The company manufactures custom aluminum dump trailers, steel bodies and trailers and aluminum platform trailers.
In addition to the hourly wage, the company would also pay an additional $3.78 in benefits to workers. Although the company plans to create the 150 jobs, sources have said that number could grow rapidly over the next few years.
"It’s not official, and it doesn’t mean they are for sure coming, but they have taken the first step," Public Information Officer for the Kentucky Economic Development Commission Mandy Lambert said Monday.
The project’s description, furnished by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority, said plans call for a 150,000 square-foot facility built on 10.6 acres in the Trigg County Industrial Park. There was no indication in which industrial park the property was located.
Benson International is a new name in the custom trailer and body business but has been in business almost 40 years. First known as Benson Truck Bodies, Inc the company first began with the construction of steel and aluminum dump truck bodies.
The product line now includes all aluminum platform trailers, steel drop deck trailers, 35 to 70 ton lowboy trailers, moving floor and refuse trailers, as well as other equipment.
It is currently one of the largest custom trailer and body builders in the business.
Currently there are Benson dealers in 24 states, Puerto Rico and Canada.
In addition to the building and land, the company will build two new production lines valued at $5 million each. In total, the project is expected to cost $10.9 million.
The company is based in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, and also have offices in Pennsylvania and Tennessee.
A forty-year veteran of business, Benson International has grown and prospered to one of the largest tractor-trailer manufacturers in the business, according to the information on the company’s website.
Officials with the company were unavailable for comment at press time.
There was no evidence of when the project was expected to begin although final approval must be made within a year of the preliminary approval.
Donnie Holland, former plant manager for American National Rubber, has taken a position with Benson and it is speculated he would head up the new Trigg County plant upon a final decision being made in favor of the Kentucky location.
