Aftermarket heavy-duty truck parts distributor FleetPride acquired the assets of Sioux Falls, SD-based Wheelco Truck & Trailer Parts and Service to add density to existing markets.

The acquisition adds talent, expertise and capabilities that will strengthen FleetPride’s ability to serve customers across South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, as well as trailer and specialty equipment OEMs nationwide. FleetPride now has 18 locations in South Dakota and Minnesota, several of which are in and around the Twin Cities. 

Wheelco Truck & Trailer Parts and Service was founded in 1961 and is a third-generation family business, owned and operated by Steven Stich. The business consists of six retail parts locations, two service centers, one distribution center, and Wheelco Manufacturing Components OEM division.

FleetPride Creates OE Solutions Division

FleetPride will create a new OE Solutions division by combining Wheelco Manufacturing Components with FleetPride’s OE trailer axle division.

“While both companies have been providing axle assemblies to trailer and specialty equipment OEMs for over 20 years, we’re taking advantage of the combined capabilities to expand our presence in this segment by providing innovative solutions for air brake axles dressed to customer specifications, suspensions, and kitting solutions designed to create production efficiencies for our OEM customers,” said FleetPride president Mike Harris in a March 18 news release.

FleetPride’s axle assembly operations are based in Grapevine, TX, while the Wheelco Manufacturing Components assembly plant is based in Sioux Falls.