STATESBORO — Great Dane’s new refrigerated trailer plant in Statesboro recently celebrated the completion of the facility’s first custom trailer, which was built for Rowland Transportation of Dade City, Fla.
The trailer is designated as an an Everest TL refrigerated trailer, which the company says features advanced construction elements designed to maximize the trailer’s performance and operating efficiency.
“It’s exciting to see custom trailers rolling off of our assembly lines here in Statesboro,” plant manager Kevin Black said. “We’ve made tremendous progress since opening our doors earlier this year — all made possible due to the hard work of our dedicated plant employees and community partners.”
Great Dane’s state-of-the-art Statesboro facility encompasses 450,000 square feet, including office space and a 3,000 square foot climate-controlled, noise-free customer preview center. The facility is dedicated to manufacturing Everest refrigerated trailers, the TL model for truckload carriers and the CL model built especially for the unique needs of multi-temp and foodservice operations, especially those in the Southeast.
The Statesboro plant currently is operating with one production line, with a second line and second shift to start up later in the year. At full capacity, the new facility will produce more than 5,000 trailers annually and will employ more than 400 workers.
In taking delivery of the first trailer, Rowland Transportation’s president, Doc Hyder, praised Great Dane’s long-term track record.
“Great Dane has been a leader in the field of refrigerated transportation, which is why my family has used them for 70 years,” Hyder said.