Northern Truck Equipment Corporation

Company History

Company History

A.M. Schweiger Body Shop was established in 1934 when Archie M. Schweiger purchased the Lee Brothers Machine and Blacksmith Shop at 18 Northwest 1st Avenue in Watertown, South Dakota. Along with the blacksmith and auto body shop, the company manufactured farm bodies and specialized truck bodies. The company was incorporated in 1949 and the name changed to Schweigers’ Inc.

A new building was constructed at Highway 81 South in Watertown in 1959, at which time Donald A. Schweiger (son of Archie M Schweiger) assumed the management. In 1961, another building was erected at the Highway 81 South location. The building at 18 Northwest 1st Avenue was vacated in 1969. The auto body shop was discontinued in 1972. A new office, parts department and manufacturing warehouse was constructed in 1973. In 1990, this facility was relocated one block south to 1414 Southeast 5th Street.

A second location was established at 900 North Weber in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1962. In 1977 the Sioux Falls operation was relocated to I 29 North, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Corporate office was moved to the Sioux Falls facility in 1985. In 1988, the company was purchased by Dean R. Wartenbee from Donald A. Schweiger. Due to a fire in 1988, the Sioux Falls location was rebuilt to twice the original size. The farm body manufacturing department was relocated to the Sioux Falls location in 1989. The manufacturing was disbanded in 2005.

In 1989, a third location was established at 3505 Edwards Street in Rapid City, South Dakota. Then in 2002, a 2400 square foot addition was added on for the office, parts showroom and warehouse.

The fourth location at 3475 SW 38 Street in Fargo, North Dakota was established in 1999.

Over the years the company has changed from a blacksmith and manufacturing business to sales, service and parts of truck equipment, trailers, and pickup accessories. This brought about the name change in 1993 to Northern Truck Equipment Corporation.