Mesilla Valley Trendsetters Make Major Purchase of Utility's 4000D-X.

CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif. -- Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company -- a leading manufacturer of dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans, and Tautliner(R) curtainsided trailers -- is pleased to announce that Mesilla Valley has purchased more than 300 4000D-X(TM) 100 trailers with the single tire Wide Track System from Utility Manufacturing Company.

Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, Mesilla Valley Transportation began in 1981 hauling primarily refrigerated/perishable goods across the U.S. and into Canada. In the early 1990's they expanded their capabilities by introducing a large number of dry vans into their operation. Today they specialize in time sensitive service between major manufacturing areas in the U.S., Canada and Mexico border and are proud to be one of the largest locally owned transportation providers in Western Texas and Southern New Mexico.

They're also proud of the reputation they've built as a company that embraces new transportation products and technology that improve their fleet's efficiency. With a background in racing, founders Royal Jones and Jimmy Ray have a racetrack-born penchant for ever-increasing levels of performance. With their successful fleet, this preference has translated to being among the first to embrace satellite tracking, automatic tire inflation systems and the single tire Wide Track System. This penchant continues today with its purchase of Utility's innovative 4000D-X(TM) 100 dry van.

Touted as the plate trailer alternative, the Utility 4000D-X(TM) 100 is a lightweight, durable dry van that combines the reliability of patented features with the conventional reparability preferred by many. Featuring high cube capacity, patented anti-snag posts, a patented smooth post and panel side wall, 80K galvanized steel interior panels and a 10" high 80K galvanized steel wearband, The 4000D-X(TM) 100 is available in both 100" and 101" I.D. configurations. The DX 100 features translate into productivity enhancement due to increased trailer up-time and payload capacity compared to other dry vans.

The 4000D-X(TM) 100 with Utility's Wide Track System was ordered because it is ideally suited to take full advantage of the weight savings and increased fuel economy of Michelin's new generation wide single tire, the X-One. Utility's wide track suspension system also includes a Hendrickson air ride slider with 6" wider suspension centers and 6" longer axles. This system can be used with either "zero" offset aluminum wheels or with the new "zero" offset Motorwheel steel wheel. The Utility "Wide Track System" also allows the use of any, industry standard wheel end and bearing system without a reduction in bearing life or gross axle weight rating.

Mesilla Valley Transportation is ably serviced by Midwest Utility Inc., a relationship that began in the early 1990's. This relationship has grown over the years and represents the best in client relationships from both the customer and the dealership perspective. This kind of bond is representative of the valued relationships across the network of almost 100 independently owned Utility Trailer dealer locations that offer new and used equipment, heavy duty truck and trailer parts, and service to both fleets and owner operators in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

About Utility Trailer

Based in City of Industry, California, and enjoying more than 90 years in the business, Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company is America's oldest privately owned, family-operated trailer manufacturer. Producing trailers since 1914, the company designs and manufactures dry freight vans, flatbeds, refrigerated vans, and Tautliner(R) curtainsided trailers. Utility is the largest producer of refrigerated vans and the third largest trailer manufacturer overall in the USA. They currently operate the following five regionally-placed trailer factories: Two Refrigerated Trailers factories, which are located in Marion, Virginia and Clearfield, Utah; two Dry Van factories, which are in Glade Spring, Virginia and Paragould, Arkansas; and a Flatbed/Tautliner(R) factory located in Enterprise, Alabama. Utility's historical position as America's largest producer of refrigerated vans is a direct result of its management's focus on providing innovative solutions to customer problems. Utility's extensive dealer network has over 100 locations throughout the USA, Canada and Mexico as well as South America. For more information, contact Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company at 626-965-1541 or visit the company web site at www.utilitytrailer.com.