B Truck & Trailer, one of the newest members of the Power Heavy Duty network, offers most every service a distributor can provide customers: truck and trailer parts and service; welding and fabrication; and a driveline shop, to name a few. It recently took the next step to be a manufacturer.
Founded in 1981, the Texarkana, Texas, company launched Tuffhaul Trailer Manufacturing earlier this year, specializing in custom-built logging and oilfield trailers.
“We’re well known for the quality and versatility of our welding and fabrication operations. The pandemic disrupted the major manufacturers and we saw an opportunity to fill in some of the blanks,” said Mike Petty, co-owner of B Truck & Trailer. “It was a big step and it’s taken off well. We’ve gotten a lot of positive response from our client base.”
It was a natural move for the company, utilizing current staff expertise and facility space, as well as existing supplier relationships and new ones provided through Power Heavy Duty membership.
“B Truck & Trailer is a strong parts and service competitor in the four-state area [Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas] they do business, providing exceptional customer service and a broad array of solutions,” said Jim Pennig, vice president of business development for the VIPAR Heavy Duty Family of Companies. “They’re a great addition to the Power Heavy Duty network.”
The company operates out of multiple buildings – including an eight-bay shop, parts showroom, warehouse and fabrication and manufacturing facility – on 10 acres. They serve all market segments, and the region has a strong concentration of flatbed, agricultural, logging, oilfield and heavy-haul customers.
Petty joined B Truck & Trailer in 1988 and became co-owner along with Travis Rogers in 2006 when founder Roy Brown (that’s where the “B” in the name comes from) decided to retire. Petty now works alongside his wife, Lisa, and son, Kyle. They’re part of a team that’s at the core of the company’s achievements.
“I’m most proud of the team we have put together. We’re all kind of a big, happy family and lookout for each other,” Petty said. “It’s a team with a lot of experience and knowledge, and that leads to great customer service. We pride ourselves on customer service. When someone comes in the door, we greet them, we wait on them, and we do our best to help them.”
