S. transportation industry. The company experienced periods of growth and employed a substantial workforce at its peak. However, it faced financial difficulties in its later years, leading to bankruptcy in December 2000 and the subsequent sale of its assets. While the original Dorsey Trailer Co. ceased operations, its brand and some product lines were later revived by other manufacturers, testament to its historical reputation. This profile focuses on the original Dorsey Trailer Co.

Where is Dorsey Trailer's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Served as the primary manufacturing hub, corporate offices, and center for design, engineering, sales, and administrative operations for Dorsey Trailer Co.

Notable Features:

Extensive manufacturing facilities designed for large-scale semi-trailer production, including assembly lines, fabrication shops, paint booths, and R&D facilities. The Elba plant was a landmark in the local community.

Work Culture:

Historically, likely a culture centered on manufacturing excellence, American craftsmanship, and a strong sense of community, typical for a large industrial employer in a smaller Southern town. Emphasis on product durability and innovation within the transportation sector.

HQ Significance:

The Elba headquarters was the heart of Dorsey Trailers for most of its existence, a major employer in Coffee County, and a key contributor to the local and regional economy. It symbolized American manufacturing in the trailer industry.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters and its operations aimed to reflect values of durability, reliability, innovation in trailer design, and a commitment to serving the American trucking industry.

Location:

Dorsey Trailer Co. primarily served the North American market, with a strong presence across the United States and sales into Canada. While direct international offices were not a key feature, their trailers were known for durability and could have been used in international haulage by their purchasers or seen in export markets through distributors.

Street Address:

1400 Hickman Ave

City:

Elba

State/Province:

Alabama

Country:

USA

Dorsey Trailer's Global Presence

Northumberland, Pennsylvania, USA

Address: [Historical Address Not Available - General Plant Location]

To enhance market reach in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, reduce transportation costs for finished goods to these regions, and diversify manufacturing operations.

Edgerton, Wisconsin, USA

Address: [Historical Address Not Available - General Plant Location]

To cater to demand in the Midwest, optimize logistics for product delivery in that region, and expand the company's manufacturing footprint.

Buying Intent Signals for Dorsey Trailer

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Executive Team of Dorsey Trailer

As of April 2025, Dorsey Trailer' leadership includes:

Henry Dorsey & Claude Dorsey - Co-Founders
Members of the Dorsey Family (e.g., T.K. Dorsey, Joe Dorsey) - Key Leadership Roles (Various Historical Periods)
George L. Collier - President and CEO (e.g., 1990s)
A. L. (Fred) Wolf - Chairman and CEO (Late 1990s, leading up to bankruptcy)

Investors of Dorsey Trailer

Dorsey Trailer has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Initially family-owned and operated by the Dorsey family.
Became a publicly traded company at one point (e.g., listed on the American Stock Exchange).
In later years, likely involved various private investment groups or holding companies.
Company assets were sold following Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000-2001.

Executive New Hires/Exits in the Last 12 Months

Hire0
Exits0

Dorsey Trailer Co. ceased independent operations around 2000-2001. Therefore, there are no executive hires or exits for the original company in the last 12 months. Significant leadership changes occurred in the years leading up to and during its bankruptcy proceedings and asset sales.

Technology (Tech Stack) used by Dorsey Trailer

Discover the tools Dorsey Trailer uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Dorsey Trailer Email Formats and Examples

Specific email formats for the original Dorsey Trailer Co. are not publicly available or relevant, as the company ceased operations before modern corporate email conventions were universally standardized or after it became defunct. Any successor entities that might use the brand name would have their own distinct email systems.

[N/A]

Format

N/A

Example

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Success rate

News and media

Various Business News Archives (e.g., Wall Street Journal, Transport Topics)December 2000 - Early 2001

Dorsey Trailers Files for Bankruptcy, Assets Sold

In December 2000, Dorsey Trailers Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Following the filing, the company's assets, including manufacturing plants, brand names, and product designs, were sold off to various buyers. Notably, Stoughton Trailers acquired some assets, and the Dorsey brand name was later revived by Pitts Enterprises....more

Industry Publications and Historical AccountsCirca 1980s-1990s (Retrospective)

Dorsey Trailers: A Major Player in American Trailer Manufacturing

Throughout much of the late 20th century, Dorsey Trailers was recognized as one of the leading trailer manufacturers in the U.S., known for its innovation (e.g., in lightweight designs, refrigerated trailers) and substantial market share. The company operated several large manufacturing facilities and was a significant employer....more

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