TrailerCraft was founded in Alaska 1969 and has been an institution in the trucking and commercial vehicle industry in the 49th State for over 50 years. The original owner was an engineer from Southeast who built trailers, installed bodies on truck chassis and sold trailer and truck parts out of the original facility at 1950 East Dowling in Anchorage.
Lee McKenzie, former owner said the original owner also built crash-resistant custom bumpers for trucks up on the slope, which quickly became a hot commodity. “If you hung them on a truck today, it literally would pull the rear end off the ground they were so big.”
The original owner eventually sold the business in 1978, Lee McKenzie sold the business again in 2023 to Gordon Truck Centers, Inc.
GROWTH AND EXPANSION
TrailerCraft transformed into a business that focused on much more than trailers. From trucks and vans to snowplows and buses, it brought on some big-name product lines it still proudly carries today.
- 1976: Western Snow Plow
- 1979: Blue Bird School Bus distributor for Alaska
- 1994: Named the Freightliner truck dealer in Alaska and formed “Freightliner of Alaska,” a separate division of the corporation.
- 2010: Sprinter Vans
- 2015: Western Star trucks
To keep up with the state-wide demand for its commercial vehicles and parts, TrailerCraft opened a branch in Fairbanks, to better respond to the needs on the north slope. “It was at the end of Van Horn Road out of a home where the guy who was running it actually lived in,” said McKenzie. “Had a little parts department, small shop. Trailer hitches, snow plows, things like that.”
The Fairbanks branch opened a new, state-of-the-art facility in April 2023.
TrailerCraft consolidated its Anchorage locations in 1994, moving into a newly remodeled facility on E 64th Avenue. In 2006, the business moved again into a new, 33-thousand square foot, state-of-the-art facility on West 92nd Avenue.
NEW LEADERSHIP
TrailerCraft saw multiple owners between 1969 and 2007. But many long-time staff members said business didn’t truly take off until Lee and Paulette McKenzie bought it in 2008. Lee had been working there for 24 years at the time. He got his humble start back in 1984.
“I was actually a senior in high school and I started sweeping the floors. As a matter of fact, most of the floors were dirt,” said McKenzie.
Gordon Truck Centers, Inc. (GTC) purchased TrailerCraft April 1, 2023.
When considering the sale of TrailerCraft, Lee and Paulette McKenzie chose the Gordon Family who share some similarities in pride, legacy and customer service.
Former Gordon Trucking owners, Larry and Virginia Gordon started the Valley Freightliner, Inc. dealership in 1986. Joined by their sons Scott and Steve Gordon, the family has over 75 years and three generations of successful trucking industry experience to draw upon and has been serving the trucking industry since 1986. Doing business as Freightliner Northwest, Western Star Northwest, TrailerCraft and Freightliner of Hawaii, GTC operates a network of full-service dealerships across the great northwest and Hawaii with locations throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Idaho as well as on the island of Oahu. As a full-service dealership group, GTC can sell and finance new and pre-owned trucks, service and repair medium and heavy- duty commercial trucks and sell and deliver all makes parts, including Freightliner, Western Star, Fuso, Detroit, Cummins, Allison, and Alliance branded parts.
BACKBONE OF THE BUSINESS
With certified technicians as well as an experienced and knowledgeable parts and sales staff, TrailerCraft is able to service everything from big rigs, garbage trucks and Denali National Park tour busses, to RV’s, trailers and snow plows. Pretty much any commercial and recreational vehicle you see on Alaska’s roads.
Staff are encouraged to strive for exceptional customer satisfaction. As Regional Operations Director, Bob Spelta explained it, “If you do that, everything else takes care of itself.”
The GTC dealer family is proud and respectful of the TrailerCraft team and the legacy they have sustained and excited to better serve our mutual customers throughout the Northwest and into Alaska.