NCET Business Tips: Unsung hero: Load, lock and roll

Some of you may be thinking right now that this column must be about “lock and load” and preparing a weapon for battle. Not so.
The spotlight this month is on a Reno company that plays an important and key role in an invisible engine that helps drive our economy. This firm supports the army of truck companies and their drivers who work tirelessly to ensure that everything from raw materials to finished products reaches their destination cost-efficiently and cost-effectively.
Reno is fortunate to have a custom truck body manufacturer that calls our area one of its homes. That company is Marathon Truck Body (MTB).
Far from being a well-known or glitzy company that makes the news every other day, MTB is a company that specializes in designing, manufacturing, and customizing the bodies of trucks. Companies like Marathon Truck Body focus on the cargo-carrying part of the vehicle, which is mounted on the truck chassis. Their work involves creating various types of truck bodies suited for different purposes, such as flatbeds, box trucks, and specialized containers for specific industries like construction and logistics.
Why is that important? MTB enhances the functionality, efficiency, and safety of trucks according to the specific needs of their customers, which can range from small businesses to large fleet operators.
Marathon Truck Body’s history goes back 40 years. Although MTB’s parent company, Marathon Industries, is out of Santa Clarita, Calif., MTB’s remote facility sprang to life in September 2018. The first trucks were built in February 2019 to provide more trucks to Enterprise, primarily covering the Sacramento and the Central Valley.
The goal back then was to produce two units a day. MTB’s business has steadily grown since those days years ago to the point where MTB is currently sold out through May 2024. Today, Marathon Truck Body is building more than three truck bodies a day.
It turns out that truck body manufacturing is a very regional entity. Moving chassis and bodies excessive distances is cost-prohibitive. That is why most MTB-built trucks travel within a 200-mile radius of Reno.
Currently, Marathon Truck Body has a workforce of just under 50 employees. These employees bring welding and electrical experience to the table. Most employees are trained in-house with on-the-job training.
“I built that.” When MTB employees drive around the area, they can see the fruits of their labor everywhere. Yes, it is cool to tell family and friends that “I built that.”
Why should we care about a custom truck body company rarely mentioned except in transportation manufacturing circles? There are many reasons since MTB plays a pivotal role in truck transportation (something we depend on daily) by tailoring the vehicle to meet specific logistical and operational needs.
Start with enhanced efficiency derived from optimized cargo space, fuel efficiency, and specialized equipment integration like liftgates, ramps, or refrigeration units. With the increasing focus on environmental sustainability, custom truck bodies can be designed for compatibility with electric or hybrid trucks and use eco-friendly materials.
Custom truck bodies can be manufactured with industry-specific safety features. Custom truck bodies can include features like reinforced walls for heavy goods or secure compartments for hazardous materials, depending on the cargo. In addition, many consumer and business goods can be large, long, and space-consuming. Truck body customization meets these shipping needs for cost-effectiveness and can result in fairer pricing to consumers.
Success stories? It’s internal. MTB’s operation started with only an undercarriage for a 16’ and 26’ truck. MTB built those first truck bodies on a dolly, of all things. From that, all jigs and fixtures for all welding operations were manufactured from the ground up.
If you were to ask the Marathon Truck Body team what they are most proud of, it would be they have increased their output over the last four years despite having to move operations, COVID, Reno’s very tough employment market, and being inundated with chassis’ that were late from the factory due to chip shortages. Try managing with 12-hour notice that a truck is coming with chassis and having 15 chassis show up instead in one day. No fun.
Marathon Truck Body’s biggest challenge is Reno’s real estate market since they have a lease ending in less than two years. The real estate market is simply not as friendly for a manufacturer like MTB.=
There is no question that truck body companies play a critical role in modern transportation by bridging the gap between standard vehicle designs and the diverse, specific needs of the transportation industry. MTB is one of those quiet pivotal players that is part of the backbone of an efficient transportation system.
If you want to learn more about Marathon Truck Body and how a truck body is built, you have an opportunity right around the corner at NCET Tech Wednesday on Jan. 10.
Sign up early for Marathon Truck Body’s presentation from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. with networking from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. During your visit, you will hear and learn about:
The steps of how a truck body is built from start to finish
The dynamics of how MTB hires and trains new employees
The challenges of producing such a large item
Why there is such a demand for specialized vehicles
Why Northern Nevada is a prime location for Marathon Truck Body’s operation
So don’t be late. Register now by visiting ncetevents.org.
Bill Leonard is VP of Communications at NCET and a freelance Technology, SaaS, and Cleantech content writer of conversion-driven customer case studies and white papers. Connect with Bill at Case Study Ink on LinkedIn. NCET produces education and networking events to help people explore business and technology.