Sturdy-Lite was founded in Bristol, TN in September of 1979, in a 30x50 block building, with one part-time employee who manufactured aluminum side stakes and roof bows for conversion trailer side-kits. In 1980, a new plant was built at 2100 Industrial Blvd, which allowed for the cutting and painting operations necessary to complete the side-kit construction process. Using the company’s "road warriors," sales quickly reached up to the six figures.

Sturdy-Lite began to establish relationships with trailer dealers that pointed out the need to provide side kit storage racks, trailer bulkheads and storage boxes. The original building was expanded in 1986 to allow for production of these new products, and sales quickly followed, taking the company into the multi-million dollar sales range. In 1990, the decision was made to enter into the "headache rack" business. This decision turned out to be a very strong springboard for Sturdy-Lite.

As sales and respect for products grew, a new facility with state-of-the-art production equipment was built in 1998. New products followed as production capacities increased, allowing production of portable loading ramps, load levelers, and sliding tarp systems. Today, Sturdy-Lite employs approximately 40 people and manufactures in excess of 6,000 Cab Racks and Vaults, 5,000 Toolboxes, and thousands of trailer Bulkheads, Sidekits and Loading Ramps annually.