GREENWICH, Conn. — Freight transportation company XPO Logistics has hit a milestone: The 30th anniversary of its in-house trailer manufacturing facility in Searcy, Arkansas.
XPO is the only freight transportation company in the U.S. to manufacture its own trailers. The factory’s team has produced nearly 90,000 trailers since 1994, according to a news release.
XPO’s plant in Searcy employs more than 300 people and is among the area’s largest employers. Additionally, the factory features six production lines across 200,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
The factory produces custom-designed trailers that feature XPO’s proprietary SafeStack system for safe freight handling and transportation.
“The facility also enables the company to adjust production quickly to meet the specific needs of shippers,” the news release states. “In addition, the Searcy factory is one of the nation’s most active centers for recycling used trailers, recycling 86% of trailer materials to reduce the amount of waste in landfills.”
XPO has increased manufacturing capacity significantly in Searcy over the past few years to meet growing demand for its freight transportation services. The plant produced more than 6,400 trailers in 2023, exceeding the company’s target and more than doubling the factory’s output in 2021.
Mario Harik, chief executive officer of XPO, said, “As the only freight transportation company to manufacture its own trailers, we are uniquely positioned to provide customers with both the capacity and reliable, world-class service to meet the rising demand for LTL shipping. Our in-house manufacturing facility enables us to maintain our trailer fleet at a lower cost, while quickly adapting to our customers’ changing needs. We are proud of our talented team in Searcy for the great work they’re doing to support the growth of our fleet and the delivery of exceptional service for customers.”
An XPO driver inspects his trailer before moving out. XPO is celebrating 30 years of manufacturing its own trailers in Searcy, Ark. (Courtesy: XPO)
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in East Texas, John Worthen returned to his home state to attend college in 1998 and decided to make his life in The Natural State. Worthen is a 20-year veteran of the journalism industry and has covered just about every topic there is. He has a passion for writing and telling stories. He has worked as a beat reporter and bureau chief for a statewide newspaper and as managing editor of a regional newspaper in Arkansas. Additionally, Worthen has been a prolific freelance journalist for two decades, and has been published in several travel magazines and on travel websites.
the trailers are not made by people that have to use them . The new liftgate trailers are horrible. I wish they would stop making them. Try to get up on deck ,opening roll dr is heavy,the cable step is stupid.steps are smaller . ALL AROUND UNSAFE DESIGN. PLEASE STOP MAKING THEM. Thank you a very UNHAPPY XPO driver Claudia