Time Capsule: Chain Driven Upfit Circa 1930s
Before the development of hydraulics, chain-driven mechanisms were the upfitting norm as this photo from the 1930s demonstrates. While it may not be as efficient as the modern technology, the evidence shows that it still got the job done.

Photo: The Auto Truck Group

Photo: The Auto Truck Group
Before the development of hydraulics, chain-driven mechanisms were the upfitting norm as this photo from the 1930s demonstrates. While it may not be as efficient as the modern technology, the evidence shows that it still got the job done.
The upfit was completed by the Auto Truck Group, which has been in business for nearly a century in the Chicago market. Founded in 1918, the Auto Truck Group is headquartered in Bartlett, Ill.
Work Truck eNews will be featuring historic images of fleet trucks on a regular basis. If you have an historic fleet truck image you'd like to share with readers, e-mail it to Lauren Fletcher or Chris Wolski.
Originally posted on Work Truck Online
More Operations

Your Local Dealer Knows More Than You Think
Your local dealer can provide an information advantage that extends well beyond courtesy deliveries.
Read More →
Fleet Meets: Austin Schutte
Here are some industry insights, personal touches, and words of advice from the CEO and Founder of Anew Solutions.
Read More →Soap Box Derby Challenge: What’s Powering Team Brown
The car is coming together, the students are solving real build problems, and the fleet industry is helping push Team Brown toward the starting line.
Read More →
Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains
The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.
Read More →What Fleet Managers Really Want From Vendors
From customer service frustrations and technology breakdowns to RFQs, change management, and the growing impact of turnover across the industry, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the real operational challenges fleet managers are navigating every day.
Read More →Fleet Safety Masterclass: Industry Leaders on Storytelling, Strategy & Innovation
In this special masterclass episode, industry leaders break down what it really takes to build safer fleets in today’s increasingly distracted and data-driven world.
Read More →Integrating Legacy Fleet Systems and Historical Data
In this episode, we bring together fleet and technology leaders to unpack the realities of data integration, system migrations, and the evolving role of AI in fleet management.
Read More →From Resistance to Results: Change Management Strategies for Fleets
From new technologies and safety programs to evolving regulations, fleets are under constant pressure to adapt. But as Dr. Betz explains, success isn’t about the system you implement—it’s about whether your people actually use it.
Read More →Where We're Headed: A Practical Look at AI in Fleet
Discover how AI is actually being deployed in fleets, not just marketed, including practical use cases and emerging risks.
Read More →


