Our History
The Hendrickson story began in 1913 with the founding of The Hendrickson Motor Truck Company by inventor and businessman Magnus Hendrickson. This small Chicago-based manufacturing company built trucks, often equipped with cranes or dump bodies.
In 1926 Hendrickson introduced our first walking-beam tandem truck suspension. This unique "walking-beam" design mounted the axles on each end of an equalizing beam, distributing the truck's load evenly between the two rear axles, which improved traction and greatly reduced the effects of bumps and potholes in the road. This innovation led to products still being used in the industry today. The company strengthened its commitment to heavy-duty suspensions by entering the steel leaf-spring business 1969.
Hendrickson was acquired by the Boler Company in 1978, and subsequently entered the trailer-suspension and lift-axle business. Eventually Hendrickson sold the truck-manufacturing operation to focus solely on suspension systems and related components.
Our Company
From the beginning, Hendrickson's only business has been to serve the needs of the commercial vehicle industry. This focus, bolstered by an unrelenting pursuit of technological leadership, is the key to our status as the world leader in the design and manufacture of high quality truck, tractor, and trailer suspensions, liftable suspensions, steel leaf springs, bumpers, and stamped components for the heavy-duty transportation market.
Since its acquisition by The Boler Company in 1978, Hendrickson has grown and expanded to become a major supplier to North American, European, Asian and Australian heavy truck and trailer OEMs, as well as many manufacturers in South America and Africa. Our products help OEMs, fleets and haulers increase durability, lower operating costs, enhance driver comfort, and reduce weight. After producing millions of walking-beam truck suspensions and air-ride trailer suspensions, our goal continues to be providing the most technologically advanced and differentiated products to the global transportation industry.
Hendrickson presently has sales and distribution facilities and/or state-of-the-art manufacturing centers in North and South America, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Romania, France, Turkey, India, China, Japan, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand.