Knapheide's New CEO Remains in the Family
The Knapheide Manufacturing Company has named H.W. "Bo" Knapheide IV its chief executive and president to succeed his father, Harold W. "Knap" Knapheide III, who died in late August.

Bo Knapheide, president and CEO, Knapheide Manufacturing Co.
The Knapheide Manufacturing Company has named H.W. "Bo" Knapheide IV its chief executive and president to succeed his father, Harold W. "Knap" Knapheide III, who died in late August.
Bo Knapheide becomes the sixth generation family member to lead the company, which was founded in 1848 by Heinrich Knapheide as a blacksmith's shop that made horse-drawn wooden wagons. The company has been based in Quincy, Ill. since its founding.
"I am proud to continue my family's history leading our company forward," Bo Knapheide said. "I am confident and excited for what our team can accomplish and also for what the future holds."
Knap Knapheide had led the company since being named president in 1978. He died suddenly on Aug. 28. Heinrich Knaphedie was Knap's great-great-grandfather.
The company is one of the largest manufacturers of service and utility truck bodies in the U.S. It maintains a 668,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and 2,100 employees nationwide. Bo Knapheide has held various positions with the company
More Upfitting

John Poindexter Shares Product Launches, Growth Strategy for 2026
After a major acquisition, JB Poindexter’s CEO outlines what’s next, from smarter camera systems to early AI integration, and whether more deals are on the horizon.
Read More →
How One Company is Streamlining Fleet Upfit, Titling, & Delivery
Anew Solutions CEO Austin Schutte joins AF on the Move to discuss fleet upfitting, delivery logistics, and the importance of speed to completion in today’s fleet operations.
Read More →
Sortimo Presents New Upfitting Products
Sortimo detailed new racking systems, new floors, and more at Work Truck Week 2026.
Read More →
How To Upfit Electric Work Trucks and Vans
The biggest challenge lies in balancing additional equipment and accessories with EV battery capacity and range.
Read More →
JB Poindexter’s CEO Talks Growth, Industry Disruption & What’s Next
John Poindexter, CEO of JB Poindexter & Co., discusses how his $2.5B enterprise is navigating technology transformation, acquisitions, and a fast-evolving commercial vehicle market.
Read More →
Harbinger Unveils Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle for Medium-Duty Fleets
The medium-duty truck company is expanding its American-made electric vehicle lineup to include a series hybrid model, offering up to 500 miles range.
Read More →
Mercedes and Ranger Design Launch New Program to Upfit Sprinters
The new program, called VanSolution, provides direct ordering of basic shelving solutions, eliminating the need for separate transactions with upfit providers.
Read More →
Clarience Technologies Expands Upfit Offerings with Ranger Design Acquisition
Clarience Technologies and Safe Fleet enhance fleet safety and technology solutions with Ranger Design’s innovative commercial vehicle upfitting.
Read More →
Ford Pro Introduces New Tool for Quickly Finding Upfitted Vehicles and Trucks
The new platform eliminates traditional upfitting bottlenecks, allowing companies to acquire work-ready vehicles at the speed of business.
Read More →
Fleet Upfitting Process: From OEM to Road Ready
How does a work vehicle move from the factory to the equipment manufacturers and into the hands of small and large fleets? And how can fleets shorten the process?
Read More →