Fontaine is broadening its flatbed lineup with new models aimed at fleets, including a lightweight aluminum trailer expected in 2027 that emphasizes durability, repairability, and lower cost.
Fontaine Trailer is continuing to expand its offerings to appeal to a wider audience, including fleets, with a new lightweight aluminum model on the way for 2027.
At the Technology & Maintenance Council annual meeting in Nashville recently, President Alan Briley said Fontaine is known for its premium flatbeds.
“But over the last few years, we started to hear a lot of voice of customer that we had some voids in areas of the market that we really didn’t have the right product for.”
“So rather than sit on our laurels, we continue to look forward and want to know what we can do to expand into other parts of the market.”
Last year, he said, the company added two new products to its lineup to do just that, the Fontaine Impact and the Fontaine Fusion.
Fontaine Fusion to Stand up to Corrosion
The Fontaine Fusion is the company’s first all-galvanized flatbed trailer.
“Galvanization is nothing new,” Briley said. “It’s just a road that we have not been down. But we started to see more and more demand for this, primarily in the upper Northeast and in the snow belt, for an all-galvanized product to be more corrosion resistant.”
Fontaine started with its standard combo trailer, but eliminated most of the welding so the trailer can be repaired more easily in the field without needing to weld on a galvanized surface.
The Fusion was launched in early 2025, he said, and has “been a tremendous success.”
In fact, Briley said, he was surprised that not only was it popular in the snow belt states, but also in areas all across the country.
- Galvanized mainbeams, crossmembers, and skirt deliver corrosion resistance.
- Equipped with Fontaine’s RASR rail for durability and impact resistance.
- Available in flatbed and dropdeck configurations
Fontaine Fusion is the company’s first galvanized flatbed trailer.
Fontaine Impact: Combo with Fleet Appeal
Also launched last year was the Fontaine Impact combo trailer, which reflects Fontaine’s efforts to appeal to a wider fleet audience.
Briley said the company will continue to build its Infinity combo, which is loaded with premium features. The Impact is designed for heavy-duty performance at a lower price, without the premium extras found in the Infinity.
“We started getting a lot of feedback from customers … that were demanding, not necessarily a stripped-down product, just a more fleet-focused and streamlined set of specs for fleets.”
It wasn’t just large fleets asking for this, he said, but also small fleets and owner-operators.
The Impact combines an aluminum deck with steel mainbeams and strategically spaced crossmembers for outstanding strength — achieving a 50,000-pound rating in just 4 feet — while reducing tare weight and overall cost.
Fontaine Force: Easy-to-Repair Aluminum Flatbed
Fontaine’s newest flatbed is the all-aluminum Fontaine Force, expected to be available in early 2027. A prototype was shown at the TMC booth to get feedback from fleets in order to make final tweaks to the design before producing it.
Fontaine will continue to make its all-aluminum Revolution flatbed.
“But the Force, much like the impact, addresses the needs of the fleets that are interested in a more streamlined and a little more affordable product,” Briley said.
This is a completely new design that prioritizes durability for budget-minded operators, according to a company release. It delivers the lightweight benefits and corrosion resistance of aluminum construction at a more accessible price.
In an interview at the booth, Al Cox, vice president of …., explained to HDT that the main beam is welded, “but all the other componentry is fastened on it for ease of repairability … to make it a little bit… more affordable and easier to repair, which is a high demand for the fleets.”
It’s also lightweight, he said, with the prototype weighing in at 8,500 pounds with two boxes, winches and straps, and aluminum wheels.
Industry standard mainbeam centers for a 102-inch trailer provide a wider stance and superior support, according to a news release, reducing lean on high-center-of-gravity loads.
Outside-beam crossmember attachment minimizes stress for structural integrity. Welded beam construction ensures long-term strength, and the replaceable winch track plus bolted connections in high-impact zones allow quick, cost-effective repairs with no proprietary complications.
It includes standard Hendrickson suspension — non-proprietary, widely available, and easy to service — for fleet-focused reliability and durability.
Credit: Source link
