{"id":118,"date":"2025-11-13T15:10:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T15:10:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tt-blogs.dealerfire.com\/rdk\/?p=118"},"modified":"2025-11-13T18:36:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T18:36:53","slug":"the-rise-of-battle-motors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rdk.com\/blog\/the-rise-of-battle-motors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Battle Motors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Row of Battle Motors refuse and vocational trucks lined up outside in Tampa FL Next to RDK Truck Sales<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A Legacy Reborn: The Battle Motors Story<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the evolving landscape of commercial vehicle manufacturing, few transformations have been as dramatic as the rebirth of Crane Carrier Company into Battle Motors. This remarkable journey, initiated in 2021, represents not just a corporate acquisition but a complete reimagining of what a 75-year-old truck manufacturer could become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Foundation: Crane Carrier’s Distinguished History<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Battle Motors entered the picture, Crane Carrier Company had already established itself as an American industrial icon. Founded by Robert Zeligson in 1946 in New Philadelphia, Ohio, the company began with a simple yet innovative mission: converting surplus World War II military vehicles for civilian use in the construction and petroleum industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company’s name wasn’t arbitrary; it reflected their core competency. Crane Carrier specialized in Cab-Beside-Engine (CBE) or half-cab designs, which allowed trucks to carry crane booms more efficiently. By 1953, CCC had presented their first proprietary truck design, quickly evolving from a military surplus modifier to a full-fledged manufacturer of specialized commercial vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For seven and a half decades, Crane Carrier built its reputation on producing severe-service chassis and purpose-built vehicles for some of America’s toughest industries: refuse and recycling, infrastructure maintenance, ground support, multi-stop distribution, agriculture, and oil and gas markets. Their trucks weren’t just vehicles; they were workhorses designed to excel in the most demanding conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Collection of engraved baseball bats displayed on wall representing Michael Patterson’s entrepreneurial ventures and companies<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The Entrepreneurial Vision: Michael Patterson’s Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transformation of Crane Carrier began with Michael Patterson, a serial entrepreneur with an inscribed baseball bat for every company he’s founded, symbolizing his goal of “hitting it out of the park” with each venture. Patterson’s path to Battle Motors wasn’t straightforward but rather the culmination of decades of technological and entrepreneurial experience with these companies that led Patterson to see the potential in refuse and vocational vehicles. Patterson pivoted, choosing to acquire an established manufacturer rather than starting from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Strategic Acquisition: Battle Motors Takes the Wheel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2021, Battle Motors officially acquired Crane Carrier Company, marking the beginning of an ambitious transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The acquisition was strategic on multiple levels. Rather than building a new refuse and vocational vehicle company from the ground up, Battle Motors gained:<\/p>\n\n\n\n