Back in May of 2018, I received an email that changed everything.
At the time, I was just starting to find my footing in the trailer parts industry—learning the ropes, building relationships, and doing what any honest business owner does: offering fair prices and taking care of my customers.
But then that email landed in my inbox.
It wasn’t a thank you. It wasn’t support.
It was a threat.
“You Have 24 Hours to Raise Your Prices…”
The message was clear—either I raise my advertised prices, or I’d be forced to stop selling their products. No legal basis. No contract. Just pressure.
They even gave me a deadline:
24 hours.
Raise your prices or face “legal action.”
Why? Because my pricing was “too low.” Not below cost, not misleading, not hurting quality—just too low for their comfort.
Let that sink in.
I was being threatened for trying to give customers a better deal.
That Was the Moment I Realized the Game Was Rigged
It wasn’t about quality.
It wasn’t about protecting the customer.
It was about protecting inflated margins and making sure independent dealers like me didn’t undercut their monopoly.
See, some companies wave the flag and shout “Made in America” while quietly outsourcing half their components overseas. They mark up their parts, lean on their distributors, and use intimidation instead of innovation to keep their grip on the market.
They pretend to stand for American values—but behind the scenes, it’s just marketing smoke and mirrors.
So I Said No.
No to being bullied.
No to selling overpriced parts just to make someone else feel “safe.”
No to turning my back on the customers who trusted me.
And that’s when Carter Trailer Parts was born.
That’s when we began building our own supply chain, sourcing our own high-quality components, and designing axles and suspension systems that meet or beat industry standards—without the markup.
Carter Axles was never about getting even.
It was about getting better.
The Mission: Fair Prices. Honest Parts. Zero BS.
I built this brand on one simple principle:
Quality should be affordable.
We don’t hide behind slogans. We don’t bully dealers. We don’t fake patriotism for a sale.
We just do the work—inspecting, testing, sourcing, and delivering products that compete with the big names, for a fraction of the cost.
Because no customer should be forced to pay more just to keep someone else’s bottom line fat.
The Bottom Line
That email in 2018 didn’t break me.
It lit a fire.
Today, Carter Trailer Parts and Carter Axles continue to grow—not by selling hype, but by offering real value.
If you're tired of overpriced parts and industry politics, you’ve got a place with us.
We’re not here to play games—we’re here to change them.
Kaleb Carter
Founder, TrailerPartsUnlimited.com