Beau Becraft

Gen Z and the Future of the Trucking Industry

If fleets aren’t paying attention to what future generations are seeking, they could find themselves falling behind when it comes to driver recruitment and retention. So, what is the new generation seeking from an employer, why would they choose trucking and what can you do to appeal to them?

Overcoming the 5 Biggest Threats Facing Fleets Today

Fleet industry professionals play a pivotal role in the everyday lives of Americans and the economy. According to the American Trucking Associations, trucks alone deliver 72% of the nation’s freight to its destination. But what happens when disruptions threaten the streamlined system?

A Buying Alternative During Tough Times

BY BEAU BECRAFT While inflation and fuel prices skyrocket to record highs, supply chain woes plague the economy, and layoffs across multiple industries leave Americans on edge about what lies ahead, businesses who rely on a fleet of vehicles continue wondering what options exist for upgrading vehicles that are due for replacement.

Fleets vs. Fuel Costs

BY BEAU BECRAFT Painful prices at the pump have been chipping away at the wallets of individuals and families for a number of months now. But it's not only individuals and families who are feeling the effects of runaway fuel prices.

Selling at MSRP: A Dealer's Perspective

BY BEAU BECRAFT If you're in the market for a new or new-to-you vehicle right now, you're likely feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place. In many cases, the price of a used vehicle is close to, even with, or above the price of the same model's newest version.

Cross-country Camping with a Knapheide Cabover

BY BEAU BECRAFT Pres and Janice Meyers have covered countless miles as dedicated campers and outdoor enthusiasts over the years. Many of those miles were spent accompanied by a Knapheide Service Body that served as the foundation for their Alaskan 10-foot cabover camper.

Sticker Shock: Upgrade Options in a Runaway Economy

BY BEAU BECRAFT As inflation, pandemic aftershocks, and supply chain issues continue to keep a tight hold on the pocketbooks of businesses and households alike, small business owners and companies of all sizes are more cautiously looking at the ways in which they spend their money.

Bridging the Generational Consumer Divide

BY BEAU BECRAFT Amid a generational shift across multiple industries, companies are rethinking their strategy as it pertains to marketing their products and services to the next generation of decision makers.

Last Mile Delivery: What It Is and What We Can Do

BY BEAU BECRAFT What is last-mile delivery? With more and more companies adopting and guaranteeing fast shipping methods to get products to doorsteps as quickly as possible, you've likely heard the term "last-mile delivery." Simply put, last-mile delivery is the final leg of the journey a package takes to get to its final destination after moving through the rest of the supply chain process.

Leading the Charge: Is Electric the Future of Fleet?

BY BEAU BECRAFT There remains great potential in commercial applications for hybrids and EVs. Our insight will help you become more informed as the landscape changes for work trucks.

Into the Wild with Knapheide

BY BEAU BECRAFT Kit Steimle has always described himself as having a creative mind, often building things out of "stuff that really wasn't made for it." As a result, when he's not enjoying the outdoors and nature, Steimle can often be found tinkering on various projects, including working on old Toyota Land Cruisers and International Scouts.

An Opportunity to Connect: Knapheide at Work Truck Week 2022

BY BEAU BECRAFT Each year, countless exhibitors and attendees converge upon the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis to attend NTEA's Work Truck Week, the premier event for those in the work truck industry. For Knapheide, the can't-miss trade show serves as an excellent platform to showcase the latest innovations and products.

Crosstown Express + Knapheide: A Hole in One

BY BEAU BECRAFT "I am proud to say that Knapheide has helped us build the business to where it is today." KJ Pringle has always been interested in moving parts and vehicles. "Basically, anything with wheels or an engine/motor has always grabbed my attention," Pringle says.

Knapheide Nostalgia: A Look Back at Our Website 20 Years Ago

BY BEAU BECRAFT Ah, the internet. It's arguably one of the world's greatest resources. It's a great way to educate, share life updates, grow your business, become a viral sensation, and so much more. It's also chock-full of history. Sometimes (like reviewing your Facebook posts from 2007) looking back on that history can be a bit, well, cringeworthy.

The Aluminum Landscaper Body

As we've done since our inception in 1848, Knapheide continues to evolve, changing with the times to meet the latest demands, trends, and innovations of our ever-changing industry. Part of that continual evolution is finding more efficient ways to create our products.

A Modern Day Woodie Wagon

BY BEAU BECRAFT While the days of the "woodie wagon" seem to be long behind us in the consumer vehicle segment, the commercial vehicle segment still relies on wood sides for both practicality and, in some cases, an aesthetic that stands apart from other work trucks on the road.

