About Us
Detro Trailer Sales' humble beginning started from an unforeseen need that arose from one of the many different business ventures of Dan and Jessie Detro. Let's just say that in the retail business, when you take the time to listen to your customers and their needs - good things can happen. Here is the story of how it all began...
In the 1960’s, Dan began a crushed stone and dump trucking business. He then opened a gravel plant to help facilitate this business, but also started buying grain from local farmers due to the local elevator closing its doors. In 1979, the original property at the corner of US 36 & US 231 was purchased to help facilitate the gravel & grain businesses. It was only a few acres, but enough to keep the business going.
During the slow times, Dan and his wife, Jessie, started to sell used cars and also started a local produce business to help stay productive. However, after just a few years, these ventures closed. Then, after listening to some local community members, Dan started a new venture which took off quickly - selling hand tools and woodworking equipment.
As this business began to grow, and again after listening to their customers, Dan & Jessie decided to add several new items for sale such as outdoor lights, sunglasses, t-shirts, gifts, toys, and china cabinets. This led to the need to add several small storage buildings to the property so they could house the ever increasing inventory of small merchandise. This particular set-up worked fine until decorative pillows were added to the inventory and storage space started to rapidly fill up again. So Dan purchased a small, used enclosed trailer to store the pillows. This move then created an unanticipated problem - people kept wanting to buy the used trailer. Dan & Jessie eventually decided to do what they always did...listen to their customers.
In August of 1990, Detro Trailer Sales began with an inventory of only 5 trailers. Dan & Jessie sold three trailers in that first year - and were thrilled! The fledgling trailer business steadily grew year after year and eventually became large enough that the Detros had to purchase more land for their ever-growing inventory - eventually expanding the lot to the 30+ acres it is today! Within a few years, the new trailer inventory had reached an amazing 1,000 trailers at its peak! Since the trailer sales proved to be so successful, Dan & Jessie held an auction in the early 2000’s to sell their remaining small merchandise & tools plus all of the storage buildings which weren't needed - i.e., they sold everything not related to the trailer business!
Today, over 3 decades since the original Detro Trailer Sales began, Dan and Jessie have been retired for several years, but they still check-in on the employees when they can. The original trailer business is now known as Detro Trailers LLC. It is still operating under the leadership of their son, Tony, along with the loving support of his family.
Detro Trailers LLC now sits on approximately 32 acres with an average inventory of over 800 trailers. However, since the pandemic, inventory currently hovers between 400-600 trailers. The business also employs 8-10 people and serves the surrounding community as much as possible.
Detro Trailers LLC still offers multiple leading brands of trailers such as Sure-Trac, Cargo Express, Look, Pace American, Cam Superline, Aluma, and Imperial along with several other manufacturers.
Today, as it has been for over 33 years, the main business objective of Detro Trailers LLC is still the same - Provide outstanding customer service while offering a quality trailer at the best possible price to the customer.