Fruehauf Carter - Memphis branch

Fruehauf routinely partnered with successful trailer/trucking concerns in the markets where they lacked distributorship.  By partnering with a successful business locally this would offer strategic advantages with this market.  Fruehauf partnered with Warner Trucking in Baltimore, the Porter family in Southern California and the Carter family in Tennessee.

Nathan Carter started the company much like the Fruehauf's, building a trailer for a lumber company in 1927. The company was in Memphis and eventually grew to dealerships in Nashville,  Birmingham,  the heirs were told Jackson (but can't find proof of it). Nathan ' s only and favorite daughter, Maxey who died in 2008 revealed that they were about to open a dealership in St. Louis when Fruehauf bought them out in 1947. William "Red" Evans, Nathan's son-in-law, ran the Fruehauf plant in Memphis until his death in 1976. Nathan's only son Nathan Jr. left Fruehauf in 1953-54 to start his own trailer company, Arrow Equipment Company, which he sold to Great Dane in 1972.  Great Dane made all of their flat beds out of the old Arrow plant from 1972 until 2006. 

Nathan Jr., Nathan Sr and W.D. Evans

The Fruehauf trailers manufactured in Memphis were under the name plate Fruehauf Carter from 1947 until, the family believes 1957.

​Nathan Carter patented the Corrugated Trailer in 1931, patent US 1922027A filed 8-15-1931, published 8-15-1933, Inventor & Assignee – Nathan A. Carter.  The key features were wood floor, curved front and aluminum walls. Carter's expertise with aluminum and corrugated trailers made the company attractive to Fruehauf management.  Fruehauf Carter specialized in all varieties of these trailers.  

Nathan Carter Sr was a founder of the Truck Trailers Manufacturers Association, (TTMA) and a number of Trucking Associations as well. 

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