Education is On a Roll in Oregon with Knapheide

BY BEAU BECRAFT "It was clear that what we needed and what Knapheide had to offer were a perfect fit." - Carla Gay, Gresham-Barlow School District Serving a student population of more than 11,800 across grades K-12, Oregon's Gresham-Barlow School District encompasses 18 schools across the area.

Practicing Fleet Safety in Changing Times

BY BEAU BECRAFT With the COVID-19 pandemic putting operations for countless fleet operations across the globe, many businesses are left wondering what measures will need to be taken when it's time to hit the road once again.

Buying a Vehicle in the Era of Social Distancing

BY BEAU BECRAFT As the effects of COVID-19 shift the way businesses operate, dealerships across the nation are taking a more digital-centric approach. With social distancing throwing a wrench in the traditional face-to-face buying process, it has become much easier to complete the entire purchase process online.

Uptime Underground: Franklin Township Sewerage Authority

BY BEAU BECRAFT "It is a good feeling when you pull onto a jobsite and a group of people have to come check out our service trucks." Founded in 1956, the Franklin Township Sewerage Authority in Somerset County, New Jersey serves a population of over 65,000 residents across 46 square miles.

Knapheide Launches New Owner Center

In an effort to provide unmatched direct support to customers, Knapheide has introduced a new online Owner Center. This industry-leading resource center will provide the most seamless, efficient support possible, including information about products, literature, maintenance manuals, and more, including contact information for Knapheide or local distributors.

Sean Witt's 1964 Chevy C10 Service Body

It's one of the more unique upfits we've seen in recent history. Sean Witt's 1964 Chevy C10 Service Body is a real head-turner. Witt operates Repair Request, LLC, a professional handyman service, in the Elk Grove, California area. His profession and his passion for classic vehicles led him to the restoration of his truck, which is used both for work and as a daily driver.

Customer Story: Modern Timber

BY BEAU BECRAFT Time-tested longevity is the common thread that binds together Knapheide and Idaho-based woodworking outfit Modern Timber. And while most of our customer stories shine the spotlight on the latest and greatest products from Knapheide, it brings an equal sense of pride to tell the story of a body that's been around the block a time or two.

Customer Story: Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company

BY BEAU BECRAFT Responding to any call, the brave individuals of the Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company must act swiftly in high stakes situations. Doing so requires extensive training and knowledge, excellent communication, and teamwork. Having the proper tools at their disposal plays an equally pivotal role in this line of work.

Making the Cut: Holes Inc. Chooses the Knapheide Saw Body

BY BEAU BECRAFT Houston-based Holes Inc. has been in business since 1972, serving the states of Texas and Louisiana with concrete sawing and drilling, removal of concrete, ground penetration, radar and anchor bolt installation, and more. Providing services for multiple customer segments including residential, commercial, heavy highway, industrial, and petrochemical, Holes Inc.

A Real Blast: Mark Wenger's Custom Gooseneck Body

BY BEAU BECRAFT Like countless others throughout 2020, Mark Wenger found himself in a state of uncertainty as Covid-19 left him a casualty of job loss in the wake of the pandemic. For the previous eight years, Wenger had served as a corporate sales professional.

Family Tradition: Overlanding with Nate Kruse and Co. | Knapheide

BY BEAU BECRAFT Unlike conventional Knapheide users who utilize our truck beds and bodies on jobsites across America, Nate Kruse is flipping the script, using his Knapheide for the purpose of recreation. A few years ago, Kruse became interested in "overlanding," a popular hobby involving on-road and off-road "adventure travel" utilizing four-wheel drive vehicles.

Lightweight Doesn't Mean Light Duty: The New Aluminum Landscaper Body

As we've done since our inception in 1848, Knapheide continues to evolve, changing with the times to meet the latest demands, trends, and innovations of our ever-changing industry. Part of that continual evolution is finding more efficient ways to create our products.

A/V in a KUV: Federal Hill Home Theaters

BY BEAU BECRAFT Home theaters have become increasingly popular in households across the US, particularly during the pandemic. As television and movies experienced an uptick in popularity (thanks in part to many studios releasing blockbuster films directly to streaming platforms), the professionals who create home theaters also enjoyed the resulting boost in business.

Customer Story: Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company

Responding to any call, the brave individuals of the Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company must act swiftly in high stakes situations. Doing so requires extensive training and knowledge, excellent communication, and teamwork. Having the proper tools at their disposal plays an equally pivotal role in this line of work.

