MASSENA -- An entrepreneur has opened a trailer-making business in the Massena Industrial Park and plans to employ a workforce of 27. Brian Hardie’s operation makes and sells the EZ Back Trailer, …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
MASSENA -- An entrepreneur has opened a trailer-making business in the Massena Industrial Park and plans to employ a workforce of 27.
Brian Hardie’s operation makes and sells the EZ Back Trailer, which he says is designed to prevent jackknifing in reverse.
He says he has 12 people hired now and needs 15 more.
“I have an order for basically 200 trailers a month, starting in January,” Hardie said.
A former Alabama resident and ex-Special Forces first sergeant, he said he decided to move to the North Country for the skilled workforce.
“The reason we’re up here is I live in Waddington, been up here about six years. We’re doing it for the employee base here. It’s better than Alabama, as far as skilled labor goes,” he said.
People who want to apply can call Hardie at 315-323-4569 or email him at bhardie@bhtrailersllc.com.
He said all employees will be subjected to drug testing and he has a zero-tolerance policy for drug use.
“Employees will work hard, but we’ll reward them properly. It’s a drug-free environment,” Hardie said, adding that he will be willing to help any employee caught using drugs that wants to get clean.
They have two choices for the EZ Back mechanism, one that has to be manually engaged and disengaged and another that automatically kicks in.
“It opens up a whole new market to the trailer,” he said.
The standard trailers are designed to carry 3,500 pounds, which requires brakes under New York state law.
“Our trailer is all about the features. It is more expensive, but it’s a value product,” Hardie said. “These are not light duty trailers.”
He said some of the features include two wheels on each side, which won’t slow it down if one pops. The sides fold down for people who load with a forklift. And the wheels are beneath the bed, which allows them to build it wider. The bi-fold gate also has a torsion system so it’s easier to open and close, Hardie said.
“It won’t slam down on you and hurt you,” he said.
Matt Wright, who runs Wright’s Tool Rental on Maple Street in Massena, will handle retail sales.
“If they (customers) go there, they’re going to have a trailer they can rent and test it out and see if they like it before they buy it,” Hardie said.
He said the company will also build custom trailers and do trailer repairs.
“We want to be community-minded, but our focus is EZ Back,” he said.