In today’s trucking industry, we know our customers have many choices. In order for us to earn and retain your business, we have to be better at what we do than our competition.
In the early ’50s tag axles were gaining in popularity, but it soon became apparent that they lacked in traction. In an effort to address this problem, a company was started in 1953 in Sioux City, Iowa, producing large pulleys to be installed between the dual tires of the drive axle and tag axle. By connecting these pulleys with a large V-belt, the drive axle powered the tag axle. 
Since the tag axle was powered by silent V-belts instead of noisy gears, the company was called Silent Drive. By the early 70’s, Silent Drive’s suspension lifts were edging out V-belt drives in the marketplace, creating an opportunity to expand product lines, and soon required more space in the factory. In 1974, a new plant was built in Orange City, Iowa, and all operations were moved to this new location.
Since that time, Silent Drive has been the innovative leader in the suspension industry. We were the first to use automatic leaf spring-lifts in the suspension. Additionally, the professionals at Silent Drive pioneered the concept of unitizing the suspension to an axle for a complete, ready-to-install system.
The underarm air spring lift concept was developed by the Silent Drive engineering team, and has been adopted by nearly every suspension manufacturer in the nation. Commitment to quality and innovation keeps Silent Drive one step ahead of their competition.
Silent Drive has grown from a regional manufacturer, supplying products primarily for the agricultural market, to an industry leader, manufacturing air suspensions for liftable tags and pushers, drive axle suspensions, as well as primary and auxiliary lift axles on trailers. Using state of the art technology like Pro-E and Finite Element Analysis for design and testing also allows us to provide custom built systems tailored to specific needs or applications.
Expect the most complete product line, capacities from 8,000 to 30,000 pounds, axle lifts from 6 to 18 inches, patented Uroflex pull arm bushings, and excellent customer service from the industry leader. Our reputation for a quality product at a fair price has carried our business across the United States and into Canada. Our experience, adaptability, innovative leadership, and commitment to quality keeps us a step ahead of the competition.
Silent Drive by Dexter is owned by DexKo Global, formed at the end of 2015 by combining Dexter and AL-KO VT. This combination created a global leader in highly engineered trailer running gear components and systems, with over 130 years of trailer and caravan componentry experience.
DexKo Global is managed out of Novi, Michigan by a strategic staff of executives focused on leveraging the resources of the combined companies. With enhanced scale, operating leverage, capital efficiencies and diversity, DexKo will deliver:
- Market leadership in product development and innovation
- Improved customer service through the sharing of technology and best practices
- Increased manufacturing flexibility
- Great efficiency through global sourcing
DexKo’s ongoing focus is profitable growth across its entire footprint through outstanding customer service, product quality and innovation, operational efficiencies and accretive acquisitions. We’ll maintain the unparalleled customer service and product quality that the market has come to trust in both Dexter and AL-KO VT.