Fontaine Force a flatbed to be reckoned with

NASHVILLE—Fontaine, which launched the Fusion and Impact flatbed trailers last year to better meet fleet needs, is putting the final touches on the Fontaine Force, a premium option that provides weight, durability, and maintenance benefits.

According to the company, the all-aluminum flatbed trailer was engineered for fleets that demand superior lightweight performance, exceptional stability, best-in-class fit and finish, and real-world toughness.

Fontaine debuted a prototype Force trailer at the 2026 Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting and Exhibition in March, where it served as a stage for the Marmon Wasp, a revolutionary one-seat racecar that took the checkered flag at the very first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. The Marmon Group is Fontaine’s parent company.

That yellow and black #32 car driven by engineer Ray Harroun made history by eschewing a riding mechanic, and the extra weight, for a rear-view mirror.

In a similar vein to the innovative Wasp, Fontaine President Alan Briley called the Force “the dawn of a new trailer generation.”

Due out in early 2027, the 102-in. trailer cuts tare weight by way of its aluminum composition, allowing for higher payloads and more corrosion resistance. And it’s planned to be offered at an attractive price point for fleets, the company said.

Briley said before production starts, the appearance at TMC would provide a good opportunity for additional input from TMC attendees. And the antique racecar made it hard to miss on the Music City Center’s expo floor.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—a lot of great suggestions about some things that we can tweak and make it even better for the marketplace,” he said.

Before that feedback is implemented, the Force is already a trailer to be reckoned with. Along with the weight savings and resistance to corrosion, the flatbed was built for maximum support and durability. This includes main beam centers that provide a wider stance and superior support. Overall, the design reduces lean on high-center-of-gravity loads, while the outside-beam crossmember attachment minimizes stress for rock-solid structural integrity.

A welded-beam construction was also used to ensure optimal long-term strength. On the maintenance side, the winch is replaceable and Fontaine used bolted connections in high-impact zones, allowing for quick, cost-effective repairs with no proprietary complications.

A Hendrickson suspension—which is non-proprietary, widely available, and easy to service—comes standard to further improve reliability and durability.

“The new Fontaine Force flatbed with its aluminum construction, wider beam centers, and smart repair-friendly design is built to maximize payloads and minimize downtime—making it a true game-changer for high-volume fleets,” said Al Cox, senior director of sales for Fontaine.

The Force comes on the heels of last year’s launch of the Fontaine Fusion and Impact trailers.

The Fusion uses galvanized steel components paired with a lightweight aluminum deck to enhance corrosion resistance. Available in flatbed and dropdeck models, the Fusion achieves a 52,000-lb. rating in just four feet while minimizing weight and delivers reliable, low-maintenance performance in tough applications.

“Galvanization is nothing new, it’s just a road that we have not been down,” Briley noted. “But we started to see more and more demand, primarily in the Northeast and in the snow belt, for an all-galvanized product to be more corrosion resistant. It has already been a tremendous success for us and, surprising to me, we've had demand from really across the country.”

The Impact is a durable, lightweight, and cost-effective flatbed trailer engineered to meet customer demands for performance and affordability.

The Impact trailer features an aluminum deck and steel mainbeams with strategically spaced steel crossmembers, achieving a 50,000-lb. rating in just four feet while minimizing weight. Its robust steel rear design enhances impact resistance and torsional stability, ensuring durability under heavy loads and frequent loading shocks. A full-length integrated winch track on both sides makes load securement fast and easy.

Fontaine Impact trailers are available in 48' and 53' models, both featuring wide-spread axles and air suspension.