By Hayley Robb, Building Kentucky
Fruehauf, Inc., one of the world’s largest semi-trailer manufacturers, is opening its only U.S. production facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The company will be investing $12 million in the facility bringing nearly 300 jobs to the southcentral area.
About Fruehauf Inc.
President of Fruehauf Inc., Tom Wiseman, said the company is excited to have its first U.S. plant in a community with so much transportation heritage, something he said the company founder, August Fruehauf, would have appreciated given the central role he played in the industry.
Fruehauf invented the first semi-trailer when helping a client move a boat to the lake in 1914. His invention was so popular it led to the creation of the Fruehauf Trailer Company in 1914. Since then, the trailers have been used by governments, private entities around the world, remaining a leader in semi-trailer innovation and production. The brand left the U.S. market in the mid-90’s only to be reintroduced in the growing Kentucky Transpark.
“The nearly 300 jobs to be created through this project will greatly benefit families in South Central Kentucky as we continue to attract quality opportunities for our people across the state as we sprint out of this pandemic. I am proud to welcome Fruehauf to the Commonwealth as we build on our already diverse base of automotive-related companies in Kentucky.”
Gov. Andy Beshear
Impact on Bowling Green
The economic impact of this project will exceed $1 billion over the next decade. Part of Fruehauf’’s economic impact will be felt across the community through the additional 467 jobs that will be created due the nearly $16 million in new annual spending by the company’s employees.
Local organizations and groups in the Bowling Green-Warren County area congratulated the company on its decision. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Cooperation (WRECC) and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce look forward to the jobs, future investments and opportunities that will come of the partnership.
The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has closed seven economic development projects in South Central Kentucky, totaling $327 million in capital investment and generating nearing 1,000 new jobs in 2021. Bowling Green was recently voted one of the “Top 100 Places to Live in America” and selected as the second-best city in the U.S. for manufacturing by Global Trade Magazine.
For more information on Fruehauf, Inc., visit singingwheels.com. For more information on South Central Kentucky Economic Development, please visit southcentralky.com.
