Decades Stack on Landoll, BRADEN Collaboration, Contributions to Industry

But Don Landoll never strayed from America’s Heartland, establishing entrepreneurial roots and the headquarters of Landoll Company just a few country miles from the old homestead. With its main campus in Marysville, Kansas, and three satellite locations, today Landoll employs over 850 people and covers more than 1 million square feet of production space.

First Up

In 1969, Don Landoll invented the world’s first traveling axle trailer, based on a ground-loading concept with design features that facilitate the lowest load angles, ease of use and seamless single-person operation.

With load capacities from 5 to 60 tons, today Landoll Company manufactures traveling axle, traveling tail, detach and container trailers, collaborating heavily with both customers and suppliers to produce innovative configurations and options that meet an array of operating and safety requirements.

The traveling axle semi-trailer, commonly referred to as a “Landoll,” is a flatbed with the power of hydraulic tilt technology. A traveling axle undercarriage hydraulically controlled provides the ability to seamlessly adjust the axle position along the trailer’s length, then it’s tilted down to the ground. This enables an astonishing reduction in loading angles—to just 7 or 8 degrees. Auxiliary dock level hydraulic cylinders that can selectively elevate the rear of the trailer to a loading dock add even greater versatility.

This breakthrough ground-loading trailer concept and patented design thrives in a variety of transport-related sectors for applications ranging from towing and recovery to rental, farm and construction equipment, storage containers and other niches.

The hydraulic traveling tail trailer design offers the flexibility to lower or raise the rear deck, ensuring a hassle-free loading experience for a diverse range of cargo, boomlifts, scissor lifts, or even heavy equipment and wheeled and low-clearance machinery from forklifts to asphalt pavers.

“Many of our customers are owner operators and common carriers who have grown up in the past decade into the fleet industry,” said Jim Ladner, Sales Manager for Landoll Company. “We have customers buying multiple dozens of trailers in the towing and recovery, rigging and special carriers segments.”

“Our trailers tilt to the ground and load equipment,” Don Landoll said. “If it runs, we drive it on. If it doesn’t, we drag it on. One person can load anything from a bus to a piece of heavy equipment or a storage container.”

Winch Away

The need for properly matched winch components for heavy-duty trailer systems is critical. Trailer operators demand equipment that is tough and durable, but also have requirements for compact profiles, pulling power, rope capacity and line speeds.

BRADEN, a PACCAR Winch brand headquartered just a few hours away in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, has partnered with Landoll Company for 40 years. With planetary and worm gear winches engineered specifically for Landoll trailer applications, BRADEN is counted among their top five longest-standing vendor relationships.

According to Ladner, “We added the BRADEN 12,000 lb winch in 1984, it’s still our standard winch.”

Of course, one size does not fit all. Ladner said that diversification of the equipment Landoll Company’s customers use for hauling or loading is being driven by their unique needs. “The frames of our trailers are designed to support customer choices. Our diverse customer needs have grown, and they need higher cable capacities and higher speeds,” he said. “We offer a 12,000 lb, 15,000 lb, 20,000 lb, and 30,000 lb winch today.”

Worm gear winches are renowned for simple operation and maintenance, along with exceptionally low cost of ownership. They aren’t fancy, but they are strong and reliable. BRADEN worm gear winches feature high strength aluminum bronze worm gears, cast ductile iron drums, and heat-treated alloy steel drum shafts to deliver the maximum power and durability.

In contrast, the highly efficient gearing, fast line speeds, and precise control associated with hydraulic planetary winches can expedite the loading and unloading process. Available with a manual or air actuated freespool clutch, the BRADEN TR Series features a low friction ball bearing drum that, when compared to traditional bushings, promises greater operating efficiency. An oil bath, not grease, provides better lubrication and a longer service life.

It all comes down to unique customer requirements.

“Time is money, more than ever before,” Don Landoll said. “There weren’t many winches available in 1969 when I started. There is quite a bit of competitiveness now. It all comes back to efficiency. Planetary winches are faster and that’s what many of our customers seek.”

