The Evolution of the Semi-Truck Part 3: John C. Endebrock

In Part 1 of our three-part series on how the semi-truck came to be, we introduced you to the Winton Motor Carriage Company. In Part 2, the Fruehauf Trailer Corporation was brought into the mix. Today, we will dive into the history of a visionary of the industry, John C. Endebrock.

Endebrock started from the ground level at Sechler & Company- a company that produced all types of horse-drawn carriages, started by a man named Daniel M. Sechler. After the company's formation in 1879, it became the number one producer of all styles of horse drawn vehicles, and eventually became the export leader in auto carriages in America. Sechler & Co. shipped products as far as South Africa, and was a major player in the larger European markets.

The Evolution of the Semi-Truck, Part 2: Fruehauf Trailer Corporation

In our first post discussing the evolution of the semi truck, we talked about Alexander Winton and the Winton Motor Carriage Company. Today we will talk about the Fruehauf Trailer Corporation came to be.

The Evolution of the Semi-Truck, Part 1: Winton Motor Carriage Company

When looking into the history and evolution of the semi-truck, or tractor-trailer, credit must be given to more than one individual. There were many who contributed to the creation of the various big rigs we use today. One such person is Alexander Winton.

Alexander Winton was a Scottish immigrant and bicycle shop owner living in Cleveland, when he started Winton Motor Carriage Company in 1897. In 1898, Winton sold 22 of his automobiles to various customers throughout America. At this time, he needed to figure out a better way to distribute the motor cars to his customers, without causing any wear and tear on the product. This was when he came up with the concept of what became the very first tractor trailer, which became then-known as an "automobile hauler".

It was such a success that Winton began making these for his own use, as well as manufacturing them for distribution. His very first semi trailer had an engine on the back, of which the platform (flatbed) sat on top. It was only able to haul one automobile at a time, and the car was wheeled onto the platform using a retractable ramp. The modern-day RGN (removable gooseneck) flatbed trailers use the same basic concept as this original "automobile hauler".

Up Next: Detroit businessmen create the semi-trailer.