The Reading Group

The Reading Group, LLC, was established in 1955 and is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The company is dedicated to providing vocational truck bodies and parts across the globe. All parts are made in the United States of America.

Company History

Founder Irving Suknow

Irving Suknow (1920-2004) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pennsylvania. During World War II, Suknow served in the United States Army and was the first US soldier to receive signal of Japan's surrender.

Suknow founded Reading Body Works, Inc. in 1955 and served on the board of trustees as a member of the National Truck Equipment Association in the late 1970s.

Irving and his wife Francine created the Irving And Francine Suknow Foundation in early 2000, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The charitable organization focuses on voluntarism, philanthropy, and grantmaking foundations.

Francine Suknow was granted ownership of then Reading Truck Body after her husband Irving's death in 2004.

Company Activity

Many business transactions have taken place to explore further expansion for The Reading Group. Below is a brief time line of the company's history of expansions and news appearances.

  • 1955 – Reading Body Works, Inc. is established by Mr. Irving Suknow.
  • 1981 – Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation forms alliance with Reading Body Works, Inc.
  • Nov. 1989 – Reading Body Works, Inc. appeared in Construction Equipment magazine's 1990 Buyers Guide under Trucking/hauling.
  • May 1992 - Construction Equipment reports Reading Body Works parts will be used for Mack Trucks Inc.'s CL series.
  • April 1997 – Reading Body Works launches its new website (readingbody.com)
  • March 1998 - Contracting Business magazine announces Reading Body Works, Inc. plans to add 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its business site.
  • Feb. 1999 – Reading Body Works distributors are recognized for service and sales achievements at NTEA convention dinner.
  • Feb. 2000 – Arbor Age magazine promotes Reading Body Works manufacturing in an article on accessorizing business vehicles.
  • March 2000 – Fuel Oil News magazine reports Reading Body Works introduces new panel body utilizing Aerotech service body style.
  • June 2000 – Oakland Fire Department of California purchases a service body from Reading Body Works.
  • March 2001 – Reading Body Works hosts a special dinner in Baltimore, Maryland, for their top distributors of 2000.
  • Oct. 2001 – American City & County magazine announces Reading Body Work's double panel slam-action tailgate and other products of the company's Classic II Series.
  • 2002 – Reading Body Works collaborates with Morgan Corp. to introduce the Husky[TM] truck body.
  • Aug. 2003 – Reading Body Works, Inc. becomes Reading Truck Body, Inc and acquires Crest Truck Equipment, changing its name to Reading Equipment & Distribution, Inc.
  • 2006 – Reading Truck Body is purchased by LLR Partner, changing the company's name to The Reading Group, LLC. Reading Fleet Services is established to provide product and logistic solutions to commercial fleets and major leasing companies.
  • July 2008 – The Reading Group launches Go Green Initiative, creating truck bodies that weigh less and are more fuel efficient and introducing a new corrosion and structural warranty.
  • Sept. 2008 – The Reading Group purchases America's Body Company (ABC).
  • Feb. 2012 – The Reading Group partners with Freightliner for dry freight van bodies, improving service convenience for customers
  • Aug. 2012 – Reading Equipment & Distribution partners with Landi Renzo USA to introduce compressed natural gas bi-fuel trucks to North American Ford dealerships.
  • March 2013 – The Reading Group attends NTEA Work Truck Show, with CEO Brian Nadel announcing the company's plans for future partnerships and other growth strategies.

Manufacturing Facility

The Reading Group manufacturing facility is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. The building itself covers 335,000 square feet and sits on 23 acres. These machines are utilized at the facility:

  • CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Drafting/Computer Aided Manufacturing)
  • Bystronics 3-Axis Laser
  • Prima 5-Axis Laser
  • 750 Ton Draw Form Press
  • Hydraulic Autoforming Machine

The company's manufacturing facility also performs a Powder Coat painting process and an Acrylic E-Coat immersion priming process.

Parts and Services

The Reading Group supplies their customers with aftermarket and replacement parts for but are not limited to the following: service bodies and service vans, dump bodies, panel top bodies, custom bodies, platform bodies, stake bodies, commercial dry freight van bodies, and cut-a-way dry freight bodies. The company has at least eight distribution centers across the United States alone. Products of The Reading Group are also available from distributors in Canada and Mexico.