Couple plans to build semi trailers at former grain site

Clint and Leslie Chapman, now owners of the 3.59-acre property about 2 miles west of Le Mars on Highway 3, received approval Monday from the Plymouth County Board of Adjustment for a conditional use permit to manufacture live-bottom trailers at the site.

Live-bottom trailers have a type of conveyor belt that helps load in or push out material like ground hay or distillers grains.

"What got me started was the problems I was having with other (live-bottom) trailers," Clint explained. "For example, in winter we're hauling wet distillers grains and the trailers have aluminum sides. Stuff freezes to aluminum pretty fast at 20 below."

He decided to design and build trailers that solved the problems he had with them.

"He battled with them (the trailer makers) for years telling them what needed to be changed," said Leslie, who is co-owner and does all the company's bookkeeping and office work.

The Chapman's manufacturing company, TareLite Trailer LLC, will make about 24-30 trailers per year to start with, Clint said.

"Right now we have two full-time and two part-time employees, and we plan on adding two more in the next few months," he added.

The site where TareLite Trailer will open was an operating grain millhouse until 2002 and was still used as a warehouse and grain storage until recently.

The Chapmans will use two existing warehouse buildings on the property.

The rest of the grain structures -- including six large commodity tanks, two grain bins and an upright grain dryer -- they anticipate selling to be moved off the property.

"We've had some interest in that already," Clint said.

The Chapmans' larger warehouse building, with 15,000 square feet, will serve as the manufacturing location and also have room for truck maintenance in one end, he explained.

"We should be doing three to five trailers in different stages at one time," Clint said.

The other building will serve as office and warehouse space.

The Chapmans plan to relocate their C. L. Chapman Trucking company, Monopan Midwest panel sales and Chapman Boss Hoss Cycles business to the site west of Le Mars as well.

"We just needed more room," Clint said.

Clint said they wouldn't have many trucks or equipment parked outside other than trucks from the trucking company when they are not on the road.

Their businesses are currently located south of Le mars on Lynx Avenue, but they plan to sell that land, Clint said.

The board of adjustment approved the conditional use permit in a 4-0 vote.

"I think it's kind of nice to use a building that's already there," Chairwoman Nancy Anderson said.