Miller Industries is The World’s Largest Manufacturer of Towing and Recovery
Equipment®, with executive offices in Ooltewah, Tennessee, domestic manufacturing
operations in Tennessee and Pennsylvania, and foreign manufacturing operations
in France and the United Kingdom.
Since 1990, we have developed or acquired several of the most well-recognized
brands in the towing and recovery equipment manufacturing industry. Our strategy
has been to diversify our line of products and increase our presence in the
industry by combining internal growth and development with acquisitions of complementary
products.
We offer a broad range of towing and recovery equipment products that meet
most customer design, capacity and cost requirements. We manufacture the bodies
of wreckers and car carriers, which are installed on truck chassis manufactured
by third parties. We frequently purchase the truck chassis for resale to our
customers. Wreckers generally are used to recover and tow disabled vehicles
and other equipment and range in type from the conventional tow truck to large
recovery vehicles with rotating hydraulic booms and up to 75-ton lifting capacities.
Car carriers are specialized flatbed vehicles with hydraulic tilt mechanisms
that enable a towing operator to drive or winch a vehicle onto the bed for transport.
Car carriers transport new or disabled vehicles and other equipment and are
particularly effective over longer distances. We also manufacture vehicle transport
trailers.
Our products primarily are sold through independent distributors that serve
all 50 states, Canada and Mexico, and other foreign markets including Europe,
the Pacific Rim, the Middle East, South America and Africa, and through prime
contractors to governmental entities. Additionally, as a result of our ownership
of Jige in France and Boniface in the United Kingdom, we have substantial distribution
capabilities in Europe. While most of our distributor agreements do not contain
exclusivity provisions, management believes that approximately 85% of our independent
distributors sell our products on an exclusive basis. In addition to selling
our products to towing operators, our independent distributors provide parts
and service. We also utilize sales representatives to exclusively market our
products and provide expertise and sales assistance to our independent distributors.
Management believes the strength of our distribution network and the breadth
of our product offerings are two key advantages over our competitors.
Product Lines
We manufacture a broad line of wrecker, car carrier and trailer bodies to meet
a full range of customer design, capacity and cost requirements.
Wreckers. Wreckers are generally used to recover and tow disabled vehicles and
other equipment and range in type from the conventional tow truck to large recovery
vehicles with up to 75-ton lifting capacities. Wreckers are available with specialized
features, including underlifts, L-arms, crossbars and scoops, which lift disabled
vehicles by the tires or front axle to minimize front end damage to the towed
vehicles. Certain heavy duty wrecker models offer rotating booms, which allow
heavy duty wreckers to recover vehicles from any angle, and remote control devices
for operating wreckers. In addition, certain light duty wreckers are equipped
with automatic wheellift hookup devices that allow operators to engage a disabled
or unattended vehicle without leaving the cab of the wrecker.
Our wreckers range in capacity from 4 to 75 tons, and are classified as either
light duty or heavy duty, with wreckers of 16-ton or greater capacity being
classified as heavy duty. Light duty wreckers are used to remove vehicles from
accident scenes and vehicles illegally parked, abandoned or disabled, and for
general recovery. Heavy duty wreckers are used in towing and recovery applications
including overturned tractor trailers, buses, motor homes and other large vehicles.
Car Carriers. Car carriers are specialized flat-bed vehicles with hydraulic
tilt mechanisms that enable a towing operator to drive or winch a vehicle onto
the bed for transport. Car carriers are used to transport new or disabled vehicles
and other equipment and are particularly effective for transporting vehicles
or other equipment over longer distances. In addition to transporting vehicles,
car carriers may also be used for other purposes, including transportation of
industrial equipment. Most professional towing operators have car carriers in
their fleets to complement their towing capabilities.
Transport Trailers. Our multi-vehicle transport trailers are specialized auto
transport trailers with upper and lower decks and hydraulic ramps for loading
vehicles. These trailers are used for moving multiple vehicles for auto auctions,
car dealerships, leasing companies and other similar applications. These trailers
are easy to load and transport 6 to 7 vehicles. The vehicles can be secured
to transport quickly with ratchet and chain tie-downs that are mounted throughout
the frame of the transport. Many professional towing operators have added auto
transport trailers to their fleets to add to their service offerings.
Brand Names
We manufacture and market our wreckers, car carriers and trailers under ten
separate brand names. Although certain brands overlap in terms of features,
prices and distributors, each brand has its own distinctive image and customer
base.
Century®. The Century® brand is our “top-of-the-line” brand
and represents what management believes to be the broadest product line in the
industry. The Century® line was started in 1974 and produces wreckers ranging
from 8-ton light duty to 75-ton heavy duty models, and car carriers in lengths
from 20 to 30 feet. Management believes that the Century® brand has a reputation
as the industry’s leading product innovator.
Vulcan®. Our Vulcan® product line includes a range of premium light
duty and heavy duty wreckers, ranging from 8-ton light duty to 50-ton heavy
duty models, and car carriers. The Vulcan® line is sold through its own
independent distribution network.
Challenger®. Our Challenger® products compete with the Century®
and Vulcan® products and constitute a third premium product line. Challenger®
products consist of heavy duty wreckers with capacities ranging from 25 to 75
tons. The Challenger® line was started in 1975 and is known for high performance
heavy duty wreckers and aesthetic design.
Holmes®. Our Holmes® product line includes mid-priced wreckers with
4 to 16 ton capacities, a 16-ton rotator and a detachable towing unit (DTU).
The Holmes® wrecker was first produced in 1916. Historically, the Holmes®
name has been the most well-recognized and leading industry brand both domestically
and internationally.
Champion®. The Champion® brand, which was introduced in 1991, includes
car carriers which range in length from 19 to 21 feet. The Champion® product
line, which is generally lower-priced, allows us to offer a full line of car
carriers at various competitive price points.
Chevron™. Our Chevron™ product line is comprised primarily of premium
car carriers. Chevron™ produces a range of premium single-car, multi-car
and industrial carriers, as well as wreckers ranging from 8-ton to 16-ton models.
The Chevron™ line is operated autonomously with its own independent distribution
network.
Eagle®. Our Eagle® products consist of light duty wreckers with the
“Eagle Claw®” hook-up system that allows towing operators to
engage a disabled or unattended vehicle without leaving the cab of the tow truck.
The “Eagle Claw®” hook-up system was originally developed for
the repossession market. Since acquiring Eagle, we have upgraded the quality
and features of the Eagle® product line and expanded its recovery capability.
Titan®. Our Titan® product line is comprised of premium multi-vehicle
transport trailers which can transport up to 7 vehicles depending on configuration.
Jige™. Our Jige™ product line is comprised of a broad line of premium
light duty and heavy duty wreckers and car carriers marketed primarily in Europe.
Jige™ is a market leader best known for its innovative designs of car
carriers and light duty wreckers necessary to operate within the narrow confines
of European cities, as well as heavy duty wreckers.
Boniface™. Our Boniface™ product line is comprised primarily of
premium heavy duty wreckers marketed primarily in Europe. Boniface™ produces
heavy duty wreckers specializing in the long underlift technology required to
tow modern European tour buses.
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