Customer Story: Kruse and Views

Nate Kruse is flipping the script on how customers use Knapheide products, taking his Aluminum PGNB off-road in the pursuit of recreational adventure alongside his family.

COVID-19: Plan Ahead to Successfully Re-open Your Business

BY BEAU BECRAFT As businesses across the United States prepare to re-open in the wake of COVID-19, customers are still likely to be wary about doing business face-to-face. Luckily, with the availability of cutting edge technology, re-opening your business can be easier than you think.

Selling in "The New Normal"

BY BEAU BECRAFT The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the daily routines of individuals and businesses everywhere. Though the situation remains less than ideal, many have taken a proactive approach by utilizing technology to adapt to the circumstances, remain profitable, and continue to offer exceptional customer service.

The Gooseneck Alphabet

Platform bodies have been serving individuals and industries for decades. Knapheide's PGN (Platform Gooseneck) lineup of bodies offer a variety of benefits when it comes to hauling, towing, and nearly everything else you can throw at them.

Kentucky Blue Blast: Loss as an Opportunity

Specializing in “mobile media blasting,” a form of wet abrasive blasting, Mark Wenger serves customers across the Louisville metro area and beyond, Wenger uses an eco-friendly “dustless blasting system” to remove coatings from surfaces such as metal, concrete, plaster, asphalt, brick, wood, and fiberglass.

Work Truck Week 2022: The Show Goes on at Knapheide

Following a successful week in Indianapolis for the annual Work Truck Show, Knapheide brought “the show” back home to the parking lot of its Quincy, Illinois headquarters with an on-site display of the products featured at this year’s event.

Trending Forward: Charging Toward the Future

While significant social buzz and pre-order numbers indicate that many casual drivers are excited to embrace the all-electric truck, others whose vehicles serve as an extension of their workforce have no shortage of questions before incorporating an EV fleet into their operations.

Education on a Roll: Driving Innovation

Envisioned as a “mobile makerspace” designed to bring education to students and serve as transportation to the area’s museums and learning centers, the bus travels to K-8 schools in the Gresham-Barlow School District and attends community events to provide hands-on and future-ready learning to students.

The Inside Lane Newsletter (April 1, 2025)

The Inside Lane Newsletter (April 8, 2025)

May 2020

With more companies guaranteeing fast shipping methods to get products to doorsteps, Knapheide has valuable solutions like the Knapheide Van Equipment lineup to help last-mile delivery professionals meet growing demand and expectations.

May 2022

Last-mile delivery is the final leg of the journey a package takes to get to its final destination. Learn what Knapheide offers to help last-mile delivery businesses meet the increasing demands and expectations of their customers.

May 2022

With more companies adopting fast shipping methods to get products to doorsteps as quickly as possible, Knapheide has valuable solutions like the Knapheide Van Equipment lineup to help meet growing demand and expectations.

April 2022

With customers debating buying used or new due to the near identical price points, what’s the best “bang for the buck" when the economy maintains a stranglehold on operational costs? Steve Henning, senior marketing director at Work Truck Solutions provides insight for business owners looking to replace their vehicles in a tight and uncertain economy.

April 2022

New and used vehicle prices are posing a stalemate for those looking to replace their work vehicles. With a lot of uncertainty at play, Steve Henning, senior marketing director at Work Truck Solutions provides insight for those weighing their options for upgrading vehicles in a tight and uncertain economy.

March 2022

Those who attended this year's NTEA Work Truck Show undoubtedly noticed Knapheide's ubiquitous presence across the trade show floor. Check out the booths where we were featured.

March 2022

A no-comprises EV chassis with a Never Settle body from Knapheide means a truck built to get work done. That's what the Sacramento Municipal Utility District will receive to help the district meet the demands of their daily workload.

February 2022

The work truck industry returns to the Crossroads of America to enjoy some Hoosier hospitality when North America's largest work truck event returns to the Indiana Convention Center March 8-11, 2022. Guest contributors from NTEA have compiled the top five things to look forward to if you're attending this year's event.

February 2022

What is Knapheide doing with EVs? Guest contributor and Knapheide Vice President of Engineering, Chris Weiss, addresses our focus on electric vehicles in addition to the potential challenges faced not only by Knapheide, but also our customers as the focus on an all-electric future charges forward.

It's More Than a Job. It's a Kroc Thing.

Darlene Steinkamp embodies the Three Is of The Kroc Center - Inspire, Instruct, and Involve. Throughout her time as part of The Kroc Center's Aquatics Department, Darlene has evolved both professionally and personally.