Carry-On Trailer Finds Creative Talent Solutions in the Commonwealth

Carry-On Trailer is a manufacturer of steel and aluminum utility trailers, located in Virginia’s Westmoreland County since 2004. They serve major wholesale customers like Tractor Supply Company, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Trailer World, Trailers Plus, Northern Tool + Equipment, and a network of privately-owned dealers. In fact, their 85,000-square-foot facility had experienced a steady increase in product demand.

So when the company sought to extend market reach into the Northeast and Canada, they knew they would need additional welding talent from an area with a steady labor pool. 

Counting on the Northern Neck’s spirit of collaboration, Carry-On Trailer executives reached out to their economic development partners to help devise a creative workforce solution.  

A Customized Talent Pipeline 

The Northern Neck of Virginia boasts a workforce of more than 23,000, served by the region’s premier educational institutions and industry-driven training programs. In response to Carry-On Trailer’s need for a reliable talent pipeline, the Northern Neck Planning District Commission mobilized key players at the local, state, and federal level to build a streamlined program to enhance the region’s existing workforce.

The result was the Westmoreland Workforce Training Center (WWTC).

Established by the Northern Neck Planning District Commission with support from Westmoreland County, the Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region Partnership, Carry-On Trailer, and others, the Center offers courses in welding, industrial machining, and milling. All programs are administered by Rappahannock Community College’s Workforce and Community Development Center. 

With funding from GO Virginia and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, this network of economic development practitioners were able to come together to establish an innovative, curated public-private partnership to serve the residents and companies of the Northern Neck.

It also met Carry-On Trailer’s requirement that any potential location have access to a self-perpetuating regional talent pool.

A Win for Westmoreland 

After considering Georgia and Pennsylvania, Carry-On Trailer announced in November 2018 that it would invest $1.6 million to expand its operation in Westmoreland County, creating 42 new jobs. Since then, the company has continued to benefit from the region’s competitive operating costs, a high quality of life, and the future pipeline of skilled welders.

Carry-On Trailer is thrilled to expand our operations in Westmoreland County. As the No. 1 best-selling brand in America, this investment further underscores our commitment to producing a complete range of trailers and meeting the growing demands of our customers in the Northeast…We are grateful for the support from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and local authorities, and we look forward to contributing to the economic growth of the region.

Braden Edwards, General Manager, Carry-On Trailer (2022–2025)

In 2019, ongoing demand for Carry-On Trailer’s products fueled a need to invest nearly $1 million for facility expansions and equipment enhancements. Then, in 2024, they invested another $9.2 million to increase capacity, creating 60 new jobs.

Thanks to a collaborative economic development network, Carry-On Trailer knows it is well-positioned to keep calling Westmoreland County home for years to come.