Centered On Quality

For Landoll Company, understanding the challenges and needs of its customers has proven integral over six decades of smart acquisitions, investments in modern equipment and new facilities, and expanding product lines. As part of that dynamic, the company goes to great lengths to understand the exact requirements of their customers prior to presenting a potential trailer and winch solution.

“We’re seeing more trailers equipped with the TR Series, these larger capacities, and advanced hydraulic planetary winches,” Ladner said. “BRADEN has the brand name and engineering power. They are providing the right solutions.”

Notably, the TR Series has gained popularity with OEMs in the trailer market due to its compact profile and design. The units can be mounted low or upright, overwound or underwound. This means they are extraordinarily adaptable, making them ideal for use on a range of different trailers and for various applications.

“In the early years, we put one winch on the trailer,” Ladner continued. “Now, we are engineering two or three winches on a single trailer. Two winches allow for greater pulling power and stability when loading large containers as they can be simultaneously hooked on both sides. A third, centerline winch can ensure flawless positioning and helps secure loads.”

To date, Landoll Company confirmed, the total number of trailers they have manufactured and delivered across the United States, Canada and around the world is anticipated to exceed 40,000 machines within the next year. Annually, thousands of Landoll trailers roll out with one or more BRADEN units mounted, optimized and ready to winch.

“From farm equipment to the rental industry, they are using our trailers to haul products from the store location to the field, for the towing and recovery of wrecked or disabled vehicles, disabled buses, shipping and storage containers, and shelter houses,” Ladner said. “The bottom line is that the (TR Series) is safe and more efficient.”

Getting Hooked

Don Landoll has always been intentional in his collaborations with partners known for producing performance-engineered technologies. From the start, he has refused to settle for anything less than working with suppliers that have earned their reputations for manufacturing the highest quality parts and components—understanding their potential to contribute to and have a lasting impact on the industry.

Critical conversations between the engineering departments at Landoll Company and BRADEN over the past four decades are consistent with the value both companies place on putting safety first, prioritizing customer service and generating lasting results. It boils down to performance-driven relationships built on listening, providing support and developing trust.

“We are intimately involved with our customers, vendors and employees,” Ladner said. “That’s important to all of us. With hydraulic trailers, it’s natural to have a hydraulic winch. BRADEN is one of Landoll’s oldest, longest-running vendors. It’s the same quality message. They’ve remained committed to the industries over the years.”

Industry Pioneer

Don Landoll has been recognized on multiple occasions for his contributions to the industry. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards, was presented with an honorary doctorate, and was inducted into the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Hall of Fame, among other accolades.

Since the original inception of Don Landoll’s pioneering traveling axle trailer concept, many have attempted to replicate his original innovation. It has been said that imitation, indeed, is the sincerest form of flattery. Various iterations with two or three axles have entered the market under different names.

But what truly distinguishes a Landoll trailer, from loading and unloading to stabilization and transport, is their relentless commitment to quality.

Staying Power

Today, Landoll Company is a multigenerational OEM underpinned by strong industry relationships, robust supply chain alliances, world-class production facilities, modern processes, tenured employees, and ongoing investments in a strong workforce and local communities.

With over six decades of continuous operation, no gap in ownership, and significant growth under their belt, Landoll Company is still a stone’s throw from the family farm. At least 110 team members have 25 years or more of service with the company. In 2023, they did business in 38 countries—a new record.

Coming Along

The ability to focus consistently on levelheaded principles, while expanding and developing long-term industry partnerships, has provided stability over the course of Don Landoll’s 60-plus-year career.

“To run a plant like this, it really takes a lot of common-sense leadership,” he said. “For many years, we worked to generate, recognize and take advantage of the opportunities. We had, and still have, a lot of ambition – and aren’t afraid to work.

“We don’t sell on dollars; we sell on quality,” Landoll continued. “This has worked very well for us. We have customers with over 1,000 trailers. Companies like BRADEN can meet the customer’s needs so others can upgrade their products. It’s the same quality message. In this business, time and speed are money.”