Great Dane is an American manufacturer of commercial trailers and truck bodies. Its equipment supports dry freight, refrigerated transportation, flatbed hauling, delivery operations, and other applications that depend on durable cargo-carrying equipment.

Truck Equipment Atlas brings together Great Dane’s history, product categories, company information, and published equipment profiles. These resources help drivers, owner-operators, fleet managers, technicians, and equipment buyers explore the manufacturer and the trailers used in commercial transportation.

History and Background

Great Dane traces its origins to the Savannah Blow Pipe Company, established in Savannah, Georgia, in 1900. The business initially fabricated sheet metal systems and equipment for mills before expanding into structural steel and other manufactured products.

In 1931, the business became The Steel Products Company and expanded into highway trailer production. The Great Dane name became associated with those trailers and eventually developed into the company’s recognized transportation brand.

During the following decades, Great Dane broadened its trailer offerings, including refrigerated equipment. Manufacturing expansion and product development helped the company serve a wider range of freight operations.

Great Dane merged with Pines Trailer in 1997. Its later growth included additional manufacturing operations and truck body offerings, building a portfolio that now includes dry vans, refrigerated trailers, flatbeds, and delivery truck bodies.

What Great Dane Manufactures

Great Dane manufactures trailers and truck bodies for different cargo requirements. Equipment selection depends on the freight, loading process, operating environment, and customer specification.

  • Dry van trailers: Champion trailers for enclosed dry freight transportation.
  • Refrigerated trailers: Everest trailers for supported temperature-controlled freight applications.
  • Flatbed trailers: Freedom platform trailers with steel, aluminum, and combination construction offerings.
  • Dry freight truck bodies: Sahara bodies for supported delivery and distribution applications.
  • Refrigerated truck bodies: Alpine and Johnson offerings for supported temperature-controlled delivery applications.

Great Dane Products on Truck Equipment Atlas

Explore the Great Dane product profiles currently published on Truck Equipment Atlas. Additional trailer and truck body profiles will be linked here as coverage expands.

Dry Van Trailers

  • Great Dane Champion Dry Van — Explore an enclosed trailer family used for general freight, retail distribution, manufacturing shipments, and other dry cargo applications.

Refrigerated Trailers

Technology and Product Development

Great Dane’s product development addresses trailer construction, cargo protection, working surfaces, lighting, and equipment durability. Dry freight equipment and refrigerated equipment have different requirements, making the intended application an important part of trailer selection.

The manufacturer also offers connected trailer technology through FleetPulse equipment and services. Available tracking, monitoring, and diagnostic functions depend on the installed hardware and selected service package.

Features and construction details vary by product family, model year, and customer specification. Use the individual equipment profiles alongside manufacturer documentation when comparing floors, sidewalls, doors, insulation, running gear, and installed technology.

Company and Location Information

  • Company: Great Dane.
  • Established: 1900 as the Savannah Blow Pipe Company.
  • Country of origin: United States.
  • Founding location: Savannah, Georgia.
  • Corporate headquarters: Chicago, Illinois.
  • Savannah office: Savannah, Georgia.
  • Primary equipment: Commercial trailers and truck bodies.
  • Official website: Great Dane.

Related Brands and Equipment

Great Dane trailers operate with equipment from multiple component manufacturers. Explore the related TEA libraries to understand trailer configurations and the systems supporting cargo transport.

Related Equipment Guides

Explore these existing guide sections for more information about trailer selection, cargo applications, and supporting equipment.

Official Manufacturer Resources

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